So Many Choices of Things to See and Do in Louisville
Louisville has Something for Everyone
When you visit Louisville, you get a true Kentucky experience. Whatever your interest — great food, great bourbon, thoroughbred horses and the Kentucky Derby, history and architecture, the performing arts, sports — you’ll find an endless array of memorable things to do. Best of all, the Louisville Bourbon Inn is located in a central area that’s convenient to all of these attractions and venues. Some are even within walking or biking distance from the inn. You can’t pick a better location for your home base as you set out to explore Louisville and Bourbon Country.
Shakespeare in the Park
Adjacent to the hotel is Louisville’s Central Park, with walking paths, bicycles and scooters for rent, public tennis courts, a public playground for children, the Old Louisville Visitors Center, a Louisville Police Substation and an outdoor amphitheater that stays active all summer long.
Enjoy live theater, right outside your door!
Just about every night from May 29, 2024 until August 11, 2024, you can see an outdoor performance of a Shakespeare play. This year’s performances are of Romeo & Juliet, The Comedy of Errors, and Tempest.
There are also performance of Kentucky Shakespeare’s Globe Players (high school students), Louisville Ballet’s Shakespeare in Dance: King Lear, the Late Night Shakes from Louisville Improvisors, and G.L.O.B.E. Arm Wrestling from the Louisville Fringe Festival.
American Sign Language (ASL) is provided at a selection of the performances.
Download the 2024 Program Guide, Audience®.
Click here for a calendar with the shows, pre-shows and foodtruck schedules.
Horse Racing
If you like thoroughbred horses and horse racing, you will enjoy your stay in the horse racing capital of the world! There’s plenty to see and do, depending on the time of year of your visit. You can see live horse racing, visit the Kentucky Derby Museum and tour Churchill Downs. Keeneland, located in Lexington, is another beautiful race track that hold meets opposite from Churchill Downs. There’s plenty to see and do if you’re a horse racing fan! Here are some links to popular attractions:
Museums
Louisville is a city with a wide berth of history, and many fantastic museums to heighten your knowledge…some of them are either within walking distance or a short ride from the Louisville Bourbon Inn. You can tour other old, historic homes, view new and interesting art, look at historic crafts and learn about the Louisville Slugger Bat, Churchill Downs or Muhammad Ali’s contributions to humanity. Whatever your museum interests are, Louisville probably has one you will want to visit. Some of the local museums are:
Performing Arts
Louisville is one of only six cities in the United States with a full-time paid opera, ballet, symphony and theater. In addition to performances from local groups, Louisville often hosts a Broadway Series season of plays. If you’re looking for more performance art after you’ve viewed the Shakespeare in the Park from your balcony, check out one of these other fantastic groups:
Local Dining
Louisville is a food lover’s paradise. Chock full of independent restauranteurs, the local food scene will not disappoint, from fine dining to that one-of-a-kind hole in the wall! There are several restaurants within walking distance or a short ride from the Inn. Ask for recommendations, since new restaurants open all the time. Here’s a sample of some of our favorite eateries:
Other Attractions
There are far too many outstanding attractions in and around Louisville to list them all. For a current list of what’s going on in the city, you can visit the Louisville Calendar of Events. Some other popular venues that Louisville visitors enjoy are:
Louisville Cardinals
You might notice students walking around the area or see a number of shirts and caps displaying the Louisville Cardinals mascot. That’s because the University of Louisville is practically right next to the Old Louisville neighborhood where the Louisville Bourbon Inn is located. That also means their sports venues are close by. If you’re a college sports fan, there are plenty of opportunities to see a Louisville Cardinals team in some exciting NCAA Division I action. Ask about who’s playing and cheer on one of the Cardinals teams!
Louisville Cardinals Men’s Baseball
Louisville Cardinals Men’s Basketball
Louisville Cardinals Women’s Basketball
Louisville Cardinals – All Sports
