Lexington Tours

A couple of weeks ago Grandma and Grandpa were making a trip up to see the kids. We had planned this all around the time that Tim Tebow was set to make his second appearance in Lexington playing minor league baseball. Just a few days before they were set to come up for the game we discovered that he was actually promoted to a different team. Thankfully we hadn't bought tickets yet, but I decided to see if I could find anything to do during their visit. I happened across a bunch of factory tours that you could take in and around Lexington. I didn't know how much the kids would enjoy them, but I knew my parents would. Best of all, they were FREE!

Our first tour was set up at Old Kentucky Chocolates located on Southland Drive. We showed up a little early to look around the store and the kids and grandparents really enjoyed trying out almost everything that they had to offer at the sample area. Next it was time for the tour. 

There were about 12 of us on the tour that was guided by one of the workers. We started out in the room where everything is cooked. Then we headed back into the mold room where some workers creating a ton of Kentucky shaped chocolates. The middle picture is of Landon with all the melted milk chocolate. It took everything I had to not stick a finger or two in to try. Next we headed over to the conveyor belt where they were making some bourbon chocolates. We didn't try one off the line because I didn't think the kids would like them. We did try some pretty awesome chocolate and caramel covered potato chips.

The kids tried out a few more samples and picked out a few treats to take home with us. The kids favorite samples were the chocolate covered grapes and chocolate covered animal crackers. I really liked the chocolate caramel potato chips and the pulled taffy.  The kids chose some pretty basic treats to take home. Landon picked a chocolate covered marshmallow while Brinley picked a chocolate covered pretzel with mini M&Ms on it. Grandma and Grandpa also picked out some thoroughbreds, which are like turtles.

This is exactly how not to eat chocolate! I actually have no idea how someone can actually get that messy with just one chocolate covered pretzel, but Brinley figured out a way.

I would highly recommend the tour of Old Kentucky Chocolates, especially if you like chocolate. The store sells all kinds of things for just about anybody. The tour only lasts about 30 minutes but you have to sign up for it in advance.

We also had a chance to go see a movie that we thought the kids would like. I thought Cars 3 was good and everybody enjoyed it. Grandpa and Brinley were caught off guard in the bottom left picture so neither one was smiling.

The next day we headed over to Boone Creek Creamery for a tour of the cheese factory. This tour was not by appointment, it was just whenever you were able to stop in the tour started. It was just the five of us on the tour. We started off with a short video about how the creamery started and how they go about making cheese that is different from normal cheese making production. These are all pictures from inside the Hobbit Cave, which is a cooler that houses all their cheese for 90 days while it ages. Both the kids started to get a little cold in the Hobbit Cave because it is kept at a cold 53 degrees all the time.

The tour concluded with a sampling of all the different cheeses that they make. They also tell everyone that in order to become a cheese minion you have to put on a cheese hat and get inside the original pot that they started making cheese in. The pot was a little taller that we thought. Grandpa had trouble getting in and out of it, so Grandma decided to pass on getting inside. Our favorite cheeses were: Grandpa - Jerk Cheddar & Ginger Rogers, Grandma - Scandinavian Bread Cheese, Me - Sassy Redhead, the kids - cheddar.

The kids didn't like most of the cheese samples because they were more unique than the basic cheddar and mozzarella that they are used to. Grandma and Grandpa liked it and even got some to take home with them. Overall, I would say that if you like cheese and have about 30-45 minutes then you should definitely head over and check out Boone Creek Creamery.

We always have a good time when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit, but we all really enjoyed getting out and seeing some of the local establishments and taking tours of them. I have already been searching for places that we can go and explore next time they are up to visit. Thanks for reading and God bless!