17 Best things to do in Louisville

When people think of taking a trip somewhere, Louisville is likely not at the top of your list. Unless you love horse racing or baseball bats. My son decided on Louisville for his high school graduation trip. Everyone was surprised when I told them Louisville is where he chose. He was interested in the city, but when I shared with him a list of things to do in Louisville, his mind was made up.

We had a great time during our weekend father-son trip. We were able to get a lot of things in without the feeling of running ourselves ragged. And with that experience, I’ve put together the list of the best things to do in Louisville.

Getting Around Louisville

We booked a hotel within walking distance of downtown Louisville. This allowed us to walk to a number of museums, but there were a few spots that weren’t close enough for walking.

In those instances, we used a couple of different types of transportation.

Uber/Lyft were great for getting to and from the Louisville airport. We also used the rideshare to get from our downtown hotel to Mega Cavern, Churchill Downs and Falls of the Ohio, as they were several miles out of town. The cost wasn’t bad for transportation, as it was less expensive to go with this option than it would’ve been to rent a car, pay for hotel parking and any other parking needs.

When the distance to our spot was too close to warrant taking a car, but too far for a nice walk, we hopped on some rentable Lime scooters. If you’ve never used these scooters, you should. They’re a fun and quick way to explore areas or get from point A to point B. You can manage the rental via an app on your phone, and the scooters are usually nearby.

Underground Ziplining in Mega Cavern

Ziplining in underground limestone caves seemed like a pretty unique attraction. In fact, MegaCavern is the only fully-underground zipline tour in the world. It’s definitely something I think people should experience in Louisville.

The caves were made as limestone was mined from below the city of Louisville. Rather than just closing up the caves, they turned it into multiple underground activities. Those activities include:

• Zipline tour
• Ropes challenge course
• Bike tour
• Tram tour
• Walking tour

Make reservations for MegaCavern online in advance of your visit. Zipline tours are limited and tend to fill up weeks in advance. Learn more about MegaCavern and plan your visit.

Louisville Slugger Museum

You can’t visit Louisville make a stop at the Slugger Museum and Factory. It really was a fun little tour. I’m not a passionate baseball fan, so I didn’t know many of the current players. But I did collect baseball cards as a kid so I know the teams.

The Louisville Slugger Museum is more than just wooden baseball bats. It also covers the history of baseball and the challenges faced by some of the most well-known players with regards to race. Reading about it all made me want to watch the movie “42” again. It also brought to life some other iconic players like Babe Ruth and Ken Griffey, Jr.

After checking out the museum and taking the factory tour, my son and I hit up the batting cage. I used a replica of Babe Ruth’s bat. It’s a little heavy for a weakling like me, but I was able to make contact on a few machine pitches.

Oh, and after taking the tour, you get to take home a mini Louisville Slugger (baseball bat). Learn more about the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Tour.

Hall of Fame Walk

As you walk to or from the Louisville Slugger Museum, you may notice bronze home plates and baseball bats along historic Main Street. It’s sort of an extension of the Slugger Museum and gives you more opportunities to learn about the “Greats” of America’s pastime.

The Hall of Fame Walk stretches one mile west from the Slugger Museum. Each bat is a replica of the model baseball bat used by each player. The plate shares some of the key highlights from each player. While I didn’t recognize every player’s name, I did recall Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Jackie Robinson to name a few.

Get a complete rundown on all the stops along Main Street with this helpful PDF brochure, courtesy of the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Muhammad Ali Center

Before my visit to Louisville, Muhammad Ali was just a boxer. But the Muhammad Ali Center helped me learn that he was so much more than that. And the short film you watch at the start of your visit inspires and sets the stage for all the other things you’ll see during your visit.

I really think one of the main purposes of the Muhammad Ali Center is not to simply share the life of Ali. Rather, it’s to share his life in hopes of inspiring people to stand up for others and be kind. With so many issues ravaging the airwaves, it’s more important than ever to be kind to others and help those in need.

After exploring the Muhammad Ali Center, I’m sure you’ll feel inspired to do good, too.

Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum

When I think of Louisville, horseracing is one of the first things I think of. We don’t have horseracing in the western United States (at least to the degree it seems to happen on the east coast). But all those underdog horseracing movies (Seabiscuit, Secretariat, etc.) made me think the Kentucky Derby is where it happens. Plus, I know that large hats are a vital part of the festivities every year.

The Kentucky Derby Museum is next door to Churchill Downs – the track where the horseracing takes place. While visiting the museum, you can take a guided tour of the track. We were there early enough in the day to see a few horses getting some practice in before the races that were to be held later that day. I wish we would’ve stayed and watched a race or two. But we hadn’t incorporated that into our itinerary. If there is a race on the day of your visit, hang around and enjoy the experience.

The track is located a short drive from downtown. We took an Uber, but if you’ve got your own car, there’s parking available on-site.

Big Four Bridge

My son really wanted to see a large eastern-United States river. Well, the Ohio River runs just north of Louisville and marks the border between Kentucky and Indiana. And lucky for us, there was a popular train bridge-turned foot bridge that takes you across the river. Big Four Bridge is a popular walking path. The Kentucky side boasts a large park that’s great for playing frisbee, enjoying a picnic or sending your kids to the playground. The Indiana side has a much smaller park, but there are a few restaurants you can grab a meal at on your journey.

We took Lime Scooters from our hotel near downtown Louisville to the start of the footbridge. Then we started our trek along the path, which does a giant circle as it climbs in elevation to meet the bridge. Motor vehicles – including motorized scooters – aren’t allowed on the bridge. But bikes are.

Along the bridge, there are information stands to help you learn more about the history of the bridge and its eventual conversion into a foot bridge. From the other side, you can enjoy a walk along the river on the Indiana side. You can also walk north to the Falls of the Ohio, which I’ve written about below.

River Walk and Gardens

The River Walk is a great stroll to enjoy the beautiful, green landscapes of Kentucky. I recommend starting near the Muhammad Ali Center and strolling east. You’ll pass the boarding area for the Belle of Louisville and the Mary M Miller steamboats (I’ll talk more about those below).

I will point out that unfortunately, the river has a lot of garbage/debris in it. Near the bank, we saw a Lime Scooter thrown over the wall. It’s kinda sad. But it was still nice to enjoy a conversation and nice walk along the river.

Further east, there’s a botanical garden we wanted to check out. I guess I should say that I wanted to check it out. My son had no interest. But if you’re walking along the Ohio River, I would suggest checking out the Waterfront Botanical Garden.

Falls of the Ohio State Park

I realize that Falls of the Ohio State Park isn’t in Louisville. In fact, it’s not even in the same state. It’s across the Ohio River in Indiana. But it’s a long walk or a short drive, and worth visiting. Falls of the Ohio has an Interpretive Center to help you learn all about the Ohio River, its history and culture through hands-on exhibits.

If your interests are more among nature, you can hike along the fossil beds of the river, go bird watching, or even try your hand at fishing if you have an Indiana or Kentucky fishing license. There are multiple spots where you can access the river to fish.

Kayaking and canoeing are also options on the Ohio River. Just be mindful of how high the water is so you don’t get into danger. Learn more about other outdoor activities at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.

Belle of Louisville

My son and I debated on taking a tour river boat tour during our visit. There are several options available, including sunset and moonlight cruises, dinner cruises and a few general sightseeing tours. I thought a dinner cruise would be a great way to enjoy some local foods and learn about the history of the Ohio River and Louisville, but our time was limited so we passed on this activity.

Tours are booked on either the Belle of Louisville (as pictured above) or the Mary M Miller steamboat. Visit their website to check their schedule and find the tour and steamboat that works for your interests and itinerary.

David’s Statue

You wouldn’t expect a large replica of Michelangelo’s David statue to be standing in all its glory on Main Street in Louisville. But as you can see from the photo above, he is in fact there. He stands on the corner of 7th Street and Main – a short three-minute walk east from the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Tour.

The statue traveled all the way from Turkey – via New York City – and it definitely brings art front and center to the city. There are several art museums in the city, but this art is on display for everyone to see without having to pay admission.

During our visit, masks were still required in many venues around the city. So it seemed appropriate that David was wearing his mask as well.

Fourth Street Live!

Dining and entertainment abound at Fourth Street Live! The street has been blocked off and beyond some pretty fancy dining establishments is live music and entertainment. During our visit, there weren’t a lot of places open because of COVID-19. But we could tell that when things open back up, it’s going to be hoppin’.

Some of the fancy restaurants include Brazerios Brazilian Steakhouse, Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse, Howl at the Moon, The Sports & Social Club, and the classic TGI Fridays. A few of those places have live entertainment indoors. But the pavilion stage at the center of it all, combined with some outdoor dining/seating would be a fun way to enjoy the downtown vibe of Louisville.

Check out all the food and entertainment available at Fourth Street Live! in Louisville.

Frazier Museum

One of the best places to really learn about the culture and growth of Louisville is the Frazier Museum. Located on Main Street, not far from the Louisville Slugger Museum, you’ll see some artifacts from the history of America – not just Kentucky. For example, Teddy Roosevelt’s “Big Stick,” Geronimo’s bow and arrows and a first edition copy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. One exhibit focuses on the Civil War and how Kentucky – who was bordering the North and the South – navigated the challenges of the nation’s war.

It’s here where you can learn about the development and uniqueness of Bourbon whiskey – America’s only native spirit. A few of the exhibits provide some history around the drink, but it also marks the start of another activity in Louisville – the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Learn more about visiting the Frazier Museum and check the hours and parking as you plan your visit to Louisville.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center is at the Frazier Museum. So after exploring their Spirit of Kentucky exhibition, you can begin your voyage down the trail. There are several distilleries along Main Street in Louisville, including Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Old Forester Distilling Co., and Angel’s Envy Distillery. That grouping is within a mile of the Frazier Museum. There are several others in Louisville you can explore as well. Just don’t do too many of them all at once unless you have a designated driver. 😉

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail extends to more places that Louisville. Learn more about the trail and decide how far down the trail you want to travel.

Kentucky Science Center

As we passed the Kentucky Science Center, a bus load of kids made their way into the building. We were able to get a look at the giant mirror near the entrance – which is pretty cool. We didn’t grab tickets to the Science Center because we felt we were both a little old for it. Though I’m sure there are some pretty fun exhibits for kids of all ages.

There are several exhibits that engage kids in many ways. You can learn about the world around us. Tinker with items in the Makerplace. Get to know the connection between body and mind. Discover the natural history of the world.

Learn more about the Kentucky Science Center and all the hands-on learning exhibits.

Ballgame at Slugger Field

We knew the Louisville Bats (Minor League Baseball team) had a home game during our visit. But it was a last-minute decision to head to Slugger Field and watch the game. The stadium is within walking distance of downtown Louisville – or you could ride a Lime Scooter to the stadium. We bought tickets at the stadium box office and found our seats in the outfield.

It was nice to be within hollering distance of the players in the outfield. Some fans, who obviously have been to other games and were sitting a few rows away from us, were cheering on the player. One kid even started playing catch with the player during a slow part between innings. It was pretty cool to watch, but the boy ended up losing the ball he had been given when the Bats player overthrew it and the kids sitting a few rows behind snagged it up.

See if the Louisville Bats are playing at Slugger Field during your visit and try to snag tickets to the game.

Speed Art Museum

Don’t let the name deceive you. This is not a museum dedicated to people who create art super fast. The speed at which they create is not a factor in getting the art into a collection on display at the museum. 😉 It’s named after a prominent Louisville businessman and philanthropist, James Breckinridge Speed, in 1925.

The art museum is located about three miles south of Downtown Louisville. It’s on the University of Louisville campus. There are a variety of art pieces on display, including Native American art, African art, European and American art, as well as some contemporary pieces of art, to name a few.

Learn more about the Speed Art Museum and see if you want to include this in your trip to Louisville.

Enjoy Some Amazing Eats from Local Restaurants

One of the best things about traveling is finding amazing foods to eat. However, finding a good place to eat is one of the most stressful parts for me when it comes to traveling. I overthink it, throw my arms in the air and go with what I know… McDonalds.

I was determined to avoid common places during our trip to Louisville. Luckily, my son isn’t super picky and he enjoys good food. The challenge we found in Louisville was that many of the restaurants weren’t open in the evening. I think it was COVID-19 related, but it made it difficult. Regardless, here are some of the places we ate and enjoyed in Louisville.

One of our last meals was at Sway – a restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Louisville. We ordered a very local dish known as Hot Brown. Boy, was it delicious. We both would recommend this dish to anyone visiting Louisville.

Another place that had some fantastic BBQ was Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar. We ate a lunch so big we didn’t feel like eating dinner that night. It was filling and delicious southern BBQ.

We weren’t always able to find southern-style restaurants. So we went a little further south (of the border) and enjoyed Mi Casita on 4th. The Mexican food was pretty darn good and we were again filled to the brim with good eats.

After exploring the Muhammad Ali Center, we wanted to grab a quick bite for lunch. We didn’t want to hit up a chain restaurant and pizza sounded good. So we ended up grabbing a slice and a calzone from Luigi’s Pizzeria. Yet another example of the great food found in Louisville.

Summary

We were only in Louisville for two full days. We crammed in a lot of activities, but also missed a lot. So when you’re thinking of a new place to visit, I would recommend adding Louisville to your travel list. It may often be overlooked, but it’s something my son still talks about as a hidden gem.

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