5 star cabin rentals

Has anyone stayed in these cabins? They never seem to fill up and I%26#39;m wondering why since their prices seem more reasonable than other cabins in the area. We plan to go to Natural Bridge state park in August and still haven%26#39;t booked anything as we are trying to get feed back on cabin rentals.

5 star cabin rentals

This probably won%26#39;t help, but I have rented 2 cabins at the 5 star natural bridge cabins in Slade. Nope never been there. I wasn%26#39;t happy because you have to pay in full when you make a reservation. I made mine in April. I do have a suggestion, don%26#39;t make a reservation on line, call them and ask for a special or package. We did save over 400 dollars total for a week on both cabins. The lady I talked to was very pleasant.We are looking forward to going in 2 weeks, will be glad to let you know how things go.We have all age groups going. Ranging from age 14 to 75. joy

5 star cabin rentals

Which two cabins are you renting? I look forward to your review.

I have not stayed in these cabins but have stayed at the state park cabins before. While they don%26#39;t look as fancy as the 5 star they are very clean and affordable. They are also close to hiking trails and most importantly, Miguelle%26#39;s Pizza!

Here%26#39;s the link in case you are interested:

http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/nb/

All the state cabins are booked for the time period I need. I specifically wanted information on the 5 Star Cabin rentals.

I was also wondering if the cabins have private views or are they cramped together like sardines? TIA.

The cabins are private homes so the views vary. 5 Star Cabin rentals is a rental agent. Everything was top quality.

Our family rented from 5-star cabin rental in Slade, Kentucky, and was GREATLY disappointed! During our first night, the sound of mice behind the walls kept us up. We had to keep the lights on in the upstairs bedrooms to keep them quiet. The next day we spent hiking on the the trails, but when we returned to the cabin, mouse feces was found in and on everyones bed. We called the management and were told that the owner was out of town and that they could do nothing for us until he returned. We packed up our things and left immediatly. A week later, when the owner returned, he refused to give us a refund, not even a partial return on our rental. DO NOT RENT HERE!

Irc24 - wow, what an owner. I would have expected a partial refund at the absolute very least. It%26#39;s owners like that that don%26#39;t stay in business too long.

The home we rented was The Roost. It is high up on a hill and was very clean. No critters except for humming birds.

I believe the cabin we rented that had the problem with mice infestation was named ';Whispering Pines';. I can only give a review on this particular rental as it is the only one we rented from 5-Star Cabin Rental. It very well could be the only cabin with the rodent problem. With that being said, it still does not justify the fact that the owner/management would not acknowledge or fix the problem. We even took pictures of the feces in our beds, on the carpets, and all over the bathroom floors. As we were packing up, we also found mice ';nests'; in the basement rafters. NASTY! The owner asked us how we could be sure they were mice? He tried to blow them off as being squirrels. Even so--does that justify feces all over the cabin, be it squirrel, mice, etc....?

There are other accomadations available in this area of Natural Bridge State Park. I would suggest looking into them.

Limestone Brunch?

Limestone is one of my favorite restaurants here in Louisville, but I have only been there for dinner. I was wondering if anybody here knew anything about their Sunday Brunch? I was thinking about taking a friend of mine there for a birthday celebration. I was expecting something in line with the Seelbach%26#39;s brunch, which we all love, but I can tell from the price that it must be completely different considering that it is half the price. Any comments?

Limestone Brunch?

Hi Don. I have not been there for brunch, but others on the restaurant forum have discussed it. I suggest you mosey on over to www.louisvillehotbytes.com

good eats!!

Limestone Brunch?

Limestone brunch was a huge let down. I was looking for a great brunch in this city and this is not even in the top 10. I should have known since the parking lot was near empty. I decided to stay anyway and wish I had gone anywhere else instead. May try dinner there one day, hopefully they can do that right.

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more than a cave

As per a disccusion in a other forum I would like to stress somthing about mammoth cave national park. If you go PLEASE experience the unique habitat above the surface. There is plenty of hiking there adn renting a canoe to go down the green river is amazing. This park has many hidden gems you wouldnt plan on when coming that dont involve just the cave tours. The cave is amazing but so is the surface area of the park.

more than a cave

Excellent point chasm4u! There are even some excellent handicap accessible trails in the park. Your idea of a canoe trip down the Green River gives me an excuse to want go back.

more than a cave

I went on a canoe trip down the Green River through the park. We used the canoe place just outside the park boundaries on East Boundary Road.

The truck ride to the Dennison Ferry put in site was an experience in itself. There%26#39;s some rough terrain out there!

On the river you get to see where the green enters the cave. Pretty cool.

Another option for canoe trips is to come down the Nolin River just below the dam. The rock formations are absolutely incredible, and there is even a natural lake where one can stop. This trip is only possible when the water conditions are right, as you have to go upstream when arriving at the Green River. The outfitters are good about saying when it can or cannot be made.

Getting to the Louisville Airport

Hi! I live in Louisville but have a really early flight and a longer than usual stay out of town, so it%26#39;s cheaper to take a shuttle of some sort to the airport than leave my car in long term parking.

As I%26#39;ve never done this before I%26#39;m clueless what taxis/town car services/ etc are reliable and reputable in the area.

Thanks!

Train service from Lourdes - Turin (by-passing Paris)

I checked the SNCF website and it seems that to travel from Lourdes to Turin (Italy), I would have to go back to Paris to catch the train to Turin. The journey needs a total of 13h10m. Does anyone know if it is possible to board the train somewhere between Lourdes, Lyon, Grenoble or Chamonix?

I have also considered flying and it too means flying from Pau or Tarbes to Paris and connecting flight to Turin. Fare is exorbitant @ Euro 814 which costs more than the SQ fare to Paris.

Would appreciate if fellow travellers can give me some good tips.

Train service from Lourdes - Turin (by-passing Paris)

You mistakenly posted this in the ';Paris, Kentucky, USA'; section. You%26#39;ll need to re-post in the ';Paris, France, Europe'; forum.

Train service from Lourdes - Turin (by-passing Paris)

You%26#39;re definitely going to have problems taking a train from Paris, TN to Paris France!

Derby 09

We are trying to go to the Derby in May and wondering if it was resonable to stay in E-town? I know it%26#39;s normally about an hour drive but during Derby week, is traffic coming in from the south really bad. The possibility of getting a room in Louisville is out of the question. How long should we expect to take going to the races?? Also, I%26#39;m looking for a seat chart of the track, not just the sections but the rows. For example, one ticket in section 323 row A is almost half price of a seat in row D. How many rows in each section? What is a trustworthy site to order tickets?

Thanks

Derby 09

Hi Wes! I haven%26#39;t been to the Derby in years, so I%26#39;ll stop there. However, do not give up on the room situation. We have a lot of budget hotels off I-64 ( such as Microtel, Red Roof Inn, etc) in the Middletown/Jeffersontown area which is in the east end of town. Louisville hosts a lot of big conventions, so we have a lot of hotel rooms.There is absolutely no need for you to travel as far as Etown for a stay. Next, nobody drives to the track. Plan on driving toPapa John%26#39;s Stadium or the fairgrounds and catching a shuttle bus. They run all day and arebthe only way to go! Good luck on your trip planning, Derby is a blast and everyone should go once in a lifetime! Warmest regards, Linda.

Derby 09

Thanks Linda,

I looked around for availibility in a few hotels in the area and they are all are booked or very $$$$$. i.e. Holiday Inn Express $990-1100 per nite!!! I know we%26#39;ll be paying more because of the event, but not that much. The price for any other day was $99-129. So I%26#39;ll keep trying, we intend to still go and are hoping to have a great time.

Hey Wes,

That HIE quote does sound a bit high, even for Derby. Most hotels here will only quote room rates for the entire weekend. The Kentucky Oaks, run the Friday before the Derby, draws a sizeable crowd as well, which drives up the hotel demand rates and days. That might be what you would actually be paying that much for. I wouldn%26#39;t totally rule out E-town. It%26#39;s closer to 45 minutes from Louisville, and like the previous poster said, you%26#39;ll be better served using public transportation. Unless you%26#39;re well connected politically, you won%26#39;t be getting out of there any quicker than anyone else except the governor if you drive and park.

As for a good seat chart, I%26#39;m not savvy enough to steer you in the right direction on that one. I%26#39;m usually working that day, so someone else will have to help you there.

Almost any of the major re-sellers can hook you up, just know that you%26#39;ll pay a premium price, so go with a well known name like Stubhub or Ticketsnow, and enjoy!

While you are searching try southern Indiana,

Jeffersonville, New Albany, Clarksville, Sellersburg etc...

Thanks for your help,

We will be coming back to Savannah on Sunday morning, so trying to stay south of Louisville. I contacted a ticket company called Derbybox.com.(for Derby tickets) Anyone heard of them?

Hi, Wesmma11! As a life-long Louisvillian, I understand your fears about traffic. Actually, the traffic moves along quite well from E-Town up north to the track. You can get to Churchill Downs from either I-65 or via the Watterson Expressway. Have you been routed in any particular direction? The Watterson MIGHT be a better bet, as the I-65 route - Eastern Parkway to Crittenden Drive to Central is the MAIN GATE into Churchill.

I agree with an earlier poster - try Southern Indiana (you might want to go as far ';up'; as Sellersburg - which isn%26#39;t that far from the river. You might want to try New Albany, Indiana as well. It%26#39;s west of the city (down I-64), but they might have better rates than what you%26#39;ve been quoted on the Kentucky side.

Have you gone to the OFFICIAL Churchill Downs site (there%26#39;s also a ';Kentucky Derby'; site). If you don%26#39;t have any luck, let me know. My cousin works at Churchill and could probably get you a seating chart.

Haven%26#39;t heard of the ticketselling company that you refer to, but be sure that you%26#39;re not paying MONSTROUS prices for tickets that are in the ';nose bleed'; section.

Best of luck!

Never heard of derbybox.com, but that doesn%26#39;t mean it%26#39;s a bad service. I%26#39;d still be more comfortable with some of the better known sites.

If you%26#39;re leaving for Savannah Sunday morning, you%26#39;re definitely better off staying south or east.

If you%26#39;re not picky, there are a few budget chain motels along I-65 closer than E-town, but I don%26#39;t know about their availability or policies for that weekend. They%26#39;re at Shepherdsville and Brooks.

I just booked the Friday and Saturday night of Derby weekend in Sellersburg, IN for a total of $321 (taxes included). We%26#39;re staying at the Home Lodge...not sure if it%26#39;s really that great, but for the price you can%26#39;t beat it. All the other hotels that were still available were $400/night. We%26#39;re staying north of Louisville as we%26#39;ll be driving down from Wisconsin. Hope you can find something reasonable!

Bourbon n' Toulouse is finally on tripadvisor!

Bourbon n%26#39; Toulouse is finally on tripadvisor. You should leave them a review if you%26#39;ve been there. It%26#39;s my favorite restaurant in Lexington!

Bourbon n' Toulouse is finally on tripadvisor!

Thanks for the heads up. I know this is a favorite place for a lot of posters. I am sure they would love to review it.

Bourbon n' Toulouse is finally on tripadvisor!

Good to know. I wonder how new hotels/restaurants get on TA?

Still haven%26#39;t been to Bourbon n%26#39; Toulouse. I think I looked at their website or something and the word ';cajun'; put me off...

I%26#39;ll give it a try. You say it%26#39;s your favorite in Lexington, cherr20?

Definitely my favorite place in town! Don%26#39;t be scared by it being Cajun. For the most part, their food is mild and flavorful....and very inexpensive! Everything they serve is $6.50. The other great thing is that if you don%26#39;t know what you want, they will give you samples of anything they have on the menu that day. If you%26#39;re still a little hesitant about it, get the BBQ sandwich. Its a pulled pork sandwich with a bourbon-honey glaze. It%26#39;s amazing!

breakfast spots?

any great breakfast spot in downtown louisville? we%26#39;re staying at the Hyatt Regency.

breakfast spots?

Lynn%26#39;s Paradise Cafe, or Toast on Market these 2 would be in the downtown area.

breakfast spots?

I%26#39;d definitely second Lynn%26#39;s. It%26#39;s not that close to the Hyatt, but it%26#39;s not prohibitively far enough away to miss. Easily the best breakfast in town.

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Weather in Cumberland

I am driving down to Cumberland from Cincinnati on Friday (1/30). I know I travel Cumberland parkway to Nancy exit and through Pisgah? I%26#39;m wondering if anyone can tell me the weather conditions. I%26#39;m wondering if there is any snow or ice. I wasn%26#39;t sure how hard you were hit. Also, does there seem to be electric out there. Please help!

road conditions

Anyone driven I75 since the storm? How is it?

Stopping on way through......quick ideas?

Hi,

We are traveling through cave city next week and it would be the perfect time to stop, stretch our legs and eat our lunch.

Any suggestions for something that would only take about 1 hour close to the highway? I%26#39;m guessing we don%26#39;t have time for any tours but any hiking areas around the caves or surrounding area?

We have 1 boy, age 9...anything he would love to see?

Thanks!!

Stopping on way through......quick ideas?

There%26#39;s a Dinosaur World right in Cave City. Does he like dinosaurs? It looked kind of ';hokey,'; but some on here have said it was a lot of fun. We just drove by, so we don%26#39;t have any personal experience. Our daughter isn%26#39;t that into dinosaurs. When we visited, we only did ';cave exploring,'; and a theme park called Beech Bend in Bowling Green, but we were there for 3 nights. Obviously, the caves are the main attraction.

BTW, the Sahara Steak House is a good place to eat in Cave City. Meats are tender, and they have a soup/salad bar. The vegetable soup was excellent!

Stopping on way through......quick ideas?

There are excellent trails inside the park - all lengths. Stop at the visitor center and they will give you the best recommendations for the time you have available.

Hi, here is a list of the restaurants right off I-65:

These are all located together, turn left at 1st red light:

Subway (located w/gas station)

Cast Iron Skillet (not very good)

Long John Silvers/ A%26amp;W

Kentucky Fried Chicken

Wendy%26#39;s

Pizza Hut

Taco Bell

These are located one block down straight thru the 1st red light:

(to the left)

Cracker Barrel

McDonald%26#39;s

(to the right)

El Mazatlan (Mexican)

If you travel on straight from the 1st red light, you will come to the 2nd red light, Sahara Steak House is straigth thru the light, ahead on the left. Really good but a bit pricey in my opinion.

Mammoth Cave National Park will be about a 15 minute drive from Cave City. There are plenty of places in the park to hike. You can take a walk down to the mouth of Mammoth Cave. You can actually walk down into the mouth, but you can only go so far without tickets. Walk until you reach a barred entrance. Pretty neat. There are plenty of places around there to take a short walk. I hope all this helps you out. Have a great trip! BTW...where is your final destination?

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I think we%26#39;ll hike around Mammoth Cave unless the weather is bad. He%26#39;s never really been into dinosaurs...weird I know.

We are on our way to Disney!! Yeah!! Can%26#39;t wait to get a break from our frigid Wisconsin winter. It%26#39;s been especially cold this year.

OH WOW! Hope you all have a wonderful trip. Be Safe!

You have probably left for your trip by now, and I think they are even closed for the winter...but...if you drive to Orlando again in the future and would like another suggestion for a stop in this area...

There is a GM assembly plant in Bowling Green where Corvettes are built!

Very cool for a 9 YO boy...or anyone for that matter.

The tour is very inexpensive, and I think about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Check it out for your next trip.

www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com

Have fun,

Miller

Looking for a good place Mammoth Caves

Next May some friends and I from around the country, about a dozen or so, are looking into coming to the Mammoth Caves area, and would like to know what kind of campgrounds, cabins, or resorts would be recommended from bare bones budget to moderately prices for a period of a week.

Looking for a good place Mammoth Caves

We loved staying in the national park campground - short walk to the cave tours and other park activities. www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Looking for a good place Mammoth Caves

We liked the Comfort Inn %26amp; Suites in Cave City. Our stay here occurred in 2007. The property was only about a year old then. It ran around $105 for a large one room suite with 2 queen beds, sofabed, and very large bathroom. The beds were very comfortable and the facility was quite clean. A typical continental breakfast is provided, including waffles, bagels, cereals, hard boiled eggs, danish, etc.

Besides Mammoth, there are many caves in the area to explore. Have fun! Be sure to make advance reservations for any tours at Mammoth Cave. They can sell out quickly, especially during summer. You might be ok in May, but I wouldn%26#39;t take any chances. Have fun!

thaks for the help. I will make sure that when we set the date before we go to get the tickets for mammoth cave. I have also heard that there is a mammoth museum and a boat that goes into a cave?

Will use whatever help/info I get here to help scope out what%26#39;s what before I get there. :)

Lost River Cave is the one that has the boat ride and is located in nearby Bowling Green (about 30 minutes away). Hidden River Cave is in Horse Cave (about 15 minutes) and has a caving museum attached to it. We didn%26#39;t have time to explore either. We did go to Diamond Caverns, which is a ';show cave'; about 3 miles from Mammoth in Park City. Mammoth Cave NP sells discount tickets to Diamond if you get there early. There are limited numbers on them. Diamond Caverns is a neat contrast to Mammoth. Diamond has beautiful formations; Mammoth, however is known for its size, not its formations. There is a small section in Mammoth known as the Drapery Room. This is where the majority of the formations are. Not all tours include this room, so consider this if you are really interested in seeing the few stalacties/stalagmites/columns, etc Mammoth has. Some of the tours that include the Drapery Room are the Frozen Niagara Tour, New Entrance Tour, and Grand Avenue Tour. There may be others that are escaping me now, but you can get a complete list of tours at nps.gov. The advance reservations are made at recreation.gov.

The national park also has a motel near the visitor%26#39;s center. And there are some small cabins that can be rented.

If you%26#39;re looking for nightlife, you%26#39;ll have to travel to Bowling Green (which is somewhat limited) or Nashville or Louisville.

There is also a ';resort'; at Park Mammoth, not far from the national park.

For other activities, there are lots of trails on the north side of the river. The best star gazing in the park is in the cemetery at Mammoth Cave Baptist Church.

The Miss Green River boat ride goes down the Green River (but not into the cave). If you%26#39;re adventurous, you can rent a canoe at one of the local outfitters and canoe down the Green River. There is actually a small cave near the Dennyson Ferry canoe launch that you can canoe into.

Lots of this information is available at www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/things2do.htm.

Thanks for the info. My friends mostly prefer camping, but I want to stay at someplace with a pool since I heard that swimming is not recommended in the park itself. A place with cabins and campsites and someplace to be able to swim too would be good..since I am assuming it gets pretty hot in May and June?

It really isn%26#39;t all that warm in late May and early June. July and August are warmer.

There really isn%26#39;t a very good place in the park to swim, although in July, if you%26#39;re canoeing on the Green River, you can always sit on a gravel bar in the river and let the cool water run over you.

If you%26#39;re wanting a pool, your best bet would be Park Mammoth. www.parkmammothresort.us

Another option that might make all happy is Barren River State Resort Park, or at Nolin River Resort.

Kentucky has a good state park system. www.parks.ky.gov

I%26#39;ll look into those, thanks. I am getting a lot of good info, which is par for the course for trip advisor. :)

I%26#39;ll check back with some of my friends and get back with you. Besides a road trip on the highway going through on the interstate, have never been to Kentucky before, but am looking forward to it. We were kicking around some ideas on where to have the get together and settled on Mammoth Caves (and the others in the region).

Cave City is the closest town by the Mammoth Cave park, right? Where are other places in the area..is Bowling Green close or far? Any other places in the region?

And I%26#39;m relieved to find out that the weather won%26#39;t be too bad. When I was living in Georgia while stationed there, the summers were hot and muggy as all get out, so it%26#39;s good to know that Kentucky isn%26#39;t too hot in the early summer.

sorry I should have realized that the question about the other caves and city nearby had already been mentioned..had to go back and reread it and hopefully it will stick this time so I won%26#39;t have to keep repeating myself, lol!

Has anyone here been to Jellystone? It looks like it%26#39;s a bit kitschy but possible fun, and it has camping space and cabin, so people who want to camp can and those who don%26#39;t can still be right nearby. Does anyone know how crowded it gets? Some of my friends want to rough it, so if the spaces are filled up was thinking it might be a bit %26#39;crowded%26#39; for a campout, but if it is like maybe half full was thinking that it might not be too bad.

How rough do your friends want to rough it?

I don%26#39;t want to beat a dead horse, but if you really want rough, you can canoe the river and stop on the side and camp out. Totally roughing it!

Several of the nearby sites are quite kvetchy - very family oriented, and kids love it.

Cave City is really the closest town. Bowling Green is only a half hour away and has the most opportunities.

Hotels and/or suites

Traveling to the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event and waited too long to book the hotel! Looking for a fairly cheap hotel near the horse park. there are 5 of us so we either need 2 rooms or a suite. We have always stayed at Knight%26#39;s Inn so not familiar with what might be similar in $$??

Hotels and/or suites

There is nothing right around the park, but any of the exits along I75 should be easy access. You may want to try the Microtel on Winchester Rd. at I75. I think that would be comparable in price.

Hotels and/or suites

Thanks, I had never heard of them; they sound like just what we need. Unfortunately they have no rooms available. Are you familiar with the Quality Inn? They have rooms but a friend seems to remember that they weren%26#39;t in the best part of town?

If that is the Quality Inn on Newtown Pike, I would avoid it.

There are numerous new motels at the intersection of Man-O-War Boulevard and I-75, in the Hamburg area. Just a skip up the Interstate to the Horse Park.

Cave City for Winter Break

Hello!

My daughters (6 and 3) have a break in mid-February and since my husband doesn%26#39;t want me to take them to Disney without him, I was thinking of going just a little south of here (Dayton, OH) to Cave City. What I would like to ask:

1. Will it be ';warm%26#39; there? (Above freezing would do)

2. I know we will go to Dinosaur World (the 6 year old loves dinosaurs). What else could we do?

3. Is it really safe there? Best/safest hotel?

4. Any other place in KY that would be really fun for 1 adult and 2 young children?

Thanks so much!!!

Cave City for Winter Break

Hi! Hard to say about the weather....we just went through a terrible ice storm here in the area. Getting back to normal. The weather here is so unpredictable. This week is going to be in the 30%26#39;s and 40%26#39;s with lows in the teens up to 30. Cave City is a very small town. The newest hotel would be the Comfort Inn and Suites. Indoor pool and indoor hallway entry which I consider to be the safest. Dinosaur World is nice for kids but keep in mind this is an outdoor activity so be prepared to dress for it. Mammoth Cave National Park is about a 10 minute drive from town with all kinds of trails and cave tours. They recommend reservations for tours. You may call and find out more about that. Glad to answer any other questions you may have!

Cave City for Winter Break

Yeah, heard about your weather. The pictures were awful-3 inch ice, etc. We got about an inch of ice and 6-9 inches of snow. Hopefully spring will be just around the corner!

I read some postings that said Dinosaur World is cheesy, but I think my kids would love it as long as it is not scary. I can%26#39;t decide about the caves. Are they dangerous?

I also am thinking about the horseback riding, but not sure how it would work with just me and the two kids. I suppose the 6 year old could ride alone, but I would worry the whole time!

Do you know much about Louisville? I could combine the two locations. I am wondering how the zoo is?

Thanks for your help!

I%26#39;m sure there are tours that are suitable for small children. They all range in difficulty and length of time. It%26#39;s been awhile since we%26#39;ve been to the zoo. The last time we were there it was nice and they have added to it since then. I don%26#39;t know though if it is open in Feb.

I recommend the newer Comfort Inn %26amp; Suites in Cave City. We stayed there in 2007 and were impressed with the suite size and cleanliness. It felt very safe.

Mammoth Cave is a possibility, but I would stick with a shorter tour since your girls are young. The caves are not dangerous, but the girls, especially your 3 year old,might get a little tired. The 6 year old will probably be fine. My daughter was 8 when we toured Mammoth, and we did one 2 mile tour one day and a 3/4 mile one another day. For children your age, the Frozen Niagara and Focus on Fomrations tours would be good, as they are short and focus on the rare formations of Mammoth.

You also have Diamond Caverns in nearby Park City, about 3 miles from Mammoth. This is a show cave which has a little more eye appeal than Mammoth due to more formations. The tours last about an hour and aren%26#39;t overly strenuous. This time of year, there%26#39;s not too much in the area other than the caves. Your girls would probably like Kentucky down Under, but the only thing open this time of year is the cave. The small zoo isn%26#39;t accessible.

Have a great time!

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Downtown restaurants

Need 2 dinners in the downtown area, upscale. Staff must be knowledgeable about food preparation as one of the diners has a tree nut allergy . Can you suggest? Been to English Grill and found it uppity,boring with snotty staff to boot. We%26#39;re from NYC and know our food. All local foodies help.

One lunch suggestion would be good.

Any delis downtown where I can find smoked turkey?

Thanks all

Downtown restaurants

I%26#39;ve been to NYC many times and have had better meals in Louisville. However, I have pretty much traveled the world and I think the French food at Le Relais is very authentic and the Nuevo Latino cuisine at Seviche is remarkable. Neither are downtown. Why must you be downtown, a cab would only be a few dollars? I like Proof at 21C but you might think it to be pretentious. They definitely get mixed reviews. I can%26#39;t recommend either the Brown or the Seelbach as both have gone through major upheavals in their kitchens and general management. Many foodies in Louisville adore 610 Magnolia. I haven%26#39;t been since Ed Garber sold it to Ed Lee. Vincenzo%26#39;s is a landmark restaurant in Louisville and the atmosphere is lovely.

Finally, we have our own ';foodie blog'; where food writers and chefs and local foodies share restaurant info and such. It is www.louisvillehotbytes.com

The creator, Robin Garr, was a food critic for years. He is a renowned oenophile and travels the world judging wine competitions, collecting, etc. He%26#39;s a great guy as well! I suggest you pose this question on their forum and be prepeared for a war, LOL! 2 places that I will caution you about...Jeff Ruby%26#39;s and the Bristol. Ruby%26#39;s is a great place- great steaks, sides, perfect service and the best restaurant in town to take a group of clients but it%26#39;s not a ';foodie'; place. The Bristol is a Louisville institution but they have terrible food. I don%26#39;t understand how they make it honestly.

Downtown restaurants

Thanks all for your responses. We just returned from Louisville and everything went well. Went to the movies and shopped at Valuemart. The weather was frigid!

I just caught this thread - I%26#39;m new to the site! I wish I had caught it earlier. I would definately consider myself a foodie. My husband is from NJ - kust outside Princeton - and has been a chef for many years. I have come to love good food. : ) Glad to hear you had a great time though!

Shopped at ValueMart? I live here and have never done that...

Mammoth Cave Area for Late March-Early May

Heading to Mammoth area for spring break (late March) and we normally camp - but Park doesn%26#39;t take reservations (first com-first served), and driving from the upper midwest - I want to know we%26#39;ll have a place to stay when we get there! Cave City has a B%26amp;B with log cabin, etc. that looks great on their website but has got some scathing reviews by Trip Advisor members. Anyone have suggestions for clean but rustic place to stay? We have two tweens who love the outdoors.

Mammoth Cave Area for Late March-Early May

Hi, I live in the Mammoth area...only 1/4 mile from the park and I have a suggestion for you. If you like camping, consider checking out Nolin Lake State Park. It is about 10 miles from the national park. It is a small campground. Always very quiet when we go. We love it there. If you are interested I can give you more detailed info.

Bachorlette Party.

I am hosting a bach party for a few girlfriends here in Louisville. I am from here but looking for something other then 4th St to do. Its going to be Thunder night and I was just curious if anyone knew of any thing to do after Thunder - maybe a male review somewhere...? That%26#39;s not TOO Different but I am over 4th St. ;)

Thanks

Bachorlette Party.

Ow wow, Erin...that is a really bad night, IMO. The traffic and traffic flow is a nightmare. Let me think on it.how about going up to French Lick or West Baden? They have gambling, shows, spa, many activities. I just suspect that anything you try here will be a headache.

Anybody ever stayed at the Big Spring Inn?

I%26#39;m wondering how it compares to the Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn. Any info on BSI would be appreciated.

Jack Fry's: 2008 Restaurant of the Year

The February 2009 issue of Louisville magazine lists the top restaurants in town.

Jack Fry%26#39;s was voted Restaurant of the Year by members of the local restaurant community.

Other mentions:

Top Restaurant Concept: Basa Modern Vietnamese

Top Brunch: Wild Eggs

Top Ambience: Porcini

Top Desserts: Cafe Metro

Top Dining for the Dollar: La Rosita Grill

Top Drinks Menu: Proof on Main

Top Appetizers: Mojito Tapas Restaurant

Interesting article on Jack Fry%26#39;s; the photograph in the magazine makes the dining room look larger than it is....

Jack Fry's: 2008 Restaurant of the Year

I gotta say - I definately think there are much better restuarants here then Jack Fry%26#39;s. What about Volare%26#39;? And L %26amp; N wine Bar? Proof of Main is either closed or getting ready to close. I do agree with Porcini%26#39;s though. lOve that place.

Jack Fry's: 2008 Restaurant of the Year

What do you mean Proof on Main is getting ready to close? Is this something new? I%26#39;ve not heard they are planning to close and honestly can%26#39;t believe it. They get great reviews and seem to have a lot going for them (being tied to 21c for example)

I think I got it confused. I meant the little Market on Main is closed. Right there by it.

I don%26#39;t know what I was thinking.

Sorry for the confusion.

I think you meant Melillo%26#39;s. I have never been disappointed at Jack Fry%26#39;s, but it is a little staid in the menu and it is a little crowded and loud in there. I much prefer L%26amp;N or Seviche.

bad service

on the 28th of jan i woke up to the worst ice storm in kentucky history,no lights no heat and a wife and kids to care for so we went to the econo lodge on lexington rd in nicholasville ky the mid-eastren man told me he had no double rooms.so i asked if he a single room,he asked how many people i told him 3 my wife and a 12 yr old girl,by this time the snow had come in and was coming down fast on top of the 3 inches of ice we got the night before,he told me he could not rent a room with one bed to a party of three,i asked him why .he said the room was to small and he couldnt do it i didnt know what to do the rooms were filling up with in 50 miles of me and the weather was not getting any better,i told him what i thought of his rule and left as he was telling me he was going to call the cops,i dont know what to say i think it is wrong to turn people away in times of need like that and all i can tell that guy is something about karma

bad service

Contact the Ky Attorney General%26#39;s Office and file a complaint. 1-888-432-9257.

There are laws in place to protect you in just this type of emergency

bad service

Mike, I%26#39;m really sorry to hear about that! I will write a note to them on your behalf. In the meantime, contact the Better Business Bureau and the Atty General. Most people have bent over backwards to help others. This type of behavior is horrid.

I wish you would have asked to speak with the manager and/or get his name and number so this employee could be responsible.It%26#39;s still not too late. best of luck!

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Bachelor's Party in March

Hi,

I am planning a bachelor party from afar. We were going to do the casino, however we have 1 under 21 (20 year old) to accomodate.

I would love ideas for places we can go (only about 10 of us)...for dinner and some fun!

Thanks

Bachelor's Party in March

You should definitely go to Fourth Street Live. It%26#39;s a fun place with lots of bars with different themes (island bar, country bar, etc.) It even has a bowling alley. I%26#39;ve been there a couple of times including for a bachelorette party. It was lots of fun. Here%26#39;s a tip: If your bachelorette party all wears one color (ex. black) you will be easily seen and recognized. People also usually buy driving for the whole group. I%26#39;m not exactly sure on the age limit for all of the bars and to get it. You may be able to go with one under 21.

A really good place to eat close by is The Old Spaghetti Factory. It isn%26#39;t a really loud and fun restaurant if that is what you are looking for, but it has great spaghetti and italian dishes and it%26#39;s very reasonable! They also have a good drink selection.

Good luck!

Bachelor's Party in March

Is this a bachelor or bachelorette party? It will make a difference in what people suggest?When is it going to take place? Where will you be staying?

Bachelor. I am helping my boyfriend plan for his brother. He has never used this site..and it is one of my favorites...so I was showing him how you can get real good info from people who know the area, etc.

Thanks:)

Not trying to be rude or start a disagreement, just stating my opinion....

ditch the advice above about 4th St. and Old Spaghetti Factory.

4th Street Live is a bunch of chain bars and restaurants. It%26#39;s a corporate-created adult entertainment mall. Hard Rock Cafe, etc. All shiny and lit up, no soul.

And Old Spaghetti Factory is generic pasta dishes. More of a family feed-bag type of place.

The 20 year old isn%26#39;t going to get in any bars or clubs in Louisville. (except maybe Phoenix Hill, if they still allow under-21s, can anybody verify???)

So, the casino is a good idea. Try out a good restaurant on Bardstown Rd. Suggestions....Jack Fry%26#39;s, Seviche, Sapporo(sushi), Bristol Bar %26amp; Grill (not among the best, but good for a large group). Havana Rumba (Cuban) is a great place to eat. It%26#39;s off Shelbyville Rd.

You didn%26#39;t give a date, but if it%26#39;s May, June or October, you could do an afternoon at Churchill Downs to bet a few ponies. Always a fun time.

Good Luck

I still think 4th street live will be fun for a bunch of guys who have never been there. Also a comedy club would be fun. Or the track if open, a trip to Horshoe Casino, across the river, is fun. The bars up and down Bardstown Rd are plentiful and fun. If the party is after April you could do Bats baseball game. A tour to Makers Mark would be a great way to start the day. Hope some of these ideas help.

Thank you very much for all your help!

Valentine's Weekend in Louisville

Coming down from Cincy on Friday night to spend a couple nights at 21C. Looking for dinner spots for Friday and Saturday night. Not fine dining--I don%26#39;t want to dress--but not a chain either. I want to wear jeans and a sweater. Good local food in a more casual atmosphere. Bardstown Rd and downtown are the two ares most familiar to us, but we can go anywhere.

Valentine's Weekend in Louisville

Cunninghams comes to mind on 4th street. Very casual, good burgers, steak fries, and full bar.

Somthing alittle different is Flabbys on Lydia Steet, good food in a neighborhood atmosphere.

Valentine's Weekend in Louisville

Well, Shari, except for just a handful of places, I think you%26#39;d be fine dressed casually in many places. This is going to be a really busy weekend and you might want to try to get reservations! I went to www.opentable.com and plugged in table for 2 on Feb 14. I got a handful of good places! I suggest you go over there and join. It is free and you get points every time you book. In fact, I just got a $40 gift certificate from them which I used yesterday.

They show availability at Baxter Station (I love this place!!) North End Cafe (ditto) the tasty Pajermo Viello. I also really like Avalon in the Highlands, Artemesia on Main Street and Jarfi%26#39;s Bistro on Bardstown Rd. Varanese is very good and casual, with jazz music on the weekends. I also like Cafe Lou Lou...there%26#39;s a new one in the Highlands. We ate there yesterday and it was great.

Again, I URGE you to make a reservation! Opentable has links to all the web sites and menus for the places as well. Do some research and come prepeared! I hope you have a great time!

ps...check my todo list for Louisville. Several of us have written them and they might help you.

Mmmmm....I second Linda%26#39;s rec of Cafe Lou Lou. I ate there last week and it was excellent. Also, Havana Rumba is good, if you like Cuban, and I had a really good meal at Lynn%26#39;s Paradise Cafe last week, too.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I use OpenTable often Linda, so I booked Avalon for Friday night and Jarfi%26#39;s for Saturday. Cafe Lou Lou looked like it would be good for lunch also, we may get a meal in there as well.

Z's fusion

Can anyone give me a review of this place? We are going there on Valentine%26#39;s Day but I can%26#39;t find any info or any menu online. Thanks.

Z's fusion

brokensidewalk.com/2009/鈥?/a>

There are some pics and a scan of the menu. I haven%26#39;t found a web site for them yet I have been to the original restaurant, Z%26#39;s many times. Also, I am a big fan of their chef Dallas McGarrity and have enjoyed his meals at Volare in the past.

There is a fairly long thread on www.louisvillehotbytes.com about the place and various dishes people have enjoyed. Hope that helps. Have a great weekend!

Information on Churchill Downs Tours

I understand there are tours given at Churchill Downs. Do you know how long they last, do you need reservations, and the price of the tours ? We would also like to stay for at least one horse race. We will be visiting for one afternoon on Sunday June 21. Thank you.

Information on Churchill Downs Tours

A short walking tour of the grandstand is included in the price of admission to the Kentucky Derby Museum, adjacent to Gate 1 of Churchill Downs at 700 Central Ave. It%26#39;s $15.00 for adults, but it%26#39;s worth it. I haven%26#39;t taken the tour lately, but I remember it being somewhere in the neighborhood of a half an hour. If you want to go for the gusto, you can try a VIP tour through the museum, but they may not offer them during the live meet. Check the link below for that.

You%26#39;re in luck, there will be live racing that day.

That%26#39;s a separate admission charge, depending on where you want to go, but it%26#39;s nominal (1-3 dollars).

I%26#39;d be tempted to save the museum money for a few wagers...you can tour the place on your own between races.

I%26#39;m betting you%26#39;ll want to stay for a few more after watching one race.

http://www.derbymuseum.org/tours/index.html

http://www.churchilldowns.com/visit-us

Information on Churchill Downs Tours

Thank you very much for your quick reply. I will look at the links you provided.

Keeneland Breakfast with the Works 2009

My family would like to visit Keeneland and do the Breakfast with the Works. My children are ages 9 and 7 and they love horses. I%26#39;ve heard many wonderful things about Breakfast with the Works and I thought this April would be a perfect time to come and check it out. Can anyone suggest a family-friendly hotel nearby or is Exit 126 my best bet? My only concern is that those hotels seem to be a 25 minute drive to the race track and with the events beginning at 7 AM, I thought it might be difficult to get up and going that early. Is the Rodeway Inn near the track okay? How are the crowds generally during this event? We are considering April 17-19.

I%26#39;ve looked on the Keeneland website for more information but there is not much detail about the events. Do you think they will post a more detailed event schedule when the time gets closer? I%26#39;d like to know how early we really need to get there and how long we should plan to stay. I see that breakfast begins at 7 AM and races begin at 1 PM. Does anyone have an suggestions about this event - like ';must-do';? Also any other area suggestions would be great. I%26#39;ve been reading on this forum about the beautiful horse farm drives which we will definitely do. Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.

Keeneland Breakfast with the Works 2009

Well, the workouts actually start before 7 a.m. They start serving breakfast at 7 a.m., and it is a full deal hot breakfast.

You will not keep the kids entertained at Keeneland if you plan to stay for the first race.

That Rodeway Inn....no way. There really are no places to stay close to the track. The closest places are clustered at the New Circle Road/Harrodsburg Rd. (U.S. 68) intersection.

As suggestion would be to stay at the Hilton Suites at Lexington Green, at New Circle and Nicholasville Rd. The Lexington Green Mall is adjacent. Joseph Beth Booksellers is there, a huge bookstore with a great kids section. There is a large pond there with geese, ducks and Japanese carp. You can buy food from little dispensers for a quarter and let the kids feed the critters. That would occupy the kids between the Works and post time for the first race.

N O native-I take it that%26#39;s NOLA. I used to live in Gulfport and Pass Christian. Miss the food!!

Keeneland Breakfast with the Works 2009

Thanks for this information. So I guess that means the Breakfast with the Works doesn%26#39;t last all morning? Maybe until 10 AM? That means we could go and come back later for the races. I%26#39;m sure there is plenty to do in Lexington, we will not have any trouble filling our time. We are looking forward to it!

Yes, I am from New Orleans yet I don%26#39;t live there anymore. I miss the food too, so we head down to Mardi Gras for our annual trip and visit our favorite seafood dives.

You already got great information above, but I will weigh in that breakfast with the works is definitely worth it, but also that you will probably want to leave Keeneland and come back for the races. It is tough to get up that early but it is a unique experience. With kids, consider the Explorium downtown, Joseph Beth bookstore (more than just books!) Or if the weather is nice, Jacobson park has a great playground and paddleboats. as for hotels with kids some others to consider would be Downtown Lexington Hotel, the Hyatt downtown, or the Embassy Suites. They are all not far from Keeneland, the two downtown are near places to eat, etc. The Embassy Suites is nice because you get the extra room of the suite and it also isn%26#39;t far from Keeneland.

Hotels on Buena Vista...safe part of town?

Hi there,

Just wondering what anybody may know about the more inexpensive hotels listed for Buena Vista Drive in Lexington on many of the travel sites.

Other than Hollywood Hustler, is it in a safe part of town? Drug issues?

Thanks!!

Hotels on Buena Vista...safe part of town?

This is a safe area. On the other side of Winchester Rd is the Hamburg development. It is all pretty new and there is a lot of shopping and new residential. You can take Sir Barton Way from Winchester Rd, but you will see it because it stretches from Man O War to Winchester Rd. The main part is a lifestyle center type shopping center. On your side of Winchester Rd, there is not quite the same development, but it is certainly safe and I think there is a brand new Rite Aid, Cracker Barrel, Waffle House, Bob Evans, and several moderate / budget hotels.

Hotels on Buena Vista...safe part of town?

Yep, agreed with the above, it is a fine area, lots of places to eat, near shopping. I wouldn%26#39;t let Hustler scare you off, it is a safe area.

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I-75 info

Hi everyone

My family and I will be traveling through on our way to Florida for March Break and we were wondering how the roads are along that stretch. Thanks

I-75 info

Allow plenty of time! We took I-75 from Ohio to FLA during spring break one year, and it was like a parking lot the entire way.

I-75 info

Where in FL are you travelling to? I know 75 can be bad at times, but most of KY has now been 3 laned. There really are not a lot of other options unless you are travelling to the western part of the state in the panhandle and then you may another option.

There is some construction going on in the stretch between Cincinnati and Lexington. You can check http://511.ky.gov/ for fairly up to date construction and traffic alert information.

Thank you for your replies very much appreciated!! Actually I indicated March break but we are leaving in a few days. I did not realize there were so many cars on the road so thats good to know. Its our first time driving and just knowing up front what some of the road conditions are like make it abit more bearable. Thanks again! :)

Cabin Recommendations for Red River Gorge

Looking for recommendations on a cabin near RR Gorge. 2 adults, 3 kids. Looking for a nice place, clean, and roomy for our family. Prefer some level of seclusion, nice view.

Hard to tell from cabin websites what the area immediately around the cabin is like. (had a bad experience in Gatlinburg..our front yard was someones backyard with car on jacks, etc)

Flexible on timing in July/Aug, mid week or weekend..

Cabin Recommendations for Red River Gorge

I really don%26#39;t know much about the cabins in the gorge since I only live a half hour away and have never spent the night there in anything other than a tent. One option I do know of is staying at Natural Bridge State Park. They have a lodge and 1 and 2 Bdrm cabins. The cabins are part of the park so they are well taken care of and you won%26#39;t have to worry about cars on jacks in the backyard. The park offers some great hiking as well and is right next to the gorge so you%26#39;ll be able to enjoy both parks at the same time.

Cabin Recommendations for Red River Gorge

There are many cabins in that area. This is one of my all time favorite places to visit. We%26#39;ve used the company '; Shadow Mountain Mist Cabin Rental';. You can look them up on the web. Their cabins are excellent. Very secluded. Many have hot tubs and fire pits. Located within minutes of the Natural Bridge. I would recommend them. You won%26#39;t be dissapointed

Hi, We have the same size family as fivermillions %26amp; your information as been very helpful.

God Bless

the best cabin in the gorge and the whole wide world is

http://www.generalscabin.com/id1.html

it is perfect in every way

http://www.generalscabin.com/id1.html

best cabin in Red River Gorge area! by far

No! I am absolutely not the owners Joy and Mike! they are fantastic people and great INNKEEPERS though, My name is Lori and I am new to thissite. Sorry if I offended anyone by my multiple postings. I was not sure if I was responding to five different people or not. I just wanted to let people who may be looking for great accomodations in the Red River Gorge area that this is one of the Gorge%26#39;s best kept secrets! I have stayed at the General%26#39;s Cabin several times, always a fantastic time! if you want more information please let me know, globabgirl1960@yahoo.com or 859-533-3345.

I appreciate you clearing that up. I didn%26#39;t expect you to give all that info, but there are plenty of people who use forums to promote their properties. I appreciate your honesty and will take your recommendation seriously. Thanks.

My family has always stayed in ';Red River Gorgeous'; cabins - either the tall timbers cabin or white pines...tall timbers is bigger.

They are in the gorge past the nada tunnel, very secluded. They are primitive, no TV but the cabins are so cute and they have fridge, oven, stove, shower, the basics.

The owners are very friendly, that is the main reason we stay there and its very reasonably priced.

Most people can not afford the generals cabin, thats the most expensive place in the whole area to stay! But it is beautiful.

The General%26#39;s Cabin may be one of the most beautiful cabins in the area, but it is definitely not the most expensive. I just performed a search on-line, and found at least 4 other rentals that exceed their fee.

Things to do

What is there to do in Campbellsville, Ky?

Bourbon n' Toulouse Honey-Bourbon BBQ Sandwich

If you haven%26#39;t tried Bourbon n%26#39; Toulouse%26#39;s Honey-Bourbon BBQ sandwich then your are doing your self an injustice! This is the best sandwich that I have ever had. It is like no other BBQ I%26#39;ve ever tasted. Definitely gets my vote for best BBQ in Lexington...hands down!

Trails in Red River Gorge and NBSP

Exactly how dangerous are the trails in the Red River Gorge? I have read that the trails go along the sides of the cliffs but how close to the edge? Are we better off just hiking in NBSP?

Trails in Red River Gorge and NBSP

Some of the trails do go close to ledges but not all of them. Check out this site: www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/recreation/rogs.shtml. The hiking difficulty ratings are VERY accurate. I have only been on one trail that I felt nervous on. There are many trails that are family friendly and the scenery is well worth it. These trails won%26#39;t be as crowded as NBSP.

Trails in Red River Gorge and NBSP

If you stay ON the trails, and don%26#39;t go wandering off, you will be fine. Most of the people that get into trouble in the gorge are primitive campers who want to set up shop off the beaten path.

The Rock Bridge and Angel Windows trails in the the gorge are safe and beautiful, as is the Balanced Rock trial at Natural Bridge. Make sure to stop by Miguel%26#39;s Pizza.

Thanks for the info! This pizza place, is it in the park itself or near the entrance? Does it have a good variety?

Miguel%26#39;s is on the road between the gorge (Slade) and Natural Bridge. The pizza is excellent and it has a unique atmosphere. The owners allow rock climbers to pitch tents and camp behind the restaurant.

OK, I love the gorge and would spend every weekend there if possible. I took my neice and nephew (ages 7 and 9) a week or so ago and we did the Auxier Ridge trail with them (a total of maybe four miles). There are serious drop offs, but understand, I%26#39;m terrified of heights! I wouldn%26#39;t do anything I saw as life-threatening. I think It%26#39;s totally worth the trip. And you do need to stop at Miquel%26#39;s. The pizza doesn%26#39;t get better. If you%26#39;re looking for more selection, go to the lodge at Natural Bridge. Don%26#39;t miss Nada tunnel and the suspension bridge. And if you need fire wood- go see Red!

I prefer the lady in the green trailer. On past Reds place.

The Monarchs Dance / Valentines Day

Hello All!! My husband and I are trying to plan something fun for Valentines Day. We have dinner reservations at Napa River Grille, but we are looking for something to do afterwards (have to take advantage of the all-night babysitter!). We were thinking about going to the Monarch%26#39;s Dance. Anyone ever been to one before? What are they like? What is the average age group there? Anyone have a better idea of something to do?

The Monarchs Dance / Valentines Day

The Monarchs are 50s and 60s music, so expect an older crowd

The Monarchs Dance / Valentines Day

Yes, it%26#39;s an older crowd. They do 50%26#39;s and 60%26#39;s music.They do this annually and pull a big crowd. If you like that kind of music, you%26#39;ll have a great time. They work hard and put on a good show. Average age of the crowd will be 50-65.

Ok, I think we might feel a little out of place here. Any other ideas?

We decided to go ahead and go to the Monarch%26#39;s Dance - it was a blast!! Even though we are both rhythmless, we boogied to every song!

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Thrift and antique stores

Any recommendations for great thrift stores? I like to dig around and love the 60%26#39;s / 70%26#39;s eras. Thanks!

Thrift and antique stores

You%26#39;re in luck. There are tons of them in Louisville.

Unique Thrift Store - Near 22nd St exit of I-64 just west of downtown is probably the largest thrift store in the area. Before vintage resale caught on, it%26#39;s where we bought all of our jeans (for $2-$3).

Joe Ley Antiques - On East Market St. downtown is huge and probably the most well-known. I haven%26#39;t been there in years, but they used to put the prices of items in code which was a little annoying. Not sure if they still do that. There are also a number of shops %26amp; galleries near Joe Ley%26#39;s that you may also want to check out while you%26#39;re there. http://www.joeley.com/

The Louisville Antique Mall - On East Broadway is also massive and a 2 minute drive from Joe Ley%26#39;s. They also has a cafe on site.

http://www.louisvilleantiquemall.com/

About 3 blocks east of the Louisville Antique Mall, Broadway runs into Baxter Ave./Bardstown Rd. Just head south (i.e. turn right) and stick to the main road. Baxter turns into Bardstown Rd. %26amp; you%26#39;ll pass all sorts of unique little shops for the next 2-3 miles.

There%26#39;s also several vintage resale shops

within a 2-3 block area right by Lynn%26#39;s Paradise Cafe. http://www.lynnsparadisecafe.com/

I can%26#39;t remember all the shops, but The Nitty Gritty Vintage Shop is on the corner. You can really get your 60%26#39;s and 70%26#39;s on there.

http://nittygrittyvintage.com/

The Deal is a few doors down. They seem to specialize in 1950%26#39;s and 60%26#39;s items.

The Goss Avenue Antique Mall is located in the Germantown area. (About 5-7 minutes drive from Lynn%26#39;s area) I haven%26#39;t been there in awhile. I noticed that there is new management. I%26#39;m assuming that the mall itself is still operating as usual.

http://www.gossantiques.com/

Also, there%26#39;s a 3-4 block corridor along Frankfort Ave. that has a number of antique store %26amp; resale places. There%26#39;s definitely one or two that seem to specialize in 50%26#39;s - 70%26#39;s. They are in the 2000 block of Frankfort. Very close to Cafe Classico. Which would be a good launch point. I understand they have great panini%26#39;s and Belgian style fries. http://www.caffe-classico.com/

I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;m forgeting lots of places, but the list above could keep you busy for a couple of days. If you follow the order I%26#39;ve listed them above, you shouldn%26#39;t spend too much time in the car.

Best of luck. Hope you find something good.

Thrift and antique stores

After all that, I just realized that you didn%26#39;t ask about antique stores. Oops. I guess I got carried away. Definitely check out Unique Thrift and Nitty Gritty for your 60%26#39;s/70%26#39;s stuff.

Moving to Bowling Green

My husband and I are considering moving to Bowling Green from Wisconsin. I would appreciate any feedback on things people like about living in BG and things that may be difficult for a newcomer. I have noticed the cost of living seems very low--but so do the salaries! Thank you!

Moving to Bowling Green

I live about 90 minutes from BG, and think it is a very nice town and the home of WKU. You%26#39;re right about the cost of living - AND the salaries. I think what you%26#39;d like best is the difference in the weather between here and Wisconsin (with the exception of this past week!!!)

Moving to Bowling Green

A little more info would be helpful.

Why are you moving to BG?

What is your age range?

Family size?

Like Sports, University Life?

Buying or Renting?

Long rang plans?

What do you do for recreation?

I lived in BG for 35 years and still have strong ties to the community.

Give us some background and we will provide some objective information.

Thanks!!

This website is going to be fussing about us talking about moving to Bowling Green, since this is a site about travel.

But I%26#39;ll go ahead and give you my two cents.

I am native to Kentucky, but studied out of state and travel some throughout the world.

I absolutely LOVE Bowling Green.

For its size, you cannot find a more diverse and open-minded city. Nearly half of the people who live in BG are not from here. You will meet people from all over the world. Everyone realizes that there is a larger world in which we live.

There are lots of great restaurants with lots of diversity. Nashville is only an hour away by car, and Louisville is less than 2 hours. Both have good airports and many cultural and other offerings.

If you want more info, send a message to me directly, and I would be more than happy to provide more info.

Driving Route from Chicago

Heading down your way in late March, driving from Chicago. In the past, I%26#39;ve driven past Indy, to Louisville, then over to Lexington. Now Mapquest is telling me to go to from Indy to Cinci area, then down to Lexington. Per Mapquest, the difference is maybe just a few miles and minutes. Any opinions as to which route is preferable?

Driving Route from Chicago

Whenever I make the trip to chicago I almost always go through Louisville and Indy.

Driving Route from Chicago

I always go through Louisville, too. Traffic around Cinci can be pretty bad.

Definitely through Louisville.

Just to add to the others...I have always gone through Louisville also. I cannot think of anyone that does Cincy.

There isn%26#39;t a tremendous difference in time between the Indy/Louisville route and the Indy/Cincy route. My sister lives in Carmel, IN and I vary which route I take (depending on if I want to hit the outlets in Edinburgh, IN) and it does save a little time getting to her house to go through Cincinnati because I-74 dumps you out a little farther north on 465. However, there is some construction on I-75 in NKY that can slow you down, so I generally prefer the Louisville route.

Thanks everyone.

Steakhouse recommendation for bachelor party

Coming to Louisville Derby weekend with a group of 12 for a bachelor party. Could anyone recommend a good steakhouse with private rooms? Preferably in an area with lots of bars to hit afterwards. Thanks

Listings for live music?

Is there a website or some central listing that lists all the upcoming live music at clubs/bars/etc ? For the Lexington/Versailles/Midway area? Thanks!

Listings for live music?

I usually go to wwww.pollstar.com. You may also want to try www.topsinlex.com and www.lexgo.com

makeup tutorial

Steakhouse for Bachelor Party

Coming to Louisville Derby weekend with a group of 12 for a bachelor party. Can anyone recommend a good steakhouse that has private rooms -- preferably in an area with lots of bars to hit afterwards.

Steakhouse for Bachelor Party

Derby weekend is going to tough, maybe if you called now and got reservations. Check out Jeff Ruby%26#39;s or Morton%26#39;s- both are downtown. near 4th street live.Good Luck!

Steakhouse for Bachelor Party

Try these. And call about your reservations today. Many places have already booked up for Derby weekend.

Jeff Ruby%26#39;s

Pat%26#39;s Steakhouse (has a private areas upstairs)

Ruth%26#39;s Chris

If above mentioned don%26#39;t work out, try ';Avalon'; or ';Jarfi%26#39;s';. They aren%26#39;t steakhouses, but I believe they still have availability and they%26#39;re both very near lots of bars %26amp; pubs. Both have steak on the menu.

Avalon (I think they have private areas. Also has a great outdoor dining area)

http://www.avalonfresh.com/index.html

Jarfi%26#39;s (Definitely has a private area)

http://www.jarfis.com/

I agree, it%26#39;s going to be nearly impossible to do that weekend. Even if you do, most places will have a limited ';Derby menu'; which will give you a few selections at an inflated price. Be sure to ask when you make reservations.

Day spa in Lexington?

I am coming to Lexington next month and will have a half day free. Thinking I%26#39;ll treat myself to a massage and facial. I%26#39;m staying at the Marriott Griffin Gate, which has a spa, but wanted to see if any locals or previous travelers had recommendations for other salons around town. Thanks!

Day spa in Lexington?

I have never been to the Mariott spa, so I cannot compare, but the Posh Salon and Spa on Richmond road is relaxing and they can schedule you for half-day treatments. I have gone on for mani-pedi, massage and facial before and they scheduled them back to back, had water and it was nice!

Day spa in Lexington?

LOL, sorry meant to say had SNACKS and water. :)

There are a lot to choose from and I don%26#39;t have a lot of personal experience in this area, but I have heard good things about Joli. It is off Versailles Rd, but I cannot think of the name of the street it is on.

Here is their website if you want to check it out....

http://www.jolidayspa.com/

Thanks for the advice! I checked out the websites reviews on Posh and Joli and both look nice and are on my short list of probables. I%26#39;ve thrown in a place called Be Medispa too in case I decide to go nuts and get a serious peel or something. Definitely going to venture away from the hotel for my ';me time.'; Soooo looking forward to this trip.

I like The Massage Center in Dudley Square. It%26#39;s the only one in town I%26#39;ve been to. www.themassagecenter.org

Restaurant tax in Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown has a very large variety of restaurants for a city of its size. Motorists on I-65 will find most of these at exit #94.

Note, an extra tax is placed on restaurant and deli purchases, and then a state sales tax is levied on top of that. Folks on a budget may choose to drive on to Bowling Green to the south, or Louisville to the north, where no such taxes are levied.

Restaurant tax in Elizabethtown

The ';extra tax'; that is mentioned is 2 cents on the dollar. Pocket change for convenience!

KY Artisan Center in Berea - worth a drive from Lexington?

I%26#39;m going to be in Lexington for a couple of days in March and one of the days is free after around 2:00. I%26#39;ll have a car and could make it down to Berea for some Kentucky craft shopping at the Artisan Center. But is it worth it? I%26#39;d say if I%26#39;m in the craft market I%26#39;d probably want some cool and unique horse racing related items... could I probably get my fill of those types of crafts in Lexington or would I hit the mothership by going down to the Artisan Center?

KY Artisan Center in Berea - worth a drive from Lexington?

I was just in the Artisan Center twice in the past week, and I don%26#39;t remember seeing a huge selection of racing related crafts. However, the Artisan Center and downtown Berea are both very interesting places to explore for other Kentucky crafts. The Artisan Center leans toward pottery and glassware. They have a nice selection of Kentucky foods (jams, jellies, sauces, mixes, etc.) and a good selection of CDs by Kentucky musicians. A visit to the Artisan Center and downtown Berea is well worth your time, if you want to spend an afternoon looking at quality crafts. While in Lexington, you might check Artique at the Mall at Lexington Green for horse and racing related items.

KY Artisan Center in Berea - worth a drive from Lexington?

I%26#39;d say it%26#39;s definitely worth a trip. It%26#39;s one of the finest state-run collections of handmade items I know of. It%26#39;s very similar to The Tamarack in Beckley West Virginia (in case you%26#39;ve been there). They have all sorts of handmade items. Some may be of horses and horse racing but not the majority. If you just hit (racing-related) souvenier shops in Lexington, you%26#39;d be missing out on a lot of very nice fine art. It%26#39;s definitely the mothership for crafts and art, just not a mothership for horse racing related items, although there may be a few of those items.

For racing related things definitely check out Keeneland%26#39;s gift shop. Plus you get to see the track and the grounds, that%26#39;s definitely worth the trip! They have a wonderful selection.

The Artisan Center is nice and it%26#39;s only 45 minutes away.

You can also go to the gift shop at the Kentucky Horse Park without paying the Park%26#39;s admission fee. Parking there is also free. It%26#39;s just off I-75 a few miles north of downtown. They, of course, have a lot of racing related items, plus the park itself is a thorough learning experience of racing plus you get to meet some past champions, Cigar, Da Hoss, John Henry, etc.

Kentucky derby '09

Considering going to the Kentucky Derby this year and making about a 5-6 day trip of it. I was not sure if we should stay right in Louisville or stay in Lexington or elsewhere and drive in for the Derby. Any recommendations? Looking for interesting activities, good restaurants and don%26#39;t mind shopping. Thanks

Kentucky derby '09

The drive from Lex to Louisville takes 60 to 90 minutes depending upon where you stay. Not a big deal driving up in the morning, but may present a problem on the drive back if you have a bunch of Mint Juleps during Derby.

I wonder if some of the Lexington hotels offer Derby packages that would include some sort of transportation (bus or van) back %26amp; forth to the Derby. Might be worth checking into.

If you would prefer to stay in Louisville, I think you could find something. But it may cost quite a bit more since I hear that the area hotels raise their rates for Derby weekend and require three night minimums etc.

Also be sure to check hotels in New Albany and Clarksville, Indiana. Both cities are just across the river from downtown Louisville and would only be a 10 to 20 minute drive. Shelbyville, KY may be another option. It%26#39;s about a 25 minute drive.

When checking on availability, I think you%26#39;ll do better to call the hotels directly. Instead of just searching online. Many hotels are already booked up for Derby 2009, so you%26#39;ll need to start checking immediately.

If it were me, I%26#39;d try to stay in or around Louisville (or Southern Indiana) during Derby weekend. There%26#39;s a lot going on and it would be a shame to come all this way and not take full advantage. You could always split the trip and spend a couple of days in Lexington after the Derby.

If you can%26#39;t find a flight into Louisville International Airport, check Cincinnati, OH and/or Lexington, KY. Either airport would be a quick hour drive.

My last bit of advice is to make your Derby dining reservations now. Some of the more popular places are probably already booked. Check http://www.opentable.com/start.aspx?m=43

These restaurants all show availability. They are all very good.

Palermo Viejo (Argentian steakhouse)

Avalon (Contemporary)

Asiatique (Asian)

Caf茅 Lou Lou (New Orleans/Italian)

For me. Jack Fry%26#39;s would be the Holy Grail of reservations to get for Derby, but Louisville has tons of great restaurants.

Note: I don%26#39;t think Jack Fry%26#39;s is on OpenTable.com. You%26#39;d have to call them directly.

http://www.jackfrys.com/

Good luck.

Trip Advice - Oct 09

Coming in for a quick in and out on a weekend - early October....

Wanted to run my plan by some of you and see what advise you have.....

We have a 3 yo and a 7 yo - the 7yo is very athletic, so not worried about her. 3 yo we hike with, but she%26#39;s normally in a kelty carrier - which I understand aren%26#39;t permitted...

Coming from the south - thinking about staying at Wigwam Village - for nostalgia...

Get in Friday - check in - thought about hitting Mammoth Visitors Center -

Have Dinner that evening - maybe Joe%26#39;s Dinner - sticking with the whole route 66 theme...

get up, check out and head to the cave --

torn between either the New Entrance Tour or the Historic Tour. Distance seems about right for our family.

Any advice - on bet tour with little ones? Is there a better family dining option? Hotel ok?

We are heading out on Saturday after the tour - so this is a quick in and out, not alot of time to do other stuff in the area....

I appreciate your advice

Trip Advice - Oct 09

Let me preface this by saying it%26#39;s been 4 years since we%26#39;ve been to the Mammoth Cave area. We did stay at Wigwam Village. The pro%26#39;s of that were the grounds. The wigwams are in a semi-circle around a nice open play area. It had a real ';Ozzie and Harriet'; nostalgia to it. The downside was that the beds were terribly uncomfortable. Hopefully they%26#39;ve replaced the mattresses by now though.

I can%26#39;t remember the two tours you mention but one more that was perfect for younger kids was at Ky Down Under. They have a cave that you walk all the way through and it took about 45 minutes. The rest of this park is okay but a little hokey. The kids seemed to enjoy it though. Another thing that kids that ranged from 3-12 all loved is Dino World. Again it%26#39;s hokey to us adults but even the older kids can%26#39;t get enough of it.

I don%26#39;t recall eating anywhere very good when we were there so I%26#39;m sorry I can%26#39;t help with that.

Trip Advice - Oct 09

We had a great time in Mammoth in summer of 2007. We took both of the tours you mention--however, we spent 2 days here. We took the Historic tour the day we arrived,and the next morning we took the New Entrance tour. Both tours are great, but I%26#39;d go with the New Entrance tour based on the size of the kids. The 7 year old would do fine on either one, but there%26#39;s a section of the Historic Tour called Fat Man%26#39;s Misery/Tall Man%26#39;s Misery. Tall Man%26#39;s misery requires tour participants to crouch down low for about 50 feet or so. (thus explaining why carriers aren%26#39;t allowed). It might be scary for the 3 year old. It also requires climbing a tall metal tower at the end. I believe there were about 130 steps or so. To me, it was no biggee, but I%26#39;m not sure how the youngster would fare. Our daughter was 9 when we did the tour, and she loved it.

The New Entrance Tour is shorter and allows you to view the few formations that Mammoth has in its Drapery Room. There%26#39;s not quite as much ';challenging terrain.'; If you want an even shorter tour, you can do the Frozen Niagara or Focus on Formations Tours. Once again, these emphasize the Drapery Room, which is really lovely. The New Entrance Tour, however, will allow you to travel through some of Mammoth%26#39;s huge tunnels.

I would not stay at the Wigwam. We passed it and I didn%26#39;t get a good vibe on it. We stayed at the newer Comfort Inn %26amp; Suites in Cave City right next to the Cracker Barrel. This is a good place with the small fry. We also liked the Sahara Steak House, but it is probably not as kid friendly as a place like Cracker Barrel. Our daughter liked the Sahara, but she%26#39;s not really a picky eater. I know how some kids are.

My final words of advice: since you are on a relatively tight schedule, get advance reservations for your tour, especially on a Saturday. The tours do sell out quickly, and many can be disappointed, especially during peak season. Have a great time!

For a 3 year old, I%26#39;d recommend against the Historic tour. If it%26#39;s raining on the outside, you can have some wet spots inside the cave. Plus, it%26#39;s a fairly strenuous walk, and there are a couple of spots where tour participants must walk one by one. I%26#39;d recommend the New Entrance Tour, or the Frozen Niagara tour.

In October, you should not have trouble getting on a tour, as is the case in summer. That said, be sure to check the park website to see which tours are available at the time you are going. Not all tours are offered year round, and if maintenance is planned on a specific route, the tour is closed.

If you want a very Kentucky experience, I suggest eating at the Pig Diner in Pig. It isn%26#39;t far from the park.

lip plumper

Best Hotel I 75

My freind will traveling south on I75 and pulling a travel traler. They nedd a good hotel in the Covington, Ky area

Best Hotel I 75

There%26#39;s a nice Hampton Inn right at I-75 and the river. I don%26#39;t know about the parking situation though, but a call to the hotel would let you know how they could park a trailer.

What's a must-see Mammoth Cave Tour?

There are so many different tours I%26#39;m not sure which is the one that I have to see. It%26#39;s just me and my husband and we%26#39;re open to any one of the tours for however long (although the Wild Cave Tour seems a tad long.) Any suggestions? Has anyone done the Intro to Caving tour?

What's a must-see Mammoth Cave Tour?

We did the Niagra Tour. Lots of rooms and hallways with ordinary rock. Not really all that many interesting formations, maybe 2 or 3 rooms had them. Certainly no Carlsbad Caverns. I think the other popular tour is the Historic Tour. I haven%26#39;t been on any except the Niagra. I think the locals one of the private caves was better. I don%26#39;t remember the name, something like Diamond cave or Crystal cave or something like that - ask a local person for their favorite cave (although a surprising number of them haven%26#39;t ever been in ANY of the caves!)

What's a must-see Mammoth Cave Tour?

I took my 11 and 15 yr old on the Grand Avenue Tour. We loved it- also stopped for lunch in the ';Snowball Room'; Our tour guide was in his 70%26#39;s and in great shape. You have opportunities to rest, for those who weren%26#39;t in great shape, they could stop at benches along the way. ABSOLUTELY book your tour ahead of time! They fill up, and if you wait till you get there, you might not get in.

We took the historic tour, it took about 2 hours. It was very interesting, the vastness of the caverns are amazing. There was not alot of stalagtites or stalagmites on this tour, We have not been to alot of caves. but we enjoyed the tour and the coolness of the cave, it was a very hot day.

I am interested in your replys - I an taking my 12 years son to Mammoth cave in April and would like to try the Intro to caving tour. Did you take that tour? Also - where did you stay?

As far as I%26#39;m concerned, the only place worth staying at down there is the Hampton Inn in Horse Cave. The other hotels in Cave City can%26#39;t compare - read the reviews. It%26#39;s just one exit north of the Cave City / park exit. Don%26#39;t stay in Cave City.

Has any one stayed in the park? Also I am going to the cave in May with my boyfriend. Have never been to caves before. We will be there Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

We didn%26#39;t stay in the park, but we did stay in Cave City at the newer Comfort Inn %26amp; Suites next to the Cracker Barrel. The suites are quite large and were a good value for the money. Cave City is only about 15 minutes away from the cave. Have a great trip!

Any suggestions on which caves? Was thinking about Wild Cave.....

If you are in very good physical condition and don%26#39;t mind crawling, tight places, etc., then by all means, go for it. That%26#39;s not for me, as I am not a spelunker.

When we visited, we did the Historic and New Entrance Tours. They were both excellent; the rangers do such a great job in guiding you through. Mammoth is not known for its formations; the new formations that the cave has can be seen in the New Entrance Tour and the shorter Frozen Niagara and Focus on Formations tours. Another option might be the Grand Avenue Tour. It%26#39;s about 4.5 hours and 4 miles long. You stop for lunch at what they call the Snowball Room. There%26#39;s actually a lunch area down there. From what I have read, the food isn%26#39;t all that great, but I%26#39;m sure it%26#39;s neat to have lunch inside.

All of the tours are described in detail at nps.gov under the Mammoth Cave section. They range in all levels of difficulty. You can make advance reservations at recreation.gov, which is helpful if you are on a tight schedule or going at a peak time.

Have fun!

I did end up doing the Intro to Caving Tour which I thought was really fun. I also did the Historical Tour. The Intro to Caving Tour was more of an active tour-you don%26#39;t see a lot of scenic parts of the cave but you learn a lot of the caves and get to see it underground. The Wild Cave tour seemed a bit long but I%26#39;m sure if you are up for a challenge it would be good. They passed us by and it looked like 1 woman and 5 guys that were breathing heavy. The Intro to Cave tour had more of a mixed crowd (college students, few adults, adults with pre-teen kids (boys, actually.)

Mammoth Cave Nat'l Park Storm Damage Update

Does anyone know how much damage the park sustained from January %26#39;09 ice storm and how the clean up is going?

Is there ANYTHING else to do in this area besides the cave tours?

Do you recommend camping (tent) or renting a cabin at the park? Looks like there aren%26#39;t many other options. If you have any suggestions at all, they would be appreciated. Thinking of 2-3 day trip to the park in early May %26#39;09.

thanks all......

Mammoth Cave Nat'l Park Storm Damage Update

You could stay in nearby Cave City. It%26#39;s only about 15 minutes away. We liked the newer Comfort Inn %26amp; Suites next to the Cracker Barrel. The suites were very large and a good value. Breakfast is included and is a nice money saver.

I haven%26#39;t heard anything on any damage, but I%26#39;m sure the locals are more familiar.

Have a good trip!

Mammoth Cave Nat'l Park Storm Damage Update

Not nearly as much damage at the park as in other parts of the state. Right now, most of the park south of the Green River is in good shape. The trails north of the river, however, are a different matter.

The Mammoth Cave website gives up-to-date info. http://www.nps.gov/maca/emergency_update.htm

There is a hotel at the park. Cabins and campgrounds are open. A few hotels nearby, as well. Weather has been eratic this year, with some unseasonably warm weather followed by winter storms.

What other activities are you looking for? Bowling Green has the Corvette Museum, Horse Cave has the caving museum.

Well I live right here at the park and it is obvious when driving thru that there is quite a bit of damage. Looking down into the woods...there are tons of trees down. Across the ferry there are spots where it looks as if a bomb went off. The clean up is still in progress but I don%26#39;t see how they will EVER get it all cleaned up.

Besides the cave tours, there are places that you can ride horses if you like that. Also, another popular activity is the canoe rentals nearby and canoeing the Green River.

If you really want to camp, I would suggest making the trek across the river on the ferry and drive to Nolin Lake State Park. Very easy to find. There is a wonderful small, quiet campground there on the lake with all the facilities, spots with water, electric, there is a bathhouse, beach, there are also primitive camping spots there and you can camp right on the shoreline. From the visitor center in the park, it is only about 10- 12 miles. It is worth the drive. We love it there. Never camped right in Mammoth Cave park....i don%26#39;t think they have much to offer. Just let me know if you want directions. Hope that helps!

Wedding June 12

Want to find places on the water local to get married. Or a pretty place outside that can meet my cheap budget. Thanks for all help and suggestions.

Wedding June 12

Hi. I am a musician and play many, many weddings. There are lots of ways to save money. Getting married on a Sunday is usually cheaper. Use baskets of baby%26#39;s breath for decorations and buy them wholesale. I used a cake maker who had won blue ribbons at the State Fair. My cake was beautiful, delicious and cheap.

Now for venues. First, when getting married outside, you need a back up plan if the weather does not cooperate. Kingfish has a second floor party room with a beautiful view of the river. A few decorations and the place is lovely. Captain%26#39;s Quarter%26#39;s will also provide a place and a tent if necessary. The Water Tower on Zorn. The Belle of Louisville%26#39;s smaller sister ship, The Spirit of Jefferson is a great place to marry and have reception. Ditto for Captain Quarter%26#39;s yacht, the CQ Princess. However, if I were to do it all again, I think I%26#39;d have it at the Richwood Plantation in Milton, KY. Right on the river, a huge reception room, quiet peaceful and beautiful. Just gorgeous.

www.kentuckybb.com/prop_listings.asp…

Another stunner is the Rosemont Inn in Vevay, In.

rosemont-inn.com/pages/…grounds-index.php

There are a couple of places over in Jeffersonville as well, google B%26amp;Bs and search. Here%26#39;s a link to other special places, including the gorgeous Otter Creek Park

louisvilleky.gov/ipl/…22.htm

Wedding June 12

Earlier this fall I attended a wedding at Riverside, The Farnsley-Moreman Landing, at 7410 Moorman Road.

The ceremony took place in an open area. The reception took place a few hundred feet away in an outdoor pavilion. The Ohio River forms the backdrop next to the historic home, creating some wonderful photo opportunities. Although I%26#39;m not sure how much it costs, I imagine the couple was trying to stick to a tight budget.

Just a heads up, Schadky, that Otter Creek Park IS a beautiful location, but it seems it will probably be CLOSED in the next few months (due to budget restraints). You might want to touch base with the Louisville Convention Bureau and see if they can suggest other places on the water that won%26#39;t cost an arm and a leg.

That is true! I didn%26#39;t notice before that it said June 12. YIKES! Some places are booked 2 years in advance. If you could possibly do a Sunday wedding on the 14th, you may save a bundle. Just something to consider. Also, you might want to place an ad in LEO Magazine, as there may be someone with a private residence or such for a ceremony and then hold the reception elsewhere.

This may be over your budget, but the Water Tower @ Zorn and River Rds. is a pretty neat place. Here%26#39;s a link.

www.louisvillevisualart.org/rental.html#Rates

Farnsley-Moreman is also very cool and may be more affordable.

You may also be able to get married at Carrie Gaulbert Cox park, off River Rd. just north of the Water Tower. It may be the cheapest option of all, as I can%26#39;t find any cost associated with that location, unless you wish to rent a shelter.

www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/default.htm

There%26#39;s a public viewing area with small concrete benches overlooking the boat launch ramp and dock, and more area downstream from that spot that could work for a wedding.

Thanks for all the help everyone! The date is Aug. 08 09!

Check in to the star of Louisville, My son was married on the boat. it was wonderful !!!

One price, dJ, cake, food, cruse all included.

The Star of Louisville has air conditioning, too!

Looks like the wedding is taking place at the glass works roof top. The reception at a comunity center. We are now looking for who can marry us.