Louisville Travel Tips

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Louisville is heavy on tradition and history. The city is proud of its horse races, its blend of Southern and Northern culture and its design. But unless you are a serious horse racing fan or someone who is already familiar with the city, it can be hard to find a well-beaten tourist trail. Here are some tips to make a trip to Louisville as smooth as possible.

Don’t get caught up in thinking that you have to see the Kentucky Derby in person. It is one of sport’s hottest tickets, but there is more fun to be had during the events and parties leading up to the big race. The race itself is extremely short, being counted in minutes and seconds. Celebrations like the Great Balloon Race, the Great Steamboat Race, the Pegasus Parade and the Thunder over Louisville fireworks show are free to watch and as exciting as the race itself, if not more so.

The First Friday Trolley Hop is a great way to see the vibrant arts scene of Louisville up close. The trolleys circle the city’s art gallery hotspots, picking up passengers and dropping them off at the next gallery spot. This is a good way to check out all the hottest galleries in town at once. If you can’t make it on the first Friday, visit Market Street, which has the highest concentration of galleries.

Take advantage of the parks. Louisville is famous for its parks, most of which were designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Fountains, forests, views of the mighty Ohio River, and plenty of historical markers make these parks great venues for an afternoon’s worth of activities. In addition, there are paved trails for biking and walking or jogging.

Try local specialties. Kentucky is bourbon country. Jim Beam originated from here. The local drink of choice is the Mint Julip. It is especially popular during May, Kentucky Derby time. Food specialties include Derby Pie (a pecan pie with a secret mix of chocolate) and Hot Brown (a turkey sandwich with special sauce).

Don’t just focus on Louisville. Mammoth Caves and Fort Knox are within driving distance. There are also some interesting independent bourbon distilleries in the area. Some of these have tours and tasting.

If you are averse to crowds and high prices, don’t visit in early May, during Kentucky Derby festivities. Though this is an exciting time to be in Louisville, hotel prices are highly inflated and it may be hard to get into some of the best attractions and museums in town.