There’s more to a Kentucky getaway than what’s inside the barrel.
One of the pleasures of staying at Woodhaven is having Louisville right outside your door. Spend the morning touring a distillery, then make the rest of the day your own with horse racing history, museums, distinctive neighborhoods, local shopping, parks and some very good places to eat.
Your innkeepers, Jeremy and Mark, are always happy to help. Tell us what interests you and what you already have planned, and we’ll suggest some of our favorite things beyond the distillery, from Louisville landmarks you shouldn’t miss to local places you might never discover on your own.
Start with the Louisville Icons
For a first visit to Louisville, a few places deserve their reputation. Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum tell the story of the city’s most famous tradition. Downtown, the Muhammad Ali Center and Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory offer two very different windows into Louisville history and culture. Along the river, Waterfront Park and the Big Four Bridge are an easy way to slow the pace and see another side of the city.
Wander a Little
Some of our favorite Louisville experiences happen when you leave the checklist behind. Walk among the Victorian homes and leafy streets of Old Louisville and St. James Court, explore the shops and restaurants of NuLu, or spend time at Cave Hill Cemetery, one of the city’s most beautiful historic landscapes. Depending on your interests and available time, the Speed Art Museum, Waterfront Botanical Gardens and Louisville Mega Cavern can also be well worth adding to the day.
A Few Local Finds
Louisville rewards curiosity. Witches Brew Coffee on Frankfort Avenue is a wonderfully unusual stop for coffee and atmosphere. Work the Metal in Butchertown and Red Tree in NuLu are fun places to browse for gifts and home finds, while Caufield’s Novelty is a Louisville institution for anyone who appreciates the quirky side of the city.
A Sweeter Side of Bourbon
For a bourbon experience that doesn’t require another distillery tour, stop by Art Eatables for locally made bourbon chocolates and truffles. It’s an easy way to take a little Kentucky flavor home with you, assuming the chocolates survive the trip.
Where We Send Our Guests to Eat
Louisville is a very good city in which to arrive hungry. For a special dinner, Volare Italian Ristorante and 211 Clover Lane are two of our favorites. For an elevated but relaxed evening, we often recommend Mesh, Watch Hill Proper or North of Bourbon. If you’re looking for something more casual, ask us about Bourbon & Burgers, Mojito in Havana, Simply Thai, Queen of Sheba, ZA’s Pizza Pub, Troll Pub Under the Bridge, The Pasta Garage or Selena’s at Willow Lake Tavern.
These aren’t meant to be a generic “best restaurants in Louisville” list. They’re places we actually recommend, and we’re happy to help you narrow the choices based on what sounds good, where you’ll be that day and the kind of evening you want.
A Little Something Extra at Mesh
Woodhaven guests dining at Mesh can ask Jeremy or Mark for our guest card, good for a complimentary appetizer or dessert valued up to $20 with the purchase of two entrées. It’s a small perk we’re happy to share with our guests.
Louisville Changes with the Seasons
Louisville has a few seasonal traditions that are worth planning around. In the fall, Jack’s Lantern Trail fills the woods of Iroquois Park with thousands of artistically carved pumpkins, illuminated displays and music. It typically runs throughout October into early November.
During the holidays, Lights Under Louisville transforms Louisville Mega Cavern into an underground drive-through light experience. It typically runs from mid-November into early January.
See Another Side of Kentucky
If you have time to wander beyond Louisville, ask your innkeepers about one of our favorite Kentucky drives through horse country. We keep the actual route for our guests rather than publishing it online, but it’s a beautiful way to see rolling farmland, horse farms and a quieter side of Kentucky between the better-known destinations.
And Yes, There’s Still the Bourbon
Louisville itself is an important part of Kentucky bourbon culture, and you never have to choose between seeing the city and enjoying Bourbon Country. For distillery ideas, day-trip planning and our Louisville-plus-Bourbon approach, visit our Explore Bourbon Country page.
Make Louisville Part of Your Stay
A Woodhaven getaway can be bourbon-focused, Louisville-focused or a little of both. Tell us what brings you to town and we’ll help you make the most of the time you have, including a few places you might not have found on your own.
