The Best Things to do in Louisville
By Jenna McMaster
Louisville is a city with its own beat, a place where bourbon flows like water and history is something you feel in your bones. Whether you're passing through or planning to stay a while, here are five things you should absolutely do in Louisville.
1. Hit the Bourbon Trail
Starting your Louisville adventure without hitting the Bourbon Trail is like visiting Rome and skipping the Colosseum. This self-guided tour takes you through some of Kentucky’s most storied distilleries, from Woodford Reserve to Old Forester, each offering a unique take on the state’s signature spirit. You’ll learn the fine art of bourbon tasting, which is mostly just drinking with a little more thoughtfulness. My advice: pace yourself, hydrate, and don’t try to impress anyone by going neat all day. The trail may be long, but your liver is not invincible.
2. Explore the Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Center is more than just a museum; it's a cultural and educational experience dedicated to the life and legacy of Louisville's most famous son. You can spend hours here watching old fight footage, shadowboxing with virtual opponents, and contemplating the heavyweight's contributions to civil rights and social justice. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to be a better person — or at least try to get in shape. Even if boxing isn’t your thing, Ali’s story is one of courage and conviction that might just inspire you to throw a few punches at life’s problems.
3. Stroll through the Louisville Mega Cavern
If you’ve ever wanted to go zip-lining underground or ride a bike through a dimly lit, man-made cavern, the Louisville Mega Cavern is your kind of place. This enormous former limestone mine offers everything from tram tours to an adventure course, all hidden beneath the streets of Louisville. It’s cool down there — both literally and figuratively — which makes it a great summer escape. Just remember: what happens underground stays underground, especially if it involves a high-pitched scream on the zip line.
4. Visit Churchill Downs
A trip to Louisville without a stop at Churchill Downs is like going to Vegas and skipping the slots. Home to the Kentucky Derby, the most exciting two minutes in sports, this iconic racetrack is where you go to experience the thrill of the races, whether you’re betting big or just soaking in the atmosphere. On non-race days, the Kentucky Derby Museum offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this place tick. And if you’re here in May, don’t forget your hat — the bigger, the better, for reasons I have yet to fully understand.
5. Walk the Big Four Bridge
Connecting Louisville with Jeffersonville, Indiana, the Big Four Bridge is a pedestrian pathway that offers stunning views of the Ohio River. It’s the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll, a bike ride, or just some quality people-watching. The bridge lights up at night, making it one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in the city — not that I’d know anything about that. Plus, crossing into Indiana without a car is a novel experience, and you can reward yourself on the other side with some ice cream. Or more bourbon. It’s your vacation.
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By Jenna McMaster
When I was a child growing up in rural Kentucky, Louisville was the “big city,” a place full of bright lights and people in a hurry
Now, decades later, I’ve come back to Louisville on my own terms, ready to see the city not just through the eyes of a girl from the country, but as someone who has traveled the world and still believes that small things can mean a lot.