Things To Do in Louisville When Visiting for the Kentucky Derby

Visiting Louisville, Kentucky for the Derby is a great opportunity to check out the rest of what the city has to offer. Arrive a few days early, or hang around for a few days to tour the city, try some amazing food, and experience the culture of this historic city. Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky, and it is known for its horse racing, as well as bourbon production and Major League Baseball. Here are some of the best things to do in Louisville other than the Kentucky Derby.

The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory

The official bat of Major League Baseball, the Louisville Slugger has been an iconic part of the MLB world since 1884. This incredible museum holds the history of baseball superstars who made history with Louisville Sluggers, and you can also tour the factory to see how the bats are made, check out the molds and customizations, and see what makes the Louisville Slugger so famous. Possibly the most famous player to use a slugger was Babe Ruth, but greats like Ty Cobb and Derek Jeter have all come to the factory to customize their bat, choose their own wood from the company’s proprietary stock of northern white ash or maple. On your tour, you’ll even get to take home a mini bat to keep as a souvenir, or pass on to a child in your life to start their career as a slugger. 

 Old Louisville

The third largest historic district in the U.S., Old Louisville is a beautifully preserved neighborhood of almost exclusively Victorian architecture. It is the largest neighborhood in the nation with homes built solely in Victorian styles like Italianate, Queen Anne and Romanesque, and it also has the largest concentration of houses with stained glass windows. Take a walk through the neighborhood and see what Louisville was like in the 1870’s, about 100 years after the founding of the city. You can take a guided tour and even tour some of the homes when they are open, then stop in to one of the many trendy farm-to-table restaurants in the area for some good Kentucky food.

Eat and Drink on Frankfort Avenue

Frankfort Avenue is one of the most distinctive parts of Louisville. This is where you will find the real Louisville, with locals hanging out in coffee shops, art galleries, boutiques and plenty of great restaurants to try. Louisville is known for their food and your Derby experience would not be complete if you didn’t try a Hot Brown—an open faced turkey, ham and bacon sandwich covered in delicious sauce and served hot—or Kentucky Burgoo—an Irish meat and vegetable stew, served with cornbread. 

Walk Along Museum Row

On Main Street in Louisville is Museum Row, which is home to the Louisville Slugger Museum, as well as the Muhammad Ali Center, Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Science Center, KMAC Museum, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Peerless Distilling Co, 21c Museum Hotel Louisville, Fort Nelson Park and the Knot. There is so much history and culture here, you will want to spend the afternoon ducking in to learn about bourbon at the Frazier, watching glass blowing at Glassworks or even staying the night in an art museum at the 21c Museum Hotel. 

Muhammad Ali Center

When you’re in Louisville, be sure to stop at the Muhammad Ali Center, part museum, part cultural center, established by Ali to support his city and to inspire kids from all over. Known as the People’s Champion, Ali was devoted to serving underserved communities and was a fierce advocate of Black pride. After his boxing career, he embarked on a career as a philanthropist, earning Amnesty International’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Check out the museum that celebrates his life and then check out the charitable causes that continue his legacy of giving back.

The Bourbon Trail

Ever wondered what makes bourbon, bourbon? Find out of the Bourbon Trail, an association of local Kentucky distilleries that give tours, tastings and classes on how bourbon is made and the history of bourbon in the area. You can book a tour, follow the Bourbon Trail around Kentucky, or just stop in to one of the many distilleries in Louisville. Some of the most famous bourbon distilleries in the country are headquartered in Kentucky, including Maker’s Mark, Bulleit, James B. Beam, and Woodford Reserve, the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. 

The Kentucky Derby Museum

You’ll probably make a stop here while you’re at Churchill Downs for the races, but if you don’t make it on race day, be sure not to miss the Kentucky Derby Museum. The museum preserves almost 150 years of history surrounding the Kentucky Derby, which has been run every year since 1875. You can see a historic stable from the Derby, the “Winner’s Circle” exhibit, and Churchill Downs throughout the years. There are also exhibits on iconic horses in the history of the Derby, including American Pharoah and Secretariat, as well as an exhibit on raising Thoroughbreds. The Kentucky Derby Museum will help you appreciate the Derby and all its traditions when you go.