Go Out, Have Fun & Enjoy Lexington in a Sober-Friendly Environment
There is plenty of fun to be had in recovery. Some of these activities can be enjoyed for free, but make sure to look for discounts and coupons to save money for those that come with a price! Here is a list of sober-friendly things to do in Lexington. Click on the links below for more details and let us know if there is an alcohol-free option we should add to the list.
Adventure
- Breakout Games: This Escape Room in Lexington has a variety of games and escape rooms with various themes to have fun with family and friends.
- Horse Country: Horse Country is a not-for-profit organization comprised of stallion farms, nurseries, veterinary clinics, racetracks and training, and adoption facilities. Guests can get a behind-the-scenes look of the farm.
- Activate Games: High-tech games that test your team’s physical and mental agility across a variety of challenges. Your team must choose from hundreds of combinations of games and difficulty levels that last one to three minutes.
- Boone Creek Outdoors: Fully guided zip-line canopy tour through the Kentucky River Palisades. Guests will see beautiful nature landscapes along the course that features six zip-lines, three suspension bridges, a floating staircase, and a rappel.
- Canoe Kentucky: Float down the Elkhorn Creek in a canoe, kayak, or raft. Canoe Kentucky also offers whitewater rafting and float trips as well as fishing and swimming.
- **Main Event: Play a variety of games, including bowling, laser tag, billiards, arcade games, and more, with friends or family, while enjoying delicious food, at Main Event.
- Champs: There’s fun for everyone at Champs, varying from roller blading, laser tag, mini golf, and more!
- **Malibu Jack’s: This indoor amusement park has an abundance of entertainment for everyone. Enjoy multiple ride attractions, go karts, laser tag, mini golf, virtual reality games, bowling, and more.
- Lex Rage: Do you need to let your feelings out, but don’t know how to? Try the Lex Rage room, where you will have a space to freely express yourself outside of what is normally accepted, with safety measures in place.
Arts & Music
- The Artist’s Attic: A non-profit organization that promotes the visual arts through demonstrations, classes, and workshops. Visitors can explore art galleries, watch the artists work, and purchase art.
- Institute 193: Contemporary art museum that hosts musical performances, film screenings, lectures, and other community events in addition to visual, contemporary art exhibits.
- Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center: Centerpiece for Lexington’s African American families hosting movies, fashion shows, performances, films, and exhibits in its theater, museum, and gallery.
- Living Arts & Science Center: LASC combines art, education, and community service for all ages. Guests can interact with animals, explore the science exhibits, examine space at the Farish planetarium, walk through art galleries, and more.
- Lexington Opera House: See stunning theatre performances, comedy shows, plays, concerts, and more at the Central Bank Center, otherwise known as the Lexington Opera House.
Food & Restaurants
- Julietta Market: This expansive multi-vendor public market is open year-round. Vendors include food and beverage stalls, home goods, clothing boutiques, and various handmade crafted items like soaps, candles, and jewelry.
- DV8 Kitchen: At DV8 Kitchen, they understand the challenges people in recovery face. That’s why they offer second chance employment opportunities for anyone in recovery looking to start fresh. Their delicious, affordable menu offers options such as baked goods, salads, breakfast reubens, lunch sandwiches, tacos, and more.
- **Lockbox: With modern art on display and several flavorful food options, Lockbox also has three alcohol-free mocktails to choose.
- Arirang Garden: Enjoy delicious Korean cuisine and try their unique Korean Barbeque menu options.
- Charlie Brown’s Restaurant and Lounge: For over 50 years, this restaurant has been serving great food and attentive service. With affordable prices, there are food options that everyone will like at Charlie Brown’s.
Museums
- Mary Todd Lincoln House Self-Guided Tour: Take a self-guided tour of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln’s childhood home to explore her story of controversy and tragedy.
- Aviation Museum of Kentucky: Explore aircrafts and aviation artifacts by viewing equipment, simulators, and interactive displays at the Aviation Museum.
- Darby Dan House Farm Tour: This iconic farm was the film location for the movie Secretariat and is home to several stunning horses.
- International Museum of the Horse: Largest museum in the world to explore the relationship between horses and humans.
- Camp Nelson National Monument: The US Army established Camp Nelson as a fortified supply depot in April 1863. The site evolved into a massive recruitment and training center for African American soldiers and a refugee camp for their families and runaway slaves.
Parks
- The Arboretum State Botanical Garden of Kentucky: A hundred acres composed of plants and trees from different regions in Kentucky, The Arboretum Woods, rose gardens, horticulture display gardens, and the children’s garden.
- Gratz Park: Gratz Park features a sculptured fountain, walking paths, and shady green space. Stroll along historic, colorful homes with beautiful gardens, or have a picnic.
- Jacobson Park: This 216 acre park has several amenities including: a basketball court, dog park, fishing, pedal boats & kayaks, open play fields, shelters, volleyball, golf courses, and a reservoir.
- Kentucky Horse Park: Attend live shows, saddle-up for a horseback trail ride or pony ride, and stay at the park’s 260-site campground with a pool, tennis court, playgrounds, and biking trails.
- McConnell Springs Park: This 26-acre park is home to unique features such as the sinking artesian springs, and is also a historic site that is celebrated as the place where Lexington was named in 1775.
- Hisle Farm Park: Roam 280 acres of beautiful rolling pastures located five miles from downtown. The park includes a shared-use trail system for horse riders and hikers, featuring trails that are one to two and half miles long. In addition, it features 10-lane target archery range for anyone looking to practice their archery skills.
Recovery Resources
- The Recovery Café: Although not an actual café, this peer-led, peer-run community space allows people in recovery to build relationships with each other and find supportive resources. They also offer home-cooked meals for guests.
- Voices of Hope: This organization focuses on being responsive to the needs of the recovery community by providing resources like naloxone distribution and training, recovery support coaching, hospital partnerships, mobile recovery centers, education, and more.
BrightView wants to help connect people in recovery and help them enjoy life without drugs and alcohol. Contact us at 833.510.HELP for more information.
**PLEASE NOTE: This venue also serves beverages containing alcohol.
Photo: Gene Devine on Unsplash