Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Louisville, Kentucky. While many travel blogs will tell you all the fun things to do in Louisville, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do when visiting Louisville.
Don’t Worry About How to Say Louisville
There are many ways to say “Louisville” and the locals have heard every iteration. They’re pretty laid back about it, so don’t worry too much if you’re not sure how to pronounce Louisville.
Don’t Miss the Bourbon Trail
While the full Bourbon Trail stretches for 250 miles through Kentucky, you don’t have to leave Louisville to hit a few of the Bourbon Trail locations. There are small distilleries you can tour right downtown Louisville, so if you don’t have time for the full Bourbon Trail, you can still have a few samples.
Don’t Think of Louisville as a Southern City
Most people think of Kentucky as “the South.” And some parts of Kentucky are very southern, but Louisville is more like a Midwest city with southern charm. After all, Louisville is right across the river from Indiana, so it’s definitely got a Midwest feel to it.
Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Midwest Travel
Don’t Think Louisville Will Break Your Budget
A Louisville vacation is actually very affordable. Louisville attractions, accommodations, and restaurants are all very reasonably priced. If you’re looking for an affordable weekend getaway in the Midwest, Louisville is a great option. If you are visiting during Derby, you can expect elevated prices and you will need to book everything way in advance.
Don’t Miss the Riverfront
Another thing Louisville has going for it is the riverfront area along the Ohio River. They have live music on Wednesdays, a nice park to explore, and beautiful views of the river.
Don’t Just Stay Downtown
Louisville has some great neighborhoods to explore besides the downtown area. Louisville has some amazing parks, many of which were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed New York’s Central Park. Start exploring Louisville at Go Louisville as you prepare for your trip.
Don’t Miss Mega Cavern
Louisville Mega Cavern is a man-made cavern that’s also an adventure park. There are all kinds of cool things here, like ziplining and a fun drive-through Christmas lights display if you visit near the holiday season.
Don’t Miss Out on Louisville Food
The food in Louisville is amazing! Yes, there’s the real Kentucky Fried Chicken, but there are tons of other great things to eat in Louisville. There’s a great cross between Midwest and Southern cuisine, plus some really great international foods, like Vietnamese and Cuban cuisine. If you eat one thing in Louisville, you have to try a “Hot Brown” at the Brown Hotel where it was invented. It’s sometimes described as a turkey sandwich, but it’s so much more than that. It’s more like a turkey casserole baked on a piece of toast. It’s a huge calorie bomb, but totally worth it! They have some great drinks at the Brown Hotel, too!
Simply Jocelyn shares what to eat in Louisville!
Don’t Forget Your Street Smarts
You may think you’re in a quaint Midwest/Southern town, but Louisville is a good-sized city with over 600,000 residents. So there are some big-city problems to be aware of. You will likely see homeless people, and they have crime like in any other city. Louisville isn’t particularly dangerous, but you should always use your travel smarts when out and about.
What NOT To Do at the Kentucky Derby
Louisville is best known for The Kentucky Derby, which happens on the first Saturday of May each year. It is a huge event, drawing locals and visitors from all over the country. We have a whole other set of “don’ts” around the Kentucky Derby. While the event culminates with the big race, Derby season kicks off a few weeks before Kentucky Derby with Thunder Over Louisville, the largest fireworks show in the country!
- Want to blend in with the locals? Call it “Derby” not “the Derby.”
- Don’t wait to book your accommodations and dinner reservations. This is one of the biggest events in the country; hotels and restaurants fill up months in advance.
- Don’t Forget to Have a Mint Julep! The mint julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. It’s made from bourbon, of course, with simple syrup and muddled mint leaves. While it sounds like a nice refreshing drink, it’s actually pretty strong, so I recommend just having one for the experience. There are other great bourbon cocktails you can have that aren’t quite as strong! A Lilly is another great Derby drink; it’s made with vodka and citrus juices.
- Don’t think Derby is just the first Saturday of May; The Oaks is another race held at Churchill Downs the day before Derby. It’s a pretty big race, and also fun to watch. Make sure you wear pink!
- Don’t think it’s just “the big race.” Derby day has more than one horse race. There are several races throughout the day, so plan to spend a full day at the Downs. That said, remember to pace yourself as you’re in for a long day!
- Don’t forget to plan (and budget for) parking. You can purchase parking ahead of time, pay one of the local homes to park in their driveway or take a rideshare. However, leaving Derby in an Uber or rideshare can be challenging as everyone is leaving at the same time. Expect surge pricing!
- Don’t buy your Derby tickets from anywhere except the official Derby site. As of now, you need your physical ticket to get in.
- Don’t think all tickets are the same. Some include food and beverage, while others just offer upgraded seating and views.
- Don’t forget to place your bets early. The betting lines get longer as the day goes on, so it’s best to place those bets earlier in the day. Likewise, don’t forget to bring cash. They have ATMs but there are usually long lines.
- Don’t worry if you don’t have a fancy hat. The infield seats are like a full-on party, and it’s a much more casual atmosphere than some of the grandstand areas. Infield tickets are a lot cheaper, as well!
- Don’t forget the sunblock! You’ll be out in the sun all day long, so make sure you don’t get fried!
- Ladies, don’t forget to bring a comfortable pair of shoes to change into if you’re wearing heels. You don’t want to stand in high heels all day long.
- Don’t expect re-entry; once you leave the stadium, you can’t come back in.
- Don’t forget to read the rules so you can avoid delays when you enter. Things like selfie sticks, coolers, and drones are not allowed at Churchill Downs.
- Don’t forget to read up on how to bet on horses; learn what the terms mean, and by all means, don’t bet if you’re not comfortable with it.
- Don’t expect Derby to be cheap! A day at the Kentucky Derby adds up quickly. Between tickets, parking, food, drinks, and betting, you can expect to spend a lot while you’re there. Not to mention, this is the most popular event of the year, so accommodation prices will be at their highest.
- Even if you’re not into horseracing, don’t miss a trip to Churchill Downs. When it’s not Derby, you can take a tour and get a behind-the-scenes view of how the horses are kept, and how the facility is maintained. There’s also a museum on-site; it’s a great place to learn more about Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby.
Don’t Think Louisville is Just Bourbon and Derby
While bourbon and Derby are great, there are tons of other fun things to do in Louisville. Main Street is also known as Museum Row. For one ticket price, you can visit the Frazier History Museum, the Kentucky Science Center, the Muhammed Ali Center, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and more!
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Louisville Kentucky! Between the food, the museums, the bourbon, and Derby, it’s a great city to visit! We were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved our visit to Louisville. Want more USA travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: