Louisville is a fun little enclave that\u2019s not quite Southern but yet has a Southern flair. It\u2019s a trendy place and quite unlike the rest of Kentucky which can be a little more yawn-inducing. Louisville is inviting to families, childless couples and retirees alike because of the wide range of interests is appeals to.<\/p>\n
Here are our top 7 must-do things in Louisville we recommend:<\/p>\n
#1 Zip-Lining in the Cavern (World\u2019s Only Underground Zip-Line)<\/span><\/strong> #2 Bicycling across the Ohio River<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Louisville sits on the banks of the Ohio River and the new Big Four Pedestrian Bridge now spans it. It\u2019s a nice wide bridge that\u2019s perfect for walking, but to really enjoy the trip, rent a bike from Wheel Fun Rentals. They\u2019ve got standard bikes, low rider tricycles and a really cool golf cart style bikes that can seat a family full of people. As we aren\u2019t the most athletic, we had to walk our bikes up the circular ramp to the bridge but then enjoyed a breezy ride across the river and into Indiana.<\/p>\n #3 Waterfront Park<\/span><\/strong> #4 Old Louisville<\/span><\/strong> #5 Museums, museums, museums<\/span><\/strong> #6 Bourbon!<\/span><\/strong> #7 Churchill Downs<\/span><\/strong> In addition to all of the interesting stuff to do, including lots of live sports at the Yum Center and Louisville Cardinals football and baseball at the college, there is so much glorious food to be had. From BBQ to fine dining, sushi and steakhouse, Louisville is a culinary adventure all its own. If you\u2019re traveling with kids, check TripAdvisor and Yelp for recommendations. We loved the Troll Pub Under the Bridge. Four Sisters is great for brunch and The Silver Dollar\u2019s chicken and waffles is yummy.<\/p>\n Louisville is tons of fun and is doable on a wide array of budgets. You can get a good chain hotel room near the University of Louisville for less than $50 a night or stay in downtown Louisville at a swanky place for a couple of hundred bucks a night and many options in between. Check online for coupons for the Mega Cavern, Wheel Fun and more if you\u2019re budget-minded. This is one of those rare destinations that has something for everyone and can be done on a dime or deluxe. Happy travels!<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This attraction was what prompted our plans to visit the city. The Mega Cavern is a ginormous man-made mine that is now defunct and is home to year-round zip lining fun, a ropes course and a cool underground bicycle obstacle trail. It\u2019s a giant space that is immune to bad weather which is perfect for fool-proof vacation plans. The zip lines take you up to 70 feet high over the caverns at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. It is the highest rated zip line in the Southeast and alone is worth the trip.<\/p>\n
After you enjoy the bridge ride, tool around Waterfront Park. It\u2019s bike friendly with cool sites to see aside from the big old river you\u2019re riding next to. There are places to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch, benches to reflect, read or just sit and watch the river. There\u2019s a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln that\u2019s perfect for respectful (or hilarious) photo ops and nearby are large bas reliefs that commemorate Lincoln\u2019s achievements. There\u2019s a playground too perfect for hours of enjoyment.<\/p>\n
Although my 12 year old was meh on this part of the trip, I dug it. Old Louisville is an extensive neighborhood \u2013 the largest contiguous Victorian neighborhood in North America as a matter of fact. It also has more stained glass windows than any other neighborhood in America. The homes date from the 1850s through the 1920s and each is unique. We did the drive and gawk, but renting a bike and tooling or walking through are also options. This is more of a grown-up activity, though.<\/p>\n
Louisville has a bunch of really cool museums depending on your interests. For baseball fans, there\u2019s the Louisville Slugger Museum (and a five story baseball bat out front for photo ops). The Muhammad Ali Center has way more than just boxing stuff and covers great Civil Rights topics too. The Kentucky Science Center is top notch as is the Frazier History Museum. Also check out the Louisville Water Tower circa 1860 and the Water Works Museum. There are also a number of smaller offbeat museums.<\/p>\n
Kentucky is known for its bourbon. As a matter of fact, unless it\u2019s from Kentucky, most wouldn\u2019t consider it for real \u201cbourbon.\u201d For adults-only trips to Louisville, consider a day trip along the Bourbon Trail that takes you along a path of many distinguished distilleries. And if you want to be able to indulge without having to worry about your blood alcohol level, try a service like Mint Julep Tours which do all the driving for you so you can sip then ride in style.<\/p>\n
One of the most impressive pieces of Louisville tradition is Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, mint juleps and over-sized hats. Live races run late April through June then again September through November. The rest of the year, it\u2019s simulcast racing from other locations which is more for regular racing gamblers. For those that want to enjoy real live horses, make sure there\u2019s racing before you head out. The Kentucky Derby Museum is open year round and you can also tour the grounds.<\/p>\n