In the beloved children’s book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, A famously told B, who told C, “I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree!” They didn’t want to climb a coconut tree though. They actually wanted to go to ShelbyKY — Shelbyville, Simpsonville and Shelby County, Kentucky. With the alphabet in mind, here’s everywhere you need to go during your trip here, from A to Z.
An Equestrian’s Touch: Being in the American Saddlebred Capital of the World, this is a natural place to visit. Riders can purchase customized embroidery items that are highly-trusted, given that they are an official supplier for the US Saddleseat Association. If you’ve visited here before, keep in mind they recently moved locations and are now in a suite within the Shoppes at Blue Gables. The address is 800 Main Street Shelbyville, KY 40065.
Bulleit Distilling Co.: One of the most famous bourbons in the world, you can get a tour, shop official merchandise, and enjoy drinks from the scenic surroundings right here at their headquarters. Discover how their cutting-edge technology continues to shape the bourbon industry and how they keep sustainability at the forefront of their operations. If you want to get a distillery tour, reservations are strongly recommended, so plan accordingly before you enter.
Clear Creek Park & Family Activity Center: Shelbyville’s biggest park goes all out with excellent amenities. Featuring a large playground equipped with a variety of slides, swings and games for kids, a spacious waterpark with a slide of its own plus multiple spots to have fun in the water, a golf course, more than a half-dozen fields for team sports, tennis courts, pickleball courts… and we haven’t even touched on the indoor amenities! Those include another pool, basketball/volleyball courts, and a track. No matter how you choose to be active, there’s a way for you to engage with your favorite hobbies here.
Derby Comics & Games: One of the most popular gaming and comic book stores in all of Kentucky, Derby Comics & Games has been praised for their inclusive environment that allows people to enjoy their shared passions together. With a busy event calendar that brings in friends and strangers alike to play their favorite games, plus an amazing inventory of comic books, figurines and more, people are routinely traveling from over an hour away just to visit this beloved store.
El Nopal: One of the most popular local chains in the area, El Nopal has two locations in ShelbyKY. One is right next to The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass — perfect for a meal and margarita before or after your shopping trip. The other is located just a few minutes off exit 32 on I-64 and right next to Walmart, also making it a good spot to go before or after shopping.
Farm Kitchen: Cited by many as their favorite place to eat in the entire county, The Farm Kitchen is a family-run establishment operated by the Hamiltons. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 6AM-2PM, you can’t go wrong with anything you eat here, but the biscuits for breakfast and burgers for lunch tend to be especially popular. Save room for the banana pudding for dessert, too. Everything prepared here is used with ingredients made from their farm, or a neighboring one.
Gallrein Farms: The Gallrein family is passionate about farming, and they want to share that love with you. Customers are provided fresh, high quality, safe food using sustainable agriculture methods. That includes vegetables picked on a daily basis, a wide selection of meats, sauces, syrups and more. You can purchase those to have later at home, but you can also get lunch at their cafe. Explore the greenhouse as well to select from a beautiful array of plants, and let your kids get up close with animals in their petting zoo.
HorseSensing: The focus at HorseSensing is to provide equine therapy to people of all needs. That includes helping veterans transition back to civilian life more successfully through being with horses. People in recovery from addictions are also provided with a solid path to staying clean and sober for the long haul. If you or someone you know doesn’t directly need any of their services, don’t worry, you can still see the farm by booking a tour. Reservations are required, however.
I Do Bridal Boutique: Lauded as one of the best places in the entire Commonwealth for recently engaged ladies to start wedding shopping, the dreams of a perfect ceremony begin to become reality right here. From dresses to jewelry and all the knick-knacks in between, the friendly, supportive staff will guide you towards the items you want and keep you within your budget.
Jeptha Creed: Joining Bulleit as a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® distillery located in ShelbyKY, Jeptha Creed separates itself from its peers as a mother-daughter owned business. Autumn and Joyce Nethery founded this growing bourbon brand a decade ago and have seen hundreds of thousands of visitors in the time since. Whether you want a tour of how their relatively sweet-tasting bourbon is made, or just want to grab lunch from their cafe, it’s a great destination for both the hardcore bourbon enthusiasts and those still getting their beaks wet.
Kismet Farm: With 150 acres right in the heart of the American Saddlebred Capital of the World, Kismet is an idyllic landing spot for those who have always dreamt of being on a Kentucky horse farm. Tours are offered provided they are scheduled in advance. Once here, you can see their training program, plus learn about the business of buying and selling horses.
Last Stop Brewing: The county’s first microbrewery is Last Stop, located in the heart of the Shelby Main Street. A wide variety of homemade beers are on tap and they’ve become a favorite of both locals and visitors. In addition to your beverage, eat some delicious food. They’ve developed a following equally as passionate for their burgers and wings.
Mulberry Orchard: This agritourism attraction is great for adults and kids alike. The adults can explore the certified Kentucky Farm Market and purchase fruits (peaches and apples are especially good here), syrups, sauces, meat, dairy and more. The kids can run wild on their playground where $8 gives them reigns to a child-safe zip line, a ball pit, a slide, a trike track, and much more. Don’t forget to snag a yummy lunch from their cafe, either!
B&N Food Market: The “N” stands for Newton, the last name of the founders of B&N Food Market in 1970. Today, it’s owned by their grandson Buckshot, and his wife Ashley. They produce some of the best burgers, BBQ and desserts found anywhere in Kentucky at their Bagdad eatery. If you can’t get out there right away to taste it for yourself, you can pass the time by scrolling through their excellent social media.
Othello’s Cigar Bar & Bistro: A new business on the Shelby Main Street, this is a 21+ establishment open Friday-Sunday during the evenings. Whether you’ve wrapped up a day on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® or want to watch a game with your friends, Othello’s is an awesome spot to come by and relax. Enjoy some fine cigars, have a drink, and savor the small things.
Pathelen Flower & Gift Shop: A shopping paradise for those with green thumbs, Pathelen has an assortment of flowers and garden accessories that will give you a lot to work with during your next planting session. This shop is worthy of consideration when you have a special occasion coming up that needs flowers. Their custom bouquets are raved about and can be customized however you need.
Cubert’s Qwik Stop: This friendly convenience store on the west side of the Shelby Main Street is a favorite amongst locals for getting snacks, alcohol and other convenient goods. Come in for what you need, stay for the friendly service. For additional incentive to visit, they sold a winning $50,000 lottery ticket in October 2024.
Rocky Fork Mini Meadows: Bring your child’s dream of being around a pony to life. Offering photo sessions, parties, and play dates, this is a location that will truly melt your heart once you see your daughter or son interacting with their stable.
Shelbyville History Museum: Shelby County has a rich history and it’s all laid out for you to learn about here for free. The hours are 10AM-4PM Wednesday-Friday and 10AM-2PM on Saturday. The Historical Society operates the museum and also hosts a bunch of fun events throughout the year to immerse people of all ages with the area’s past.
Talon Winery: Set in a picturesque location alongside a pond, Talon is a wonderful place to have a date night or bring a group of friends for some R&R. From cabernet to sauvignon, enjoy all they have to offer. Live music is provided many nights to add to the experience. No reservations are required and there’s no admission price! Just pay for your products and enjoy accordingly.
Under Armour & other stores at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass: Under Armour is one of 80+ stores found in Kentucky’s only designer outlet mall. Like many of the name-brand retailers who operate out of the Outlet, Under Armour frequently has specials running that give you the chance to treat yourself, or stack up on gifts for your loved ones.
VFW Shelby Memorial Post 1179: A must-see for those who have served in our Armed Forces or those passionate about military history, the VFW Post on the Shelby Main Street has a museum that can be visited at no charge from 10AM-2PM from Monday-Friday. If you are a veteran, you can get involved by attending biweekly meetings to meet your peers and get involved with the community, plus access to a complimentary breakfast on Friday mornings.
Wakefield-Scearce Galleries: One of the most famous antique stores in Kentucky, this beautiful shop is located on the historic Science Hill, which first welcomed people in 1825 when it was a girls’ preparatory school. Two centuries later, it now boasts a stunning collection of art, jewelry, memorabilia, and clothing. In any location, these products would be worth stopping by to explore, but these storied grounds and the remarkable interior make it an essential visit.
Ken-Tex BBQ: X marks the spot for this Texas-BBQ joint that isn’t in the Lone Star State, but rather right in between Louisville and Lexington. With brisket that will melt in your mouth, pork that’s the right combination of juicy and sweet, plus beef and chicken that are rich in flavor, you can’t go wrong with any of the meats available here. Add some baked beans, green beans, fries, or mac and cheese on the side, and you’ve got a southern meal that’ll have you feeling quite fulfilled.
Yarn Hub: Hope Kremer established this destination to share her love of crochet with others. A wide variety of yarns and supplies are offered to meet the diverse needs of customers. The products are carefully sourced from the best suppliers around the world. Yarn Hub believes in the power of yarn to bring people together. That's why they host regular events and workshops to foster a welcoming and inclusive community of yarn enthusiasts.
Zebras at Little Crooked Creek Safari: There are more than just zebras at this awesome exotic petting zoo, but an A-Z blog wouldn’t be complete without specifically calling out the zebras here. In addition, there are giraffes, sloths, capybaras, goats, llamas, and more that your family can interact with. Usually during the warmer months, there is general admission available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, while you can reserve a private, VIP tour during weekdays.
If you’re looking to swap out one letter’s location for another, don’t worry, there’s plenty more to see beyond these 26 destinations while you’re in ShelbyKY. Check out our Things to Do and Food & Drink pages to discover what else you might want to see.
You can also plan your trip to ShelbyKY with our visitor guide. It's free and contains wonderful information about how to spend your time here.
