The Best Things About Living in Louisville

Since Louisville, Kentucky, has been around since 1778, the city has had plenty of time to establish a rich culture and community. If you’re from Louisville, you know how special this place is. If you’re thinking of visiting or making the move, consider this list of reasons why Louisville is the absolute best, including its history, sports, food, drink, events, and attractions. 

History

Image via Unsplash by Andrew Welch

Louisville has seen enormous historical events and cultural shifts since its founding in the 1700s. For the history buffs out there, museums, monuments, and architecture abound for delving into Louisville’s storied past. Must-sees include the Big Four Bridge, Cave Hill Cemetery, and Conrad-Caldwell House Museum. 

Big Four Bridge

Originally a railroad bridge, the historical Big Four Bridge connects Louisville to Jeffersonville, Indiana, over the Ohio River. It’s now used exclusively for pedestrians on foot or wheels. The bridge features gorgeous light displays at night and pulls in over 1.5 million visitors each year. 

Cave Hill Cemetery

Cave Hill Cemetery was established in 1846 and continues to function as a working cemetery today. It’s a unique resting place in that it’s equal parts a cemetery and a garden. Visitors can take refuge in quiet reflection as they walk the grounds and visit the gravesites of Civil War veterans and famous Louisvillians like Muhammad Ali. 

Conrad-Caldwell House Museum

This gorgeous Victorian home features an expertly maintained interior and exterior, true to the age in which it was built. Enjoy guided tours to learn about the Victorian period in Louisville or attend one of Conrad-Caldwell House Museum‘s many educational or community events. 

Sports

Louisville is steeped in fantastic sports history. From baseball to horse racing to boxing, there’s something for everyone. Of particular note are the Kentucky Derby, Slugger Field, and Muhammad Ali Center. 

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby takes place annually in Louisville at the famous Churchill Downs horse track. In addition to the race itself, pay a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum to learn more about the fascinating history of thoroughbred racing. 

Photo by Sheri Hooley on Unsplash

Slugger Field

Slugger Field is home to the minor league Louisville Bats baseball team. The team and their field are named for Louisville Slugger, a baseball and softball bat manufacturer famous at all levels of ball play. Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory to learn more about the connection between bats and baseball. 

Muhammad Ali Center

Muhammad Ali was native to Louisville — in fact, he’s buried in Cave Hill Cemetery. The Muhammad Ali Center celebrates his history and accomplishments with interactive exhibits, events, and educational programs for students and adults alike. 

Food and Drink

Whiskey connoisseurs know Louisville, and Kentucky at large, for one product — bourbon. While you sip some of the world’s best bourbon, grab a bite at a few excellent eateries around town. 

Fork & Barrel

Fork & Barrel has a fantastic reputation for its southern charms and outstanding menu items. Serving a rotating, seasonal menu of inspired southern dishes, there’s always something new and fresh to try. Menu favorites include the crab cakes and fried Brussels sprout salad. 

Harvest

Harvest is an award-winning restaurant with an absolute penchant for using only the finest locally sourced ingredients. The rustic and warm interior matches perfectly with the authentic southern menu. Diners love the buttermilk fried chicken and the burgoo. 

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Kentucky produces 95% of the country’s bourbon, so it’s a fantastic destination for bourbon aficionados. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail extends throughout the state with several outstanding distilleries, like Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Old Forester Distilling Co., and Angel’s Envy Distillery, all within walking distance of one another. 

Events

The city of Louisville hosts an enormous number of community events annually. From music to food to film and more, there’s at least one public festival in town every month. A few top favorites include the Louisville Zombie Walk, Kentucky Bourbon Affair, and Garvin Gate Blues Festival. 

Louisville Zombie Walk

This free event is an absolute Halloween must in Louisville. Past Louisville Zombie Walks have included over 30,000 people dressed in their zombie best. After walking through downtown, the zombies converge at a giant Halloween-themed party. 

Kentucky Bourbon Affair

The week-long Kentucky Bourbon Affair gives bourbon lovers the opportunity to meet master distillers, sample unusual or rare bourbon offerings, meet other bourbon connoisseurs, and, of course, take home the best bourbons around. 

Garvin Gate Blues Festival

This blues and arts festival celebrates Louisville’s multicultural make-up with live performances from outstanding blues artists, art displays, and other interactive events. The Garvin Gate Blues Festival brings Louisvillians together for a fun art and music-filled weekend. 

Attractions

There’s plenty to do in Louisville if you’re looking for an activity or adventure. Get out on a boat for a beautiful view of the city, expand your science knowledge, or take the kids to the zoo for family fun. 

The Belle of Louisville 

The Belle of Louisville is an authentic American steamboat that’s still in working condition after over 105 years on the Ohio River. Now, the boat takes visitors up and down the Ohio on lunch, dinner, and sightseeing cruises. 

Kentucky Science Center

The Kentucky Science Center is worth a visit if you’re looking for fun, hands on activities and learning. You can visit on your own with your family, or take advantage of their many outstanding kids camps and programs. The center also holds special events like weddings. 

Louisville Zoo

The Louisville Zoo has an extensive and impressive collection of exhibits featuring animals from all over the world. Besides walking around the enclosures, visitors can also take part in hands-on activities like feeding some of the animals or interacting face-to-face with animals at the petting zoo. 

Louisville is truly an extraordinary city with a mesmerizing history, entertaining attractions, killer events, and outstanding food and drinks. The staff here at Oxmoor Ford Lincoln loves living in this fantastic city! What are your favorite things about living in Louisville? If we missed anything, let us know in the comments, and we’ll update our list.