Location: Louisville
Top Things to do in Louisville
Top 10 Things to do in Louisville, Kentucky (KY)
Each year, horse enthusiasts hoof it to Louisville and Churchill Downs, the legendary home of the Kentucky Derby. In addition to equestrian endeavors and bluegrass roots, Louisville boasts a range of exciting attractions the whole family can enjoy. Stroll through Central Park, in the historic district, to people-watch and get a real feel for the city. Visit other nearby parks for hiking, biking and fossil finding. Baseball fans will love the Louisville Slugger Museum, a celebration of the sport's legends. The museum is easy to spot, just look for the humongous bat that leans against the building.
Restaurants in Louisville
1. Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 622 reviews
The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum is a historic, Victorian mansion located in the heart of Old Louisville on St. James Court. It is one of the finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and was the masterpiece of famed local architect Arthur Loomis of Clarke & Loomis. Surrounded by a beautiful courtyard neighborhood at the center of the largest collection of Victorian Homes in the US, "Conrad's Castle" featured all the latest innovations of its day, including interior plumbing and electric lighting. Known for its beautiful woodwork and parquet floors, this massive Bedford limestone home, covered with gargoyles, beautiful archways, and elaborate stone designs, incorporated 7 types of hardwoods and magnificent stained glass windows in the interior design, making it one of the most stunning homes in Old Louisville. The Museum has been lovingly restored to the Edwardian Age, housing a massive collection of period items including many original pieces.
Reviewed By mhume
Beth Caldwell, a great granddaughter of the second owner of the home, led our tour and it was the best home tour I have ever done, due in large part to her engaging personality and personal stories! The framing woodwork and staircase, as well as the different parquet flooring pattern in each room are remarkable examples of craftsmanship from the past. Seeing the Acousticon (a hearing aid from the early 1900s) which Grace used, her life size doll, a sewing machine from the era, mechanical pencils and tools used by the Caldwell men, the large hidden wall safe, and more were all interesting. The exterior is constructed of limestone, and with its indoor plumbing and electric light bulbs, it was one of the most remarkable homes of its day! It is a treasure to have such a beautifully preserved home to tour in Louisville.
2. Angel's Envy Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 813 reviews
Built in the heart of Louisville, the Angel’s Envy Distillery is downtown’s first fully operational whiskey production facility. Angel’s Envy puts you in the center of our distilling process for a unique tour experience. TOURS ARE BY ONLINE RESERVATION ONLY.
Reviewed By victoriaef2017 - Elizabethtown, United States
A classy distillery with history.... Minimalist surroundings Jimmy James was a fun & informative tour guide, answered all questions with a grin Loved having a drink In the bar reserved for those completing the tour And Kelly was a very friendly mixologist....fun to watch creating tasty as well as attractive libations A must if you are doing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail!
3. Kentucky Derby Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,298 reviews
The Kentucky Derby Museum, where every day is Derby day, is the official tour provider of historic Churchill Downs. When you visit the Museum, you will find yourself immersed in the next best thing to actually being at the Derby! As the exclusive tour provider for the track, various tours are offered throughout the year even when the track isn’t in session with live racing. General admission includes two levels of family-friendly interactive permanent & temporary exhibits, "The Greatest Race," a 360-degree immersive sound and visual experience that'll get your heart racing and emotions soaring, Historic Walking Tour of Churchill Downs Racetrack, access to the Gift Shop, Kentucky fare in the Derby Cafe Express and much more!
Reviewed By B465DMsarahc - Glenwood, United States
We stopped here on our drive through to take a break and it was well worth it. It was four of us, 10-month old, 14 year old, and my husband and I. We took the tour, watched the video, and walked around the museum. It was all well worth it and we learned a lot. We didn't get to see the entire museum because we had to get back on the road. You can stop here for a little over an hour, or spend the day....lots of options and lots of different tours depending on how long you want to stay. I will say, we got there after lunch time and the more in depth tours were already sold out, so if you want to take the behind the scenes tour that take you to the barns, etc. - you probably need to book those early. We would come here again.
4. Churchill Downs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,642 reviews
This beautiful racetrack has been the home of the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
Reviewed By Realtor44 - Hamden, United States
Churchill Downs Louisville Ky. As the home of the internationally known Kentucky Derby as well as a long history of racing excellence Churchill Downs certainly needs no introduction. I can only relay a very unique opportunity accorded to me recently regarding Churchill Downs. We were invited to a recent event held there known as DAY AT THE RACES - CHURCHILL DOWNS. The host had secured the entire floor of the Starting Gates Tower for the entire day. The ability to experience a day of races from such a stylish and luxurious setting has ruined me for races for life. Having such amenities as leather bound chairs and tables while watching the races from picture windows, flat screen TV’s or stepping outside to your private balcony box seats is a treat. A number of guests were trainers or owners so we had the additional advantage of going inside the Paddock area. I can only imagine what it would be like for the Derby. This was magical enough.
5. Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,521 reviews
Batter up! It takes a special place to craft the #1 Bat in Major League Baseball. At Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, experience history-in-the-making as you stroll through the actual factory where world-famous Louisville Slugger bats are created. The award-winning factory tour is a highlight of the visit here, but there's plenty more to enjoy along with it. Admire the World's Biggest Bat - stretching 120 feet into the sky. Hold bats actually used by baseball superstars like Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench, Cal Ripken Jr. And Derek Jeter. Face down a 90-mph fastball hurled by a major league pitcher. Count the homerun notches Babe Ruth carved into his Louisville Slugger bat for every home run he hit with it. Step into the batting cages and take some swings with a replica model of your hero's bat. Guests even get a free miniature souvenir bat at the end of the factory tour. You can even create a bat with your own name on it, just like the pros. They make great gifts for all kinds of special occasions, from newborn babies, to groomsmen gifts, to team trophies and more. The museum store is also loaded with lots of sporty merchandise for every budget. Be sure to swing by!
Reviewed By Vmorris99 - Saint Louis, United States
Don't hesitate...go...and pay for the tour! We toured the museum while in Louisville for a convention and visit with friends. My husband and I took our 9 year old son. We all found the museum to exceed our expectations. You can pop into the museum, and you have the option to pay for a tour of the factory. We are so glad we took the tour! Our tour guide was knowledgeable, interesting and funny. You begin with a short movie about how they own their own forest, and how trees are selected, harvested for production and conserved. It was a short and interesting film. Then, our guide lead us through the factory and stopped at key points to describe the process of bat production, labeling and painting. I found the info on how MLB players select bats fascinating. At the end if the tour, each person receives a miniature bat. Afterwards, you are able to explore the museum, which contains baseball history, actual bats of famous players, clocked pitching speed demo, and fun photo opportunities including a dugout and pitching mound where you can pose with a famous player's actual bat. For fellow smashed penny collectors, the lobby features a crank machine with four designs for your smashing pleasure! The lobby also contains a nice gift shop where custom bats, hats, keychains and other souvenirs can be purchased. The ginormous bat on the outside of the building is Instagramable!
6. Muhammad Ali Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,242 reviews
Located in the heart of historic downtown Louisville, Kentucky, the Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural attraction and international education center inspired by the ideals of hometown hero Muhammad Ali. The Ali Center features 2 levels of award-winning exhibits, a five-screen orientation theater film, historic Civil Rights era media footage, video of Ali fights, interactive boxing fun, two art galleries, children's Hope and Dream wall, meeting and event space, retail store and more.
Reviewed By MDMRunner - Farmington, United States
My son (age 23) and I both enjoyed the Muhammad Ali center on our recent meet up in Louisville. This is a very well done center cover Ali's career in all its aspects. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to and came away with a much better appreciation of Ali the man. The historical context seemed to be done very fairly especially for some of the controversial parts of his career. There is a very good short film (approximately 15 minutes) that does a good job of introducing a lot of information that makes it easier to enjoy the rest of the museum. We spent about an hour and a half but you could definitely spend more time there if you wanted to.
7. The Big Four Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,909 reviews
Reviewed By 291genej - Silver Spring, United States
It was a beautiful morning to park at the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge Parking lot River Road(Google) with nice restrooms open at 9 AM. We joined other walkers, joggers and bicyclists on the 1/2+ mile crossing to Jeffersonville, IN. Historical signage throughout, classical music in the mid section and views of busy I-65 on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge and the Abraham Lincoln Bridge make for lots of general interest.
8. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,195 reviews
Located on Louisville's historic "Whiskey Row", the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience features an artisanal distillery, tours, educational tastings, and more!
Reviewed By mymilesandsmiles - New York City, United States
The Evan Williams experience is in a historic "Whiskey row" building. If you haven’t been to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Main Street yet, you are missing out! In addition to the traditional tour, they offer a “Speakeasy Tour” of the basement speakeasy. In order to gain access to the speakeasy, you must first guess the secret code correctly. Only then will the door attendant unlock the heavy steel vault door to let you inside. The room you enter contains a beautiful wraparound cherry bar area. Once you’re seated at the bar, you will get to try Larceny, Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond, and Evan Williams 23-year bourbons. After the tour, tasting, and history lesson, you will be directed to the gift shop. Worth the time to visit.
9. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience at Stitzel-Weller
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 639 reviews
Reviewed By maritzabruno - Pompton Plains, United States
From the minute Shannon Welcome us at the store, drinks at the bar and a great tour!! Hospitality combined with great bourbon My favorite place!!!
10. Kentucky Kingdom
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 901 reviews
Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay offers more than 70 thrilling rides, coasters and water attractions! In 2014, we doubled the size of Hurricane Bay Water Park, adding eight new attractions and the world's tallest body slide, Deep Water Dive! We also introduced Lightning Run roller coaster- a steel coaster with a 100 foot, 80-degree drop; T3, a suspended looping coaster with five gravity-defying inversions - sure to make you flip head over heels, literally; on our award-winning coaster, STORM CHASER! Storm Chaser is the first coaster in America to feature a barrel roll drop from a 10-story lift hill – and don’t get us started on the 78-degree angle of that drop… that’s nearly perpendicular! New for 2019 is our 6th roller coaster, Kentucky Flyer which is engineered for thrill-seeking families. Join us as we celebrate our 30th anniversary this season!
Reviewed By lukeraeside - Wyandotte, United States
We had an amazing 2 days at Kentucky kingdom! the water park was amazing and we loved storm chaser and lightning run too, I would highly reccomend this park to any living near or traveling through Kentucky
