Hi everyone! I'm planning a weekend motoring trip to Louisville in March sometime and was wondering what interesting things there were to do for a 20 year old female who doesn't really like night clubs but isn't exaclty interested in a baseball bat museum either! thanks for any input!

 

Hmmmm......do you like firearms museums or derby museums?

There is always the shopping, it just depends on what end of town you are staying.

 

First off, thanks for visiting Louisville! (I officially made myself the Louisville spokesperson about 2 seconds ago. )

I am not into the night club scene either so I think I may have some ideas for you.
Bare with me, this will be lengthy with many links.

The official city website http://louky.com
Another "city site" and also a store is http://www.whylouisville.com/
and yet another... http://www.gotolouisville.com

TARC (Transit Authority of River City) is our bus line here http://www.ridetarc.org/.

Links to sites of locals groups that may possibly have an event while you are in town;
www.derbycityrollergirls.com (Roller Derby team!)
www.momsmusic.com (music store that has concerts at various places in town)
www.4thstlive.com (the tourist spot, bowling, bars, food, crowds etc.)


Events
www.fatfridayhop.org (monthly "tour" of the Frankfort Ave area, free trolley ride.)
www.myspace.com/artjam (an art jam.)
http://www.firstfridaytrolleyhop.com/ (a monthly free trolley tour of art galleries and such)
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t416 (Baseball team)
http://www.lyha.org/ (The Louisville Youth Hockey Association)
http://lahpa.com/ (Louisville Adult Hockey Association)
http://www.iroquoisamphitheater.com/ (in a public park, music and plays and such)
http://www.brickhouse.cc/ (punk/hardcore concerts)
http://www.headlinerslouisville.com/ (major music venue for Louisville)
http://www.jimporters.com/ (another music venue/bar)
http://www.stevieraysbluesbar.com/ (great local blues and R&B stuff)
http://www.jazzfactory.us/ (Jazz and such, they also serve food)
http://www.phoenixhill.com/ (Basically a rock venue but they have had "rap" artists play, karaoke and lots of drinking)
http://www.thunderoverlouisville.org/ (yearly event)
http://www.kdf.org/ (KY Derby Festival, weeks of events leading up to Derby)
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2008/ (The KY Derby)


Local papers
www.velocityweekly.com (owned by Courier Journal, a good place for event listings and such)
www.courierjournal.com (THE local paper)
http://www.leoweekly.com/ (The alternative local paper, like the Velocity but, in my opinion, a lil' more mature and not as concerned with clothes)


Places to go
www.thelouisvillegameshop.com (D&D type stuff, they have gaming sessions)
www.momsmusic.com (music store/coffee shop etc)
http://www.generalpatton.org/ (THE General Patton museum)
http://www.knox.army.mil/ (Fort Knox, go see the gold vault. haha)
http://www.speedmuseum.org/ (Art museum on the UofL campus, worth a visit)
http://louisville.edu/ (The University of Louisville)
http://www.louisvilleextremepark.org/ (free lighted, 24 hour giant skate park)
http://www.21cmuseumhotel.com/overview/default.aspx (art museum, place to eat (you'll need a reservation I think), bar, great hotel, very quirky.)
http://www.frazierarmsmuseum.org/ (if you like swords you'll like this place)
http://www.cavehillcemetery.com/ (historic BEAUTIFUL cemetery. A must see)
http://www.joeley.com/ (multi story antique place, creepy yet cool, in the "art district")
http://www.mellwoodartcenter.com/ (Giant complex of shops, galleries, eateries, they have events from time to time)
http://www.carmichaelsbookstore.com/ (locally owned book store)
http://www.thegreatescapeonline.com/tge.jsp (Locally owned comic/movie/toy shop)
http://www.bowlvernon.com/ (Vernon Lanes, bowling, bar food and music)
http://www.louisvilleglassworks.com/ (watch people blow glass, they have some great parties here too!)
http://www.belleoflouisville.org/ (into steam boats?)
http://www.earx-tacy.com (AMAZING local record shop!)
http://www.booksandmusicexchange.com (another local record/book etc shop)
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/ (*shurgs* it's mandatory to throw this in I think?)
http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/ (If you like instruments this place is a good visit)
http://www.wandwvideo.com (odd local movie rental place, lots of off the wall stuff)
http://www.fallsoftheohio.org/ (See the mighty Ohio and fossils)
http://www.alicenter.org (The Muhammad Ali Museum)
http://www.louisvillescience.org/ (another madatory tourist thing)
http://www.homeskateshop.com/ (if you skate, you'll like this place)

Local radio stations
www.wfpk.org (they play a great mix of "not heard so much on the radio" stuff)

Parks and "chill out" areas..
http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/ (hard to miss, directly in front of the city!)
http://www.olmstedparks.org/our_parks/ (list of most parks in our city, I suggest Cherokee Park and Iroquios Park, both are exceptional for a drive through)And most importantly, places to EAT and drink!
http://toastonmarket.com/ (Breakfast place in the art district area)
http://www.cafe-360.com/ (if you like smoking hookahs this is your place)
http://www.lynnsparadisecafe.com/ (out of town people love this place.)
http://www.jarfis.com/ (in the Mellwood art center!)
http://www.heinebroscoffee.com/ (locally owned GREAT coffee and hang out spot!)
http://quillscoffee.com/ (more of the intellectuals coffee house)
http://www.cafemimosatogo.com/ (Excellent chinese food, vegetarian/vegan options)
http://www.labambaburritos.com/default.asp (Burritos as Big As Your Head!)
http://www.cliftonspizza.com/ (great local pizza place, comfy atmosphere, live music that isn't *too* loud)
http://www.thirdavecafe.com/ (Some live music, in the heart of Old Louisville, great food, a lot of drink variety, all ages, vegan/vegetarian options galore)
http://www.tonyboombozz.com/ (excellent local pizza)
http://www.myspace.com/spinellispizza (A must try for pizza mainly for the environment but the pizza is usually good too!, in the Highlands/Baxter Avenue area.)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=230575941 (Valley Dairy Freeze. AMAZING MILK SHAKES!)
http://www.piekitchen.com/ (if you like sweets you'll love this joint)
http://www.bbcbrew.com/ (I hate bars but this place doesn't bother me, the food is actually good there)
http://www.wickspizza.com/flash.htm (another local pizza parlor. VERY CHEESY)
http://www.myspace.com/monkeywrench1 (art/music bar/eatery type place)
http://www.myspace.com/olch (Great coffee shop/hang out in Old Louisville)
http://www.highlandcoffee.com/ (coffee in the highlands)


Car places..
http://www.steinauto.com/main/


If you have animal needs while you are in town..
http://www.feederssupply.com/Store%20Info/contactUs.htm
http://www.sandyspetshop.com/

Sites specific to different areas of town'
http://www.oldlouisville.com/

Basically, what you have to do depends on what area of town you'll be in and how willing (able) you are to drive.

The "hip" places of town are The Highlands, Frankfort Avenue, E. Market Street, Baxter Avenue (which is mostly bars), and Waterfront Park depending on what you consider hip.

There is cool stuff in all parts of the city however but most of it tends to be condensed in those areas I listed above.

Frankfort Avenue is a long road which is walk/bike/bus friendly loaded with random shops, coffee houses, churches, eateries and things to check out.

Frankfort Avenue, heading down town gets pretty close to E. Market Street which is also a bus/bike/walk friendly area with tons of places to eat, a couple "high-end" strip clubs, and TONS of art galleries, wine bars, giant churches, interesting architecture, antique places, yadda yadda yadda... the Skatepark and Slugger Field are a block walking distance just about from E. Market.

E. Market takes you downtown, as do a few other roads. You can walk E. Market, hit up a lot of stuff and end up at the Waterfront park to relax depending on the weather.

The Highlands consists mainly of Bardstown Road West of The Watterson Expressway (I-264) and the surrounding neighborhoods. At a certain point this road becomes VERY walk/bike/bus friendly and weather permitting it's recommended you walk this strip or you will miss a lot of stuff. This is probably one of the "hippest" parts of town and you'll see a great mix of folks here. Lots to do, lots to look at, the people watching in this area is top notch.

Bardstown Road turns into Baxter Avenue, which has a couple good ice cream and pizza places, as well as Lemongrass Cafe, which didn't have a website, tattoo parlors, and a lot of bars. Cave Hill Cemetary is on this road and I HIGHLY suggest you take a drive through it. You can walk but it's massive and easy to get lost in. It's a beautiful place really.

Baxter Avenue empties you out in downtown a few blocks from where Frankfort Avenue brought you into downtown.

Old Louisville is a very interesting area with cool places to eat, coffee shops, and bars as well as other points of interest (Central Park, The St. James Art Fair etc) sprinkled here and there. The architecture alone is worth taking a stroll for.

Old Louisville is the area that sits basically BEHIND the city scape that butts up against the Ohio River. The most popular area tends to be from 6th/7th street back towards Baxter Avenue.

This doesn't mean that other areas of Louisville aren't great but these areas tend to be visited the most.

Sorry I ended up not posting photos.. I think this reply is long enough.
Do you need specifics about anything in particular?
Let me know and I'll give you all the info I have.

I know some other folks from Louisville and the Bluegrass Minis club will have something to chime in with. I'm young, I don't know everything about the city!

 

wow, thanks so much for all that info! I'm going to have to take a look at it all. I'm really into baking, I recently graduated from Le Cordon Bleu for baking and pastry so are there any bakeries you suggest I try out or any place that has awesome dessert!?!
I didn't realize there was so much to do there!

 

I'm not much of a bakery person but I can tell you about the ones here in town I hear talked about (in a good way!) the most...

Blue Dog Café and Bakery
2868 Frankfort Ave.
(502) 899-9800


The Bakery at Sullivan University
3100 Bardstown Road,
Louisville, KY 40205
http://sullivan.edu/bakery/

Heitzman Bakery
Louisville, KY 40218
(corner of Hikes Lane in Buechel)
http://www.heitzmanbakery.net/

I'm not sure if you're familiar with Three Dog Bakery, but we've got one of those here. I think there are tons of them in the U.S though. It's kind of neat.
https://www.threedog.com
3929 Chenoweth Square
502.897.3364

and of course we have some Paneras but I think those are all over the U.S as well.

Let me do a little more research and I'll get back to this post...

Since you are into the food stuff this site may be helpful to you before you visit..

http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/index.php

 

Wow, I live here and didn't know of half that stuff ; -) if you want good food, Bardstown road has MANY good mom and pop type restaurants.

 

Don't forget about the Bambi Walk...............

 

wow, there are so many places that look great!
the bakery at sullivan looks intersting and so does bbc brew and lynns paradise cafe looks interesting as well!

Maybe if anyone was interested we could all have lunch/dinner together? I'm always up for meeting other MINI lovers

 

Sounds good, just post up here when you have travel dates.

 

well ex that since the 23rd is easter. . .I'll be coming up March 29-31 (sat-mon)

 

I'm not from Louisville and have spent only a couple of weeks there last year (watch out Louisville, I'm coming back in August for another coupla weeks!) but found it to be a GREAT city!!

If you are a Food Network fan, you might enjoy Lynn's Paradise Cafe, sight of a Bobby Flay Throwdown. www.lynnsparadisecafe.com The food was fantastic and the decor is super fun!

Not being a baseball fan, I didn't think I'd like the baseball bat museum either. I was surprised how much fun it was! If you run out of things to do, it's worth a stop and took less than 2 hours.

Have a great visit!

Johnna, a Midwestern fried green tomato, cheesy grits fan

 

Girl, you are everywhere!!

 

Hey! I was thinking of getting out of town that weekend and Louisville isn't very far from me here in Cincy... If you're up for it, I could meet you there to take in some of the sites and maybe get lunch at one of the local establishments? Let me know if you are interested either on here or you can IM me on Yahoo. Talk to you later!

 

Hey everyone! I'm going to be in Louisville friday-sunday. Anyone interested getting together for a bite to eat saturday?

 

wow post #3 was full of stuff i didnt know about my home town. im new to this site and to minis but im up for meeting more mini fans. i adore mine and it was a huge step from the muscle cars i normally build and drive.

 

Me and 2 of my friends will be at the Bluegrass Brewing Company
this saturday at the 4th st. location at 6pm if anyone would like to join us!

You can pm me for my number if you like so it's easier to hook up!
~Leah

www.bbcbrew.com
BBC 4th St. Theatre Square
660 South 4th Street, #2 Theater Square
Louisville, KY 40202