Friday, August 1, 2014

Top 10 things to do in Louisville | PGA Championship

This week, it’s all about the golf. But Kentucky is far more than part of a legendary chicken recipe; the Bluegrass State is famous for many things, among them thoroughbred racing, bourbon and college basketball. Many of the state’s top attractions are located in or near Louisville, and here’s a sampling of attractions away from Valhalla Golf Club.  BOURBON TRAIL The legendary Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience, which includes a visit to eight distilleries in Kentucky, is not so much an actual road, but a series of tours that can be visited in any order. Get a passport at any of the distilleries and get it stamped at each visit. The reward at the end is a T-shirt and a wealth of knowledge about the drink that originated in Kentucky. No time for traipsing all over the state? Just go to the Bardstown area (40 miles south of Louisville), known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, and hit the major ones: Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark and Willett. The newest stop is Heaven Hill’s Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in downtown Louisville along the city’s famed Whiskey Row. Just outside of Louisville is Jim Beam, with a new visitor’s center in Clermont, Ky., just off I-65 South.  LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM AND FACTORY Since 1884, Louisville Slugger has been perfecting the craft of manufacturing baseball bats. Take a tour through the factory and watch the bats being made. In the museum, enjoy a short movie called “The Heart of the Game,” and view bats used by baseball greats such as Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Pete Rose, Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson. Louisville Slugger’s history includes lots of fascinating memorabilia. Not sure if you’re at the right place? Just look for the world’s biggest bat, a six-story behemoth — it weighs 68,000 pounds — propped up against the building.  MUSEUM ROW Lining Louisville’s Main Street are all kinds of museums, which give this stretch of blocks the nickname Museum Row. The assortment includes the Louisville Science Center and IMAX Theater, where visitors can participate in Kentucky’s largest hands-on science center. The IMAX theater features a screen that is four stories tall. Next up is the Muhammad Ali Center, a six-story, 96,750-square-foot museum devoted to the life and values of Louisville’s native son, Muhammad Ali. See all his boxing memorabilia, a film about his life, and a full-sized boxing ring, where a large projector shows Ali in his signature fight. At the Frazier International History Museum, visitors will be able to cover more than 1,000 years of history, with a focus on military artifacts, such as armor and weaponry. The entire third floor is an actual branch of the United Kingdom National Museum, which includes Royal Armories, a collection of British arms, armor, and artillery dating from antiquity to the present day. Artifacts from American history, such as the Daniel Boone family Bible and Geronimo’s bow, also are on display. See some of the Bluegrass State’s finest works at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, which features the work of more than 200 Kentucky artisans, showcasing everything from folk art to handcrafted furniture.  CHURCHILL DOWNS Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, is one of the city’s quintessential stops. Even if the thoroughbreds aren’t running — live racing is held in late spring and then again in the fall — visitors can soak in the experience at the adjacent Kentucky Derby Museum. Watch film footage of Derbies dating back to 1919, and enjoy historic memorabilia, including hats worn on Millionaires’ Row and jockey silks. Don’t leave without viewing the film, “The Greatest Race,” a 360-degree, multimedia presentation that uses 96 projectors to tell the story of the Kentucky Derby. The facility also offers a walking tour of Churchill Downs, which provides a unique look at one of the world’s most legendary sports venues.  LOUISVILLE MEGA CAVERN This former limestone quarry sprawls more than 100 acres under the city. With 17 miles of roads, all underground, this massive cavern is a sight to see. A 70-minute tram tour covers areas of interest, including the geological aspects of the cavern, the green initiatives of building underground, and the fact that, in 1962, it was designated an official bunker for the Cuban Missile Crisis. For thrill-seeking visitors, one stop not to be missed is a zipline trail that operates in the dark.  WAVERLY HILLS SANATORIUM Looking for haunted entertainment? Waverly originally opened as a tuberculosis hospital in 1910, high atop a hill where the air was clean for the patients. The current building opened on Oct. 17, 1926, and functioned as a tuberculosis hospital until 1961 and a geriatrics/nursing home until the 1980s. Today, the area is a well-known stomping ground for ghost hunters. There are claims of all kinds of paranormal activities and tours are offered, some overnight, for the more adventuresome visitors. One of the more eerie spots is the Death Chute, a tunnel the staff would use to transport dead bodies down the hill, to a waiting undertaker. Call for hours and tour availability.  LOUISVILLE MEGA CAVERN This former limestone quarry sprawls more than 100 acres under the city. With 17 miles of roads, all underground, this massive cavern is a sight to see. A 70-minute tram tour covers areas of interest, including the geological aspects of the cavern, the green initiatives of building underground, and the fact that, in 1962, it was designated an official bunker for the Cuban Missile Crisis. For thrill-seeking visitors, one stop not to be missed is a zipline trail that operates in the dark.  CAVE HILL CEMETERY These immaculately manicured grounds serve as a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Dating back to 1848, Cave Hill is the eternal resting place for many famous Kentuckians as well as more than 6,000 soldiers from the Civil War. Among those buried at Cave Hill is Colonel Harlan Sanders, the goateed, white-suited gentleman who started Kentucky Fried Chicken. So many people ask where he is buried, officials painted a yellow line on the road at the entrance for visitors to follow. There are guided tours of one of the country’s most well-known cemeteries, but visitors are free to wander on their own.  OLD LOUISVILLE One of the largest collections of Victorian architecture in the United States, this 50-square-block section of the city is home to some 1,400 structures built between1885-1905. Walking or guided bus tours allow visitors to see these Grand Dames of Louisville: turrets, stained glass, bricka- brack and gingerbread. It’s impressive; remember, all this construction took place before power tools were invented.  Only in Louisville: Hungry? Chicago has its pizza. Philadelphia has its cheesesteak. And Louisville has the Hot Brown. Named for the legendary hotel where it was invented, this dish features turkey and bacon, smothered in cheese sauce and served on toast points. It has been on the menu at the Brown Hotel since the 1920s, obviously way before cholesterol tests were invented. The dish is featured on menus all over the state, but visitors to Louisville could hardly go wrong by heading to J. Graham’s Café at the Brown Hotel to experience the original. For visitors who want to live like a local in this horse racing town, make your way to Wagner’s Pharmacy, just out the back door of Churchill Downs. It’s a favorite of jockeys and trainers who know fancy accommodations aren’t required in order to get a good fried egg sandwich or burger. In business for about 100 years, Wagner’s is a staple in the community. While you’re there, listen up. Never know when you might get a good tip about an upcoming race. One of the finest restaurants in the state, in fact, the only one to be designated as a Five Diamond Restaurant by AAA, is right downtown. Oakroom at The Seelbach Hilton features an impeccable menu of steaks and seafood as well as some local favorites. The wine list, if you can call 1,200 choices a list, is the most expansive in the state. But the drink of choice at The Seelbach is the Mint Julip, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Traditionally served in a silver or pewter tall cup, the drink is made with shaved ice, bourbon, sugar and a sprig of mint. Everyone needs a piece of candy once in a while, and a trip to Louisville just isn’t complete without a bite of a Modjeska from Muth’s Candies. In business since 1921, Muth’s has been treating locals to fine candy for generations. The confectionary has a huge selection of sweets, such as bourbons, creams and jellies, but they are known for the Modjeska. This caramel marshmallow wonder, as it is referred to, is a heavenly combination of soft marshmallow dipped in chewy caramel. It was named for a famous Polish actress, Helena Modjeska, who appeared in Louisville several times during the late 1800s and was quite fond of the city. Maybe she liked caramel, too. By Deborah Kohl Kremer

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