Jun 17, 2001 10:11 PM
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I was born in Louisville, Kentucky twenty seven years ago and have lived here since. When you spend that much time in one city it is very easy to overlook things that visitors might find interesting. I was surprised to find that it was fairly easy to think of lots of fun things to do in Louisville. The hard part was narrowing them down so that this wouldn't become too long.
Louisville, Ky is beautiful and unique, located on the banks of the Ohio River, it is caught in the middle of North and South. Louisville has a blend of old Southern Charm and Contemporary Northern big city business. Somewhere between the big city and a small town is where Louisville, KY can be found. With a population of over 1,000,000 in the city and county combined there is no doubt that this isn't just a small hick town, yet it still has the charm and closeness of a little town. There is something of interest for everyone since the city has so many identities. However, be warned that the weather is subject to unpredictability. There is a saying here in Louisville: ''If you don't like the weather, wait a minute, it will change.''
Arriving in Downtown Louisville will give you a view of large building and lots of cultural influence. The modern day atmosphere is off set by horse drawn carriages, trollies, and an authentic paddle wheel steamboat.
The Belle of Louisville, the oldest Mississippi style steamboat in the country, is a tourist attraction that many enjoy. People come to see the boat or take a ride. It has a traditional place in the Kentucky Derby festival. You can find the Belle located in it's dock on the river bank. When I was in high school it was a tradition to have a pre-graduation trip on the Belle.
One of my children's favorite attractions is the Louisville Science Center. It is a wonderful place to go to learn all about science. It is a lot of fun for children because they have hands on exhibits that your child can participate in. They are located at 727 West Main Street.
The Kentucky Center for the Arts is located at 501 West Main Street and is the place to go if you are looking for ballet, theater, orchestra, or opera.
The Louisville Zoo is another large attraction. The zoo boasts of having over 900 animals. It is open all year and closes for only three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. The zoo is a wonderful place to take children and you can bring along a picnic. It is located at 1100 Trivillian way, only 15 minutes from downtown Louisville.
Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Museum is a must see. It's tour was named among the top ten industrial tours in the nation. Located at 800 West Main Street it will be recognized immediately by the world's tallest bat leaning outside the door.
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is one of the bigger attractions. Located at 937 Phillips Lane, just at the intersection of I65 and I-264, it is every bit as exciting as the nation's other Six Flags locations. Six Flags is a large amusement park with several roller coasters and various rides. It also has a water park where you can enjoy rides or just relax.
On East Main Street you will find the Tony Award winning Actor's Theater of Louisville. You can go on special tours of Farmington, designed by Thomas Jefferson or Locust Grove, the last home of General George Rogers Clark. Louisville is filled with beautiful parks if being in touch with nature is more your style. There are also several sports attractions such as The University of Louisville Cardinals Basketball and in Lexington you can find their rival and my all time favorite The University of Kentucky Wildcats. We also have Riverbat's baseball and Louisville Panthers ice hockey. With all this to do anyone could enjoy a visit to Louisville, Kentucky. However the main attraction happens only once a year, the Kentucky Derby.
The Kentucky Derby is much more than an exciting horse race. In Louisville it is a festival of events that go on for weeks before the actual race. If you are in a party mood visit Louisville for this event. The Derby is held the first weekend in May but the celebrating begins Mid-April. There are many events that are of interest to all. Some of the more popular events are Thunder over Louisville, the Steamboat Race, Balloon Glow and Hot air Balloon Race, the Pegasus Parade and the Chow Wagon.
Thunder Over Louisville is an amazing fireworks show that is synchronized to music. It is one of the largest fireworks displays in the world. The Steamboat Race is a great tradition. The Belle of Louisville races down the Ohio River with the Delta Queen. Balloon Glow is an event where you can view hot air balloons the night before they race. It gets it name from the glow the balloons make with their fires on in the middle of the night. The Chow Wagons are small areas in various locations that contain street parties. They sever fair type foods and alcohol. There is usually live music and lots of fun. If you are interested in getting more information about the Kentucky Derby Festival you can check out their web page at https://kdf.org/
After living in Louisville for so long I sometimes forget how fun it can be. I am glad I got a chance to be reminded of all the interesting things there are to do here.
