Kentucky's 'Mountain Gateway' Is A Charming, Lofty Gem Surrounded By Pristine Trails And Eclectic Eateries

Famous for being home to one of the Bluegrass State's largest free music festivals, Manchester, Kentucky is a great destination for lovers of country, bluegrass, and folk music. It has numerous venues with live music events such as at Ponderosa Pines, which doubles up as a shooting venue from March-September and a campsite, as well as Pat's Snack Bar, a popular spot known not just for its events but also its delicious food (more on that later). Dubbed by the Manchester Tourism Commission as Eastern Kentucky's "mountain getaway", the town is beloved for both its scenic hiking routes and comfort food options.

The nearest major airport is in Lexington, a charming Southern foodie city known as America's "Horse Capital", making Manchester an easy stopover for travelers, as it sits under two hours away by car. And approximately three hours south of Manchester is the bustling, historic city of Knoxville, another great starting point for a Kentucky adventure focused on food and entertainment. Whichever direction you travel to reach Manchester, you will get to enjoy various cuisine at local gems like The Local Crow's Nest and Pizza Pro upon arrival before exploring the ample nature excursions to be had within the Appalachian foothills.

The unbelievable landscape that surrounds this small Kentucky city inevitably attracts adventure lovers keen to discover the 600 miles of trails it offers. Surrounding Manchester is the Daniel Boone National Forest, which contains within it the Redbird Crest Trail. Alongside its breathtaking mountain views, the first section of the trail features all sorts of wildlife, including coyotes, deer, elk and plenty of feathered friends in the sky. Though most trails tend to be geared towards hikers, this trail spanning over 100 miles was actually designed with off-road vehicles in mind.

H2O-loving adventurers will enjoy 30-plus miles of easy whitewater on Goose Creek River, along which visitors can go canoeing or rafting. The Kentucky River is a great spot for keen anglers, particularly those in search of bass, crappie, and muskellunge. Riverside hikers enjoying the waterways on foot should look out for some of the numerous swinging bridges located in Clay County (the county where Manchester sits). These rickety, bouncy bridges, might feel like dancing with death, but when in Manchester, spots like the Goose Creek Swinging Bridge and Rocky Branch Swinging Bridge are must-visits. Those looking for less precarious and more relaxed family fun in the great outdoors, perhaps for a picnic or a spot of volleyball, should head to Rawlings and Stinson Park. There, all sorts of amenities can be found, including walking paths and workout areas, and little ones will enjoy running around on the grass or traversing its playground.

With its population of less than 1,500 people, one would imagine that Manchester might be a sleepy town with nowhere to go and eat. That could not be further from the truth. It has a range of beloved local eateries, such as Pat's Snack Bar, a Manchester institution. Originally opened as a pool hall in the aftermath of World War II, they serve up delicious fries and burgers. Visitors to Manchester who aren't making the three-hour trip to the picturesque "bourbon capital of the world" in Bardstown can at least get a taste of the good stuff at Pat's, often while enjoying fun live music. Those on a pilgrimage to the land of Colonel Sanders, have got to get a taste of fried chicken when in the area, and perhaps there is nowhere better to do so than at familiar fast food joint Krispy Krunchy Chicken, whose golden chicken tenders will provide some delicious post-hike indulgence.

Sitting only a two-minute walk from Pat's, The Local Crow's Nest has a particularly cozy feel. In fact, their menus aren't even printed on laminated paper. Instead, the options are scrawled onto whiteboards in faint marker pen ink, giving off a true family feel, almost as if their chef improvises what hearty food they fancy serving up to guests depending on their mood. Meanwhile, the Clay We Were Museum is just another two-minute stroll from there, an interesting post-lunch spot for those keen to learn about Appalachian workman traditions.