
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.