Known as “Bourbon City,” Louisville is the largest and most populous city in Kentucky, nestled along the Ohio River on the border with Indiana. As its nickname implies, it’s renowned for its bourbon production in addition to being the home of the Kentucky Derby, the Louisville Slugger Factory, and the birthplace of boxing great Muhammad Ali. A work conference brought me to Louisville for the first time in January for a weekend, and I got to check out a few key sites while I was there.
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Stay: Louisville Marriott Downtown
Our small conference was held entirely in-house at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, though the hotel does also have skybridge connection to the Kentucky International Convention Center for easy access to events there. It’s conveniently located in walking distance to key downtown attractions. Hotel amenities include an onsite restaurant Porch Kitchen & Bar, a Starbucks outlet, indoor pool, fitness center, and a cozy lobby. My room was comfortable and modern, and I enjoyed my stay.
See and Do
My first sightseeing stop was a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. A guided tour through the factory floor walked us through the history and production of the renowned baseball bats, with hands-on opportunities to feel and see different variations of timber and paint finish. At the conclusion of the tour, we received a mini bat to take home as a souvenir, though you can also buy personalized bats and more in the shop.
A short walk up Main Street, my next stop was the Muhammad Ali Center, a museum established in 2005 by Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie. The museum highlights Ali’s life, from growing up in Louisville, his rise to greatness in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, his storied career, and humanitarian efforts. It’s clear to see from the exhibits why he is considered “The Greatest,” but even more moving to learn of his faith and activism beyond the ring.
Louisville is just one stop on a Kentucky Bourbon Trail that spans 42 counties in Kentucky. Bourbon was born in Kentucky, and to this day the state produces 95% of the global bourbon supply, according to the Kentucky Distillers Association. I was tight on time for this trip, so I didn’t get to visit any actual distilleries, but was able to partake in a tasting with Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. at the Louisville Visitor Center arranged for our conference.
Aside from its bourbon, Louisville is perhaps best known for hosting “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” the running of the Kentucky Derby. The oldest continually held sporting event in the United States, the derby dates back to 1875 and is held annually on the first Sunday of May at the legendary Churchill Downs in Louisville, steeped in traditions like extravagant fascinators and mint juleps. During my conference, I was able to attend a reception at the Kentucky Derby Museum, wandering the exhibits and learning derby history with a mint julep in hand. The museum’s 360° film The Greatest Race was a great way to experience the sights and sounds of the derby – even in the dead of January!
Eat and Drink
For lunch on our first day, a few colleagues and I wandered a few blocks from the hotel to Doc Crow’s, a barbecue joint located in a former distilling warehouse on Whiskey Row. We ordered wings to start, and I’m still thinking about those wings months later – I might even call them the best wings I’ve ever had. I then enjoyed a brisket sandwich as my entree – delish!
For dinner one night, we went to River House, the second Louisville restaurant by award-winning chef John Varanese. Louisville doesn’t come top of mind as a seafood city, but this seafood-centric restaurant and raw bar is a fabulous culinary destination on the riverfront. I ordered the cavatappi pasta with jumbo shrimp, diver scallops, sautéed succotash, shredded parmesan and pea tendrils tossed in green chile cream sauce. It definitely hit the spot!
In terms of sweets, the thing not to miss in Louisville is bourbon balls, a confection of pecans, bourbon and chocolate that you can find at a number of candy stores in downtown Louisville. They’re addicting!
Louisville was a fun little city and I enjoyed my time there. With attending my conference, I didn’t have much time to do any real exploring, but I got a good taste of the city’s highlights for a short weekend visit.
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