Louisville, KY
Louisville is the biggest city in Kentucky with a population of ~600,000 but still offers a smaller city vibe. The city is considered to be a southern state and has a lot of different things to enjoy. Most famously known for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs it is also known for it’s bourbon and The Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat Company.
Having been to the city once before, I plan on visiting again. The atmosphere is so welcoming and there are plenty of different things to fill your itinerary with.
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Events: Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Derby Festival, Bourbon and Beyond, Thunder Over Louisville, Nulu Fest, WorldFest
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Stay
Cambria Hotel Louisville Downtown-Whiskey Row
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Located in east downtown, it is a short walk to the Louisville Slugger Field and waterfront park.
120 S Floyd St
Hotel | Downtown | $$$
Four Points by Sheraton Louisville Airport
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This hotel is not in downtown but is close to Churchill Downs. With just a 5 min drive to the track, it is the perfect location if you plan on attending a horse race.
2850 Crittenden Dr
Hotel | Churchill Downs | $$
The Galt House Hotel
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This hotel is just a short walk to the waterfront and has a view of the Ohio River. It is also located west downtown making it walkable to downtown attractions.
140 N Fourth St
Hotel | Downtown – Riverview | $$$
Quality Inn & Suites University/Airport
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Located a short drive from the University of Louisville, this is a cheap stay right by campus.
311 E Gaulbert Ave
Hotel | Campus | $$
Vrbo/Airbnb Rental
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If you are a big group and want to spend time together, then a house is probably a better call then a hotel.
House Rental | $$$
Food and Drink
Joe’s Crab Shack
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Located right by the Belle Louisville riverboat cruise. The food was good and had a friendly environment.
131 W River Rd
Seafood | $$
Porch Kitchen and Bar
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Elevated American comfort food style. The atmosphere and service is friendly and the perfect southern comfort food.
280 W Jefferson St
American | $$
PARLOUR
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The perfect place to grab a quick slice of pizza or sit down with some drinks.
133 W Liberty St
Pizza | $$
Vincenzo’s
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Located in the middle of downtown, not only is the food and atmosphere elegant, the building is an architecture wonder.
150 S 5th St
Italian | $$$
Zombie Taco
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A casual atmosphere located in a Hotel Distil, it is the perfect spot for grab a food truck style taco and drinks.
100 W Washington St #101
Mexican | $
Activities
Churchill Downs
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Churchill Downs has so much history and is home to the Kentucky Derby, one of the most well-known horse racing events in the world. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, there are also other numerous racing events to attend for a cheaper price tag.
700 Central Ave
Sports | Entertainment |
Belle of Louisville
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The evening cruise is a chance to sit back and enjoy the Louisville waterfront. They also offer other cruises and on special occasions, there are themed cruises like Murder Mystery.
401 W River Rd
Nature | Entertainment | Family Friendly |
Kentucky Derby Museum
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The museum has a ton of different exhibits to learn about all the different horses, jockeys, and the history of the track. They offer a variety of different tours to see different parts of the grounds and also experiences to meet some horses and do a bourbon tasting.
704 Central Ave
Museum | Sports | Family Friendly |
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
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The factory tour is a great experience to be able to see where all the bats are made from the very beginning to the end product. Then at the end you get to take home a mini wooden bat. The world’s tallest baseball bat is right at the front of the building.
800 W Main St
Museum | Sports | Family Friendly |
Muhammad Ali Center
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This museum is in honor of the great boxing legend, Muhammad Ali who was not only the greatest heavy weight boxing champion but also was a social activist. The Center has a very of different exhibits and experiences to celebrate all of Ali’s achievements.
144 N 6th St
Museum | Sports | Family Friendly |
Conrad-Caldwell House Museum
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Located in Old Louisville, this historical mansion represents the Victorian style architecture that is in the city. You can take a self-guided walking tour as long as it’s not reserved for an event.
1402 St James Ct
Museum | History |
Kentucky Kingdom Theme and Water Park
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Looking for a little thrill in Louisville, then look no further. Hop on a roller coaster or a carousal if you have little kids. There is also mini golf and water slides.
937 Phillips Ln
Adventure | Family Friendly |
Flame Run Glassblowing
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If you are looking for a fun activity to do together, why not take a glass class where you get to make your vary own paper weight or bourbon glass. You can also walk through the gallery and see all the glass art work.
815 W Market St
Art |
Louisville Zoo
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Zoos aren’t for everyone but the Louisville Zoo is full of family fun. There is a zoo train that takes you around the zoo and different animal themed events.
1100 Trevilian Way
Nature | Family Friendly |
Louisville Slugger Field
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Home to Louisville Bats, the minor league baseball team affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds. It also hosts different events,
401 E Main St
Sports | Family Friendly |
Waterfront Park
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This park is located right along the Ohio River and has more then just walking paths to offer. The Great Lawn hosts different events along with the Brown-Forman Amphitheater. There are multiple playgrounds and if you aren’t afraid of bridges, walk across the Ohio River on the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge.
129 River Rd
Nature | Family Friendly |
Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum
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The Cemetery is a picturesque drive of meandering roads with tranquil lakes and beautiful landscape. Some notable graves to visit include Muhammad Ali and Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC.
701 Baxter Ave
Nature | History |
The Speed Art Museum
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Located on the University of Louisville’s campus, this art museum offers a diverse art collection from American to contemporary.
2035 S 3rd St
Museum | Art |
Fourth Street Live
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This is the spot for night life and entrainment in Louisville. There are restaurants, clubs, bars, shops, and live music venues. During the day it is a friendly atmosphere for families and all generations.
411 S 4th St
Entertainment |
Logan Street Market
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The market offers 25+ locally owned shops from pizza and coffee to crepes and bagels. After a bite to eat go shopping at some of the retail shops.
1001 Logan St
Food and Drink | Family Friendly |
Louisville Mega Cavern
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These caverns span about 100 acres making it one of the biggest man-made caverns in the U.S. There are zip lines, walking and tram cavern tours, and a ropes course all underground and all a ton of fun.
1841 Taylor Ave
Adventure |
Angel’s Envy Distillery
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A visit to Louisville wouldn’t be complete without doing a bourbon tasting. There are lots of different distilleries located along the Louisville Bourbon Trail that offer distillery tours and a variety of bourbon tastings.
500 E Main St
Food and Drink |
Frazier History Museum
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Dedicated to preserving Kentucky’s history, the museum has exhibits for Muhammad Ali, Kentucky bourbon, historical Kentucky, and interactive displays to learn through experience.
29 W Main St
Museum | Family Friendly | History
Cherokee Park
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Located next to the Cave Hill Cemetery, this park has plenty of trail and walking paths. It was designed by the famous landscape architect who designed central park.
745 Cochran Hill Rd
Nature | Family Friendly |
Walking Tour
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There are so many different ways to see the city and one of the most popular being a walking tour. Take a walk to through Louisville’s history or eat your way through Louisville.
Address varies
Family Friendly | History |
Travel Tips
01
Weather
Louisville experiences all the seasons of the north southern states. Winter averages of 40 degrees F and summer averages of 85 degrees F
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Events and Festivals
Louisville’s most known event is the Kentucky Derby which is hosted at Churchill Downs and has a week full of events before the actual race.
03
What to pack
When you come, will depend on what you will need. Just make sure to check the weather for when you plan to visit.
04
Best Time to Visit
Summer is the warmest and also when most of the events in the city occur.
07
Culture/Atmosphere
Some areas would be considered a college town around campus but there is also a vibrant downtown.
10
Must Get Souvenir
The best souvenir to represent the city is a bourbon bottle, Louisville slugger bat, or horse shoe.
05
Trip Length
A day or two is all you’ll need when visiting Louisville but you would be able to fill a whole weekend.
08
Accessibility
The city is dedicated to being accessible and ADA-compliant for parks and transportation.
11
If you only have time for one thing
Attend a horse racing event at Churchill Downs. Don’t forget to put down your best bet.
06
Transportation
Cars are most common. Louisville International Airport. TARC public transit buses or free LouLift Trolley.
09
Traveling with Dogs?
There are plenty of dog friendly parks and a lot of restaurants have dog friendly patios spaces.
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Fun Facts
Kaelin’s Restaurant in Louisville claims to have invented the cheeseburger in 1934.
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