Louisville is arguably Kentucky’s coolest town. The largest and most populated city in the state, Louisville is a bustling commercial centre. Popular with old timers for its long-standing tradition of hosting the famous Kentucky Derby, Louisville is now reinventing itself. With an outcropping of impossibly cool boutiques, cafes, and bars, this city is cementing its place as the ‘it’ place to visit in Kentucky.
This city is famous for a great many things. Whether or not you’re a horse racing fan, it’s hard not to get pulled along with the hype of the locals for the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is an annual horseracing event that has become world famous, and with it, earned a devout following within America. Visit the Churchill Downs, the racetrack that hosts the Derby. Although it’s notoriously hard to claim a seat to watch the race itself, you can easily grab a ticket to watch the warm-up races. In lieu of the race, you can party alongside the locals at the Kentucky Derby Festival. Cheer alongside the locals for balloon races and boat races while you watch the largest firework display this side of America during this extensive festival. Not just home to the legend of the Kentucky Derby, another famous figure calls Louisville home. Walk down memory lane of Muhammad Ali when you visit his Childhood Home Museum. The house has been fully restored, complete with period furniture and family items along with interesting artifacts such as Muhammad Ali’s first endorsement contracts. Afterwards, visit the Muhammad Ali Center, an interactive museum that details the athlete’s life and journey to fame. The name Louisville strikes a chord with baseball fans for more than just the city. Popularised as the Louisville Slugger, this baseball bat is produced right here in the city and rose to fame in the capable hands of players like Babe Ruth. Go for a tour inside the Louisville Slugger Museum, and see how these baseball bats are made.
It’s always fun to learn something new in Louisville. Hop into your car rental and drive down to the Kentucky Science Center. Inside this nondescript building is a world of fun and education with their ‘Science In Play’ interactive exhibits and play areas. Kids and adults both will enjoy rolling, running, and climbing as they learn about science in this fun museum. Educate yourself on the changing art trends at the Speed Art Museum. The best known art museum in the state, it’s housed in a sleek structure of sleek and glass, specially chosen to allow natural light while protecting the sensitive art pieces inside. The museum showcases a variety of contemporary and traditional art, with constantly rotating exhibitions, so check often to see what’s showing.
Hit up Louisville’s illustrious shopping scene and pick out the perfect souvenir to bring home. Scour the Derby City Antique Mall for some fantastic authentic retro collectibles. With over 170 stalls to look through, you’ll surely be spoilt for choice. The Mall is also situated nearby to the Louisville Airport, so you can pop over in your car rental on your way to the airport. Pick up a one-of-a-kind piece at Block Party Handmade Boutique. All the items on sale here are styled and handcrafted by talented local artisans.
Pick up your car rental from Louisville Airport’s convenient Rental Car counter, located on the airport’s lower level, right beside the baggage area. As the Louisville Airport can get quite crowded, do remember to book your car rental beforehand to avoid the queue!
