America's Best-Kept Secret

Lexington, Kentucky. I loved when we went in early April, and I still long to be there over a month later. When we got on the plane from O'Hare to Lexington's airport, we got into a little regional jet. Despite all the flying and traveling I have done with my family over my life, I have never had to walk outside to get on a plane before. Ever. So of course, I anticipated Kentucky would be capital of hickville. Little did I know. As we were preparing to land in Lexington, I looked out the window and saw the most picturesque view I had ever seen in my entire life. I have been to France, and I have traveled the French countryside. I have been to Aix-en-Provence. I have been to Rothenburg, Germany. I have traveled all around Austria. I have traveled much of California and Hawaii. It's not as if I have been sitting at home all these years. Lexington was the last place I figured would capture my heart. While descending into the town, I could see little white houses with white picket fences (electronic devices weren't allowed at the time or I definitely would have taken pictures). If anywhere, the American dream lives here.

But yes, all places have faults. Lexington's one fault (and this applies for much of Kentucky, I assume) is horses, horses, and OMGHORSES. Everywhere we went, we were bombarded by horse pictures, horse paintings, horse statuettes, the works. Other than the horses though, I'm pretty sure this place is perfect.

And that's not even a fourth of the pictures I took, most of them more beautiful and charming than the posted ones. What gets me is that no one is on the streets. I envisioned one of Kentucky's largest cities to be bustling at least, but it's quiet (but not eerily quiet). It's like no one knows this little gem exists.

(And surprisingly, very few Lexingtonians have accents.)