Louisville, Kentucky’s gateway to Southern Charm
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Just over 60 miles from Cincinnati, and waving to Indiana across the Ohio River, Louisville is the gateway to Kentucky and the largest city in the state. It is the birthplace of one of the greatest boxers that ever lived, Muhammad Ali, and where those Slugger baseball bats are still made.
But take a stroll down West Main Street and you'll uncover an extraordinary collection of Victorian cast-iron facades, the largest outside of New York's SoHo district. Main Street itself was known as ‘Whiskey Row' because at one time there were over 50 distilleries along there.
These days it's known as Museum Row because of all the, erm, museums along there, including the Muhammad Ali Centre. Not only a homage to the great man's life story but also a tribute to the social issues he believes in, educating adults and children on tolerance, moral values and commitment. Although the city was a hot bed of racial tension in the 60's with a virtual dividing line across it to separate black from white, you'll find today a real mix of southern hospitality and no hint of its more sinister history. It's an easy city to stroll around with a lively downtown area with the arts and live music in plentiful supply and its proximity to Churchill Downs the home of The Derby, Valhalla Golf Club and the Bourbon whiskey trail makes it a good place to base yourself.
Famous Louisville Creations: Derby Pie, Chewing Gum, The Cheeseburger, The Hot Brown, Modjeskas and Henry Bain Sauce.
The city also boasts two very famous luxury hotels: The Brown Hotel famous since the 20's where the ‘hot brown' was created and where the two Ryder Cup teams stayed in 2008 when the competition took place at Valhalla; and 21c Art Hotel voted best hotel in the USA and 6th best in the world by Conde Nast readers.
Useful links
Churchill Downs, Home of the Kentucky Derby
Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville, Kentucky
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