Your Next Weekend Trip: Louisville, KY
When researching my next blog post, I wanted to focus on a weekend guide, but where to? While my midwestern friends always talk about long weekends to Chicago, New York City, and Nashville, one great option that needs mentioning is Louisville.
When I asked friends and family if they had visited, I was astonished when they all answered no. Upon further investigation, no one had a solid answer to why they hadn’t. So, I’m telling you now: GO! From my hometown (Akron), it is an easy 5-hour drive south (FYI, it’s closer than Chicago!)
Your Weekend Plan:
Day 1
Including the drive, this will be a half day. Head to your accommodations to check in and drop off your bags. Then you’ll want to head into the city for an afternoon exploring! While we enjoyed wandering the city, you can also stop at places like the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Churchhill Downs, Kentucky Derby Museum, or the Muhammad Ali Center.
Day Two
This morning, head out along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. From its official site, It has drawn more than 2.5 million visitors from all 50 states and 25 countries in the last five years.
They state, “Bourbon lovers can stop at a few of the distilleries or all 42—there is no wrong way to experience it. Every journey is personalized and requires planning, as some distilleries are as far as 70 miles apart. There’s something for everyone—tours, tastings, activities, big-city nightlife, quaint country towns, Bourbon-themed hotels, and historic bed & breakfast accommodations.”
From my experience, you’ll want to plan ahead on this one. Distilleries only run tours throughout the day with limited spaces. You can also work with tour groups to arrange transportation ahead of time, like a half-day option out of Lousiville that features your choice of 3 tours.
We were lucky to snag a reservation at Four Roses, but one was not enough!
Day 3
Today, you’ll take a trip within your trip (say what!?) Head an hour south to Mammoth Cave National Park. According to The National Park Service, it is the world’s longest-known cave system. It’s earned the titles of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. It is another item on the agenda that you will want to plan because these sell out weeks in advance, and no trip to the park is complete without a guided cave tour. While you can sometimes go on a “Self-Guided Discovery,” I would not recommend this. This tour will only take you into a few of the caves. To truly grasp the length, size, and overall history of the caves, look into the “Historic Tour” (2 miles- great for families) or the “Wild Cave” tour (5.5 miles and extremely difficult- for the adventurers). The park does offer over 80 miles of trails above ground, so use the afternoon to hit one or two before heading back to the city.
Travel Tip: You will cross into the Central Time Zone when heading to the park so watch the clock!
Day 4
Rounding out the weekend, relax in bed after a busy weekend. Louisville is known for its brunch scene, so try snagging a table at Highland Morning or The Cafe for some eggs, grits, and mimosas. You’ll then use the afternoon to drive home. - That’s it!
For the Foodies:
Proof on Main - yummy cocktails! Be sure to check out the art museum attached (it’s free!)
The Silver Dollar- Southern Food & Blueberry Bourbon Smashers
Buck's Restaurant - steak
CC's Kitchen- Bloody Marys
Safier Mediterranean Deli- scratch-made Lebanese dishes
Soak it up you have just enjoyed a long weekend in Louisville! Need help mapping out where to stay and further activities? Head to the Book Now section for a 1:1 consultation about your next trip!
Happy Travels, Hannah
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