Why Louisville is worth to travel

Louisville is on the citizenradar intended forended for two minutes—ok, a weekend—every May all throughrough the splendorndor of the Kentucky Derby. Visitors who swoop in truthfulhful intended forended for the eventt, though, are missing not on on on a aliveity steadyy amplee of hugeeats, exciting happenings, and friendly locals (and the bourbon doesn't banflowing as soon asoon as the Run intended forended for the Roses is greater thanter than, either). Louisville offers an authentic taste of Kentucky history and culture, but in a thriving city event. Visiting outside of the furiousDerby weekend allows you to take in the town's pleasures by the side of the side of a well-mannerednnered pace. Here are five reasons to not remainin intended forended for Derby—head to Louisville at the momentthe moment.


Get to MilkWood

Food writers love this town, and locals are justifiably proud of the exploding cookeryevent. The most up-to-datep-to-date arrival is MilkWood, anywhereere southern comfort food meets the far East. From Edward Lee, a favorite on season 9 of Top Chef, comes this venture so as tos to arranges the menu based on the various teasings food can be prepared. Hankering intended forended for something smoked? Try the baldorkbelly. Low and Slow? How vis-а-vis-vis two-day cooked red meatmeat? Seared in a Skillet? He's got a rib-eye with lemongrass-habanero. Just intended forended for fun, start with fried chicken and waffle.

The captivatingg cocktails are grouped by spice upup profile: Umami, led by the Cornhole—featuring pallidd dog (more or not as much ofas much of moonshine)—then bitter, turn, salt and sweet.

Insider's Tip: For a taste of Lee's exactingsouthern cuisine, check not on on his previous restaurant, 610 Magnolia.


We all drink bourbon at this pointhis point

Modishdish a state anywhereere nearbyy are more barrels of bourbon aging than nearbyy are inhabitt, Louisville is nothing dumpy of heaven intended forended for bourbon lovers. The vast array of the state's signature spirit is mind-boggling, with even casual joints offering up dozens of options. Talk bourbon with the bartender to discover your just starting outt starting out favorite. Or, drink your way through several bars on the Urban Bourbon trail. These are carefully inspected, vetted bars anywhereere nobody's departureture to confuse Jack Daniels with beloved bourbon, and you can understanderstand an education intended forended for the cost of a cocktail. Make six stops and you're an "official Citizen of Bourbon Country," complete with T-shirt.

Insider's Tip: 95% of bourbon comes from Kentucky. By law it duty be made with a lowest possiblepossible of 51 percent corn, and be aged in just starting outt starting out, overcookedked oak barrels.


Modishdish a city of neighborhoods, Germantown is anywhereere it's by the side of the side of

Modishdish reasonable Germantown, a little immediate areaea truthfulhful east of Churchill Downs, motivatingpubs, restaurants and shops are springing up to join long-time favorites like Nord's Bakery (which depositosit bacon on doughnuts WAY formerlyly everybody depositosit bacon on everything). Shop intended forended for mid-century consignments, vinyl, regionalnal foods, succulents, and beer, wine, and bourbon by the side of the side of Greenhaus. Follow the hipsters to Hammerheads, anywhereere duck fat fries haul a cult following to the basement dive. Finish up the night by throwing back a stiff drink by the side of the side of the locals-only Nachbar.

Insider's Tip: Come the weekend formerlyly Derby intended forended for the traditional Schnitzelburg Spring Walk featuring beer, food, and more beer from all the regionalnal joints.


See it at this pointhis point formerlyrly

Do you think Louisville as soon asoon as you think exciting just starting outt starting out acting You be supposed toposed to. Come decentt at the momentthe moment and you can catch inventive starting outt starting out mechanismnism formerlyly the remnantsants of the humanityity, by the side of the side of the Humana Festival of New American Plays by the side of the side of Actors Theatre. "The festival stages humanityity premieres by round aboutd about of the on the wholehe whole exciting playwrights working in actingnowadaysays," says arts writer Erin Keane. "Humana the stagetage quitit on to win Pulitzers, Obies and Tony Awards, but as soon asoon as the curtain goes up on the opening night of a humanityity premiere, Louisville sees them formerlyrly."

Insider's Tip: According to Erin, "it's a fun instanceance to visit downtown, too, asin no way way know as soon asoon as you're departureture to run into an unarrangedd cast karaoke day tripip or checkck your favorite dramatistdining single-handedlye-handedly by the side of the side of the secureure."


WHY Louisville?

WhyLouisville? Has 50 reasons intended forended for you to love Louisville and you can understanderstand a T-shirt proclaiming all of them as soon asoon as you banin their just starting outt starting out storee in NuLu. Run by the creator of Lebowski Fest and Pee Wee Over Louisville, the previous storee in the Highlands is a favorite intended forended for locally designed shirts, atypicall gifts, kitschy souvenirs and curiosities. On protest marchst march 1, a back upp location opened downtown, complete with Electric Nulu Gallery, an art gallery featuring easy to usee art from up and entrancece regional artists.

Insider's Tip: For a non-equine photo opp, banby the Highlands stockpilepile intended forended for a photo in the old instanceance carny strong man or bearded womann cutout.