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Day trip: Things to do in Louisville
By Patti Nickell | Contributing Travel Writer
- Basics: A guide to finding necessities in Lexington
- Plan a one-day, three-day or five-day trip
- Great restaurants and Kentucky's signature foods
- The best bars in Central Kentucky
- Scenic drives
- Fun activities for families with children
- Places to hike and enjoy nature
- Sports and fitness
- Distinctive places to shop
- Top historic sites
- Museums and art galleries
- Day trip: Berea, a place of learning and artisans' skill
- Day trip: Louisville
- Day trip: Cincinnati and Newport Aquarium
- Day trip: Mammoth Cave
- Day trip: State parks
ON THE WAY:
Frankfort
You can get from Lexington to Louisville in a little over an hour, but if you have time to meander a bit, why not stop halfway and visit the commonwealth's capital city.
Frankfort has a wealth of attractions for the visitor. The Capitol Complex includes the Beaux Arts-style Kentucky Capitol building (700 Capitol Avenue; (502) 564-3449; free tours available), considered one of the most beautiful capitols in the country, and the Governor's Mansion, another example of Beaux Arts architecture (704 Capitol Avenue; (502) 564-8004; tours offered Tuesday and Thursday, but must be booked through the Capitol building staff). The grounds are also lovely, especially the famous floral clock behind the Capitol.
For a historical perspective, visit the Old State Capitol (300 West Broadway; (502) 564-1792; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., tours go to the capitol, Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History and Kentucky Military History Museum; $2-$4), a type of Greek Revival architecture rarely seen in Kentucky; the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History (100 West Broadway; (502) 564-1792), an interactive stroll through nearly 300 years of recorded history; and Liberty Hall Historic Site (218 Wilkinson Street, (502) 227-2560), whose history dates to 1792. You might also want to visit the graves of legendary pioneer Daniel Boone and his wife, Rebecca, at the Frankfort Cemetery (215 East Main Street).
[Get directions and phone numbers to the places in this story on an interactive map]
Lexington and Louisville might at times seem like friendly rivals, arguing over which city has the better racetrack or college basketball team. But a visit to one of the cities should, if possible, include a stop in the other. If you are coming to Lexington, you might want to extend your stay to include a visit to the River City.
As the largest city in Kentucky, Louisville has myriad attractions — from the arts to sports to history.
Actors Theatre of Louisville (316 West Main Street; (502) 584-1205) has become internationally known for its annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. he 2010 dates are Feb. 21-March 28. The Speed Art Museum (2035 South Third Street; (502) 634-2700; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue, Wed., Fri.; 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thu.; 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.; free admission) is considered one of the top art museums in the mid-South and is especially noted for its collection of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings.
Louisville is a top destination for sports fans, whether their interest is baseball, boxing or Thoroughbred racing. The Louisville Slugger Museum (800 West Main Street; (502) 588-7228; call for hours; $5-$10), immediately recognizable by the six-story-tall baseball bat outside the entrance, will appeal to those who revel in the heroics of the boys of summer. The museum is a shrine to the players, the bats (still made in the adjoining factory) and the magic they made together. The Muhammad Ali Center (144 North Sixth Street; (502) 584-9254; open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.; $4-$9) pays tribute to a native son who could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" all the way to three world heavyweight boxing titles.
Baseball and boxing aside, the commonwealth's greatest athletes are showcased at Churchill Downs (700 Central Avenue; (502) 636-4400; tours arranged through the Derby Museum), where the first Saturday in May heralds the world's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby.
History buffs will enjoy the Frazier International History Museum (829 West Main Street; (502) 753-5663), part of Main Street's "Museum Row." It features a collection from Britain’s Royal Armouries, and weapons ranging from longbows used by English archers in the Middle Ages to Teddy Roosevelt’s African safari gun.
Louisville's family attractions run the gamut. The Louisville Science Center and IMAX Theatre (727 West Main Street; (502) 561-6100; $10 to $12 for museum; $12 to $15 for a combination ticket that includes the science center and one IMAX presentation) has three floors of hands-on educational exhibits.
The Belle of Louisville (dock at 401 West River Road; (502) 574-2992; cruises Thu.-Sun.; $8-$37), the country's oldest operating steam-driven paddlewheeler, takes daily two-hour excursions on the Ohio River from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Perhaps the city's favorite family attraction is the Louisville Zoo (1100 Trevilian Way; (502) 459-2181; open year-round, with hours changing seasonally; $8.95-$11.95). Within the zoo’s 134 acres live 1,300 animals, including Western lowland gorillas, pygmy hippos, meerkats, orangutans, Sumatran tigers and Komodo dragons.
Louisville is fast becoming an exciting food destination, with award-winning restaurants in profusion. You’d need a month to try them all, but here are a few suggestions: Bourbons Bistro, Buck’s at the Mayflower, Jack Fry’s, Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, Lilly’s, Lynn’s Paradise Café, Napa River Grill, Proof on Main and 610 Magnolia.
For overnight accommodations, Louisville has two of America's grande dames.
The Brown Hotel (335 West Broadway; (502) 583-1234), opened in 1922, has a colorful history, from a fight involving a Broadway star to the creation of a sandwich, the hot Brown, that would gain international fame.
The Seelbach Hilton (500 Fourth Street; (502) 585-3200), is one of the country's best examples of Beaux Arts architecture. Opened in 1905, it has played host to presidents, movie stars, business tycoons, authors and gangsters.
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