A Weekend in Louisville, KY: Beyond the Bourbon

Museums

• Frazier History Museum: This museum is filled with the history of Louisville and the Bourbon it’s famous for.

• Muhammed Ali Museum: Learn more about the life of legendary boxing champ Muhammed Ali at this museum.

• Louisville Slugger Museum: See how professional (and commercial) bats get made at this downtown museum all about this famous piece of baseball equipment.

• Churchill Downs Museum: Let the more than 150-year history of the Kentucky Derby and the Churchill Downs come to life during a visit to this museum.

Bourbon tours

There are several distilleries along Main Street in the main downtown area, including Angel’s Envy, Evan Williams and Old Forester.

If bourbon is your thing, you can also book a tour that will take you to several distilleries in Louisville and the surrounding areas.

Sites

• Visit the famous Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum. You can visit the final resting place of famous Louisvillians like Muhammed Ali, Colonel Sanders and more.

• Create your custom bourbon pour & bring home a bottle. At Barrels & Billets, you can fill out a quiz with your preferences & their bartenders will craft the perfect bourbon for you. If you love it, you can take home a whole bottle.

• Head across the Ohio River into Jeffersonville, Indiana to see one of the oldest confectionary shops in the country, Schimpff’s. They make all kinds of sweet treats, and you can watch them making them.

• Catch a race at Churchill Downs. This track features more than just the Kentucky Derby, and seats are quite affordable. The only question is — what are you going to wear!

• Shop boutiques and local stores in the Nulu District.

• Mega Caverns: This former limestone mine features ziplining and a ropes course — all underground. It’s great for families or those seeking some adventure.

Day trips

If you fancy the quirky — be sure to take a short drive to a replica of Noah’s Ark. The replica ark was built to scale. The Ark is only one part of this destination. There is also a playground, zoo, carousel and zip line to make your visit worthwhile. This destination is about an hour and a half drive from Louisville.

As mentioned before, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail begins in downtown Louisville, but it spreads throughout the region. If you have the time, be sure to check out some of these other distilleries during your visit. To learn more about these stops, check out the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Website.

• Pop in to the Brown Hotel for a bite of history. The hotel is known for its creation of the “Hot Brown.” A dish that had to be created when the hotel’s opening coincided with the beginning of Prohibition.

• Kingfish: Here you’ll be able to get your fill of southern cooking with a gorgeous view overlooking Louisville and the Ohio River.

• Bristol Bar & Grille: This unassuming eatery serves up one of Louisville’s most famous dishes — the Green Chili Wontons. Their downtown location is perfect for grabbing a bite between bourbon tastings. If you are feeling thirsty — they have happy hour deals every day of the week.

• Guaca Mole is in the Nulu district. This hip eatery expertly pairs trendy flavors with traditional favorite Mexican dishes. If you visit during the weekend, you might come across their mariachi band taking requests.

• Gertie’s Bar: This bar in the Nulu district is known for its colorful drinks. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy one of these colorful and creative concoctions!?

• You might be surprised, but Louisville is home to a substantial German population. You won’t want to miss out on trying some of the delicious fare at Monnik Beer Co — especially the German Potato Croquettes!

• Derby Pie at Churchill Downs. Several other restaurants offer this on their menus, but the true pie can only be found at Churchill Downs.

• Art Eatables: This shop started as a side hobby for owner Kelly Ramsey. It has quickly grown as she has created her own chocolates that pair perfectly with your favorite Bourbon. There are locations near the Brown Hotel & on Main Street.