Ports of Call - USA - Kentucky - Louisville
The riverboats plying the Mississippi are greeted on arrival in Louisville by the city’s own beloved steamboat, The Belle of Louisville, a National Historic Landmark which carried passengers and goods to ports all along the beautiful Ohio River nearly a hundred years ago.Louisville is, without question, best known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred horse-racing.
But Louisville is also well known for affordability, accessibility and for its arts community. There’s the nationally recognized professional theatre for young audiences, Stage One: Louisville’s Family Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville Ballet, Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Opera. Throughout the summer months the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival’s professional acting company performs in Old Louisville’s historic Central Park.
Visitors take advantage of the visual arts from the Speed Art Museum’s historic treasures to the Glassworks, where visitors can watch artists create magnificent pieces of art. The Kentucky Museum of Arts & Design and Louisville Stoneware feature unique handcrafted pieces.
There are more than 90 attractions to enjoy throughout the year including the Louisville Slugger Museum, Louisville Bats, Kentucky Derby Museum, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville Science Center, Louisville Zoo and more.
Greater Louisville has more than 100 hotels and 17,000 hotel rooms in the metro area including familiar names like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and Holiday Inn.
Photo: Courtesy Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Main attractions Louisville include:
Belle of Louisville
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Museum
Louisville Slugger Museum
Louisville Bats
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Stage One: Louisville's Family Theater
Kentucky Shakespeare Festival
Actors Theatre of Louisville
Louisville Ballet
Louisville Orchestra
Louisville Opera
Speed Art Museum
Glassworks
Kentucky Museum of Arts & Design
Louisville Stoneware
Louisville Science Center
Louisville Zoo