"Only a few cities are arts-centric enough to be part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and Paducah, Kentucky, is one of them. The National Quilt Museum and the Floodwall Murals, a series of more than 50 oversized panoramic images by globally known mural artist Robert Dafford, are just a few of the sites that earned the town its status as a City of Crafts and Folk Art. There are also dedicated quilt weeks in April and September. For creativity of the architectural stripe, check out the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant: It’s been faithfully restored to preserve the design details of the original circa-1939 building, and today, the historic building houses local, creative food and drink makers and purveyors, like Dry Ground Brewing, Mellow Mushroom Pizza, Piper’s Tea & Coffee, and the Ice Cream Factory. Local is also the name of the game at Freight House, where native daughter Sara Bradley, a veteran of kitchens in New York and Chicago, uses Kentucky-sourced ingredients in her imaginative Southern-accented dishes. Finish it off with a stay at the 1857 Hotel, located in a gorgeously retrofitted building that dates to the 1800s, and you’ll leave with a rich appreciation for the creative energy of the Bluegrass State."
By Budget Travel Editors, Budget Travel
View this round-up of value trips across the South to inspire you to see more of America!