Louisville, Kentucky Attractions & Things to Do

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Gheens Science Hall Louisville Science Center Mint Julep Tours

Louisville, Kentucky is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors to visit the city’s more than 120 attractions, from fun family theme parks and interesting history tours to exciting horse racing events and live entertainment. This historic city is steeped in tradition and offers history buffs a wide range of historic monuments, history museums, landmarks, antebellum homes, and history tours. From baseball games to art galleries, water parks to children’s theatre, there are always plenty of fun things to do at the attractions you’ll find in Louisville, Kentucky.

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

From kiddie rides to thrilling coasters, fun live shows and concerts, plus great food, shopping, theme areas, games, and a water park, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom has everything you need for an entire day of family fun.www.sixflags.com/kentuckyKingdom/index.aspx

Speed Art Museum.

Kentucky’s oldest art museum was established in 1927 and features over 13,000 pieces in an extensive collection that features art and artifacts ranging from ancient Egyptian to contemporary art, including an impressive collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings, Renaissance tapestries, and contemporary American sculpture. www.speedmuseum.org

The Frazier International History Museum.

Featuring costumed interpreters and live history presentations, the Frazier International History Museum showcases historical arms and armaments, a variety of historic artifacts and more in its permanent collections and special exhibitions. www.fraziermuseum.org [Top]

Gheens Science Hall & Rauch Planetarium.

This interesting attraction offers educational and entertaining programs featuring astronomy and space science, plus fun family events, live shows, seasonal programming, planetarium tours, Friday night laser shows, and a variety of summer camps for kids. www.louisville.edu/planetarium

Kentucky Derby Museum.

This interesting museum highlights one of Kentucky’s most famous landmarks, offering visitors a first hand look at the racing event that has made Louisville, Kentucky famous. The museum features a range of interactive exhibits, simulated horse rides, films, a multi-media presentation of the story of the Kentucky Derby, and a garland of roses from famous Derby winner Giacomo. www.derbymuseum.org

Little Loom House.

This historic attraction features three rustic board and batten cabins built around 1870, and offers tours, a weaving center, a historic coverlet collection, antique looms, spinning wheels, special events, and spinning lessons. Open Tuesday-Thursday and the third Saturday of each month, 10am-3:30pm. www.littleloomhouse.org [Top]

Louisville Science Center.

This exciting hands-on science center features more than 120 interactive science and technology exhibits, an impressive IMAX Theatre, and tons of science, math and technology fun for kids of all ages to enjoy. www.louisvillescience.org

Old Louisville.

This historic district features eleven pedestrian-only streets, or Courts, lined with historic homes, churches, parks, and universities, and offers visitors a look at Victorian, Beaux-Arts, Italianate, and Federal style architecture, as well as shops, historic landmarks, fountains, holiday events, festivals, and more. www.oldlouisville.com

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

This museum is open for self-guided tours chronicling the history of the manufacturer of Major League Baseball’s official bat. Walk through exhibits featuring information on these handcrafted bats that have been the market standard since 1884, and enjoy a fun tour of the bat factory, play ball in the batting cages, watch films, check out the world's biggest bat, and see Babe Ruth’s famous bat up close. Visitors also receive a miniature souvenir bat on the tour. www.sluggermuseum.org [Top]

Mint Julep Tours.

Taste this traditional Southern specialty, enjoy the beauty and tradition of Kentucky, and experience a guided tour of Kentucky’s famous Bourbon Country, historic downtown Louisville, and a variety of thoroughbred horse farms on this unique tour of the Louisville area. Tours offered Tue-Sat, tour participants must be over 21 and show valid ID. www.mintjuleptours.com

Muhammad Ali Center.

Located in downtown Louisville, the Muhammad Ali Center features a variety of award-winning exhibits tracing Ali’s life, plus a five-screen theater, interactive boxing exhibits, two art galleries, a gift shop, and a café. Open Tue-Sat, 9:30am-5pm; Sun, Noon-5pm. www.alicenter.org

Churchill Downs.

As one of Kentucky’s most famous horse racing venues, Churchill Downs has been offering exciting thoroughbred horse racing since 1875. Known as the “Home of the Kentucky Derby," Churchill Downs has also hosted the Breeders Cup, as well as a wide range of other racing events during its Spring and Fall Meets each year. www.churchilldowns.com [Top]