The Kentucky Dinner Train

Yeah, yeah...

I know just lurking on these boards that it's probably not the epitome of fine dining.

I'm from West Texas (think Deadwood as far as landscape)...I'm an only child and my mom comes up to visit only once a year (usually Christmas or MAJOR events). (I'm not a worthless only child...I do make it home once or twice a year and we talk ALOT on the phone). She's a retired art teacher and despite my best efforts to endear her to the Ville she'd rather just visit and go home. She's got a great network there. I've been trying to get her (now that she is retired...and still in her right mind) to warm to the idea of moving here eventually. We are settled..my in-laws (that she loves) live here and I've got a good 20 years before retirement. (again..I'm an only child..I know this is going to fall on me anyway).

So this year when she said she was not coming for Christmas but wanted to come at least once before the year ended I suggested that she come when the leaves were at full color. We moved here in 1997...I was STUNNED by the fall color.

So she will be here in middle October. I suggested the dinner train. The reason being is a long time ago I heard it was wonderful that time of year. (I plan to feed her first..I'm not expecting much other than scenery)

Any other suggestions? Again..she's an artist. We did St. James the first year we moved out here, she was impressed but really it's just too much for only one event and I just wanted her to enjoy the best week of the fall season and our regular life here.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Best,
Sarita

The train is fun but the food is so so. Later in the year it might be dark and you won't see much unless they have a lunch ride.

Other options would be a nice restaurant in an elegant country setting such as Holly Hill Inn in Midway or Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg. Just an alternative to consider.

http://www.hollyhillinn.com/
http://www.beaumontinn.com/

Huh ?...Are you copying me ? This pretty much describes my situation...only child, aging mother, too many miles. Frustrating ain't it ? My daughter was in town visiting last month and I drove a total of 20 hours (Up/Back/Up/Back) bringing my mom down here so she could see her granddaughter. If I were a betting man I'd say I'm going to be doing the same thing at Xmas. My mom has been making noises of varying decibels about moving down here for the last year but so far all she's done is waste a couple of realtors time and effort. I will be very surprised if ever progresses beyond simply making noise. (Are you listening Linda B).

The train is fun but the food is so so. Later in the year it might be dark and you won't see much unless they have a lunch ride.

She will be here October 14th thru the 20th. I'm not expecting much as far as dinner goes on the train but I hope for the best. I figured they don't have dinner trains at home and it would be a good time to go since I expect the scenery to be beautiful.

I'm just wanting her to get a sense of here that I got when I first moved here.

Like...these people are great..it's not home but it's really...really nice.
And the folks..you could never, ever meet more friendly people.

I'm from El Paso, Texas. (yeah..yeah..don't get me started about Texas Western/UK upset before I was born whatever thing..BTW...I actually met the Bear..he was amazing, a funny and a fantastic story teller kind of guy. GO MINERS!, and all of the crap going on in my old stomping grounds of Juarez going on right now (us high school kids called it J-town in the 80's.) it just breaks my heart. As a kid you could go down there and it was literally the difference of two cultures. It was fun...it was educating..and a little scary. This was just 10 miles from my front door growing up.

In El Paso best chili rellenos you will ever have in your life. If I could import those on a daily basis I would be a very, very, happy woman. Happy, fat and with high cholesterol..but happy none the less.

Now..just for a second I can see why mom wont leave.

I would like her to get a taste of here. Something different but just as good. A uncomplicated, simple taste of here. Like the Bardstown Road Farmer's Market on a good day, a block party or a card game. Even a long but beautiful ride...just to see the colors that do not present themselves in the desert.

When we talk of her eventual moving here..she says about home "good network", "loves her friends", "just got the house right", I get it...completely get it. There will be a time though that I will have to take care of her..and more than likely it will be here.

I would much rather her be comfortable now and actually love it here and want to settle here.

So...ideas please..your favorite hands down places in the fall here.

Best!
Sarita

We took Annes folks out for dinner on the Dinner Train. They are retired school teachers and dont care for activities that require a lot of walking around so this fit the bill. They really enjoyed the experience as well as the food. My biggest complaint was the fact the train only goes so far one direction and then goes back to the station in reverse. I suppose if your not from around here the scenery would be more enjoyable but I seem to remember seeing a lot of back yards and garages. That said, please keep in mind that Anne often refers to me as a stick in the mud curmudgeon type,so perhaps Im being to critical. Also not far away is the Makers Mark facility. Weve done most of the distillery tours and find this one to be the best.

Sarita, the dinner train is fun way to spent the afternoon, just as Mark said. Mark was also correct as far as the food goes. It's not bad, just don't go expecting an enlightening culinary experience. When you make reservations they give you a choice of beef, chicken or fish. I think we also got 2 desert choices. You are served at white tablecloth covered tables and nice china and glasses.

They give you a glass of champagne and a souvenir glass. There is a bar in the train station for a pretrip drink. They also have a wine list with a couple of nice choices. They take your picture and try to sell it to you, which is nice I guess if you forgot your camera.

The first third of the trip is indeed backyards and garages. But, then it gets scenic as the train route runs along Bernheim forest, over a deep ravine and into a heavily treed area. It's fun, especially if you like train rides. It's much better than the railroad museum ride which is all backyards and garages.

Call in advance as I would think they will be very busy that time of year.

Good luck.

David and John,

Thanks for letting me know what to expect. Our reservations are already made so I'm locked in. I'm a little disappointed that it will not be a loop tour but I think my mom will be pleased none the less. My husband is a stick in the mud for these sort of things himself so it will just be mom and me which suits her just fine. The distillery tour sounds good however mom is a bit of a lightweight and it might be lost on her. I've never managed to take her to 21C. The only museum I've taken her to here was the Speed. (I'm a REAL stick in the mud when it comes to museums due to being dragged thru every single one in my mother's path as a child) I understand that Cincinnati has some nice ones.

Hopefully everything will go well. Thanks everyone for your input.

Best,
Sarita

The distillery tour sounds good however mom is a bit of a lightweight and it might be lost on her.

Weve taken folks there who dont do any drinking at all and they found it very interesting from a historical point of view. The grounds there are filled with old buildings that have restored back to their old glory and the landscaping around the grounds is very nice as well.

Sorry to be late, and not to be unfaithful to my tried and true Kentucky, but with your mother's art background and all, she might enjoy a trip to Nashville/Columbus, Indiana. Not too far. The colors will be even more vibrant there in mid-October. Lunch or dinner at the Nashville House is fun (especially the fried biscuits and apple butter), there's some good art places (away from the touristy stuff) in Nashville and it will be mobbed that time of year. Also, a little side trip to Columbus is only a few miles from I-65 in the other direction and the art, architecture and sculptures in Columbus are amazing.

We will have enough time to do all of these suggestions.

Thanks a bunch and keep em comin!;-)

[Robin Garr]

Indiana

Has anyone mentioned a ride up to Joe Huber's?

1. I wouldn't "feed her first" . . . true, the train food is not exceptional, but you are paying for it (and, you can't really ruin prime rib!)

2. Heaven Hill distillery is around 2 miles from the train, and is the best tour in Bardstown area; Woodford Reserve is great tour more off of I-64

3. I would take her to either Whistle Stop (with all the antique stores in the neighborhood) in Glendale (off I-65 one exit South of Elizabethtown) or to the "Glitz" restaurant in Irish Acres in Nonesuch (suburb of Versailles - look up IrishAcres.com) (it's the best antique store in KY, and the restaurant - while only open for prixfix lunch - is wonderful) where you drive past both forests and the finest horse farms around.

While I am a bourbon drinker and enjoy the distillery tours, I'd rather spend a relaxing day at one of the many vineyards in the area. Just much more relaxing, which is usually my goal. These are often located by small towns, which are also interesting and nice to take in.

http://www.kentuckywine.com/

For a day trip, I'd recommend Bernheim Forest. Probably the spot to be around here in the fall, short of heading a bit north to Brown County. I never tire of Bernheim as it offers a nice mix of nature, animals, and art. Highly accessible too, which is good for those people who don't really like being outdoors.

http://www.bernheim.org/ Looks like "Color Fest" will be going on while your mother is in town.

A trip to Keeneland (which will be in session) or the Horse Park would be a nice afternoon as well.

Heya folks,

Thank you so much...these are all very good suggestions. It will give her a taste of a place that makes me feel like I'm home even if I'm not from here.

I'm hoping that she will bring her "supplies". (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Bernheim idea!) We keep a sketchbook, pencils and pens for her bidding when she is here (usually during the holidays). I'm hoping for a great show with the trees. Stunning really...if you live in the desert none the less.

And...keep em coming!:-)

Take care and I hope all is well.

Best,
Sarita

So Sarita what did you end up doing and how did it go?