adventuremomblog

Fun and Unique Things to Do in Louisville

You don’t have to have a lot of time to have a lot of fun in Louisville, KY. I joined one of my girlfriends from college for a kid-free girlfriend getaway.

We only had one night away due to our schedules but we found plenty to do in Louisville in a short amount of time.

I’m sharing more about the fun and unique things to do in Louisville during your next visit.

adventure mom and friend in Louisville Kentucky

You can add these adventures to your list for your next getaway with as little as 24 hours away.

Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky

Visit a Museum in Downtown Louisville

Muhammed Ali Center

144 N 6th St, Louisville

Louisville has lots of museums to choose from. This was my first visit to the Muhammad Ali Center even though I’ve visited Louisville several times.

On previous trips to Louisville, I visited the Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Tour, and the Frazier History Museum.

inside the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky

Located a short walk from the 21C Hotel, the Muhammad Ali Center shares more about the life and philanthropy of Muhammed Ali.

I recommend starting your experience with the “If you can dream” movie on the top floor and then working your way back down to the main floor.

exhibit at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky

You will learn more about his early life, obstacles, and adversity that he had to overcome including racism, his boxing journey, activism, and his philanthropy.

exhibit at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky

The museum has lots of photographs and video clips from his fights that you can watch and you don’t have to be a big fan of boxing to appreciate this museum.

exhibit at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky

The museum focuses on six core principles of Muhammed Ali’s life. As you go through the museum you will see a focus on those principles (Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality) through interactive exhibits.

boxing ring exhibit Muhammad Ali Center

Kids and adults will love the interactive area of the museum where you can shadow box the Champ, step in the ring, hit the heavy bag, and learn more about boxing techniques.

I tried to box with the Champ… but I think the Champ one…

exhibit at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky

The memorabilia from Muhammad Ali’s life and boxing career are really interesting from boxing trophies to an Olympic Gold Medal.

exhibit at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky
what I learned at the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky

At the end of your visit, you have the opportunity to reflect on what you learned during your visit and you can see responses of how the museum impacted others.

street art mural in Louisville

Explore NuLu

Depending on your exploration preferences you can drive or take Uber/Lyft to the NuLu neighborhood.  If you are driving you will find several areas with free parking on the street.

Please and Thank you coffee shop

Caffeine & Cookies

If you need a caffeine boost or you have a sweet tooth, Please and Thank You coffee shop is a MUST!

coffee at Please and Thank you coffee shop

You’ll find a great range of specialty coffee and tea options on the menu. I had to try the Ganache Latte known on the menu as the “city’s best”.

chocolate chip cookie from Please and Thank you coffee shop

Don’t leave without trying their chocolate chip cookies or at least taking a few to go. (They are known for their chocolate chip cookies)

Another noteworthy stop for sweet tooths is Louisville Cream, specializing in small-batch ice cream located at 632 E Market St, Suite 101.

Six sisters boutique in Louisville Kentucky

Shopping Stops in Nulu

The Nulu neighborhood has lots of great shops to check out ranging from art, cooking, home decor, fashion, and more.

store in Louisville Kentucky
store in Louisville Kentucky
store in Louisville Kentucky
store in Louisville Kentucky

A few notable stores to find a unique gift for someone…or yourself are Scout, Revelry Boutique Gallery, White’s Mercantile, and Six Sisters Boutique.

Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

Take a Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

711 E Jefferson Street

Located in the Nulu District in downtown Louisville, Rabbit Hole Distillery was designed with the visitor experience in mind.

Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

The building design was intentional in details that create a great guest tour experience that also doesn’t disrupt production.

Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

Our distillery tour with Josh was off to a good start with an intro and bourbon tasting.

Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

“There’s No Going Back” – You’ll notice that sentence boldly stated on the walls as you begin your distillery tour.

A reminder that the founders are all in and giving it all they’ve got to make it work…. and it has worked very well with a range of award-winning spirits.

The distillery was founded in 2012  and opened to the public in August of 2018.

Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

The tour walks you through the bourbon-making process from grain to glass with viewing windows and even sections of the floor that allow you to learn more about the production process.

Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville
Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville
Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

During your tour, you will walk by the fermentation tanks and even have the opportunity to taste a sample of the mash.

Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

The ceiling architecture is also worth noting with a cool design that also helps with ventilation.

friends on Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

Rabbit Hole Distillery has the most bourbon per sq ft of any distillery. As a smaller distillery, they really maximize their space.

bourbon tasting on Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

Enjoy a Tasting and Stay for Cocktails with a view

Our distillery tour ended with the best part, the tasting!

bourbon tasting on Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

We enjoyed a sensory tasting of their award-winning bourbon, rye, and gin that also included craft chocolates in the Overlook event space.

bourbon tasting on Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville
bourbon tasting on Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

We tried the Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, Kentucky straight Rye whiskey, Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey finished in PX Sherry casks, and the London Dry Gin.

bourbon tasting on Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour in Downtown Louisville

After your tour concludes, Rabbit Hole Distillery has a great cocktail bar where you will want to hang out afterward!

*Tip- After 3pm you can get a cocktail at the Overlook without a tour ticket.

 scenic view from Rabbit Hole Distillery in Downtown Louisville

The Views from Rabbit Hole Distillery

You have fantastic views both inside and out with the windowed walls and outdoor seating area on the balcony.

 scenic view from Rabbit Hole Distillery in Downtown Louisville
 scenic view from Rabbit Hole Distillery in Downtown Louisville

Guests are recommended to arrive 20 minutes before their tour starts and the tour lasts about an hour. There is a parking lot available for guests at the distillery.

It’s recommended to purchase your tour tickets a few days in advance and there are more tours available during the weekend.

If you don’t want to take a tour, you can do a tasting downstairs for around $15 a flight.

bourbon from Rabbit Hole Distillery in Downtown Louisville

After your tour, you can purchase your favorite spirits in the gift shop. They also have really cool merchandise if you want a t-shirt or other mementos from your visit.

 Rabbit Hole Distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Don’t forget to ask a worker to stamp your Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport before you go. If you don’t have one already, you can get one there.

Feast BBQ in Louisville Kentucky

Local BBQ in Louisville

909 E Market St #100, Louisville

Craving some great BBQ?

Feast BBQ in Louisville Kentucky

You will definitely want to make a stop at Feast BBQ while you are in Louisville!

A few of my menu favorites were the bourbon slush, fried pickles, pulled pork, and the mac and cheese. There is also a variety of great sauces to try as well.

Feast BBQ in Louisville Kentucky
fried pickles at Feast BBQ in Louisville Kentucky

Seating is first-come, first serve but there are dining options inside and out and the service is fast-casual.

street art mural in Butchertown in Louisville Kentucky

Butchertown Market

1201 Story Ave, Louisville

Another great shopping area to check out is Butchertown Market.

street art mural in Butchertown in Louisville Kentucky

I’m a big fan of street art and I was pretty excited to spot several murals in the area before we entered the building.

Butchertown Market in Kentucky

Butchertown Market houses four shops- Moss Hill, Cellar Door Chocolates, Work the Metal, and Bourbon Barrel Foods.

Shop at Butchertown Market in Louisville Kentucky
Shop at Butchertown Market in Louisville Kentucky
Shop at Butchertown Market in Louisville Kentucky

My friend found several gifts to bring back to her friends in Australia at this stop.

Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville Kentucky

Eat Your Bourbon- Soy Tasting at Bourbon Barrel Foods

1201 Story Ave., Ste. 175, Louisville

A bourbon soy sauce tasting?

Why not?

You’ll find the handcrafted soy sauces to be really unique in the best kind of way.

soy sauce tasting at Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville Kentucky

You will definitely want to try their signature sauce, the Bluegrass Soy Sauce. It’s the only microbrewed soy sauce made in the US with the original soy sauce fermented and aged in bourbon barrels.

soy sauce at Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville Kentucky

Other soy flavors by Bourbon Barrell Foods are the Bourbon Smoked Soy Sauce, Small Batch Bourbon Ponzu, and Imperial Double Fermented Soy Sauce.

You’ll learn more about the best ways to use/pairings for each of the sauces during your tasting.

The gift shop also has lots of Bourbon smoked spices and foods.

Speakeasy in Downtown Louisville

Discover a Speakeasy in Downtown Louisville

112 W Washington St, Louisville

Hell or High Water speakeasy offers a seated cocktail experience in a cozy atmosphere.

There is a limited number of people that they can serve each night and reservations are highly recommended. If you arrive and there is a wait, the host can take your information and then contact you when the seats are available.

entrance for Speakeasy in Downtown Louisville

The entrance to the speakeasy is a small room at the street level and then you are led to the lower level.

Hell or High Water Speakeasy in Downtown Louisville

We enjoyed some Cellar Door Chocolates and I ordered the Humble Cobbler made with New Riff HoHW Single Barrel, Cognac, Lemon Juice, Demerara Syrup, Bitters.

chocolate at Hell or High Water Speakeasy in Downtown Louisville
stairs at Hell or High Water Speakeasy in Downtown Louisville

Hell or High Water also has live music during the week which is a great excuse to mix things up.

Troll Pub in Louisville

Another nearby option that’s a unique dining option is the Troll Pub Under the Bridge located at 150 W. Washington Street.

Zipline Underground at Louisville Mega Cavern

Zipline Underground at Louisville Mega Cavern

1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville

The perfect adventure for all thrill levels, you can zipline fully underground at Louisville Mega Cavern “Mega Zips.”

I’ve been fortunate to go zip lining many times and now I’m at the point where I try to find unique ziplining experiences. Ziplining underground at Lousiville Mega Cavern is definitely a unique adventure!

outside entrance to  Louisville Mega Cavern
Zipline Underground at Louisville Mega Cavern

The zipline tour lasts up to 2.5 hours depending on the size of your group tour.

You’ll learn more about the history of the man-made cavern and the geology in the cavern that has over 17 miles of underground passageways under the city of Lousiville.

adventure mom and friend Zipline Underground at Louisville Mega Cavern

The zipline course includes 6 zip lines, two challenges bridges, and includes a dual racing zip.

adventure mom and friend Zipline Underground at Louisville Mega Cavern

Mega Cavern has changed their policy on cameras so if you want pictures from your zipline adventure you will need to purchase them for an additional fee. There are two places where the guides will stop for a photo op.

Mega Quest at Louisville Mega Cavern

If you don’t want to zipline, you can challenge yourself on the multi-level ropes course, Mega Quest, bike in the only underground bike park in the world, or take a cave tour with Mega Tram.

penguins at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

Where to Stay in Louisville

700 W Main St, Louisville

21C Hotel in Louisville

During our visit, we stayed at the 21c Hotel. The boutique hotel is a fusion of hotel + art museum.

room at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

Art is everywhere in the hotel. You’ll notice the red penguins on the building outside, art in the lobby, the museum, each floor across from the elevator, and in your room.

21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

21c offers valet parking or you can park at the same garage where your valeted vehicle would be parked for a fraction of the cost depending on your preference.

penguins at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

Play with the 21c Penguins

One of the signatures and beloved pieces of art at 21c are the penguins. In Louisville, there are Red Penguins located throughout the hotel.

red penguin at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

Guests at the hotel take pictures with them and move them around the hotel during their stay.

We invited our penguin in the room for a silly photoshoot before returning him back to the hallway where he was later moved to a new location by other guests.

red penguin at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky
red penguin at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky
red penguin at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

The red penguins were originally going to be a temporary exhibit but their popularity with the guests made them part of the permanent brand identity.

Each 21c Hotel in the chain has its own color:

  • Yellow Penguin –21c Cincinnati
  • Green Penguin -21c Bentonville
  • Blue Penguin -21c Lexington
  • Fuschia Penguin21c Durham
  • Purple Penguin -21c Oklahoma City 
  • Teal Penguin -21c Nashville
  • Sky Blue Penguin –21c Kansas City
mini red penguins at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

You can’t take the giant red penguins home with you but you can purchase a smaller one in the gift shop.

21C Museum at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

Explore the 21c Museum

The art exhibit space at 21c Hotel is free to view and available for guests and non-guests.

21C Museum at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky
21C Museum at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky
21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky
21C Museum at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

You’ll find thought-provoking art along with interactive art outside of the lower level elevator and on the lower level.

Proof on Main restaurant at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

Breakfast at Proof on Main

702 W Main St, Louisville

Connected to 21c, Proof on Main offers fantastic menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner surrounded by incredible art.

Proof on Main restaurant at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky
Proof on Main restaurant at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky
breakfast at Proof on Main restaurant at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

We enjoyed breakfast the Egg Sandwich made with smoked bacon, pimento cheese, arugula, sunny side egg, toasted butter bun, and peasant potatoes.

Proof on Main restaurant at 21C hotel in Louisville Kentucky

We also split the Egg White Frittata made with cave-aged gruyere, spinach, and forest mushrooms.

Neat or Rocks mural in Louisville

Thanks again to Visit Louisville for hosting a portion of our visit.

Fun and Unique Things to Do in Louisville Kentucky

More Louisville Related Articles

Unique Places to Dine in Louisville, Kentucky

12 Tips for Visiting the Louisville Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular for the First Time

You Need to Make a Stop in Louisville to Try Hi-Five Doughnuts

Underground Light Display at Lights Under Louisville at Mega Cavern

Great food and atmosphere at Garage Bar in Louisville

Horse Racing History at Wagner’s Pharmacy in Louisville

World’s Only Fully Underground Zipline at Mega Cavern in Louisville

Things to Do in 3 Big Cities Less Than 2 hours From Cincinnati

Unique Holiday Themed Adventures and Destinations

Leave a Comment