A BLONDE VINTAGE

Southern hospitality is real and we had the absolute best trip to Kentucky…I was seriously excited to write the following travel guide to Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville (pronounced LOO-a-vul) is very unique because of its combination of modern and historical aspects, and if you’re planning a trip to the area be sure to schedule ample time to take in the rich history this city and the surrounding area has to offer. From touristy hot spots, historical to secret speakeasy’s (Shhhh..), this town offers something for everyone!

Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city and it sits on the Ohio River along the Indiana border. It’s home of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Louisville Slugger bats, and the Kentucky Derby, a renowned horse race which is held every May at Churchill Downs. Outside of Louisville you’ll also find the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Something you definitely do not want to miss!

When To Go To Louisville

Fall and Spring are said to be the best times to visit. We traveled to Kentucky the third week of August and summers can be horrifically hot (beginning as early as late May and lasting through August) but I love the heat and did not mind the 100 degree temps. If heat/humidity is not your fancy than consider traveling a different time of the year. Snow/ice can hit as early as mid-November and stay through March, depending on what weather system hits, so just keep that in mind!

Getting Around Louisville

I’d suggest renting a car for your trip to Louisville, unless you plan on staying downtown and not partaking in any of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Otherwise, you’ll want to have a car as it’s pretty spread out and Ubers would get expensive.

Where To Stay In Louisville

Our hotel room at The Omni Hotel in Louisville

Omni Downtown Louisville – We loved our stay at the Omni! This sleek, modern hotel is a mile from the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and less than 5 miles from Churchill Downs. Polished rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with city views, plus local art, fitness center, spa and in-room bourbon bars. The hotel even features “Shhhh” a speakeasy which is tucked away on the first floor of the hotel.

The Brown Hotel– Located at the corners of Fourth and Broadway in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, The Brown Hotel is one of Louisville’s most treasured landmarks. Built in 1923 at a cost of $4 million by J. Graham Brown, the hotel was a magnet for many prominent guests and celebrities during the 1920s through the 1950s.

21c Museum Hotel MGallery– The first museum hotel Nestled in downtown Louisville on historic West Main Street, along Museum Row, 21c Museum Hotel is a multi-venue contemporary art museum, an award-winning 91-room boutique hotel, and home to acclaimed Proof on Main restaurant

The Seelbach Hilton– A historic hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, founded by Bavarian-born immigrant brothers Louis and Otto Seelbach. It opened in 1905 as the Seelbach Hotel, envisioned by the Seelbach Brothers to embody the old-world grandeur of European hotels in cities such as Vienna and Paris. In fact, F. Scott Fitzgerald, who took inspiration from the Seelbach for a hotel in The Great Gatsby. How cool is that?!

Louisville Marriott Downtown– Connected via skywalk to the Kentucky International Convention Center, this modern hotel is 5 miles from Churchill Downs, conveniently located to downtown restaurants and bars and a mile from Waterfront Park.

Where To Eat & Drink In Louisville

Ohhhh my goodness. I was so excited to learn that Louisville had some great restaurants and I can happily report that we did not have a bad meal on our trip! In fact, I had some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had. Not only are the people beyond nice here, and bourbon delicious, the food is fantastic! Check out a few of our favorites from our trip!

Porch Kitchen & Bar – High end Southern comfort food! This place boasts traditional dishes with an upscale twist. Add to that an exceptional staff, professional but fun atmosphere and a solid cocktail program. We loved our entire meal here. Make sure to try the lump crap hush puppies. Ohhh my. So good!

Doc Crow’s – I really liked this place for the variety of food. Sandwiches, smoked meats, seafood, and a raw bar. Great selection of whiskeys and beer, and their bartenders can make a mean cocktail too!  Make sure to stay for desert and order the warm from the oven cookies with ice cream. Delicious!

Butchertown Grocery– We brunched hard here. Fr0m the beignets, eggs Benedict, and Belgian waffles with strawberry compote with fresh whip cream..all the food is mouth watering and made to perfection. This place is definitely worth a visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

The Silver Dollar– This is an old fire station converted into restaurant and the place has a great atmosphere! The drinks were great and the food was delicious with a wide variety. Have you ever had friend pickles?! I’d never heard of such a thing, but had them for the first time here and they were delicious!

Entry to Shhhh Speakeasy at Pin + Proof

Pin + Proof – When in the Omni hotel, look for the discreet mural symbolizing “shhh” to discover the in-house speakeasy and travel to a bygone era when alcohol and jazz flowed freely during Prohibition. This little hideaway was the highlight of our trip and super fun! This is a great place to meet up with friends for cocktails. The speakeasy even has four bowling lanes, in case you want to get in a quick game.

Things To Do In Louisville

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail begins wherever you’d like to start and end! Follow this link to get interactive maps to plan your trip!

Wild Turkey– I LOVED our experience with Wild Turkey and would go back in a heartbeat. We took a tour with one of the granddaughters of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, who is the world’s longest-tenured active master distiller. We then tasted bourbon with his son, Eddie Russell, who was named a master distiller in his own right  in 2015. Eddie’s son Bruce Russell then walked us through the newest additions to the Wild Turkey line up, their Rye Whiskey. We were able to meet all three generations (Jimmy, Eddie & Bruce) during our time with Wild Turkey and it was a seriously amazing day.

Makers Mark– This is the place to go and odds are you already know this popular bourbon brand, but after taking this tour I seriously feel like I understood why it’s as good as it is. The water, the people, and the place. The place is wonderful – rich with beauty and history. I’d liken it to Disneyland for Bourbon… the attention to detail, the cleanliness and the downright thoughtfulness behind the brand made this one of my favorite stops. As an added bonus, at the end of your tour you’re able to select a bottle of bourbon that you dip into the wax yourself! It was such a memorable experience, I cannot want to go back and do it again.

Lux Row– I was really impressed with the beautiful modern facilities at Lux Row Distilleries. Having only a passing knowledge of their bourbons and ryes I wasn’t sure what I was in for, but this full featured distillery shows it’s quality and attention to detail from end to end. The tour lasted about an hour with a paired chocolate with each whiskey (my favorite part!). I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a more casual and intimate distillery tour. As an aside, they also had the BEST swag to take home from the gift shop!

Visit Churchill Downs & The Kentucky Derby Museum – Wow! We LOVED this experience! I knew nothing about Churchill Downs/horse racing before this tour and had the best time. We decided to go on the Barn & Backside tour and then also take the walking tour included in general admission. TIP: Make sure to schedule the Backside tour before 10 am too you’re able to see the horses train. Afterwards, walk through the museum  – 2 floors, a 360 degree theater, and a cafe. We spent almost 2 hours looking at a the exhibits.as there was lots of history and interactive displays.

Visit Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory – Here you’ll experience true American Baseball history as you stroll through the actual factory where world-famous Louisville Slugger bats are created! The  factory tour is a highlight of the visit here, but there’s plenty more to see. Watch artisans hand-craft bats like they did in the old days, walk through the museum, learning fun Louisville Slugger bat facts and finish your timeby holding Babe Ruth’s bat!

Go Skeet Shooting – Whether you’re looking for indoor shooting, archery ranges, trap, skeet or sporting clays, Kentucky has it all. We were invited to a private club to go skeet shooting and it was seriously one of my favorite days during the whole trip! We had several teachers who spent time guiding us through the skeet shooting experience before we were told to frame up. “Pull”!

Visit Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace – Visit the country’s first memorial to Lincoln, built with donations from young and old, which enshrines the symbolic birthplace cabin. We stumbled upon this landmark and could’ve spent hours exploring this historic site honoring the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln.

I hope you enjoyed my travel guide to Louisville, Kentucky! As always, if you have any recommendation that aren’t included here, please leave them in the comments below!

XO,

M

P.S. As you plan your next trip, consider reading my post highlighting the best websites + resources for travel planning! Save yourself time and money!

XO,

M

Travel Insurance

I recommend having travel insurance for every trip. Use my guide for the best travelers insurance to help you choose the right company and get you started.

Travel Credit Cards

I also suggest making sure you have a good credit card with travel benefits. These benefits can help you in case of a luggage loss, a medical emergency or trip delay. Check out my post on the best travel credit cards which should be in your wallet!

Safe Travels!

 

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