Top 5 Things to Do in Frankfort, KY, While Waiting for Your River Tour
Frankfort is the kind of place that rewards a full day. It's a small city with a big history — the state capital of Kentucky, sitting along a bend in the Kentucky River, surrounded by distillery country, limestone bluffs, and more than two centuries of stories. If you're planning a visit for one of our river tours, we'd encourage you to make a day of it with a few of our favorite Frankfort, KY, attractions. There's no shortage of things to do near Kentucky River Tours, and knowing where to go ahead of time means you'll leave with more than just great memories from the water.
Here are five of our favorite ways to spend time in Frankfort before or after your river cruise.
1. Take a Distillery Tour
If you're visiting Frankfort in the spring, there's no better way to set the scene for a bourbon river tour than starting your day at a local distillery. Kentucky has some of the oldest continuously operating distilleries in the United States, all within a quick drive from the Kentucky River — the same river you'll be cruising later in the day. Many tours are free (or affordably priced), informative, and take you inside some of the historic warehouses and distilling facilities that you'll see from the water on some of our tours.
The Trace Tour includes a tour of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Spring is a beautiful time to visit the grounds — you'll start to see the Kentucky landscape come alive around the property. It pairs naturally with our river experience — and it'll make the view from the boat even more meaningful when you've already walked the land.
2. Explore the Kentucky State Capitol
The Kentucky State Capitol Building is one of the most striking landmarks among all Frankfort attractions. The Capitol grounds are especially lovely in April and May, when the floral clock near the grounds is being readied for the season, and the manicured landscape starts to green up after winter.
The interior is worth a walk-through as well. The rotunda, murals, and historical artifacts throughout the building give you a strong sense of the state's character, which connects nicely with the history you'll encounter on the river. It's a short drive from the waterfront and makes for an easy stop in the morning hours.
3. Walk Downtown Frankfort and the Singing Bridge
Downtown Frankfort has the feel of a small city that takes its history seriously without taking itself too seriously. The historic district runs along Broadway and St. Clair Street, where you'll find local shops, galleries, and a growing food and drink scene that reflects the region's bourbon culture. In the spring, the storefronts come back to life, and the sidewalks start to fill again after the quieter winter months.
The Singing Bridge — officially the Ann Street Bridge — is worth a short walk. Its open metal grating creates a distinctive sound as cars pass over it, and from the bridge itself, you get a view of the Kentucky River that gives you a preview of what you'll see from the water. It's one of those only-in-Frankfort details that locals take for granted, and visitors tend to remember.
4. Visit the Kentucky History Center
If you want context for what you'll see and hear on your river tour, the Kentucky History Center is the place to get it. Run by the Kentucky Historical Society, the museum explores the full arc of the state's story. The exhibits are well-designed and genuinely engaging, and they're especially rewarding if you're new to Kentucky history or arriving with curious kids in tow.
Admission is free, and the museum is located in downtown Frankfort, making it an easy addition to a morning before your afternoon tour. Understanding the larger context of the Kentucky River's role in the state's development makes the things you'll hear on the water feel more real.
5. Have Lunch or Dinner at a Local Frankfort Restaurant
Frankfort has a surprisingly strong restaurant scene for a city of its size, and spring is a great time to enjoy it. Rick's White Light Diner has been a local staple for years, from-scratch cooking, no fuss — the kind of place regulars eat at twice a week. Serafini is a step up in atmosphere, set in a historic downtown building, with an Italian-leaning menu that does a good job incorporating local ingredients. For a post-cruise drink, the bar programs around town lean heavily into Kentucky whiskey, which feels exactly right after an afternoon on the river.
If you're planning a spring evening visit, keep an eye on our Special Events page, where you can catch one of our live music events on select sunset cruises starting in May. Pairing dinner in town with an evening cruise is one of the best ways to experience Frankfort.
Plan Your Frankfort Visit Around a Kentucky River Tour
We've been on this river for years, and we love our Kentucky roots. When guests visit Frankfort for the first time, it's our goal to send them home with a fuller picture of what makes it special. Our 2026 season is open, and we'd love to be part of your Frankfort day. Book your riverboat tour today and let us show you the Bluegrass from a perspective you won't find anywhere else.