Spending Time in Louisville, KY
Louisville is a crossroads where the American South and Midwest meets the rest of the world and has a ton to offer for a great weekend. First, we can’t overlook the many festivals, many of which aren’t kid focused. But there is still a lot to offer the family!
The Kentucky Derby Festival
The Kentucky Derby Festival is one that family should be a part of at least once. Go ahead and put it on your bucket list!
The Kentucky Derby takes place the first Saturday in May and is preceded by a two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The kick off to the celebrations begins with Thunder Over Louisville, a complete air show followed by the largest annual fireworks display in North America, coordinated to music. It’s truly amazing! The Kentucky Derby Festival also features notable events such as the Pegasus Parade, The Great Steamboat Race, Great Balloon Race and the evening balloon glow. Esquire magazine called the Kentucky Derby “the biggest party in the south” and we totally agree.
More Things to do in Louisville
While not enjoying the Derby Festivities, we recommend keeping busy with a trip to Churchill Downs racetrack and yes you can take your kids (maybe not babies). Louisville is also home to the Children’s Science Center, The Muhammad Ali Center (maybe for older kids), the Derby Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum for the baseball fans (Dad will love it), and of course Slugger Field stadium to catch a game. You can also take a river cruise on the oldest operating paddlewheel steamboat in the nation, The Belle of Louisville.
Louisville Mega Cavern was ranked as the #1 attraction in Louisville by Trip Advisor and is definitely worth checking out, but it is definitely for older kids. Awesome #1 is the underground zip lining. Awesome #2 is the only fully underground aerial ropes challenge course in the world! Awesome #3 is the underground bike park which includes over 45 trails, jump lines, pump tracks, dual slalom, BMX, cross country and single track, all in a former limestone cavern 100 feet sub-surface. Any kid over 8 will think Mega Cavern is the coolest place on earth!
97 Free Things to Do in Kentucky | Family Vacations U.S.
Thursday 6th of August 2020
[…] Share with us your favorite thing to do while you are in Kentucky. If you are in Louisville, be sure to check out our article about what to do while you are in town. You can see that here. […]
How to have the best summer ever...even if you don't travel | Family Vacations U.S.
Friday 24th of July 2020
[…] take advantage of the fantastic things to do in your own town. In the summer months, my town, Louisville, Kentucky offers what is called a Cultural Pass. It is free for school-aged children and it offers the […]