7.0 out of 10

Frankfort

38.1893722991236 -84.8688019889026
Great for
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Clean & Green
  • Eating Out
  • Internet Access
  • Safe & Sound
Not great for
  • Cost of Living
  • Lack of Traffic
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Tourists
  • Professionals
  • Retirees

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"From the past to present, there's plenty to do and see in Frankfort!"

Frankfort is a lovely town not too far away from my home of Lexington. It's also the state capital, so there is a fair bit going on here. Kentucky is a historic state, so it's fitting that it has a capital that is historic and has a fair number of attractions. These attractions may not be as exciting as bigger cities like Cincinnati or Lexington, but there's still enough to entertain.

First, the history. You can come to check out Fort Hill, which was an important site for the Civil War. The Union built a fort there, but it was occupied on occasion by the Confederate army and a fair amount of blood was spilt here. These days there isn't any blood being spilled, but there is a great view of the town from Fort Hill, and there's a fair amount of greenery to wander through on a pleasant Spring day. You can still see the remains of some Civil War forts, and you can find the Sullivan House here still as well. It's been around for about 200 years or more, and while it doesn't have a wide variety of things to see, you can still see much of the spirit of Frankfort. These interesting bits of history are sprinkled all around the town and give it a distinct flavor.

For those firmly planted in the present, Frankfort has a wonderful selection of restaurants, from Rick's White Light Diner for some good Southern Cajun to La Fiesta for Mexican. My little girl likes Ginza for a little Asian cuisine, and there are plenty of other options should you somehow get bored with these.

The same thing goes for nightlife, as there are a fair number of bars and pubs to have a few drinks. The Dragon Pub is a popular option, as is The Brick Alley. Lots of good options to choose from here.

I'm quite a fan of Frankfort. There's plenty to do and see, the people are friendly, and you have some good educational opportunities if you're a parent. I'd have a harder time coming up with negatives that positives. Highly recommended.
Pros
  • Friendly town
  • Many restaurants and bars
  • Historic landmarks everywhere
  • Safe
Cons
  • A bit loud at times
  • Not a ton of jobs
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"A historic town with plenty to do in the here and now!"

Frankfort is the state capital of of Kentucky and a fairly historic town. I love all the local history, and the fact that so many landmarks remain is a testament to how cool this town can be.

First, the town is super old, having started in the late 1700s, and it's so old the name comes from an attack on early settlers in the area by Native Americans. But it's not just the name that makes Frankfort a cool place as there's history all over the place. You have really old churches like First Baptist Church, which has been around for something like 200 years, and the Church of the Ascension is also incredibly old and beautiful. It's hard to not be impressed by all the local history.

But for those of us living in the here and now there's still plenty to do and see in Frankfort. The town is still home to a fair number of distilleries of bourbon, so if you like to drink and find alcohol distilling interesting it's more than worthwhile to check out the Buffalo Trace Distillery. It's the oldest distillery in the US, and it's pretty cool to see how they make their bourbon. I went there once a few years back and it was interesting. This, along with Frankfort's status as state capital, helps bring in some tourism which brings in extra money and makes Frankfort more successful.

When you want to get something to eat I'd suggest a few different places, dependent on what you're in the mood for. Adelia's Bakery is great for a cup of coffee and a sandwich, Casa Fiesta is fantastic for Mexican food, and Ginza is great for sushi. You won't go hungry or have to look very hard to find a good place to take a date in Frankfort.

As the state capital, Frankfort has a lot of help from the state government, and this equates to better educational opportunities. Frankfort High School has good facilities and dedicated teachers, and I know a lot of parents are happy with it, as they are with Frankfort Christian Academy, which is a private school with fairly high test scores.

When you want to get outdoors, check out Leslie Morris Park. It's not as much fun for activities, but there's quite a bit of history here, and you can see old buildings and landmarks as you go for a walk. I like that there's so much history everywhere you go in Frankfort. It makes for a fun town.

Frankfort is a nice place. It's safe, clean, historic and you'll have plenty to do. Parents can trust the schools to properly teach their kids and there are plenty of places to get a bite to eat. I like it here and would love to move here some day if I can find a job in the area.
Pros
  • Historic landmarks everywhere
  • Cool bourbon distilleries nearby
  • Safe
Cons
  • Not a ton of jobs
  • Not enough recreational activities
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Tourists

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