7 Reasons Louisville is Gonna Get You

Until we started really traveling, I’d never given much thought as to why certain cities boomed while their neighbors remained small or became ghost towns. Resources like water, food and wood are obviously a must, but the Ohio river basin on which Louisville is built has those in spades. Many cities, as it turns out, tend to pop up around obstacles. And in the case of Louisville, named in a nod of gratitude to King Louis XVI, the only waterfall on the Ohio river put this city on the map.

Don’t waterfalls make travel difficult; you might ask? Why yes, they do. Officially founded in 1778, early settlers of Louisville supported portaging businesses that transported goods between ships above and below the falls. But as river travel grew, unloading and reloading ships was unmanageable, so a canal was constructed, allowing ships to pass the waterfalls through the locks. While ships waited their turn, passengers and crew hopped into town for refreshments and supplies, and boom… a city is born.

Technically across the river from Louisville, Falls of the Ohio State Park provides a glance into the area’s many lives. What appears to be ordinary shoreline is actually a treasure trove of exposed fossil beds. We had a fabulous time scrambling around the rocks in search of molds, casts and impressions of sea creatures that predate the dinosaurs by over 100 million years. The interpretive center ($7 child/ $9 adult) provides deeper context to the ancient history of the area, as well as native peoples and settlement.

Remember all the founding, naming and canal digging? Well, that was done at the direction of George Rogers Clark, Revolutionary War Brigadier General and Louisville’s founding father. Deeded land as payment for military endeavors, he was once the largest landowner in the northeast territory even surveying his namesake city of Clarksville. Interestingly, his cabin is the site of his younger brother William’s rendezvous with Meriwether Louis as they began their expedition across the US in October 1803.

You can’t visit Louisville without a visit to the home of the city’s most famous export, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. After being greeted by the World’s Largest Baseball bat, enjoy memorabilia from scores of MLB players who swear by the Slugger. Then take an immersive tour ($18 adult/$11child/free under 5) to see how the bats are made from the forests to the factory. You might even get to hold your favorite player’s bat! Here’s a deeper look one of our favorite stops of all time.

Like all large cities, Louisville has a vibrant downtown full of interesting architecture, statues, murals and art installations just begging for a selfie or Instagram post. From the town’s establishment stone to a giant golden Michelangelo’s David, you never know what’s around the next corner. If you love baseball, be sure to scout your favorite player’s bronze home plate on the Slugger Walk of Fame along Main Street. Best part about a city stroll… it’s free!

Since 1875, the Kentucky Derby has been THE event to compete and be seen attending. The massive site is oozing with stories that transcend the sport of horse racing. With a variety of daily tours, on site dining and regular races, the Derby Museum is one not to miss!

Being the largest building in the state of Kentucky would be reason enough to visit this gigantic limestone quarry. But zooming down the World’s only fully underground zipline ($95/trip) and aerial course ($35/person) year-round are certainly adventure worthy. Walking and tram tours (both $20) of the Louisville Mega Cavern are also available, and the site does lights shows at Christmas!

A short 25 miles south of town is a stunning little slice of nature dedicated to protecting and enhancing nature. Stroll among the trees, enjoy the sculptures, dine on the bounty of the garden at Isaac’s Cafe and let the kids climb on the playground. Admission to the Bernheim Arboretum is free, with a suggested $10 donation.

Our family is far from qualified to blog about food, but we do love finding delicious food at unique joints. We put this one off until late in the afternoon and were disappointed to find that many of the dozens of distilleries and breweries close at 5pm. The menu at Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen spoke to us. A rustic warehouse vibe was the perfect backdrop for Candied Bourbon Maple Bacon, burgers, brews and bourbon tasting. You could taste your way down Whiskey Row and around town for weeks!