Things to Do While Visiting Louisville

Welcome home, Ballard Class of 1975!  We want to help you make this memorable weekend, so we’ve compiled a list of interesting things to do if you haven’t been back for a while. The downtown area has undergone MANY changes since 1975, most notably the renaissance of the area east of downtown now know as Nulu and the rebirth of the Bourbon industry as a major tourist draw for visitors from all over the world. Much of this is a short walk or Uber ride from the Hotel Bourre Bonne.

 

Bourbon Experiences

 

Many of Kentucky’s distillers have distillery tours and/or tasting rooms near downtown. Reservations for tours often book several months in advance, so if a tour is on your “to do” list you’ll want to contact distilleries as soon as possible. Tasting rooms are generally a little more accessible. Major downtown locations are shown here with phone numbers; booking on-line is also easy to do.

 

Angel’s Envy Distillery            

502-890-6300 

 

Michter’s Distillers      

502-389-4390

 

Bardstown Bourbon Tasting Room    

502-791-6575       

     

Old Forester                

502-779-2222

 

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience  

502-272-2623          

 

Rabbit Hole Distillery  

502-561-2000

 

Buzzard’s Roost Tasting Room          

502-454-4628              

 

Copper & Kings          

502-561-0267

 

KY Peerless Distillery                        

502-566-4999        

   

Log Still Distillery        

502-230-6600

 

Whiskey Thief Nulu Tasting Room    

502-552-1001

 

Churchill Downs 

 

The last weekend of Churchill Downs’ fall meeting is the weekend of our reunion. At last check, racing begins at 1:00pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday and tickets of all sorts (and price points) are still available. This could be a fun outing for a group of friends looking for a shared, non-Bourbon experience. Best advice is to check their website for tickets if this sounds good to you.

 

Museums of Interest

 

For those looking for a little quiet time and a taste of culture rather than Bourbon, these venues all have well-curated collections that you might find uplifting. Phone numbers attached; on-line reservations are also available.

 

Louisville Slugger Museum and Bat Factory

877-775-8443

 

Speed Art Museum                

502-634-7000

 

Frazier History Museum        

502-753-5663

 

Muhammad Ail Center            

502-584-9254

 

KMAC Contemporary Art Museum    

502-589-0102

 

Kentucky Derby Museum      

502-637-1111

 

Waterfront Botanical Gardens            

502-276-5404  

 

Good spots for Brunch and Lunch

 

If the idea of a leisurely meal with old high school friends appeals to you, there are lots of great choices in or near downtown. All offer tasty food … and Le Moo may have a drag brunch scheduled if you would like a show with your Eggs Benedict. More info on each of these spots can be found on Yelp or Open Table.

 

Wild Eggs                  

502-690-5925     

       

Decade                      

502-749-0110

 

Brunch & Soul            

502-210-8282     

       

Proof on Main              

502-217-6360

 

Morning Fork              

502-830-9500 

           

Highland Morning      

 502-365-3900

 

Porch Kitchen & Bar  

502-671-4246  

         

Big Bad Breakfast      

502-289-1922

 

Le Moo                      

502-458-8888     

       

The Café                    

502-589-9191

 

Biscuit Belly                

502-460-8020  

           

J. Graham’s Café        

502-583-1234

 

The Silver Dollar        

502-653-7233      

       

Doc Crow’s                

502-587-1626

 

Guacamole                

502-212-8225        

     

La Bodeguita de Mimi

502-742-3358

 

Feast Barbeque          

502-749-9900        

     

Parlour Pizza              

502-257-7147              

 

And now for something completely different …

 

Some of you might just want to wander through the many boutiques in Nulu, and that can make for a very pleasant morning if a little retail therapy makes you happy. A few other possibilities to consider include the following:

 

Old Louisville Walking Tours  

502-718-2764

There are several guided walking tours of Old Louisville. For a little fresh air, exercise and a brush-up on the fascinating history of this neighborhood, these might be a fine way to spend part of your day.

 

Cave Hill Cemetery Walking Tours  

502-451-5630

Aside from being a beautiful place to take a walk, most people don’t realize how many historic figures a permanent residents of Cave Hill. From Mohammad Ali and Colonel Sanders to a host of literary characters, this tour introduces you to one of the more unique parts of Louisville’s history. Tours are frequently led by David Luken, spouse of our classmate Alex Luken (aka, Sandi Eberwein in 1975).

 

Walking the Big Four Bridge

Ever since this derelict railroad bridge was refurbished in 2013 as a walking trail, the Big Four has become a popular destination here in the ’Ville. Covering about 8/10 of a mile each way, walkers find themselves in an attractively restored part of downtown Jeffersonville once they cross while getting a spectacular view of the city. Free, and open every day of the year.

 

Barrels & Billets  

877-775-8443

An outgrowth of the Louisville Slugger Museum, Barrels & Billets offers a unique twist on the Bourbon tasting experience. Participants have an opportunity to taste Bourbons aged in six different types of oak barrels to compare and contrast the effects of the wood on the finished product. You are then given an opportunity to mix the Bourbons to come up with a blend that is uniquely satisfying to you. Finally, you can have this blend combined on-site with a custom label to take home your own special whiskey, and they will keep your combination on file so that you can order more in the future. If you fancy yourself to be a Bourbon connoisseur, you’ll enjoy this experience. 

 

GoodBounce Pickleball  

502-290-273

Adjacent to downtown just off River Road. In addition to Pickleball it’s an entertainment complex that offers a full bar and coffee shop. Court Reservations starting at $32/Hour. 

 

Five Iron Golf  

502-384-8270

Located in Nulu, it’s filled with golf simulators letting you test yourself on the great courses of the world. Full bar and lunch available; get a group of classmates together for a quick eighteen.

 

Derby City Gaming

If an afternoon playing slots or betting on sports is appealing to you, Churchill Downs offers this through their Derby City Gaming venue just one black from the reunion hotel.