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Kentucky’s Storied Storefronts

Maysville

Historic Maysville is packed full of charm, history and local retail. The town sits on the banks of the Ohio River.

“You can walk our whole area in a three-block radius,” said Lacey Holleran, tourism director for the Maysville-Macon County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “That includes our floodwall murals, our museums and our historic architecture, which is amazing for a town of our size. You can spend from a half day to a full day exploring the short block radius.”

Along brick-lined streets, guests will find art galleries, antiques, restaurants and general stores. The Eat Gallery looks like a diner from the outside; inside is a beautiful jewelry store. Downtown also features Elementz, a rustic-yet-modern home goods shop.

The Kentucky Gateway Museum Center’s shop offers several distinctive Maysville souvenirs. Groups also enjoy touring the museum to discover the city’s intriguing past. Its Kathleen Savage Browning Miniatures Collection depicts the history of the town’s founding in intricate, tiny detail.

The city also nurtures artists with several art-themed shops, photography studios and the Ohio River Valley Artist Guild. The Maysville Visitors Center sells Maysville-themed items.

Groups staying for the evening can watch a performance at the Washington Opera Theatre, the fifth-oldest continuously running theater in the country.

www.cityofmaysville.com/tourism-department

Midway

During the railroad heyday of the 1930s and 1940s, up to 30 trains a day rumbled through the middle of Midway, a town halfway between Lexington and Frankfort. Though the passenger trains dwindled over time, freight trains still chug through downtown several times a day.

Midway’s railroad past has led to a downtown full of architectural gems. Shoppers can enjoy this ambiance while ambling past numerous local shops. The town sits in the Woodford County Midway Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors can relive the past at Fisher’s Antiques and Yeagers Antiques. The Back Room features modern home accessories, and the Midway Boutique Kentucky offers clothing, equine-themed gifts and University of Kentucky apparel.

Midway also honors the artists of the area at the Damselfly Studio Gallery and the Kennydid Gallery. For a local treat, shoppers can stop by Kentucky Honey Farms or the Railroad Drug and Old Time Soda Fountain. Darlin’ Jeans Apple Cobbler Cafe dishes out more filling fare inside a renovated barley mill.

The Historic Midway Museum Store showcases distinctive gifts, including jewelry, home accessories, Kentucky crafts and Keeneland apparel. The shop sits in a Victorian building with Italianate details from the 1880s. Groups can revel in the store’s shopping options and learn about its fascinating history.

www.meetmeinmidway.com