The Ultimate Weekend Guide to Louisville, Kentucky
As someone who works “normal” Monday to Friday work hours, its often times hard to get away for an extended period of time. Thats why long weekend trips are such a great idea. They offer the perfect balance between getting away from the daily grind of your life and exploring new destinations.
Weekender, noun week·end·er | \ ˈwēk-ˈen-dər One who vacations or visits for a weekend
For this edition of The Weekender, I’m visiting Louisville, Kentucky. Home of the Kentucky Derby, Bourbon, Hot Chicken, Muhammad Ali and so much more. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, look no further than a weekend visit to Louisville.
How do you pronounce it?
Day 1
After arriving and checking into your hotel, it’s time to get out and begin exploring Louisville. I recommend staying at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. It’s a mid-range hotel option, but you can’t beat the location! You’re within walking distance to restaurants, shopping, and the first stop of our weekend trip – The Slugger Museum. If you love baseball or are looking for a unique thing to do in Louisville, this stop is for you! Enjoy the museum and take a guide tour of the factory. You’ll even receive a miniature bat to take home with you as a souvenir!
Wander over to the Galt Hotel and stop by the Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant to grab a bite to eat. You can’t go wrong with whiskey and tacos! After lunch, it’s time to get acclimated to the city. Yes, you guessed it – we’re going on a tour! The Trolley de ‘Ville tours to be exact. They have tours available 7 days a week and the best part is they leave from the Hotel you just ate at. It’s a 90-minute narrated trolley tour that will cover everything you want to know about Louisville.
Why I love taking a tour so much at the start of any stay in a new city, is that the tour guide always shares their personal favorites along the way. It’s how I was I able to find this fun rooftop bar for dinner, 8Up Eatery. Take in the city views while enjoying a glass of wine (or your favorite bourbon!) and get ready for day 2!
Day 2
No one can leave Kentucky without trying some of its famous Bourbon. For that reason, we’re going on a little road trip. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has 18 different distilleries, taking you from Louisville to Lexington and everywhere in between. I personally recommend going to Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve. Both distilleries are very well known for their bourbon. As such, their tours are fun and interactive and will give you a great introduction to all thing’s bourbon.
If you’re wondering where to stop for lunch, most of the distilleries have a place to eat it as well. Stopping in Bardstown in between for lunch at their Kitchen & Bar is a personal recommendation of mine. The city is super cute and the food at their distillery delish! You’re going to need to make reservations for every distillery. So, if there was one that you really want to visit – book it as soon as possible!
When you get back to downtown Louisville, you will want to go to Proof on Main for dinner. This beautiful restaurant has all the comfort foods you didn’t know you needed. Word of caution, it does have a little bit of an upscale vibe and some of the main dishes can be pricey. But there are also plenty of less expensive meals you can opt for as well. After dinner, it’s all about checking out the nightlife in Louisville. Head on over to Fourth Street Live for some live music and a nightcap before turning in for the night.
Day 3
Rise and shine for your last day in Louisville! Starting off the morning strong with a walk to the Big Four Walking Bridge. The views from the bridge alone make up for the 30 minutes’ walk there in my opinion. Next, head over to the iconic Greetings from Louisville Mural on your way to a hearty breakfast at Wagner’s Pharmacy. This diner has been a Louisville classic since 1922. Located near Churchill Downs, it originally began as a pharmacy where horsemen would get their cigarettes. Nowadays, it’s a favorite stop for breakfast, lunch and anybody who is a horse racing fan!
Now, you cannot come all the way to Louisville without going to Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby Museum offers guided track visits (complimentary with a General Admission ticket) or other Special Access tours. You can see behind the scenes into the private dining rooms, the exclusive balconies, or visit the Backside of Churchill Downs and see the Thoroughbreds in action. I personally recommend the Superstars and Spires tour where you can pretend to “Do Derby” like a celebrity and have special access to areas you wouldn’t normally get to see. Be mindful, that if you purchase a specialty tour ticket, you ALSO get admission to the General Admission tour. Essentially getting two tickets for the price of one! Some of the information you learn about overlaps, but I thought it was neat to see Churchill Downs from multiple perspectives.
The last stop you want to make in Derby City, is to try the famous Royals Hot Chicken. Just imagine, a Nashville-style hot chicken with a spicy zing, served with fries and a bourbon milkshake. Sounds like the perfect way to end your weekend visit to Louisville, Kentucky – am I right?
Now that your belly full and heart is happy, it’s time to head back home. Whether you’re driving or flying, Louisville, Kentucky is a great choice for a weekend getaway any time of the year.