A Visit to Talbot's Tavern and Inn in Bardstown, Kentucky

Kentucky is a grand place to visit any time of the year. The lush foliage alone makes it a haven for outdoors enthusiasts. So perfect for camping and hiking, Kentucky's countryside is also dotted with some more peculiar interests. The Talbot Tavern is one of those peculiarities. Said to be haunted, the story of this tavern and inn dates back to the 1700s with such prestigious guests as Abe Lincoln and Daniel Boone. According to their website, talbotts.com, it is said to be America's oldest western stagecoach stop and has serviced weary travelers for centuries.

Bardstown, Kentucky is known as the Bourbon Capital of the world. The Talbot Tavern is one of Bardtowns only two taverns. It is housed in a stone building that is hundreds of years old. Despite its famous guests there have been teems of average Americans shuffle about the lounge, guest rooms and grounds each leaving their own intangible mark in their wake. Some not so intangible like the murals painted on the upstairs walls by exiled French King Louis Phillipe and his posse and the bullet holes in the walls left by Jesse James.

The tavern holds live entertainment on weekends and serves a variety of better-than-average samples of Kentucky cuisine. Kentucky Burgoo, fried green tomatoes and Old Kentucky Hot Brown's are the local favorites. Hot Browns are a calorie rich comfort food made of toast points covered in cured ham and smoked turkey with Morney sauce, cheddar cheese, bacon and tomato piled on top. Keeping in mind that this is the Bourbon capital of the world the tavern does not disappoint in its small but satisfying selection of Bourbons. The live entertainment on weekends is always a surprise.

There are five rooms for rent at Talbot's Tavern and Inn. Each room is named after its most famous visitor and decorated in the style of the time. The rooms have either one or two beds and a private bath. The Washington Irving Suite is a large suite with a fireplace and sitting room. The Lincoln Suite contains a sitting room in addition to a bedroom with full size antique bed and claw footed tub and shower.

This rich and layered history lends itself to reverberating tales year after year. Tales of the infamous embellished with a taste of literary license helps ghost stories and ethereal visions last for life times. While all the rooms of the Talbot have reported ghostly stomping, phantom voices arguing and ethereal apparitions. However, it is the tavern itself that seems to be haunted. Jesse James has been reported as a regular haunter whispering, stomping and creeping out the revelers at the bar.

Rife with history, significant attractions and unique entertainment opportunities, this bed and breakfast is a cool little get away all on its own or during a festival like the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and the Bardstown Ghost Trek. During these special occasions it is best to make reservations far ahead of time and plan to arrive early. Expect you visit to be a lively one and make sure loud music and street noises are OK with you. Go off season for a quieter stay but even then the front rooms are susceptible to the noise from the tavern and band below.

I used my own experience for this article. I have been to this Inn and to the Bourbon festival many times.
http://www.talbotts.com
http:// www.kybourbonfestival.com/
http:// www.bardstowntourism.com