Visiting Greater Louisville

Louisville and North Central Kentucky - all about horses, history and bourbon, and downtown Louisville is at the epicenter. Home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, it’s not too early to start planning for the 138th run for the roses on May 5th, 2012. Escape the buzz of metro Louisville to smaller towns like Shepherdsville, south on Interstate 65. Twenty minutes from downtown Louisville puts travelers well down Kentucky’s bourbon trail and near Bullitt County’s wineries. Thirty minutes south from Shepherdsville to Bardstown and you’ve arrived in the Bourbon Capital of the World. In Shelbyville, east of Louisville 30-miles, travelers find themselves at the gateway of Kentucky bluegrass country.

Leaving Louisville, all roads lead to outstanding Kentucky countryside and destinations. However, before you leave the city, stop for a delightful lunch or dinner at Lilly’s on Bardstown Road, one of Louisville’s popular eateries. If you are traveling south, be sure to stop at the Jim Beam American Outpost and Homestead to learn about the traditions of Kentucky bourbon production.

Art lovers don’t miss this winter’s exhibits at Louisville’s Speed Art Museum. The Kentucky Antiques from the Noe Collection: A Gift to the Commonwealth, closes February 5th. The antiques exhibit features an amazing collection of early Kentucky furniture, paintings and accessories. Sacred Air Breath of Life features selections from the Speed’s Native American collection. This exhibit showcases the life of Native American tribes in the central Great Plains region portrayed  with a selection of artifacts, historic documents and photographs. Catch the Speeds Native American exhibit before it closes on February 12th.

The Louisville Zoo is open during winter, and currently is home to two polar bear cubs. Make your way to the Zoo’s Glacier Run Exhibit to spot Qannik and Siku. The cubs love winter, so now is the time for a visit to the Louisville Zoo.

You may have stopped at Kentucky’s historic Jim Beam outpost for an introduction to the state’s bourbon history, however, when you arrive in Bardstown, you are in the Bourbon Capital of the World. Visit March 30 through April 1st for the 2012 Bardstown Colonial Days. Old Bardstown Village is filled with the 18th Century Market Fair, complete with period artisans and entertainers. Relive history at Bardstown Colonial Days.

Elizabethtown, 45-miles south of Louisville, is also in the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon trail. Elizabethtown is a central location for visits to Maker’s Mark distillery, Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center and he Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. Elizabethtown is ideal for a taste of authentic Kentucky Hospitality as well as it’s bourbon.

The State Theater in Elizabethtown is a must see for visitors. The original theater has been carefully restored and continues to serve as a focal point of entertainment for the Elizabethtown community. Check the calendar for the schedule of classic movies, or have some laughs February 4th when the State Theater Comedy Series begins.

Greater Louisville Hotel Map