Louisville Kentucky is the largest city in the state, and since its
merger with the rest of Jefferson County is the 16th largest city in
the United States. It is home to the “most exciting 2 minutes
in sports” a.k.a. the Kentucky Derby, the Louisville Slugger baseball-bat
factory, celebrities ranging from Mohammad Ali to the late Hunter S.
Thompson and produces 1/3 of all the bourbon whiskey in Kentucky (90%
of all bourbon comes from Kentucky). It is a lively, sophisticated city
with a healthy dose of small-town southern charm and more than a hint
of colonial blue-blood hauteur.
Visitors to Louisville can enjoy the city’s proximity to the Ohio
River by picnicking in or strolling along the lovely green spaces of
Waterfront Park, and kids will love its seasonal water-play area. The
riverboats Belle of Louisville and Spirit of Jefferson offer scenic
sightseeing cruises. The Belle is a 1914-era Sternwheeler, and the Jefferson
provides a tasty dinner.
Racing aficionados won’t want to skip the action at the legendary
Churchill Downs. Getting to see the Kentucky Derby itself is highly
unlikely for most people, but the Kentucky Derby Museum offers fascinating
displays on Jockeys, Horses and the track, along with the story of this
time-honored event.
The Louisville Zoo is a treat for visitors of all ages. The Gorilla
Forest exhibit features a 4-acre exhibit that allows visitors to interact
with the 12 Western Lowland Gorillas that live there, separated only
by a pane of glass. Gorilla Forest also features a tiny 9no pun intended)
family of 5-foot long, 500-lb Pygmy Hippos. The Louisville Zoo is also
home to Stellar Sea Eagles, birds whose 9-foot wingspans and hefty 20-lb
frames make them the largest eagles in the world. When visiting the
Louisville Zoo, don’t forget to visit King Louis a rare white
alligator; this 6-footer is one of only 40 known albino alligators in
the world.
Baseball fans will want to check out the
Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville Kentucky to watch the famous
bats being made and to tour the memorabilia there.
The Actors Theater in Louisville Kentucky
is a highly respected American dramatic institution that produces 1st
class plays.
