Frankfort is pleasant year-round, but spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit. The Bluegrass hills turn gold in October, and the Kentucky Derby in early May — held in Louisville an hour away — makes Frankfort a useful (and quieter) base. Summer is warm and humid, with temperatures in the upper twenties; the Kentucky River embankment is lively in the evenings. Winter is mild by northern standards but can be damp and grey.
Bourbon distillery tours run throughout the year, though Buffalo Trace books up quickly at weekends and during autumn harvest season (September–October), when the distilleries are particularly active.