My stay in Owensboro was hosted by Visit Owensboro, but all thoughts and opinions about my stay and activities are my own.

Nestled just across the Ohio River from Indiana, Owensboro, Kentucky is a growing city and the Bluegrass Capital of the World. I recently spent a weekend there while visiting Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and it’s the perfect getaway if you’re looking for some good bar-be-que, bourbon and live music!

Where to Eat

I started my day with breakfast at Red Swing Coffee and had the most delicious strawberries and cream bubble waffle. They also have cupcakes, smoothies, acai bowls, lunch wraps and sandwiches and non-coffee drinks. Gramps Coffee and Donuts was also highly recommended, but I wasn’t able to stop in there, so I’m saving it for my next trip!

Looking for bar-be-que? Try Old Hickory, a 100-year-old local favorite with award winning sauces. They serve up mutton, pork, beef, chicken and a variety of other meats and sides. I had the chopped pork, tried all 5 of their specialty sauces and everything was exceptionally delicious. There are a couple of other bar-be-que joints in town too – the world famous Moonlight BBQ Inn, which is buffet style and Ole South, which claims to be Owensboro’s best kept BBQ secret.

I also grabbed a thai milk tea from Mr. Bubble, which was a great afternoon pick-me-up!

Take A Distillery Tour

In the mid-60s, Congress declared bourbon to be America’s native spirit. A uniquely distinct product of the United States, the colonists who settled here found that barley did not grow well, so they created way to distill corn instead. Kentucky boasts a Bourbon Trail that encompasses every corner of the bluegrass state and prides itself on some of the best bourbon in the country.

During my weekend in Owensboro, I was able to tour Green River Distillery, which is Kentucky’s 10th oldest distillery. Even though I am not a bourbon drinker myself, I found the tour extremely informative and interesting and would recommend it to anyone! You can tour if you are under 21, but you won’t be able to sample the bourbons at the end.

There are a few other distilleries in Owensboro too but Green River is considered one of the top tours in the state, so I definitely recommend that one!

Explore Bluegrass Heritage

Dubbed the Bluegrass Capital of the World, Owensboro is home to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Growing up, my family would often go to music festivals and those continue there today. The museum is a great place to explore the foundations and history of the genre and you’ll find a lot of memorabilia like Uncle Pen’s Fiddle (from the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe) to special exhibits like Jerry Garcia’s personal collection.

There’s even a picking room where you can listen to live musicians, choose an instrument and join in – no prior musical talent required. The brand new facility opened in the downtown area in 2018 and there are also concerts held here too. I spent a little over an hour here, but I you could linger longer because there’s lots to read and learn about the history of bluegrass.

Walk the Riverfront

The city of Owensboro has put in a huge effort to redevelop the river front area and it’s really paid off! There is a lovely river walk along the Ohio with several fountains, a splash park and a space called Smothers Park that hosts live music performances.

You also get a great view of the blue bridge, which is lit up at night and a must-see! There are lots of places to eat not far that have a river view and you are steps away from other downtown shops and restaurants. You will also find a Veterans Memorial and some public art along the way as well.

For more from my trip to Owebsboro, be sure to watch my YouTube vlog! Thank you to Visit Owensboro for hosting my stay, providing me tickets to the museum and distillery tour.