Tates Creek - Lexington, KY Area Guide

Lexington has long been considered one of the most prestigious cities west of the Allegheny Mountains. Historically, the city attracted high-status politicians and businessmen, such as Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis and Henry Clay. South Lexington land, including the neighborhood now referred to as Tates Creek, was primarily used for horse and agricultural farming. This area saw development slowly increase during the 1950s and 1960s. It wasn't until the 1970s that construction surged and the need for amenities close to housing fueled advances in local infrastructure.

Lexington houses a number of museums. The Waveland State Historic Site sits just west of the neighborhood and showcases an antebellum house with preserved slave quarters, smokehouse and icehouse. Lexington has also become known as the Horse Capital of the World. The races during the months of April and October at Keeneland attract visitors from all over the country looking to experience the racing culture.

Restaurants directly within Tates Creek tend to be causal and fast-food oriented. Locals willing to drive within a one- or two-mile radius find that options become increasingly better along Richmond Road and Tates Creek Road.

For a date night or a nice occasion, The Merrick Inn sits northwest of the neighborhood off of Tates Creek Road and serves classic and unpretentious southern classics in a romantic atmosphere. Dinner favorites include the prime rib, fried chicken, and lobster and crab nachos. Be prepared for a relaxing, slow-paced evening at The Merrick Inn, as the wait staff never hounds, and the food is cooked to order.

Situated on Richmond Road, Sutton's Restaurant prepares Italian-inspired cuisine and also houses a great bar serving a number of special beers and fancy cocktails. Sutton's menu shines, and regulars adore the baked stuffed mushrooms, grilled sea scallops and the made-from scratch banana pudding. This proves to be the perfect place for a relaxing date night. Diners enjoy hearing Sinatra and swing tunes pumping quietly on the restaurant's sound system.

For nightlife, locals head to Spud's Tavern for daily drink specials and attentive bartenders. A number of sports and low-key bars and pubs line Richmond Road just east of Tates Creek, including Patchen Pub and Shamrock Bar and Grille. The Lexington Movie Tavern features the newest movies and a full-service restaurant and bar. Nightclubs and music venues can best be found in downtown Lexington. If you're looking to dance away the night or just grab a drink with music pounding, you should definitely head to the highly rated Soundbar.

Close to 95 percent of Tates Creek locals drive a personal vehicle or carpool to work, as alternative modes of transportation remain uncommon here. Those commuting into downtown Lexington and the University of Kentucky campus follow Alumni Drive and US Highway 21 straight into the city center. New Circle Road encircles the city of Lexington and can be accessed by a quick drive on Alumni Drive. Interstate 75 runs along the eastern side of Lexington and remains easily reachable from Tates Creek by driving south along Richmond Road for 5 miles. Visitors and residents alike park along residential streets within the Tates Creek neighborhood.

Bike-friendly roads within Tates Creek include Pimlico Parkway, Yellowstone Parkways and Gainesway Drive. Though those commuting by bike find some amenities conveniently located, walking to area restaurants and shopping may prove difficult.

Uber and local taxi companies operate through most of the community but must be called on in advance to schedule a reservation.

Those looking to utilize public transportation to reach downtown find LexTran's bus service affordable and reliable. Buses operate along Man O' War Boulevard, Pimlico Parkway and Tates Creek Road between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m during the work week.

Locals find many city-operated parks right within their community. In the far eastern section of Tates Creek sits Mount Tabor Park, featuring multiple athletic fields, a large playground and restrooms. The 35-acre Gainesway Park lies closer to the center of the community, and aside from the athletic facilities, it houses a community recreation center. Other smaller parks located nearby include Berry Hill, River Hill, Hartland, Kirklevington and Belleau Woods. All of these facilities remain free for public use, but reservations and fees for picnic shelters and athletic fields may be required.

The Lexington Arts League teams up with the Parks and Recreation department annually for the American Founders Bank Woodland Art Fair on the Woodland Park grounds. This two-day event features the artwork of over 200 artists as well as live music and food vendors. During select Fridays throughout the spring and summer months, Triangle Park plays host to the Fountain Films on Fridays series. Locals advise checking the schedule posted online in early spring to secure the dates.

Residents of Tates Creek pay 7 percent more than the average Kentuckian on cost of living expenses, but this number remains significantly under the national average. Expenses that factor into the cost of living include transportation, healthcare, goods and services. Housing costs in Tates Creek are similar to what can be found around the city. Renters benefit from these low prices and pay $662 per month on a one-bedroom apartment.

Bars and restaurants around the city charge reasonable prices for quality, casual dining. Patrons enjoying a pint of local beer from nearby microbreweries, such as Blue Stallion Brewing, pay $5.

Transportation costs mirror the rest of central Kentucky. Riders using LexTran's bus service pay $1 for one-way fare and $3 for a day pass. Gas prices sit at 10 percent less than the national average.

Tates Creek sits among a number of shopping centers catering to providing residents with the basics, including Park Hills Center, Gainesway, and the Tates Creek Center. Pharmacies, small markets and specialized services can be found throughout these complexes. For upscale and name brand shopping, locals head to Fayette Mall, west of Tates Creek on Nicholasville Road, to browse retailers such as Williams Sonoma, Michael Kors, Macy's, Dillard's, and Aldo.

Smaller speciality stores lie in and around Man O' War Boulevard. Mondelli's Bakery creates some of the most beautiful and tasty cakes in all of the bluegrass. This family operated shop recreates generations-old recipes that delight customers, such as the pumpkin bread, chocolate sundae cake and pecan queens. Brides-to-be throughout Lexington rely on Mondelli's to bake the perfect, custom wedding cake for every type of taste.

Down the street from Mondelli's on Squires Road sits the European Gourmet Store. Immigrants expats from all around Europe that now live in Lexington find this store to have a great selection of some favorite imports. The shelves feature milk, meat products, candies, juices and preserves popular in the motherland that cannot easily be found stateside.

Locals purchase groceries at the high-end Fresh Market on Tates Creek Road or the more affordable options, such as Kroger and Walmart, on Richmond Road. The closest farmers market, Bluegrass Farmers Market, sits along Richmond Road directly east of Tates Creek. Bluegrass Farmers Market opens on Tuesday and Saturdays during the months of April through October.