When relatives live a long distance away, you get to know the places

to stop on the road.  The places that have the best meals, the best inns,

the places that have interesting shops and events.

On our long trips (12 hours of driving) to North Carolina from Michigan

to visit relatives, we have discovered Berea Kentucky. 

 Berea College has been in existence since 1855.  It is still the hub

of Berea activities and the base for its Artistic Roots.

Berea College offfers its students Bachelor of Science and Arts Degrees.

Berea College exists for the young people of Appalachia, so they can get

an education and make a living.  The hills of Kentucky don’t

have a lot of heavy industry, manufacturing plants, or flat farm country.

So instead of losing their young people to big cities for employment,

they are giving them an education.  Native Kentucky crafts, such as

hand made brooms and baskets are also marketed through the college

work programs.  In fact, HAND MADE is the theme in Berea.  There are

giant decorated Hands all over the area.

We stayed overnight at Berea, and had breakfast at the Boone Tavern Inn.

They just completed a $ 1+ million renovation of the hotel and restaurant.

It is a historic building (part of Berea College) and the renovation is

spectacular.  We took a long morning to look around the galleries & shops.

We visited  Berea College’s Log Craft House where they sell student’s

and artist’s hand made crafts from pottery to jewelry to furniture.  Then

we went out to the Kentucky Artisan Center  near I 75, exit 77. This is a

huge building with gigantic galleries of  sculptures, blown glassware,

paintings, jewelry, carvings, and numerous other craft items for sale.

A collection that takes  some time to look over. 

They also have a wonderful cafe and grill that serves great food

(actual food – not fast food) and clean, modern restrooms.

This building is a wonderful place to stop if you are traveling through on

Interstate 75, just as a rest stop. We like to stop and walk around to

get the kinks out after travelling for many hours. But I doubt you can

resist buying something here!  The selection and quality is overwhelming.

We hope you enjoy this montage of photos we took while we were

visiting friendly Berea Kentucky.

Grand Rapids MI Real Estate  – Westbrook Realty

Copyright 2009  All rights reserved

video montage & photos  by Bonnie Westbrook