2023 Best in Kentucky finalists!

The wait is over. The 2023 Best in Kentucky finalists are here! Voting will begin on May 1. Until then, learn about each finalist below and get ready to vote for your favorite. Congratulations to all of our finalists and thank you to our sponsor, Hart County Tourism!

PEOPLE & PERSONALITIES 

LOCAL RADIO HOST 

• Kellie McKay (NASH 103.7), Glasgow
• Cale Tharp (WLCB 93.7), Hodgenville
• Lucas Ross (WOKH 102.7), Bardstown

LOCAL TV PERSONALITY

• Morgan Hoover (WNKY), Bowling Green
• Dawne Gee (WAVE), Louisville
• Candyce Clifft (WDRB), Louisville

METEOROLOGIST

• Bill Meck (LEX18), Lexington
• Marc Weinberg (WDRB), Louisville
• Kevin Harned (WAVE), Louisville

KENTUCKY MUSICIAN OR BAND

• Tyler Childers, Nashville, Tennessee (from Lawrence County)
• JD Shelburne, Nashville, Tennessee (from Taylorsville)
• Chris Stapleton, Nashville, Tennessee (from Staffordsville)

KENTUCKY ATHLETE

• Justin Thomas, Louisville
• Reed Sheppard, London
• Oscar Tshiebwe, Lexington (from Democratic Republic of the Congo)

DESTINATION 

ROAD TRIP 

• Red River Gorge Geological Area, Stanton
• Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave
• Cumberland Falls at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin

DISTILLERY TOUR

• Maker’s Mark Distillery, Loretto
• Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort
• Wilderness Trail Distillery, Danville

EVENT OR FESTIVAL 

• Marion County Country Ham Days, Lebanon
• Lincoln Days Celebration, Hodgenville
• Glendale Crossing Festival, Glendale

FARM TOURIST ATTRACTION 

• Gallrein Farms, Shelbyville
• Hinton’s Orchard & Farm Market, Hodgenville
• Dennison’s Roadside Market, Horse Cave 

PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC

• Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, Mt. Vernon
• The AMP at Log Still, New Haven
• Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree, Hodgenville

MUSEUM 

• Frazier History Museum, Louisville
• Lincoln Museum, Hodgenville
• Creation Museum, Petersburg

KID-FRIENDLY ATTRACTION 

• Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Horse Cave
• Ark Encounter, Williamstown
• Louisville Zoo, Louisville

WINERY 

• Farmer & Frenchman Winery, Henderson
• Talon Winery, Shelbyville
• Purple Toad Winery, Paducah

HISTORIC ATTRACTION

• Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg
• My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown 
• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Hodgenville

SPECIALTY LODGING OR BED & BREAKFAST

• Lincoln Lodge, Hodgenville
• Reed-Dossey Bed & Breakfast, Brownsville 
• St. Clair Motor Lodge, Falls of Rough

OUTDOOR

CAMPING OR RV SPOT 

• Green River Lake State Park, Campbellsville 
• Horse Cave KOA Holiday, Horse Cave
• Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave

PLACE FOR ADVENTURE 

• Red River Gorge Geological Area, Stanton
• Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, Golden Pond
• Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave 

HIKING TRAIL

• Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont
• Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave
• Red River Gorge Geological Area, Stanton 

PUBLIC HUNTING OR FISHING SPOT

• Nolin River Lake, Bee Spring
• Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, Golden Pond 
• Green River Lake State Park, Campbellsville

WATER TOURISM SPOT 

• Green River Lake State Park, Campbellsville
• Lake Cumberland
• Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough

EATS & DRINKS 

BREAKFAST PLACE

• Cedarwood Restaurant, Lebanon
• Mammy’s Kitchen & Bar, Bardstown
• Carriss’s Grocery, Shelbyville

BOURBON

• Maker’s Mark, Loretto
• Woodford Reserve, Versailles
• Wilderness Trail, Danville 

BARBECUE

• B&N Food Market, Bagdad
• Red State BBQ, Lexington
• Arrowhead BBQ, Hodgenville

CRAFT BEER 

• Scout & Scholar Brewing Company, Bardstown
• Henderson Brewing Co., Henderson
• Country Boy Brewing, Georgetown and Lexington

HAMBURGER 

• 5 Broke Girls, Horse Cave
• Laha’s Red Castle, Hodgenville
• B&N Food Market, Bagdad

BAKERY

• Burke’s Bakery & Delicatessen, Danville
• Hadorn’s Bakery, Bardstown
• A Sweet Retreat, Elizabethtown

DOWN-HOME RESTAURANT 

• Country Store, Bradfordsville
• B&N Food Market, Bagdad
• The Lighthouse Restaurant, Sulphur Well 

COFFEE SHOP

• Antler Specialty Goods, Henderson
• Vibe Coffee, Elizabethtown & Hodgenville
• The Storehouse Coffee & Gifts, Leitchfield

SWEETS SHOP

• Ruth Hunt Candies, Mt. Sterling & Lexington
• Serendipity Kandy Kitchen, Shelbyville
• The Sweet Shoppe and Dessert Cafe, Hodgenville

FOOD TRUCK

• Taste Budz, Glasgow
• Maillard Wood Fired Kitchen, Campbellsville
• Juanito’s Street Tacos & More, Radcliff & Bardstown

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