Lodging in a Nutshell |
by Nicole Hendricks, Louisville Correspondent |
Louisville is widely known as the Derby City, because of the running of the famed Kentucky Derby each May at Louisville’s Churchill Downs race track. But the city has much more to offer than this one spectacular event.
Whether you are visiting Louisville (pronounced Louahvul) on business or for pleasure, the “River City” will dazzle you with its blend of restored historic sites and chic new corporate buildings, arts, sports, and of course, race horses.
The city offers a year-round performing arts calendar that includes ballet, opera, orchestra and theater, which make Louisville the cultural center of the mid-west. Businesses will find Louisville’s central location at the Falls of the Ohio River, a perfect convention location. The Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center is located a stones throw from the airport on a 400-acre site that houses year-round events and attracts more than four million visitors each year. The Commonwealth Convention Center in the heart of the downtown area is newly expanded to offer 300,000 square feet of convention space in the heart of the city. And the downtown area offers a variety of hotel and motel accommodations at reasonable prices and with a variety of amenities.
Vacationers will appreciate the fact that downtown Louisville has more green space than any other city of its size. Located on the riverfront, there is always something exciting happening downtown where upscale restaurants, music and theaters and regional museums blend to create a well rounded leisure experience. Take a ride on the Belle of Louisville, one of the last authentic sternwheelers in the country docked at the water front.
Singles, families, and business travelers with a little time to spare will enjoy learning about Louisville’s grand history. The largest collection of restored Victorian mansions in the country, located among the hills and valleys of the Highlands neighborhood. This area, just a short distance southeast of the city, is also home to fine Bed and Breakfast Inns. Visitors will enjoy the many festivals and arts and crafts shows held every year in this historic district. Singles will relish the clubs and restaurants along Bardstown Road and Franklin Avenue, east of the downtown area.
Families and those on a budget will want to find lodging on the northern or eastern outskirts of the city are very reasonably priced and bookings often include health clubs, restaurants, swimming pools, and a continental breakfast. But, be aware that lodging becomes scare and reflective of the price at a somewhat lower scale as you travel south on I-65 or around I-265 which rings the very outer edge of the greater Louisville area. Top
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