Families are ready more than ever for vacation this summer. Here are a few local favorites to help you plan a perfect family weekend focused around wide-open spaces and unique on-farm experiences right here in ShelbyKY.
A beautiful Airbnb option to house the whole family is Walnut Grove Farm and Lodging. Complete with trails for nature walks to the creek for fishing or trail riding, and large enough for the whole family.
Once an old dairy barn with hay loft above, it has since been renovated to include five bedrooms, a dining room, living room, kitchen, three bathrooms and a loft. Most of the living space is a great room with high ceilings, numerous windows, porch access, card table, and center hall which brings this truly comfortable place together for family and friends. The lodge is located on 100 acres of gently rolling hills, wooded habitat with a network of trails, ponds and wide-open fields. Fenced-in/grazing pastures are available for you to bring your own horse along for the experience.
Walnut Grove Farm & Lodge, 5970 Mt. Eden Rd., Shelbyville, (502) 909-4545
When it comes to taking your family to the surrounding farms. We have a few good options, Mulberry Orchard features a Farm Fresh Family Fun play area. It includes a new corn pit, combine slide, swings, tire mountain, hay ring jungle gym, and more. They have a covered pavilion to enjoy a lunch or treat from Mulberry Kitchen and lots of sweet peaches and fresh produce in the market too. An unlimited family pass that will last you all summer is $10.
Mulberry Orchard, 1330 Mulberry Pike, Shelbyville, (502) 655-2633
Once you've visited Mulberry your next visit must be Gallrein Farms, which offers a petting zoo area for the kids and a marketplace full of farm fresh fruits & vegetables, jams, jellies, sweet treat baked items, and are known for their sweet corn. Stop by with the family for a bit to eat at their café and take a bag of corn home to savor the trip well after you’ve gone home.
Gallrein Farms, 1029 Vigo Rd, Shelbyville, (502) 633-4849
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Don’t miss the opportunity to score some deals with a bit of open-air shopping at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass. Located on I-64, this is Kentucky’s only designer outlet shopping center, with more than 90 stores including GUCCI, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, The North Face, Under Armour, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, and American Eagle Outfitters. It’s the perfect location for a little back to school shopping.
The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass 1155 Buck Creek Rd. Simpsonville, (502) 722-5558
Picky eaters and foodies alike will enjoy a visit JT’s Pizza & Subs for dinner. For more than 25 years, they have been serving the best pizzas and traditional sub sandwiches. With its mouthwatering garlic bread and season crust, we highly recommend ordering extras for a late-night snack back at the lodge.
JT’s Pizza & Subs, 129 Buck Creek Rd., Simpsonville, (502) 722-9030
As summer officially comes to a close, we hope you will enjoy these ShelbyKY farming experiences to make lasting memories with your family you can cherish for years to come!
Plan your trip with help from the ShelbyKY Commission & Visitors Bureau at 502-633-6388 or VisitShelbyKY.com.
Written by Allie Hembree Martin
Allie Hembree Martin is a native ShelbyKYian, residing now in Louisville where she lives with her husband, Brandon. Allie is a podcast host, frequent contributor to national publications, and runs a digital marketing company, Fame and Fortune.