Lost in the Right Direction: A Backroads Weekend in Kentucky
Just 40 minutes from Lexington, Backroads & Barrels in Salvisa, gave us the kind of Kentucky getaway that felt much farther from home — in the best possible way. Sometimes the best trips are the ones that make you wonder, How have we never been here before?
That was exactly how we felt heading to Backroads & Barrels, a private country retreat tucked away in Salvisa, Kentucky.
Salvisa is only about 30 miles from Lexington, which somehow made the whole weekend even better. We were close enough that getting there was easy, but once we arrived, it felt like we had completely escaped. The roads got quieter. The scenery opened up. The houses became fewer and farther between.
And suddenly, we were surrounded by that quintessential Kentucky countryside we all say we love, but probably don’t spend nearly enough time enjoying.
The Kind of Place That Makes You Want to Stay In
The first thing we noticed about Backroads & Barrels was the privacy. The house sits on almost eight acres, surrounded by country views and plenty of room to breathe. It felt secluded without feeling remote, and from the minute we walked through the door, we knew this was going to be a fun weekend.
The house is big — six bedrooms big — but it never felt overwhelming. It comfortably sleeps up to 16 guests while still feeling warm, inviting, and never crowded. Everyone had plenty of room to spread out, the bedrooms were cozy, and the bedding was so comfortable that getting out of bed in the morning required a little extra motivation.
And the primary bathroom? That shower was huge, beautiful, and definitely one of those little luxuries you notice when you’re away from home.
Backroads & Barrels Front of House Living Room Kitchen Dining Room Basement Den Back Deck Primary Bedroom Primary Shower Primary Bathroom Downstairs Bedroom Mid floor Bedroom 1 Downstairs Bedroom Downstairs Bedroom Loft bedroom Game Room
The kitchen quickly became our gathering spot. It was spacious, fully stocked, and had everything we needed for cooking all weekend. And we cooked a lot. I felt so relaxed, I even made a few meals—and anyone who knows me knows, that’s really saying something!
But as much as we loved the kitchen, the real fun was everywhere else. There was a private theater, golf simulator, shuffleboard, sauna, hot tub, fire pit, and a game room that we absolutely put to good use. There may have been a little friendly competition involved.
I do have a competitive spirit!
A Kentucky Friday Done Right
One of the things that makes Salvisa such a great location is how close it is to both Lawrenceburg and Harrodsburg, two of Kentucky’s most charming small-town getaways So, Friday afternoon, we decided to start the weekend with something that felt very Kentucky. Bourbon.
We headed to Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg for a tour and tasting, and it was the perfect way to begin the trip. There’s something about visiting a distillery while you’re staying out in the Kentucky countryside that just feels right.
Four Roses Outside Four Roses Gift Shop Four Roses Tasting Four Roses Gift Shop Four Roses Bourbon Four Roses Display Four Roses Event Space Four Roses Bourbon Slushies Four Roses Visitor's Center
We settled in for a bourbon tasting and took our time enjoying the flavors that make Kentucky bourbon so special. Then we grabbed a bourbon slushy and headed out to the patio, where the beautiful grounds made the whole experience feel even more memorable. Surrounded by such a peaceful, picturesque setting, it was easy to feel completely transported — like we had escaped much farther from home than we actually had. It was one of those simple Kentucky afternoons that made us want to slow down, stay awhile, and just take it all in. The setting, the history, the process behind the bourbon — it all becomes part of the experience instead of just another stop on an itinerary.
Later that evening, we made our way toward Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, one of those Kentucky places that feels like a destination all its own. Set on beautiful countryside, it’s part historic site, part nature retreat, and part getaway, with historic buildings, walking trails, dining, special events, live music and plenty to explore.
We also made time to browse the shops, which feature products from local artists and makers. It was the kind of shopping we love — unique, thoughtful and full of things that actually feel connected to Kentucky.
As the sun began to set, we settled into the slower pace of a perfect Kentucky evening. We grabbed cocktails, found a spot on the lawn, and listened to live music while enjoying the scenery. No rushing. No complicated plans. Just a beautiful Kentucky evening.
Shaker Village Shaker Village Music on the Lawn Shaker Village Outdoors Shaker Village Music Shaker Village Duet Shaker Village Tam Riding a Bike Shaker Village Trustees' Table Shaker Village Gift Shop Shaker Village Gifts
Then came dinner, and it did not disappoint. We headed inside to The Trustees’ Table at Shaker Village. We filled our table with salmon, fried chicken, corn pudding and plenty more. But the star of the table was The Taste of Kentucky Sampler that included smoked poblano pimento cheese, benedictine, Broadbent country ham, mini-buttermilk biscuits, candied pecans, local preserves, and Kenny's tomato basil cheese. It was the kind of meal where everyone keeps passing plates around saying, “You have to try this.” It's a wonder we had room for dessert!
Trustees' Table Kentucky Platter Trustees' Table Dinner Trustees' Table Pie
Between the food, the cocktails, the music and the setting, it was easily one of the most relaxing parts of the weekend. And somehow, the night was still about to get even better.
A Harvest Moon Kind of Night
When we got back to Backroads & Barrels, we headed outside. We lit the fire pit, sat around talking, laughing and enjoying the quiet.
Sauna Campfire
Then we climbed into the sauna and hot tub. And above us was a huge harvest moon.
That was the moment. Sitting in a hot tub under a harvest moon, surrounded by Kentucky countryside, with absolutely nowhere else we needed to be. It was simple. And it was perfect.
Saturday Was for Football, Food & Staying Put
Saturday morning started with breakfast casserole, coffee and a very important question:
What time does the UK game start? We had planned from the beginning to tailgate at the house, and Backroads & Barrels turned out to be made for it.
There was plenty of space for food, drinks, football and hanging out, without having to fight traffic, find parking or pack up an entire tailgate setup. We turned on the game, put out the food and settled in. It was one of those afternoons where nobody was in a hurry to do anything else.
And that ended up changing our plans. We had originally thought we might go out again Saturday night. But the more time we spent at the house, the more we realized we really didn’t want to leave. So we didn’t.
Instead, we fired up the Traeger grill. Burgers went on the grill, pasta salad and beans rounded out dinner, and we had one of those meals that was simple but tasted extra good because of where we were eating it.
Tailgating Dinner! Tam and Leigh watching Live from Chevy Chase Amy is the dart master! Poker Table Tam golfing Steve and Scott playing shuffleboard Tam and Leigh playing pool Playing poker!
After dinner, we headed to the poker table. The game? Texas Hold 'Em. And let me say, not to brag... but I won! Who knew I could cook and win poker, all in one day! Miracles do really happen!
Then it was back outside to the fire pit, where we ended the night the same way we had the night before — laughing, talking and soaking up the quiet. Those simple moments ended up being some of our favorites. No schedule to keep. No rushing off to the next thing. Just good friends, a warm fire and nowhere else we needed to be.
Sometimes the Best Part of a Trip Is Doing Less
That ended up being one of our biggest takeaways from the weekend. We absolutely loved the bourbon tour. We had a blast at Shaker Village. We loved the food, the music and exploring nearby areas. But some of our favorite moments happened when we weren’t doing much at all.
Playing poker.
Cooking together.
Watching football.
Sitting around a campfire.
Relaxing in the hot tub.
Enjoying the quiet.
Sometimes you don’t realize how much you need that until you finally slow down long enough to enjoy it.
Why We Loved It So Much
Maybe the best part of the entire weekend was realizing how close all of this was to home. In less than an hour, we were completely immersed in everything we love about the Bluegrass.
And a house that gave us every reason to slow down and enjoy it all. That is what made this trip feel special. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t over-planned. It just felt like Kentucky. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. And let me just say, it was the perfect couples retreat but would also be good for a family gathering, girls' getaway or just a staycation with friends.
Would We Recommend Backroads & Barrels?
Absolutely. 10 out of 10.
The house had everything we could have wanted, and then some. It was beautiful, comfortable, private, spacious and packed with things to do. We were home in no time.
But we really hated to leave.
If you live in Lexington, you don’t need to travel hours to feel like you’ve gotten away. And if you’re visiting Kentucky, Backroads & Barrels gives you the perfect place to experience the Bluegrass while still having a retreat all your own.
So grab your friends, pack a bag and take the backroads.
You may find that one of your favorite Kentucky getaways was closer than you thought.
For more info or to book you stay check out Backroads and Barrels but clicking here.
Kentucky Taste Buds rating: 10/10. We’d go back in a heartbeat and we plan on doing just that.
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