Louisville anyone?

Querian

Hey I find myself in Louisville for a couple of weeks. If anyone has any suggestions for things to do, day trips, restaurants, etc. please let me know what I should make sure I do while I am here! My husband is a state capital geek so we will go to Frankfort to see the capital of Kentucky one day but that's about all we have planned. We also have a dog so pooch friendly ideas are welcome! We will also go to Churchill Downs and maybe visit a bourbon distillery or two but I'm not sure what are the best distilleries since neither of us are much into bourbon.

LadyWolf66

Mammoth Caves is fairly close by (about 1-1/2 hour drive south down I-65) http://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm

President's Lincoln's birthplace is in Hodgenville - about an hour south down I-65 http://www.nps.gov/abli/index.htm

Let's see - I don't believe Ft. Knox is an open base any longer so I'm not sure there is much to see there. The gold vault is just a plain gray concrete building and they don't allow visitors (or they didn't when we were stationed there). I think I remember there being a museum on the base that was pretty interesting.

Otter Creek Park near Brandenburg is nice. I believe it is owned by the City of Louisville now. Take Hwy 31W (NOT 31E!!) south toward Ft. Knox/Radcliff and turn right on Hwy 1638/Old Mill Rd - the park will be on your right.

Louisville itself - You can take a river cruise on the Belle of Louisville - http://www.belleoflouisville.org/

If you like scary/creepy places - Waverly Hills Sanitorium might be interesting to you - http://therealwaverlyhills.com/newsite/

Louisville Science Center - http://www.kysciencecenter.org/

The Louisville Zoo - http://www.louisvillezoo.org/

This is going strictly by memory (moved from KY to TX in 1996) and I know I'm leaving a lot of stuff out. For the city's size there is a lot to do in the area.

Oh, since you're headed to Churchill Downs, I think there is a museum there too, and also if you do make it to Frankfort, take a drive around the countryside around Lexington and Versailles - there were a number of the larger horse farms in that area and it was a pretty area.

I think the Jim Beam distillery is fairly close by in Sheperdsville. There are several in the general area but I'm not sure they are actually in Louisville proper.

Goodness, I miss Kentucky!

Oh - didn't catch the part about your dog at first - I honestly don't know if any of these are pooch friendly - sorry!

Querian

Thanks for all the great suggestions!!!