Things to Do in Louisville

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Louisville wears many hats. It is a modern mid-sized city and a historic river town. Most people equate Louisville with horse racing because it is the site of the famous Kentucky Derby. True, that event dominates the city in early May, but, even then, the celebrations are not solely about thoroughbreds. There are parades, riverboat races, and food. And for the other eleven months and two weeks, Louisville is Louisville: a city with pride in its past and a unique blend of Northern and Southern culture.

If you visit Louisville, you will want to try these activities.

Budget

Louisville has an impressive system of parks. One of the best places to see this is along the Ohio River, which runs through the city. The Louisville Riverfront and Riverwalk has wide expanses of green, photo-worthy fountains, green trees and plenty of historic markers for those interested in the city’s long and storied past. Other parks include Cherokee Park, Iroquois Park, and Shawnee Park. These all have walking trails and paved trails for bikers and rollerbladers.

Parts of Louisville are dreamlands for history and architecture aficionados. There are aged houses hiding in quiet neighborhoods, as well as some more public examples of past building design styles. Just a simple stroll will lead to something exciting.

Value

Because of its historic past, Louisville is home to some interesting and rather off-beat museums. Some of the more unique ones include the Colonel Sanders Museum, which features exhibits about the founder of KFC, and the Jim Beam American Outpost and Distillery Museum.

Local culture and history are also represented by some more sports-oriented exhibit halls, such as the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Kentucky Derby Museum. The Filson Museum celebrates the rich social history of the area while the Louisville Science Center offers interactive exhibits to kids and adults of all ages.

Splurge

The Kentucky Derby is one of the city’s hottest tickets. It doesn’t have to be expensive to experience some of the excitement. There are parades and events leading up to the race itself. If you do plan to be in the grandstand on race day, you’ll either have to know someone or else arrange your tickets well in advance.

There are plenty of upscale restaurants, like Avalon, offering a fine dining experience with a southern twist. You needn’t wear a coat and tie at most of these eateries, but you will not feel out of place if you do.