If you’re never one to miss the opportunity to take a great photo, whether, for your social media feed or your personal collection, you’ll be happy to know that Lexington’s downtown area is a great place for snapping pictures. Below are five spots you won’t want to miss!

Thoroughbred Park
Thoroughbred Park may be small, but what the iconic Lexington landmark lacks in size it more than makes up for in beauty. Most come for the enormous bronze racehorse statues, which you can get a clear glimpse of driving down main street– but stay for the gorgeous fountains. Though the park is surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city, in the warm weather it’s a perfect place to relax and pass the time while strolling through downtown. It just so happens that it’s great for taking photos, too, with its quintessentially Lexington atmosphere.

University of Kentucky Arboretum
Spanning one hundred acres, the University of Kentucky Arboretum, or State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, is the perfect photo opportunity for nature-lovers. It makes for a great picnic or leisure spot, but you can also take a walk around the Arboretum’s designated Walk Across Kentucky pathway. Along this path, you’ll get a glimpse of various flower and horticultural gardens comprising plants from all over the Commonwealth.

Historic Lexington Courthouse
Built in 1899, this historic building was at one point left vacant until revitalization efforts turned the space into a multipurpose community hub. Besides the delicious restaurants and Lexington-themed gift shop, you’ll find inside, the outside of the courthouse is a frequent spot for photographers and dedicated Instagrammers alike. Its beautiful 19th-century architecture and large fountain make it an iconic local landmark. It’s also close by a variety of bars and restaurants that comprise Lexington’s vibrant nightlife.

Triangle Park
Triangle Park is nearing its 40th birthday, and over the years it’s served many purposes for the Lexington community, from the annual winter ice rink to scenic gathering spot. As such, the park is perfect for Instagram-level photo-snapping year-round. Summer, however, presents the perfect weather to appreciate the tremendous waterfall fountain overlooking the park (and the shade provided by the locust trees planted throughout the space, for that matter.)

Murals
Reflecting Lexington’s passion for the arts, there are a wide variety of murals all across the downtown area. You might want to check out the artwork adorning the outside of local coffee shop Third Street Stuff, which displays all manner of uplifting quotes– or you can head to the towering Abraham Lincoln mural on Water Street painted by artist Eduardo Kobra. Elm Street boasts a tribute to the one and only Louis Armstrong, and in the Distillery District, you’ll find several different works of art including the enormous My Name is Mo painted on the Old Pepper distillery by French artist MTO.