Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, Greater Louisville offers a wide variety of exciting attractions and cultural activities to keep you entertained during your stay in the River City. The largest city in Kentucky, Louisville is home to over 90 attractions -thoroughbred horse racing, bourbon, bluegrass music, sporting events and more!
Downtown Louisville
Beautiful and historic downtown Louisville provides the perfect backdrop for a day of fun. The Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Museum, located on Main Street, provides a nostalgic look into America's favorite pastime. Fourth Street Live! is Louisville's premier entertainment and retail district located on Fourth Street, between Liberty and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, in the heart of historic downtown Louisville. [ top ]
Louisville Fun! For family festivities, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom offers thrills and chills including Chang - the world's longest, tallest, and fastest standup roller coaster. See animals in their natural habitats at the Louisville Zoo - home to lions, tigers, bears, and the new Gorilla Forest. Enjoy views of the Ohio River at Louisville Waterfront Park, which hosts hundreds of events and activities. The 55-acre park is a haven for walkers, joggers, picnickers, and families who embrace the beautiful river scenery. For relaxation and sightseeing, board the Belle of Louisville on the Ohio River. [ top ]
Louisville Arts & Entertainment –The Louisville Science Center and the Kentucky Art and Craft Gallery offers stimulation or the mind and eye. The Louisville arts community has gained international acclaim and is one of nine U.S. cities with a professional opera, ballet, theatre, orchestra and children's theatre. Enjoy live theater and musical entertainment at Actors Theater, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Joe Huber's Family Farm & Restaurant and the Kentucky Center for the Arts, which showcases the Louisville Orchestra and the Louisville Ballet. The Jazz Factory, Louisville's premier venue for live jazz, located in the Glassworks, serves tapas, a full bar and two sets of hot jazz in an intimate club setting. [ top ]
Louisville Sports –The Louisville sports scene is thrilling. From the World's Most Legendary Racetrack, Churchill Downs, to University of Louisville Division One Sports to 52 gorgeous golf courses, there's something for every fan in Louisville. Absorb the timeless tradition of racing at the Kentucky Derby Museum. See the Louisville Slugger bats in action during baseball season at Louisville Slugger Field, home of Louisville's triple A baseball team the Bats. Cheer for your favorite teams at Freedom Hall, Cardinal Stadium, or the Ohio Valley Volleyball Center. [ top ]
Louisville Shopping –From shopping malls that sell it all to boutiques and antique stores, you can shop 'till you drop in Louisville. Mall St. Matthews features more than 100 shops and restaurants anchored by Lord & Taylor, Dillard's and J.C. Penney. Recently renovated to include Galyan's sports superstore, Oxmoor Center offers 120 retail stores, including Lazarus and Sears, and 15 food outlets, such as California Pizza Kitchen. Browse the art galleries in Louisville's historic Gallery District and find antique treasures at Joe Key Antiques. [ top ]
Louisville's Top Attractions
Kentucky Fair and Exposition - One of the top 10 largest public facilities in the US, the 400-acre Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center features one million square feet of indoor space including Freedom Hall, a 19,000-seat indoor arena, and Cardinal Stadium, a multipurpose facility for baseball, football, field hockey, concerts, and stage presentations. The Expo accommodates a spectrum of year-round events and is the home of the Kentucky State Fair. Visit www.kyfairexpo.org [ top ]
Freedom Hall - Freedom Hall is a 19,000 seat arena that presents basketball games, concerts, ice events, hockey, circus, wrestling, tradeshows, conventions, horse shows, and grand productions.
Churchill Downs - Horse racing is an integral aprt of Kentucky's rich history. In 1875, the World's Most Legendary Racetrack - Churchill Downs - opened and began its legacy as Home of the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs is located three miles from the downtown Louisville business district. The Kentucky Derby will be held on May 6, 2006. Visit www.churchilldowns.com. [ top ]
Louisville Convention Center - The Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville accommodates a variety of events, meetings, conventions and trade shows with 300,000 square feet of space - 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 30,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 52 meeting rooms. The center's interior is complemented by a landscape of exposed brick, skylights and a striking terrazzo floor that illustrates Louisville's landmarks. Visit www.kyconvention.org. [ top ]
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom - Discover captivating settings and thrilling adventures at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, one of the world's most diverse theme parks. Six Flags presents innovative attractions, seven mega coasters, including the Greezed Lightnin', live shows, cutting-edge thrill rides, such as the new Tornado, games, kid's play areas, land and marine animals, concerts and events. Hurricane Bay Waterpark features amazing waterslides, a lagoon, a wave pool and a winding river for exciting tube rides. Visit www.sixflags.com/parks/kentuckykingdom. [ top ]
Louisville Zoo - The State Zoo of Kentucky, the Louisville Zoo exhibits over 1,300 animals in naturalistic settings representing geographical areas and biomes. Habitats include: the ISLANDS, the African Veldt, Asian Plains, North and South American Panorama, Aquatics and the Australian Outback. The 4-acre Gorilla Forest Exhibit features Pygmy hippos and Western lowland gorillas. Herp Aquarium features 100 species of reptiles, amphibians and fish from around the world. Visit www.louisvillezoo.org. [ top ]
Louisville Extreme Park – Louisville Extreme Park features 40,000 square feet of outdoor concrete skating surface, a 24-foot full pipe, a wooden vertical ramp, and indoor skate areas. The X-Park provides skateboarding, rollerblading and biking opportunities to people of all skill levels and is an excellent venue for competitions. Located downtown near Waterfront Park and Slugger Field, the X-park is accessible from RiverWalk and the Beargrass Creek Bicycle Trail. Visit www.skateboardparks.com/kentucky/louisvilleextremepark. [ top ]
Falls of the Ohio State Park – Located on the banks of the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana, the Falls offers fishing, hiking, fossil viewing, bird watching, and picnicking. The park's 220 acres of 386-million-year-old fossil beds, among the largest naturally exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world, are accessible August - October when the river is lowest. The interpretive center contains an exhibit gallery and videos. Visit www.fallsoftheohio.org. [ top ]
Louisville Museums
Louisville Slugger Factory & Museum - Visit the place where the Official Bat of Major League Baseball is crafted. Since 1884, Louisville Slugger has put lumber in the hands of the greatest players of the game. The museum in downtown's West Main district shows you how baseball has evolved, but the crack of the bat remains the most thrilling moment. Experience a guided 30-minute factory tour and get a souvenir bat. Visit www.sluggermuseum.org. [ top ]
Kentucky Derby Museum - Experience what it feels like to ride a million-dollar thoroughbred thundering toward the Kentucky Derby Finish Line. The Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Down features a high-definition Kentucky Derby film entitled "The Greatest Race," displayed on a 360-degree screen that puts you in the Derby action. Enjoy permanent exhibits, vintage footage, hands-on activities and tours of Churchill Downs. Visit www.derbymuseum.org. [ top ]
Louisville Science Center - The Louisville Science Center encourages people to understand science, mathematics and technology in a stimulating and entertaining environment. Founded in 1871, the Science Center has become Kentucky's largest hands-on science center. The facility on historic West Main Street presents interactive exhibits, IMA films, educational programs and technology networks. Visit www.louisvillescience.org. [ top ]
Ali Peace Center - Headquartered in Louisville, where Muhammad Ali's story began, the Muhammad Ali Center celebrates the worldwide influence of Ali and his deeply rooted values of peace, social responsibility, respect and personal growth. The Ali Peace Center inspires you to live your own dreams. Visit www.alicenter.org. [ top ]
Speed Museum - The Speed Art Museum is Kentucky's oldest and largest art museum with 12,000 pieces in its collection, which spans 6,000 years, from ancient Egyptian to contemporary art. The museum has collections of 17th century Dutch and Flemish painting, 18th century French art, Renaissance and Baroque tapestries, and thought-provoking contemporary American painting and sculpture. The Speed houses paintings, sculpture, design, photography, furniture, and decorative arts by Kentucky artists. Kids can create their own pop art portrait at Art Sparks Interactive Gallery. Visit www.speedmuseum.org. [ top ]
Frazier Historic Arms Museum - Located in downtown Louisville, the Frazier is a state-of-the-art museum that holds a priceless collection of arms, armor and related historical artifacts spanning 1,000 years. Through live-action dramas, reenactments, and multimedia presentations, historical figures become alive and great events take on new meaning. The Roof Garden offers exceptional views of the Ohio River. http://www.fraziermuseum.org/ [ top ]
Louisville Glassworks - The Glassworks Tour reveals the mystery and beauty of glass, and the artistry that goes into each creation. The one-hour tour visits the flameworking, glassblowing, and architectural glass studios. Glassworks Gallery offers an extensive selection of glass art, ornaments, vessels, jewelry, and collectibles by national and international artists. Visit www.louisvilleglassworks.com. [ top ]
Louisville Golf Courses
Quail Chase Golf Club - Quail Chase features 27 spectacular holes and top golf conditions. A public golf course, Quail Chase offers country club privileges, U.S.G.A. standards and excellent amenities. Quail Chase features a gently undulating terrain extending through lush groves of Scotch pine, maple, oak and dogwood trees. Picturesque McNeely Lake and historic knobs of southern Jefferson and Bullitt counties provide an idyllic backdrop for challenging golf. Visit www.quailchase.com.
Valhalla Golf Club - A Nicklaus-designed course, Valhalla has a links-style front nine with a traditional back nine with water to an island green. GOLFWEEK ranked Valhalla 40th among "America's 100 Best Modern Courses" for 1997, 63rd for 1998 and 52nd for 1999. The PGA Championship was held here in 1996 and 2000, and the Senior PGA championship in 2004. The prestigious Ryder Cup will be held at Valhalla in 2008. http://www.nicklaus.com/design/valhalla/ [ top ]
Louisville Airports
Louisville International Airport - Louisville International Airport serves 3.4 million passengers with nonstop service to 28 destinations in 26 states, Canada and District of Columbia. Louisville International ranked 10th in the world and 5th in the US in the amount of cargo handled as home of UPS' international air-sorting hub. Visit www.louintlairport.com/ [ top ]
Bowman Field Airport - Bowman Field Airport is home to hundreds of privately owned aircraft as well as Central American Airways. Triangle Flying Service offers premiere FBO service to general and corporate aviation. [ top ]
Executive West Hotel
830 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209
(502) 367-2251 | 1-800-626-2708 - reservations only
