DEL.ICIO.USFROM ATLANTA TO KENTUCKY
One city, three price points: A weekend in Louisville
For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, June 28, 2009
BUDGET
Getting there
Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Belle of Louisville, an original paddle-wheel steamboat, cruises the Ohio River on two-hour tours.
Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
The First Friday Trolley Hop takes visitors to galleries such as Glassworks on Market Street. Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
In addition to watching races, visitors to Churchill Downs can tour the horse barns and a museum.
- Photos: Travel / Southeast Galleries
- Latest deals!
- Back to: Travel | Southeast destinations
Frequent sale rates to Cincinnati average $60 one way (10-day advance on Delta). From there, Louisville is about a two-hour drive.
Stay
Drury Inn and Suites Louisville offers guests a hot breakfast, evening beverages, fresh popcorn and soft drinks (3-10 p.m. in the lobby) and free Wi-Fi in rooms, the lobby and even at the pool. Doubles $79.99-$109.99 most weekends. 9501 Blairwood Road. 502-326-4170, www.druryhotels.com.
Eat
Lynn’s Paradise Cafe is kitschy, fun and family-friendly. (The owner sponsors an ugly lamp contest in August.) Anytime breakfast, lunch, home-style dinners, to $20; 984 Barret Ave. lynnsparadisecafe.com.
Experience
Get artsy. Visit three dozen galleries along the Main, Market and Fourth streets corridor the first Friday of each month; firstfridaytrolleyhop.com. Fat Friday, the last of the month, is the time to explore Frankfort Avenue’s shops, restaurants and galleries; fatfridayhop.org. Both evenings have free guest trolley service. One of the finest arts and crafts festivals in the United States is the juried St. James Court Show, Oct. 2-4, held in the heart of historic Old Louisville (oldlouisville.com), with 750 North American artists; stjamescourtartshow.com.
MODERATE
Getting there
Round-trip rates from $238 with Delta; 21-day advance; from $368 with 14-day advance.
Stay
Guest rooms at the downtown Hyatt Regency Louisville feature plush signature bedding and granite baths; weekend rates from $107-$165. Just outside the front doors is Fourth Street Live! — a one-stop venue for dining, shopping and entertainment (live music nightly; 4thstlive.com); louisville.hyatt.com, 320 W. Jefferson.
Eat
A Tuscan influence at Proof on Main is dashed with American Southern cooking. Open breakfast through dinner. Housed in five historical downtown buildings. Dinner entrees $15-$29; proofonmain.com, 702 W. Main St. in the 21c Hotel.
Experience
Cruise the Ohio River aboard one of the nation’s original steam-powered paddle wheel boats, the Belle of Louisville. Two-hour sightseeing cruises with buffet lunch $27; $18 ages 3-12; belleoflouisville.org, Fourth Street Wharf. Get the story of the bat and see bat production at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, $10; $5 ages 6-12; sluggermuseum.org, 800 W. Main St.
SPLURGE
Getting there
Walk-up, business class rates on Delta to Cincinnati from $378; from $453 to Louisville.
Stay
Stay in the heart of downtown’s Museum Row at the 21c Museum Hotel, a contemporary spot with award-winning design and décor. The Kentucky Culture package includes a two-night stay, breakfast, a horse farm tour, lunch, two mint julep cups and two tickets to KentuckyShow! — an high-definition film displaying Kentucky’s culture, history, music and more; from $635; 21chotel.com, 700 W. Main St.
Eat
Find world-class dining at the Oakroom, awarded AAA’s five diamonds for more than a decade. Traditional, romantic dining with some ghosts. It was good enough for nine presidents and for Al Capone, who had a private blackjack-playing alcove here. Entrees $29-$45 or various prix fixe menus with wine pairings. Inside the Seelbach Hilton (www.seelbachhilton.com); 500 Fourth St.
Experience
Don’t miss a visit to Churchill Downs, where you’re bound to drop a few bills on an afternoon trifecta or superfecta. The track, opened in 1874 and the home of the Kentucky Derby, showcases its history at the on-site Derby Museum, $12; $8 ages 13-18; $5 ages 5-12. Admission includes a walking tour and a film. Take an optional one-hour barn tour ($10 more) to see horses in training and learn about life at the track; derbymuseum.org, churchilldowns.com, 700 Central Ave.
Services »
