Here’s a Jeopardy-type question; Horses, hats, baseball bats, and bourbon are known for what city? You guessed right. Louisville, Kentucky pronounced “LOO-A-VUL” by the locals.
If you’re like me, you’re glued to the television screen on the first Saturday of every May watching the coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Women dressed in creative hats, beautiful floral dresses and the men with their fancy suits and bowties. If one is lucky (and wealthy) enough to witness the Kentucky Derby in person, no doubt that would be an unforgettable memory. However, there are 51 other weeks in the year that you can visit Louisville, Kentucky for a memorable experience and no flower-filled “Derby” hats or formal dress attire is required.
It’s More Like “Run for the Bourbon” than “Run for the Roses” in Louisville, Kentucky
Whenever I thought of Louisville, Derby was my only thought. I had never ever heard of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® nor the fact that it starts in Louisville.
So, what is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? It’s a group of bourbon distilleries, 18 to be exact, located in and around Louisville. It’s basically a mix of behind-the-scenes distillery tours and bourbon tastings.
And where does the Kentucky Bourbon Trail begin? The Frazier History Museum in downtown Louisville is where you’ll find the welcome center for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the official starting point. The welcome center concierge services will help make your bourbon trail adventure a fun, efficient endeavor. You’ll can also book bourbon tours and tastings.
It’s highly recommended that when you’re visiting the city of Louisville, you start your adventure at the Frazier History Museum. It’s filled with everything about Kentucky history and culture including a multitude of Kentucky artifacts and an extensive exhibit on Bourbon. The Spirit of Kentucky® exhibition provides the history of Bourbon whiskey, known to be America’s only native spirit.
Be sure to stop in at the Museum Shop where you’ll find more than 90 different brands of bourbon and a wide variety of Bourbon-related items for the perfect Louisville souvenirs.
Churchill Downs Racetrack and the Kentucky Derby Museum
There is a plus side for not visiting Louisville during Derby time. There are 150,000 people visiting Louisville the first Saturday every May for the Derby. While that would be a rewarding experience in many ways, visiting Churchill Downs anytime during the rest of the year really gives you the opportunity to see its magnificent beauty and charm when you’re not shoulder to shoulder with thousands and thousands of overzealous Derby fans.
The Kentucky Derby Museum, located next to Churchill Downs® Racetrack, an interactive museum with a focus on horse racing history, features exciting behind-the-scenes tours, a 360-degree film, and many hands-on exhibits. It’s a must stop for anyone visiting Louisville. Not only is the museum an interesting place to learn about the history of horse racing but the tour also takes you around the property, including the stables and out on the actual race track!
Throughout the year, live races are held on the Derby track, but you must book in advance for tickets for those races. There’s a Derby Café & Bourbon Bar onsite, serving Kentucky classics like Kentucky Burgoo Soup featuring beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables in broth.
Overall, our visit to the Churchill Downs Racetrack and the Kentucky Derby Museum was a “winning” experience and probably one of my favorite tours.
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
Louisville Slugger has been making baseball bats since 1884 and more than 140 years later, the Hillerich family still owns the business. The tour begins with a historical, fact-filled movie followed by a walk through the factory where you can see the bat-making process as it’s happening. Learn many historical facts on the museum tour and see genuine artifacts from the game of baseball.
Wait until you get up close and personal to the lifelike sculptures of famous MLB players including Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, and others. You can even hold the real bats of your favorite major league players like Babe Ruth, Derek Jeter and many more. There’s even a batting cage where you can pick up a Louisville Slugger bat and hit a few baseballs. Seeing a 90 MPH fastball whiz by is an experience. At the end of the tour, you’ll get a free souvenir mini bat to take home.
One note, there are many different museum tour options to choose from including combo Baseball & Bourbon tickets that combine the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory experience with bourbon crafting and tasting.
Louisville Food May Just Outranked Cruise Food in My Ratings
As someone who takes cruises often, I appreciate the variety of cruise food offerings. Well, Louisville has proved to be a city with the most amazing food. It’s kind of like a midwestern city blended with southern charm where you can dine on delicious, hearty foods that you won’t find in other cities.
You’ll probably want to pay a visit to the Brown Hotel where you’ll eat some iconic Kentucky dishes including the world famous “Hot Brown” that was invented at the Brown Hotel. A Hot Brown is an open-faced turkey sandwich (no bread) topped with bacon and a delicate Mornay sauce and then broiled until bubbly. Finish off your meal with Kentucky’s official dessert, Derby Pie, a decadent walnut and chocolate pie.
And somewhere along your Louisville travels, enjoy a mint julep – the official drink of the Kentucky Derby made with simple syrup, mint, and bourbon.
“Fourth Street Live!” District and Other Recommended Louisville Attractions
Fourth Street Live! is Louisville’s premier dining and entertainment destination, a short walk from the Galt House Hotel, offering something for everyone.
To expand on dining in Louisville, while you’re visiting the Fourth Street Live area, enjoy delicious BBQ at Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse and traditional, fire-roasted meats and the huge salad bar at the Brazeiros Brazilian Steakhouse. Also plan to go to the Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Bar for a beverage and witness amazing piano skills of the “bantering” pianists with the most fun sing-along ever.
Some additional notable attractions in Louisville include:
:: Muhammad Ali Center is an interactive museum of the boxing icon’s career, life, and more.
:: Louisville Mega Cavern offering Mega Zips, the world’s only underground zipline adventure tour with six ziplining activities … inside the cavern.
:: Louisville Zoo with many animal exhibits including an indoor gorilla enclosure, a polar bear habitat, walk-through tunnels, and illuminated displays at night.
:: Riverfront Park features live music in the park and riverboat cruise tours.
:: Big Four Bridge allows you to walk or bike across the Ohio River offering amazing views, live music, and more.
:: Whiskey Row, famous Main Street area offers the finest Kentucky Bourbons.
The Galt House Hotel: A Must-Stay Hotel in Louisville
The popular Galt House Hotel is Louisville’s only waterfront hotel plus a key part of many of the city’s traditions. In addition to being recognized as an “Official Host Hotel of the Kentucky Derby,” it’s also home to the “Thunder Over Louisville” fireworks show, the largest in the nation. The Galt House Hotel blends 200 years of history with classic charm, luxury, and modern amenities.
Boasting more than 1,300 hotel rooms among two billowing towers that overlook the Ohio River, the 4th & Main location is within walking distance to enjoy downtown Louisville from the Urban Bourbon Trail and 4th district to restaurants and museums. It’s the ideal place to stay when you’re attending a concert or sporting event at the KFC Yum! Center, as the hotel features a skybridge allowing hotel guests easy access to the center’s entrance.
A 3-night stay at the Galt House hotel gives you enough time to explore downtown Louisville. Whether you stay in the West or East tower, you will be impressed by the stylish decor and spectacular Louisville River or city views in every luxurious room and suite. Complimentary WI-FI, mini-fridge, work desk area, and your choice of queen or king size beds.
Before you head downtown to enjoy some bourbon and mint juleps, you must know that Galt House Hotel features four in-house restaurants where you can enjoy dinner and experience Kentucky Bourbon at its best. Swizzle is located on the 25th floor of the hotel with outstanding Louisville views. Also be sure to stop by Walker’s Exchange, Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar, Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant, 3rd Floor Skywalk Conservatory, and Thelma’s at the Conservatory for coffee, sandwiches, and grab-and-go items.
When you’re not museum hopping, enjoying fine dining, or meandering the Bourbon Trail in Louisville, here are some other hotel amenities:
:: Relax and enjoy the hotel’s outdoor pool (seasonal).
:: Club 360 Gym offers free weights and state-of-the-art cardio machines, and views of the city and waterfront.
:: Pelo West Spa features many services including massages, facials, haircuts and hair color, and nails.
:: The Galt House Hotel is pet-friendly (fees apply).
:: There’s a 3,200-space parking garage so you’re assured a great parking spot (fees apply).
Ready to Experience Legendary Louisville?
Visiting the home of the Kentucky Derby made for the most fun, delicious, and memorable experience. From Churchill Downs to the Louisville Slugger Museum or the Bourbon Trail and the Muhammad Ali Center, you’ll want to see it all.
The Galt House hotel was the ideal location for sightseeing, just steps away from downtown Louisville. It was a comfortable stay with great views of the city and the Ohio River. The guest room was comfortable, spacious, clean, and quiet. The service and food at the hotel’s restaurant and bars were very impressive. The staff throughout the hotel were always pleasant and made us feel welcome.
And while we didn’t wear big Derby hats or see fast horses, we did get to hold Babe Ruth’s iconic Louisville baseball bat and eat Derby pie for dessert. That’s a “win” in my book, any day.