Heading to Louisville! Help!

[Knilas]

Hey guys! My girl and I are leaving for Louisville Ky in a couple days. A lil trip to celebrate my 50th b'day.

Can I get some tips on where to go, what to do/see, and the best places to buy some bourbon in that area? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

T.I.A!!

[BFerguson]

Proof on Main for dinner. She'll tolerate you more then for dragging her to every store in town.

[Richnimrod]

The 'Evan Williams Bourbon Experience' is pretty nice, although not cheap. You can choose from several different tours. The one I'd recommend includes a tasting of very fine (and expensive) Bourbons. I can't recall; but it might be called something like; the 'Speakeasy' tour. They'll guide you through the options. On a side note... I picked up a 'jockey club' selection at the EWBE last fall (a green-wax version of EWSB) that was stupendous. They don't give it away; but the bottle I brought home was well worth the cheese. I wish I'd scooped up a case. I have no idea whether they did that pick again, or how it would be in comparison; but the one last year was a sweet-caramel, brown sugar bomb. Have FUN!!! Good Luck!

[ModernThirst]

I will echo what's already been said. There are a ton of great bars and bourbon related options. Restaurants and bars: Milkwood, st. Charles exchange, proof on main, silver dollar, Haymarket whiskey bar, the old seelbach bar, bourbon bistro, etc.

Evan Williams is the right place for a bourbon tour in louisville, but buffalo trace, Jim beam, barton, etc are all within about 45 minutes to an hour drive or less from downtown.

For non bourbon related...the Muhammed Ali center, Louisville slugger museum, Frazier historical arms museum, etc are all right downtown, too.

Check out the urban bourbon trail for bourbon bars.

[ModernThirst]

I think mint julep tours does an all day Saturday tour to distilleries, too. Great experience.

[TheVilleWRX]

I feel like I could write a 1000 things here...

Hammerhead's for dinner if you can get in the front door.

Against the Grain is good place to hit up for lunch (good beer and wings)

I second (or is it third) Proof on Main - expensive but it has a art museum and great bar. Drank a GTS there once after a football game.

Oddly enough, when I go to Louisville I want the beer. They have a lot of great breweries. Finding a rare Bourbon is going to be hard in Louisville, if you just want to SEE the ridiculous selection though hit up Liquor Barn. I also like Old Town Wine & Spirits as a good neighborhood liquor store.

[PowderKeg]

- Didn't know the EWBE had different tours - took one before Thunder Over Louisville cranked up and they didn't mention options. Worthwhile although the first "stop" was IMHO kinda hokey, but got better.

- Don't stop at just one Liquor Barn to ogle the bourbon selections - been to two so far and the offerings (and volume) very definitely vary.

- Haven't been there yet, but Bulleit has taken up residency at the old Stitzel-Weller and offers tours/tastings also (part of the Bourbon Trail with EWBE).

- Bardstown is only 40 miles away...

And a few more non-bourbon experiences:

- The 100 year old Belle of Louisville steamboat offers lunch/brunch cruises Thurs thru Sun

- The Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds AAA) are playing Buffalo at Slugger Field Thurs thru Sun

- If you need an outdoor gear fix for huntin', fishin' or whatever, there's Cabella's in Louisville and Bass Pro across the river in Clarksville

A word of warning, the bridges project has traffic royally %#Q$@#-up. Closed on-ramps, off-ramps, detours, and lane shifts are the rule.

[Ravensfire]

For breakfast, hit Wild Eggs and pray they are doing bacon queso grits that day. Second the Evan Williams suggestion and just about every place is an fairly easy drive. Pick your personal favorite then find one or two other nearby or on the way.

Stay downtown if you can, even the EconoLodge if needed. You've got good options in walking distance so use that at night.

And have a great time!

[Knilas]

Wow! Such amazing advice! Thanks guys. And I'd heard there was some road construction going on, so thanks for the tip on that.

We are staying at the Marriott Riverside in Jeffersonville, IN. They say its a quick walk across the bridge to Louie and only a $4 cab ride....so hopefully we'll be set. Most of the time we'll stay close to downtown, but on Saturday I think we'll venture out and hit 4R or BT...maybe some others. I know the Bourbon Affair is going on while we're down there, so I'm not sure how that'll affect tours n such. Guess we'll see.... .

Friday night is reserved for the Bats game... Lol

[Ravensfire]

So how'd the birthday trip go?

[Knilas]

We had a blast! The only downer was road construction issues. Aside from that...we will definitely visit again soon.

Thank you for asking!