Trip to Paducah

My friend and I moved to Missouri last year from the east coast. I always am looking for things to do. I have come across a bus trip from Missouri to the Quilting Show next week. Well I am only somewhat interested in quilting, but am always up for adventure. It of course will be a long day. we will be on our own for the day. Can anyone tell me if there is anything of interest by the convention center? Nice shops, historic places, eateries? I don%26#39;t want to go if we will be confined only to the convention center. Can anyone offer insight? thanks. We will be on foot of course once we arrive

Trip to Paducah

If you%26#39;re not interested in quilting, I%26#39;m not sure this would be a good trip for you, unless you want to rent a car when you get there and explore more of West KY. You might want to check this out to see if any of it looks interesting to you

tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g39725-Paducah_Kentu…

bluegrass festival --places to saty

Has anyone been to the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Festival in Racine? Where would be the best place to stay in that area? Even 54-50 miles away. It is the first week of October each year.

Thank you.

bluegrass festival --places to saty

Sorry, it is Rosine, not Racine.

bluegrass festival --places to saty

Rosine in in a rural area. Closest Hotels are going to be in Beaver Dam area about 9 miles away. Owensboro would be my choice. It is the 3rd largest city in the state of KY but really not a big a city.

Owensboro KY has several Hotel chains and is about 38 miles away and has lots of places to eat. Every kind of food anyone would want can be found in Owensboro.

There is a Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn, and a Fairfield Inn within blocks of each other and also within blocks of many of the Restaurants. These are right off the 60 By-Pass and easy to find.

If you stay in Owensboro try to eat once at The Moonlite. It is a BBQ place with a large Buffet of home cooking and is very good. http://www.moonlite.com/

Up the road from the Moonlite is a Holiday Inn Express.

This is one of those times I wish TripAdvisor would let you edit your post. I see my mistakes and want to change them. Oh well I think you can figure it out.

Red River Gorge / Natural Bridge

We are planning a few days getaway to the area in mid May 2009 and wandering what shape the trails are in. Any damage from last year%26#39;s storms?

Also any advice on cabins or chalets in the area?

Thanks

Red River Gorge / Natural Bridge

I am posting a link to a cabin that I stayed in for a girlfriend get a way weekend. It was great! Beautiful view. It was very quiet and clean. It%26#39;s very close to Miguel%26#39;s. If you%26#39;re not familiar with Miguel%26#39;s it is renowned for its pizza. Natural Bridge is very close as are lots of hiking trails.

http://www.nbcabins.com/hickoryridge.php

Red River Gorge / Natural Bridge

Thanks LG, I%26#39;ll check out their cabins. Sounds like we%26#39;ll have to give Miguel%26#39;s a shot.

check out my web site www.redriverclimbing.com its the biggest red site on the web. We can anser any questions you may have.

Bringing food to the Derby

I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;m overthinking this but I have a few questions about bringing food in to the Derby. Does the bag with food in it HAVE to be clear or will a regular colored grocery bag work? Does the food itself have to be in a clear bag/box or could we do Subway sandwiches wrapped in white paper? Finally, I see that there is a Kroger near Churchill Downs. Is it so close that streets will be closed off or otherwise inaccessible? See- I told you I was probably overthinking this but we went last year and the hot dog I ate on Oaks day was horrendous and on Derby day I waited 30 minutes for a roast beef sandwich. Thanks for your help!

Bringing food to the Derby

Any and everything you bring in must be in clear plastic, either a zip loc bag or a clear boxed lunch container.

No you cannot use regular grocery bags. Nothing wrapped in white paper. Guards have to be able to see it. No boxes, even unopened, dump it into plastic bag.

Bringing food to the Derby

Not sure which Kroger near Churchill you%26#39;re looking at. None of the streets are literally ';closed off';, but the traffic is such that they might as well be. You can always walk through the traffic.

Were you thinking about leaving the track to try to make a ';sandwich run'; to Kroger %26amp; then re-enter? That%26#39;s not really possible. I don%26#39;t think they allow re-entry.

I would advise that you bring food from somewhre along your way to the track. Don%26#39;t try to make a food stop anywhere close to the track traffic jam.

There are local places that provide box lunches. At least they did in the past before 9-11 when things became more locked down. They might even know the rules for how your boxed lunches need to be packaged for Derby. Here are some places to check.....

Ermin%26#39;s Bakery (Old Louisville location)

http://www.erminsbakery.com/

The Cheddar Box

http://thecheddarbox.com/box-lunch.html

The Third Ave. Cafe

http://www.thirdavecafe.com/

Burger%26#39;s Market (I suggest the fried chicken sandwich)

(502) 454-0461

Stevens %26amp; Stevens Deli

http://www.stevensandstevensdeli.com/

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips! I asked about the Kroger near Churchill Downs because we%26#39;re staying near the airport and I was thinking we could hit Kroger before parking at the stadium. Worse case scenario- we%26#39;ll hit Subway and transfer the sandwiches to big zip lock bags. Thanks again!

FYI! The cooler restriction is OFF this year for the infield. I believe they can be brought through gate 1 (but someone confirm that.) Its well worth brining a little hand cooler with a sandwich in a clear plastic bag.

I myself usually have a decent breakfast and bourbon for lunch. :)

Derby camping at Expo 5

Hi all heading down to the Derby to experience the infield festivites for the first time with some buddies and was wodering if any has ever camped here before. I%26#39;m getting ready to mail a check but the form looks like a gradeschooler put it together. It%26#39;s only $125 which we decided wasn%26#39;t bad at all but I don%26#39;t want us to get there and we show up just for them to stiff us. I couldn%26#39;t find any reviews online and was wondering if anyone has stayed there or knows anyone that has and could just reassure that its a good place to crash. I could care less about what they offer just need a picece of land to collapse on at the end of the day.

Here%26#39;s the website: http://www.expofive.com/reservations.html

They claim their only 7 blocks away any input would be GREAT!!! Thanks in advance.

Derby camping at Expo 5

I found this link on hotbytes:

wineloverspage.com/forum/鈥?/a>

What I expected....not a great area, but it seems legit and you will be close. btw....the area around Churchill Downs is not so great, that%26#39;s why you don%26#39;t find hotels and nice restaurants there. I think this sounds fine for your plans, though. Have a great time!

Derby camping at Expo 5

You%26#39;ll have fun camping! I%26#39;ve camped in Expo. It is a total mess though, particularly if it rains a bit. But its the best deal going for Derby and if you are down for being a bit funky...by all means, have a blast. Then again, there are guys there in tents doing the port-o-potty thing!

Yeah, we went through the same worries, but it was cool. You can walk it to the track no problem. Or the shuttle bus on the other end of the expo center will take you there quick but it will cost you $10. I%26#39;m assuming you are going to the infield. So be aware that the bus lets you off at gate 1 and you have to walk back to gate 3 if you have chairs. Its not a big deal, but for that you may want to walk the 15-20 mins each way and save the $10 pp for bus fare. Its Derby weekend, and there are 150,000 (usually drunk) people in the same place, thats just what it is. Stay a little flexible and keep a good sense of humor. I%26#39;m always ready to hoof it. Just makes sense. (think of it this way, at least its not the Preakness infield!)

Good luck. Enjoy Derby! Hit a big triple and stuff the money in your sock!

need help picking a hotel

My 17 yr old daughter and I are planning on comeing April 24, to april 29 (for the Barbaro Memeorial). I%26#39;ve already booked our rooms at the Seelbach but have changed my mind because we can%26#39;t really afford $200 a night. So I%26#39;m torn between the Hyatt Regency (I figure my daughter would like that one) or the Holiday Inn Airport East because we also want to go to the zoo and a couple malls.

I would greatly value any help and opinions.

Thank you.

Katie

need help picking a hotel

Hi Katie! You are right in the midst of pre-Derby activities and you should book NOW. I agree about the Seelbach, too $$$ and you%26#39;ll deal with downtown traffic and parking money. You are driving, right? The Barbaro event is at Churchill Downs. I have stayed at the Holiday Inn when we lost our power. It is very convenient to the Malls, zoo, race track and downtown. It has a bit of wear, but it%26#39;s not dirty or rundown at all. The plus side is that there%26#39;s no parking fee. There are not many restaurants around the property, but you are only a couple miles from plenty of places. I think you will be happy there. i remember the staff was very friendly and you have direct access to the Expressway.

need help picking a hotel

Thank you sooo much for your help!! We are flying in from Wa state. So we would be relying on cabs. Will that make a difference between staying downtown or at Holiday Inn Airport East?

We are so very excited to come!!! Which Malls do you recommend?

Thanks :o)

Katie

I recommend you rent a car. It will be easy to find the Malls and Churchill Downs and you may want to enjoy some of the downtown pre-derby activities such as the Chow Wagon down by the river. April 25 is the Derby Festival Mini Marathon and it will be difficult to get near the track that dat day...you%26#39;ll have to wait till about 1 I imagine. There%26#39;s also the fun Cherokee Art Fair that day, plus a slew of other events. Check my golist for Louisville and use the link for the city calendar. We have 2 nice malls within about 500 feet of each other, but you can%26#39;t walk to both because it%26#39;s a busy road. My daughter prefers the Mall of St Matthews. The other Mall is Oxmoor Mall. We also have a nice SteinMart across the street from Mall of St Matthews. There%26#39;s a shopping center before you get to the Mall with a Borders, Gift store, Feeder%26#39;s Supply and my favorite, Off Broadway Shoes . :-) Shelbyville Road Malls are directly off the Watterson Expressway; an easy drive.

I have a daughter and she would choose the Hyatt over the Holiday Inn Airport East hands down. I personally do not like the aiport east location. You could walk to Fourth Street Live which is near the Seelbach where there are several restaurants. There is also a couple waterfront restaurants, Joes Crab Shack and a Tumbleweed that have great walking along the river. If you can rent a car for a day you could go to St. Matthews Mall. A more unique experience and a place teens love to walk and hang out is Bardstown Road in the Highlands.

…about.com/od/…highlandstour.htm

www.thehighlandsoflouisville.com/Shopping.php

If you want to stay out from th

thank you so very much! We did pick the Hyatt because of your daughter%26#39;s recommendation.

Thanks again :o)

Katie

Glad to help. If you shop Bardtown Rd/Higlands make sure your daughter checks out EAR-xtacy. It is a teens wonderland of cd%26#39;s etc. There are many small quirky shops with clothing and jewery and many many restaurants. Marks Feed Store is a local casual barbecue place that is reasonable and good for lunch or dinner. Avalon is great and wonderful outdoor seating if it is a nice day. Another shop she might want to peak in for souvenirs is Why Louisville.

WHY Louisville | Souvenirs %26amp; Curiosities

Shop Online Anytime

STORE HOURS

Monday-Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 10am - 8pm

Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

1583 Bardstown Rd.

Have a great visit.

Here is the Fourth Street Live Link

http://www.4thstlive.com/events.cfm

I have to second that rec to go to Bardstown Road. I have 2 daughters, 15 and 19 and they LOVE it. Really fun store is the Queen of Rags (is that the name) a funky vintage place. Lots of fun places. I do not think a 17 yr old would really like Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack- it%26#39;s fine for a 10 yr old%26#39;s party, but the food is pretty bad. What kind of food does she like? We have some outstanding places in this city. Both my kids love sushi and we have several great places. Don%26#39;t waste your money (lots of it) at the Hyatt for breakfast. Go to Toast on Market or a bit further to North End Cafe. However. Saturday is the Mini-Marathon and there will be about 25,000 people downtown, so you%26#39;d better find out how to get out of there, as half the city is shut down!!

thank you for you tips about meals. I was looking up restaurants last night....I%26#39;m a meat and potatoes person and my daughter is a vegetarian so it%26#39;s hard to find places where we can both get something good

Katie

Thank you so much for your shopping tips. We have 1 day just devoted to shopping so I%26#39;ll make sure we go to those places. I%26#39;m getting soooo excited!! I love KY and wish I could live there.

Katie

lip plumper

Looking for a Mini Marathon Entry/Number

My stepson has been training for the Mini all year, but did not get his entry in on time. :-(

If anyone is not using their entry or knows anyone who is not running, he will be glad to pay the entry fee for the number and chip. Thank you!

Looking for a Mini Marathon Entry/Number

Hi Linda

A friend suggested that your step-son check in at Fleet Feet. They match late entries with folks who drop out.

TTFN

Looking for a Mini Marathon Entry/Number

Thank you Oakae and seagrover who sent me the mini link on facebook. I had success! I found a person on craigslist who signed a transfer to him. That way, he%26#39;ll run under his own name and chip! He is SO happy and excited. It took me about 3 hours to find, and at times I was too late, but this worked great and I didn%26#39;t get scalped on the entry fee.

Restaurants

I am trying to select a couple of restaurants for Derby Weekend. Right now I have a reservation at Jack Fry%26#39;s %26amp; Cafe Lou Lou. Are these places good?

I really want to experience local Louisville favorites. I look forward to hearing your recommendations.

Thanks

Restaurants

Yes, they are both good. Jack Fry%26#39;s is a bit more upscale and expensive. I%26#39;m not sure if either place has a Deby only menu...pretty sure Lou Lou%26#39;s doesn%26#39;t. Lots of restaurants have a limited menu at an inflated price. You should keep your reservations, as it%26#39;s too late to get any better ones, IMO. Try the shrimp and grits at Jack Fry%26#39;s!

Have a great time!

Restaurants

Jack Fry%26#39;s is outstanding and always ranked at the very top in Louisville. I wouldn%26#39;t consider Cafe Lou Lou in the same category although I have not heard bad things about it. Other local favorites would be Seviche, Asiatique, August Moon, Vincenzo%26#39;s, and Lilly%26#39;s.

I doubt very seriously they have any openings. Perhaps Vincenzo%26#39;s..not sure if August Moon is taking reservations, but I am pretty sure the others are full. You can ask the chefs, servers, owners and experts at www.louisvillehotbytes.com

Love, love, love Cafe Lou Lou! It%26#39;s casual and fun and the food is excellent. The meze plate appetizer is amazing!

My fav right now is Havana Rumba.

But, they don%26#39;t take reservations.

Good luck and have fun.

Yes, it%26#39;s a great place. I%26#39;ll bet it%26#39;s swamped that night! Did you know that Mr Martinez sold Havana Rumba and Mojitos? He%26#39;s opening a new place in the Caribbean.

Newgarden Inn, Ft. Knox, KY

I%26#39;m planning a trip to Ft. Knox and need some feedback about the Newgarden Inn on the fort. I see info about the Wickam Inn but not Newgarden.

Thanks,

Peacemaker

Newgarden Inn, Ft. Knox, KY

Did anybody ever give you any info on Newgarden Inn-I%26#39;ll be going 2/3/09-Thank you for any info-Karla

Karla Riecke

kriecke01@yahoo.com

Newgarden Inn, Ft. Knox, KY

Kriecke,

My wife and I went to Ft. Knox and had difficulty finding the Newgarden Inn. We ended up at the Wickam Inn. However, I saw the Newgarden Inn and would recommend you try them. Though we had a great stay at Wickam, the Newgarden is newer and therefore should be nicer. The post would do well putting up some signs at the gates to help us who don%26#39;t know the post locate lodging.

FYI: Our room at the Wickam had a separate sleeping area, nice TV room with couch and desk, and a decent bathroom. The Continental Breakfast was okay if you just want a little something to get you by. We were near an elevator. A little odd why we were placed there when there were few guests at the time. The carpet in the room was worn and needed to be replaced. The check-in and check-out went smoothly. On the negative side, the desk staff didn%26#39;t go out of their way to greet us. After a seven hour trip, one should get at least a ';Welcome to Ft. Knox!'; On a scale of 1-10, I would give it an eight considering the level of Inn it was. Not a bad stay.

PeacemakerCross

Thank you so much! Your information was very helpful!

Karla

I stayed at the Newgarden Inn and was absolutely stunned by the very nice accomodations. Since it is on the Military Base I wasn%26#39;t quite sure what I was going to get... I was thinking that for the price I was paying it may very well have been a cot in a room with a hotplate! The rooms were very beautifully equipped with a small kitchenette and if you are planning a trip - don%26#39;t hesitate! Great deal for the money and the hotel staff was very kind. I will say that when I first got there, I was planning on staying at the Wickham Inn. When I got there, I have to agree with another poster - the staff was not friendly AT ALL. Also when you go on to the base and if you have to be somewhere at an appointed time, map out your location the night before. It is very difficult to find anything!

bardstown road bars

I%26#39;ve read past post of some bars on Bardstown rd and was wondering how many bars are in that area and what kind of crowds hangout there. A group of guys (late 20%26#39;s) are coming down in a couple of weeks for a weekend and looking for options other than 4th street and omalley square. We will be staying at the marriot downtown. Any help is appreciated

bardstown road bars

The short answer.......LOTS of bars....and pubs %26amp; restaurants. Very few chains. Mostly unique, local places.

The area that we locals refer to as ';Bardstown Road'; actually begins on Baxter Ave. if you are coming from the north (which you would be if you are coming from the Marriott). Baxter Ave will eventually run into Bardstown Rd.

The whole thing is about a 3 mile strip starting with the Phoenix Hill Tavern and pretty much ends with the Bambi Bar. Be advised, the list below is from memory and although many of these places serve food, but I only listed the places that feel more bar, than restaurant. There are still a ton of restaurants that I didn%26#39;t include.

Phoenix Hill Tavern - Cavernous. Multiple live bands on most nights. Draws a young, college crowd. Can be cheesy.

Outlook Inn - Divey. Great Bloodies. Hipster local crowd of mixed ages. Pool tables. Juke box in back.

Flanagan%26#39;s - Irish. Nice back patio. Lots of beers on tap.

Mixed/college crowd. Younger on weekends.

Molly Malones - Irish. Great outside space. College/prepster crowd.

Wet Willies - Those swirling daiquiri machines. The crowd seems cheesy to me, but I don%26#39;t spend a lot of time in there.

O%26#39;Shea%26#39;s - Irish. Great outside patio. Live music on some nights. Good all around bar.

Akiko%26#39;s - Karaoke.

Wick%26#39;s Pizza - Pizza pub meets bar. Live music on some nights.

Cahoot%26#39;s - Divey. Locals mostly. Mixed crowd. Pool tables.

BW3%26#39;s - Wings. College crowd. Sports. Sports. Sports.

Back Door - Behind ValuMarket. Hard to find. Locals only. Very mixed crowd. Divey. Lots of pool tables.

Highland%26#39;s Tap Room - Small. Live music. Good outdoor area.

Cumberland Brews - Brew pub. Small. Comfy.

Za%26#39;s Pizza - Good selection on tap. Good pizza. TV%26#39;s. Comfy.

Hideaway Saloon - Divey. A bit hard to find. Locals. Deadheads. Live music on many nights. Pool tables upstairs.

Cafe 360 - Open really late for food. Fully stocked bar. Hookah lounge. Hipster/mixed/Highlands crowd.

Asiatique - Upscale asian restaurant until around 11pm. Clubby/DJ thing in the basement late night.

Big Dave%26#39;s Outpost - Neighborhood bar. Pub grub %26amp; beers.

Dundee Tavern - Neighborhood bar. Good sports watching set-up.

Left Field Lounge - Divey/hole in the wall. Strange, but in a good way.

Bambi Bar - Neighborhood bar. Mixed crowd.

My best suggestion would be for you guys to begin your evening on the corner closest to Molly Malones %26amp; Flanagans (Baxter Ave. and Morton Ave.) From there, you are within easy walking distance of several bars. Most places will only have a small cover (if they have one at all)

Have fun!

bardstown road bars

Ms. Seagrover knows what she is talking about. I think you%26#39;ll find everything you want between Wick%26#39;s Pizza for dinner and The Outlook for a late night Bloody Mary dessert. Remember, our bars close at 4:00 AM.

BTW, If you have two nights to spend, you %26#39;ll have a good time at 4th St. Live, too.

Seagrover, that is an impressive list you compiled.

I bet that gets copied and pasted plenty in the future. Good job.

Lawson, you can start at either end of the list and perform what we Louisvillians call a ';Bambi Walk';. Start at the Bambi Bar, have 1 drink and start walking up Bardstown Rd. Pop into every bar, pub, restaurant, etc. and have 1 drink. If you make it to the other end of Bardstown Rd. you%26#39;re an animal.

Thank you guys for your help

Thanks Oakae!

I knew my ';research'; would come in handy one day.

It may be too late, but depending on your scene, you may be interested in some other bars with more music. Pink Door has some good house music DJs and Monkey Wrench draws a nice hipster crowd, especially on Thursday nights. While you are in town, have dinner on Frankfort Avenue first. Try the new hot spot, Varanese. Then have drinks at Bourbon%26#39;s Bistro.

What%26#39;s the best hotel choice if we plan to go to Bardstown Road? We%26#39;re looking for a place that preferably has 2 bedroom suites. The Galt House and Hyatt downtown have these but rates are $500 +.

What? No way! Why do you need a 2 bedroom suite? You can Priceline and get 2 rooms probably for 70 bucks a room, tops. The only 2 bedroom suites I know of are at the Residence Inn. Any downtown hotel will be fine for Bardstown Rd...only about a 5 minute drive. The area you don%26#39;t want to stay is the East End off Hurstbourne Ln. That would be a drive. Have you considered a B%26amp;B? Many nice ones in Old Louisville as well.

Found your list trying to throw together a post tgiving bar crawl; made a map: http://tiny.cc/VtLqR

hope it helps someone!

Lawson10105,

I was in Louisville last year and went to a bar called the Saki bar. Do you know where that is? It%26#39;s a karaoke bar that serves Saki and beer in the front and the karaoke is in the back???

visting Covington

My husband and I will be visiting Ky in May and wondered if Covington is worth driving to. We like picturesque towns or something with character and with the German Main St it sounded interesting. One of the forums mentioned noisey neighborhoods so I don%26#39;t know. Please advise.

visting Covington

Covington, the town, is very cute, yet it%26#39;s bustling at the same time. The whole Newport on the Levee offers many entertainment options. The aquarium is worth a visit. We have stayed at Christopher%26#39;s B%26amp;B the last 2 times we were there. It is lovely and in a very quiet part of town. The Marriott there is very nice as well- we were there last month.

If you want quaint, quiet interesting towns, take a look at Bardstown. It%26#39;s one of my favorite small towns in KY. Also, if you%26#39;re visiting Lexington (horse country) stop off at Midway. Very cute town with top notch restaurants.

visting Covington

Thanks so much for your info. Bardstown was on my list but now I%26#39;ll checkout Newport and Midway. Elizabethtown sounds nice,too, have youever been there? Thanks again!!

No offense to natives, but nix Elizabethtown. I think some people saw the movie and were interested, only to find out that most of it was filmed in Louisville and Lexington.

Louisville or S. Indiana reception Halls

I live in Clarksville and I am researching a place to have my wedding reception next year. We are getting married in Las Vegas and we are flying 8 people there to be with us and we want to have a reception when we return home for those who could not make it. Because of this, I am on a very tight budget and I am looking for somewhere that will let me provide my own food. I am looking at about 50-75 people and ideally I would like somewhere with scenic outdoor access and that would fit well with a Las Vegas theme. The main factor is bringing my own food, because catering is where the majority of the cost is. Thanks for any info!

Louisville or S. Indiana reception Halls

I have the perfect place for you! I am a musician and play many weddings and receptions. Back in the late 80%26#39;s and early 90%26#39;s I played at the top of the Kaden Tower. We often had private events in the downstairs. It has beautiful marble and the glass doors open to fountains and plenty of space to walk around. There is ample parking as well. You have to go see it! Lots you can do with the decor and they have a small kitchen where you can do your own food.

gatheringguide.com/event_directory/ky_kentuc鈥?/a>

kadencompanies.com/pdf/CivicCenterBrochure.p鈥?/a>

lip plumper

Land Between the Lakes activities?

What are the three or four best things to do in the summer season? We are a small group of mature, active women. We don%26#39;t fish.

Land Between the Lakes activities?

Drive through the Elk and Bison Prairie. Early morning or evening is the best time for that, unless it%26#39;s a nice cool cloudy day. The Golden Pond Visitor Center is very interesting, and there%26#39;s a planetarium there with some great shows. If you%26#39;d like a beach, they%26#39;re available at the state parks - Kenlake, Ky Dam Village, or Lake Barkley SP. Visit nearby Cadiz - many antique stores, and a great little farmers market on Weds. and Sat. mornings. For the best meal in the area, and some other interesting things, don%26#39;t miss Patti%26#39;s in Grand Rivers. (Cadiz also has some great home-cooking type of restaurants) As you drive down the trace, take some of the better side-roads to the lakes for some great views. Homeplace 1850 toward the south end could be visited more than once. You should be able to check out their activity schedule at www.lbl.org - and that site will also give you other ideas of what to do. Don%26#39;t hesitate to contact me if you have further questions.

Land Between the Lakes activities?

Hello,

Would like to know if there are small sailboats available for rental? Sun fish, Force 5, Lasers?

Like the one or two person sailboats at camp?

Thanks

If so, I%26#39;ve never seen them. Kenlake Marina has other types of boats to rent www.kenlakemarina.com/boat_rentals.html You could also try http://www.greenturtlebay.com/rental.htm

http://www.prizerpoint.com/boating.html

http://www.kydammarina.com/

Would you have knowledge and recommendations for RV campgrounds? We will be taking MIL to visit with her sister in Owensboro in June and plan to spend the time at LBL.

Phillis in Arkansas

Do you need hookups? If not I can recommend LOTS of fantastic, park-by-the-water primitive campgrounds. If you must have hookups, Canal (COE) Campground is at the north end. They had LOTS of ice storm damage and won%26#39;t be opening before June 1st (and possibly later). Going down the trace there is Hillman Ferry, near the center is Energy Lake and towards the south end of the Trace (close to the Homeplace 1850 in TN) is Rushing Creek CG. These last 3 are Forest Service CG%26#39;s. I%26#39;d definitely recommend reservations at Canal since it%26#39;s the closest to I-24, but you ';may'; be ok without reservations at the other places. Feel free to yell at me if you want further info.

Besides Horse Racing...

What else is there to see and do in Louisville (and vicinity)?

Is there an historical area? If so - information about that would be useful, as well.

Again - any info about the area (restaurants/lodging, etc.) would be great, but I%26#39;m primarily interested in ';things to do'; other than horse racing activities.

Many thanks.

Besides Horse Racing...

Please click the tab on left called ';Things to do'; . Once that page opens, you%26#39;ll see a list on the right where lots of us natives have written

to do'; lists.

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i2307-Live_it_u鈥?/a>

That is mine. There are many things to see and do in Louisville.We have a vibrant river front, a great arts and concert scene, many beautiful parks, amazing restaurants, etc. We were on Bardstown Road in the Highlands last night having dinner at Seviche (my favorite) watching the non-stop parade of people shopping, going to movies, eating, drinking and socializing. On a beautiful night, it%26#39;s a great destination.

Besides Horse Racing...

I%26#39;d highly recommend the Louisville Slugger Museum. If you are interested in weaponry and history, the Frazier Museum of History is excellent.The Speed Art Museum is very good

How/what to see in Louisville in 1/2 day?

Visiting Merton Centre at Bellarmine for few hours on a Friday in June and would like to spend rest of day and early evening seeing Louisville. Never been there and wondering if any suggestions for a good 2 hourish overview tour or is there an on/off type trolley - other suggestions welcomed.

I was told Louisville not too big a city so driving downtown and parking and walking around is quite doable. I will have spent a few days in Bardstown area so will have seen things in that neck of the Ky woods.

How/what to see in Louisville in 1/2 day?

Yea, you can see most of Louisville in 2 hours. I would park on the street downtown somewhere around 5th and main and walk to the river. Check out the belle, which is a big paddleboat that should be docked at the end of 4th st. Check out waterfront park. Could take a stroll up main street, but dont go too far West as it gets kinda dicey. Then drive up Bardstown Rd to Cherokee park and you can take a walk around the loop. Really nice there...

How/what to see in Louisville in 1/2 day?

Thanks for this.

Restaurants

For anybody visiting Murray, the restaurants listed on the favorites page are kind of out of date. If you like Mexican food then Los Portales is awesome! If home cooking is your thing then Hih Burger is great as well as Dee%26#39;s place. Tumbleweed has good steaks if you have the time to wait but Sirloin Stockade is a local favorite. Hope this helps.

Restaurants

I agree that these restaurants are a little out of date. Jasmine is an amazing Asian restaurant (my favorite in Murray and is currently making me go broke because I eat there so much). I would also add Dumplin%26#39;s to the list, though their hours are a little inconvient sometimes. If you want pizza that isn%26#39;t from a chain, MATT B%26#39;S is the place to go! It is the best pizza I%26#39;ve ever had.

1st time to caves - Where can I see this? (Link to Photo)

My GF and I are planning a weekend trip to Mammoth Caves. Would be the first time. I have heard of all the tours, and I think the ';Grand Avenue'; tour is the one that interests us the most? Anyone care to comment on this tour?

Also, please look at this photo under this link:

101destinations.com/2007/鈥?/a>

What is this area of the caves called? What tour will take me there?

Since we are spending both Saturday and Sunday, can anyone reccomend the 2 best tours (one for Saturday and one for Sunday) for both of us? We are open to trekking and lots of walking, but we don%26#39;t want to do the Wild Cave tour.

Thanks for all the answers!

1st time to caves - Where can I see this? (Link to Photo)

I can%26#39;t help you with that photo, but I did the Grand Ave tour with my kids and it was nice. Next time, I%26#39;d pack my own lunch because the lunch options in the ';Snowball Room'; were yucky.

Once you decide the tour, make a reservation EARLY online. The tours sell out and you have almost no chance of getting on a tour without a reservation. Have a great time!

ps...wear good shoes and take a light jacket. It%26#39;s 50 something year round.

1st time to caves - Where can I see this? (Link to Photo)

Hi Leo,

I%26#39;m not sure on the location of the photo, but it resembles some of the sights we saw on the Historic Tour. There are many massive passages like this one you will see throughout the cave.

For your 2nd day, I%26#39;d recommend the Historic Tour, as its route is different from the Grand Avenue Tour. If you visit nps.gov and look at the tour descriptions, it will tell you what routes are used so you don%26#39;t duplicate. We took the Historic Tour and really enjoyed it. You will get to experience some of the more ';tight'; areas of the cave, including Fat Man %26amp; Tall Man%26#39;s Miseries, along with climbing the tower at Mammoth Dome. Plus, it%26#39;s a good historical perspective as the title suggests.

Advance tour reservations are made at recreation.gov and are a must, as LlindaC said.

Have a great time! I know you will enjoy yourselves.

Thank you all for the wonderful replies!

Thanks!

Bachelorette Party on 4th Street?

My best friend lives in Louisville and I live in Dallas. I%26#39;m flying in to host her bachelorette party in a few weeks. I want to take a limo to 4th street and do a fun dinner there and do a little bar hopping before the limo takes us back to her house. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good restaraunt in the middle of things. I want it to be unique, close to the bars and not too expensive since I don%26#39;t want anyone to skip based on price. I would ask her but want to keep everything a surprise... please help! :)

Bachelorette Party on 4th Street?

Hi! So many of the places there are chains...Hard Rock, TGI Friday%26#39;s, etc. However, there%26#39;s one unique to KY place that%26#39;s always fun and the food is good, BBC.

http://www.bbcbrew.com/index.php

They have great pizza. I love their honey wheat beer. mmm You can get a sampler of beers as well. I think the prices are reasonable and there%26#39;s something for everyone. Have a great time!

lip plumper

Parking for Derby

I have been reading about parking - sounds horrific. Someone is selling passes for $250 and others for $300. I read you can park in people%26#39;s yards but we won%26#39;t be getting there until early afternoon. What do you think about shuttle service? I looked at your public transporation site (TARC) and I don%26#39;t believe they will be permitted to transport people. We will be staying at the Embassy Suites on Corporate Campus Drive. Can you suggest the best way for us to get to and from the Derby.

Thanks so much.

Susan

Parking for Derby

Miller Trailways is doing the shuttles this year. Park at Papa John%26#39;s Stadium or Expo Center (Expo is Derby day ONLY) and use their shuttles. Or hop on at one of their stops downtown.

http://www.millertransportation.com/derby.pdf

Bachelor party ideas

I have a group of 10 guys getting In town Friday and going to the infield Saturday for the race. I know it%26#39;s getting down to crunch time here but here is what I am thinking. We are staying at the holiday inn about 2-3 miles from the derby. I would like to go to bardstown Friday night And then do 4th street Saturday. Also squeezing in some gentlemens clubs. Any suggestions on transportation to and from bardstown or any particular place we should go. Thanks for the time and help.

help! coming to visit from the UK!!!

am asking for a friend who is travelling with his family from the UK. They are spending sometime in the washington DC area and doing the historical tour, then heading to Williamsburg Va. From That point they have 3 nights to drive to Cincinatti, where they will fly home. They want to get off the beaten path and see some cool sights and maybe see bluegrass, nature, country, etc. not really the theme parks as they have already done those. they have two girls, approx 9 and 12? Does anyone have a suggestion driving from Williamsburg to Cincinatti and where to stop along the way???? I would mch appreciate your help!!!

help! coming to visit from the UK!!!

Lexington and the Bluegrass Region is about an hour drive South of Cincinnati. Here are some things to do:

-Shaker Village in Harrodsburg (less than an hour Southwest Lexington). It is America%26#39;s largest restored Shaker community and you can tour restored Shaker buildings, ride the Dixie Belle Riverboat down the Kentucky River, dine in the Trustee%26#39;s Office (reservations required) and more (www.shakervillageky.org).

-Mary Todd Lincoln House, Waveland State Historic Site, Hunt-Morgan House and Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate are four historic homes in Lexington offering regular tours. In our office at the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, we offer tickets to the four homes for $15 (it costs $7 per home if you pay for each one individually).

-Keeneland Race Course is a historic landmark open to the public everyday from 6:30am to 5pm. There is live racing in April and October. You can eat at the Track Kitchen and tour the grounds.

-Kentucky Horse Park is Lexington%26#39;s premiere attraction. There are museums (International Museum of the Horse and American Saddlebred Museum), galleries and exhibits (such as the Parade of Breeds). On September 25-October 10, 2010, the Ky. Horse Park will be host of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the world championships for eight equestrian sports. The new outdoor stadium just hosted its%26#39; first event, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, and the new indoor arena is nearing completion (www.kyhorsepark.com).

-There are many horse farms around the area. You can take a daily van tour or private guided tour. For more information, go to www.visitlex.com/idea/horse-farms.php

These are just some of the many things to do in the Bluegrass Region. You can go to www.visitlex.com if you want more ideas or call (800) 845-3959 and we can help you with any questions you may have.

help! coming to visit from the UK!!!

thank you very much!!!I will pass on the info!!!!

Getting around on Derby Weekend

I%26#39;ll be in town for my first Derby and Oaks and can%26#39;t wait. I%26#39;m curious about what the best way to get around town is on race day. We%26#39;re staying at the Days Inn Airport, about 3 miles away from Churchill Downs, and I%26#39;m wondering if there is a way to get to the Derby without driving. Is it possible to take a cab or public transport to Churchill Downs or even to Papa Johns Stadium? Are cabs or buses available after the Derby to get downtown or home? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Getting around on Derby Weekend

I don%26#39;t know if there is a %26#39;best%26#39; way to get around on Derby %26amp; Oaks Day. Traffic exactly what you%26#39;d imagine.

Cabs run. You could certainly hire one to take you to Churchill Downs. However, they will be very, very busy. You may want to go ahead and try to make advance reservations (or at least check out what you%26#39;ll be dealing with).

Phone: 502-636-5511 (program it into your phone)

After the Derby, there will be long lines of people waiting to hire cabs. I see the lines for cabs %26amp; shuttles as we leave each year. They are LONG (looks like hours). Be aware.

The buses (T.A.R.C) will also be running. And I believe they alter the schedules/routes (i.e. add more buses) to bring people in %26amp; out of Churchill Downs area. http://www.ridetarc.org/

There are also all sorts of shuttles going back in forth from large hotels %26amp; major parking areas. Here%26#39;s an article I found by googling ';shuttles kentucky derby';. courier-journal.com/article/…ARCHIVES

You could also try to hire a private driver to pick you up %26amp; drop you off using CraigsList.com or something similar. Best of luck.

Getting around on Derby Weekend

Did you contact the Days Inn to see if they are running a shuttle? Most airport hotels do for a small fee.

Hey there!

I%26#39;m going to be a 10 year Derby Oaks veteran this year (YEAH!), and I tend to operate as the logistics manager for a group of about a dozen intoxicated people. Use the TARC shuttle to the Expo center. I can%26#39;t say this loudly enough!

Papa John Stadium is ok, but its really hard to get out of when everyone is leaving. Parking and driving near the stadium...forget it! The Days Inn might have a shuttle, which will be fine for getting there...but will leave you in a lurch for getting back. Same with cabs. Getting there is fine. The cab line getting out is at LEAST an hour long.

The parking at the EXPO center is easy to get out of since it lands right on the highway and is a quick drive right to and from the front door of Churchill downs. Be aware though, if you don%26#39;t have tickets and are going to the infield...infield chairs have to walked around to gate 3. Its not that far, but I usually send the crew into the infield and walk everyone%26#39;s stuff around, so newbies with us can take pictures at the ';nice'; gate, gate 1. Also, one year when the queen showed up, there was a problem with the shuttle, in that they shut down all Louisville traffic to get her out of town. That backed up the busses BADLY. That year we just walked because the entry gate to the Expo center is maybe a mile from the track (it was about a 15 min. brisk walk.) But otherwise, I much prefer the Expo center/Tarc Bus combination to all other cab/shuttle combinations. And believe me, I%26#39;ve tried them all.

I%26#39;ve stayed at the Days Inn airport a couple years, you are in for a treat! Bring a cooler and lawn chairs and have a blast in the lot. If you are planning on going to the Outback across the street...make a reservation NOW! Trust me.

HAVE A GREAT TIME...and Welcome to Derby!

Just a heads up on the shuttle. It is the most reliable form of transport, but TARC lost out to Miller Transportation on the bid this year. There%26#39;s a price increase, plus parking fees:

http://www.millertransportation.com/derby.pdf

I do hope they are using their air conditioned buses and not school buses, but it%26#39;s hard to tell at this point.

Thanks so much for all of the helpful responses. Looking forward to flying out tomorrow.

First trip to KY/TN/NC: Itinerary help??

This is our first trip to KY/TN/NC. We’re leaving May 17, so first weekend will include Memorial Day. Our main goal was the Smokies. After reading travel books, we’re now interested in also exploring NC side. Here’s our specs: We want to avoid tourist traps, theme parks, so will bypass Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Cherokee, Maggie Valley (Apologies to all who enjoy them. We’re just finally without kids!) We’re not campers or hikers, love scenery, driving and then stretching legs for the view. We’re driving a Grand Am with low “curb catcher”. At the end of the day, we like a place where we can have a couple beers/wine. Expect to pay around $100 for room. So, here’s our tentative 2-3 week itinerary from Chicago:

1. Leave Sunday, overnight in Louisville KY

2. Monday: I65 to Bowling Green or Nashville. Bardstown %26amp; distilleries. Overnight in Bowling Green or Nashville depending on exploring

3. Tuesday: I40 to Crossville, exploring on way. Fall Creek Falls if we have time. Overnight in Crossville (Crossville is only must-do stop.)

4. Wednesday: In town until later afternoon. (If we don’t leave until 5:00, is it reasonable to drive to Maryville/Alcoa to get close to GSMSP? What about Knoxville? Or should we stay overnight to see Fall Creek Falls if we haven’t yet?)

4a. Overnight in Crossville, Knoxville, or Maryville/Alcoa

5. Thursday: explore wherever we are, ending up in Townsend area. Overnight in Maryville/Alcoa or Townsend

6. Explore GSMSP: Cades Cove, etc.

7. Friday: Drive Foothills Pkwy to Fontana Lake area, then ending around Bryson City/Sylva (Is this too ambitious? Should we instead stay in Fontana and explore down to Robbinsville? We don’t want to be driving all day.)

7a. Overnight in Bryson City/Sylva (Note this is now Memorial day weekend! We don’t want to be caught in M-Day traffic, what can we expect? Would Cherokee be reasonable option if can’t find lodging around Sylva? Should we consider opposite direction: Robbinsville, although Rt 129 is “Tail of the dragon/motorcycle heaven”) Really need some help!

8. Saturday: Hard decision! All the scenic byways look great – falls, rivers, etc, but I have no idea how much time to allow or where to stay. Should we head to Asheville and use it as 2-3 day basecamp? Stay in Highlands and explore 64? One book says 64 is not maintained/bad road though scenic. Rt 74/19, 1310, Brevard, Cashiers, Blue Ridge Pkwy? Help!

9. Sunday %26amp; Monday: Asheville (Figure would be good place to enjoy holiday weekend without worrying driving. Being from Chicago, we’ve learned to avoid road on holidays – crowds and drinking. Is it the same in NC?)

10. Tuesday: Starting return trip. Figure we’ll take 40 to Knoxville… or should we skip K-ville and head up to Cumberland Gap on 25E? Overnight in Knoxville or around Cumberland Gap/Pine Mtn

11. Wednesday: Head for Cumberland Falls. Overnight around Cumberland Falls. Williamsburg/Corbin/London?

12. Thursday: Up to Lexington. Explore Bourbon trail, horse country, maybe Red River Gorge, Natural Bridges

13. Thursday %26amp; Friday: Lexington

14. One more night in Louisville or Indianapolis

15. Home

THANKS FOR ALL SUGGESTIONS! ps: I%26#39;m also posting this in TN %26amp; NC forums.

First trip to KY/TN/NC: Itinerary help??

A couple of ideas for things to do in the Bluegrass Region surrounding Lexington:

-Shaker Village in Harrodsburg (less than an hour from Lexington). It is America%26#39;s largest restored Shaker community and you can tour restored Shaker buildings, ride the Dixie Belle Riverboat down the Kentucky River, dine in the Trustee%26#39;s Office (reservations required) where they now serve beer and wine and more (www.shakervillageky.org).

-Alltech%26#39;s Lexington Brewing Company produces Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Light and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and they give tours Monday through Friday at 3 and Saturday at 1. (www.kentuckyale.com)

-Mary Todd Lincoln House, Waveland State Historic Site, Hunt-Morgan House and Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate are four historic homes in Lexington offering regular tours. In our office at the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, we offer tickets to the four homes for $15 (it costs $7 per home if you pay for each one individually).

-There are several wineries around Lexington: Jean Farris Winery and Bistro (Lexington), Talon Winery and Vineyards (Lexington), Chateau de Vieux Corbeau (Danville) and Chrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery (Nicholasville).

-Keeneland Race Course is open to the public everyday from 6:30am to 5pm. You can eat at the Track Kitchen and tour the grounds.

-Kentucky Horse Park is Lexington%26#39;s premiere attraction. There are museums (International Museum of the Horse and American Saddlebred Museum), galleries and exhibits (such as the Parade of Breeds). On September 25-October 10, 2010, the Ky. Horse Park will be host of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the world championships for eight equestrian sports. The new outdoor stadium just hosted its%26#39; first event, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, and the new indoor arena is nearing completion (www.kyhorsepark.com).

-The four bourbon distilleries in the region are: Buffalo Trace Distillery (Frankfort), Woodford Reserve (Versailles), Wild Turkey and Four Roses (both in Lawrenceburg).

-On your way to Lexington, check out the Artisan Center in Berea just off I-75,(www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov).

These are just some of the many things to do in the Bluegrass Region. You can go to www.visitlex.com if you want more ideas or call (800) 845-3959 and we can help you with any questions you may have.

First trip to KY/TN/NC: Itinerary help??

Corvette Museum Bowling Green, Kentucky

http://corvettemuseum.com/

Wow! Now those are some suggestions. Our library only had 1 book on KY, so I%26#39;ve been hunting for material. Both your replies will help. I won%26#39;t have time today to do much more reading, but next few days should open up. Thank you!

Hotels for Derby

I just read an article in the Courier-Journal that, due to the economy, they are expecting vacancy rates as high as 20% over Derby weekend. So, if anyone was putting off a trip to Louisville for the Derby because they thought they wouldn%26#39;t be able to find lodging, don%26#39;t stop looking yet!

Hotels for Derby

thank you! I have reservations in LEX (B/c I will be there anyway weds and thurs) but I am going to the Oaks and would like to not drive that much friday night....I will keep trying priceline!

Hotels for Derby

I would think that some of the hotels towards the East End would be likely to have openings. Unfortunately, the only name I can think of is the Candlewood Suites. If you can search by address, try Blankenbaker Pkwy or Alliant Ave.

thank you for the tips :)

I%26#39;m finding some in that area but still with the inflated normal Derby prices. I was hoping they might come down a little if they had high vacancy this late in the game. I%26#39;m a student with limited funds, so I%26#39;ll probably just keep my Lexington reservations (I%26#39;m there for a conference anyway earlier in the week) and suck up the drives to and from Louisville for the Oaks and to come home Saturday morning from SDF!

We found a Hilton family hotel in Louisville - the Embassy Suites - that let us use hotel points. Apparently we are 15 minutes from Churchill Downs. I was shocked. The cost for the room was $650 and it let me use points!!! If you have points for any big chain, you may want to check it out.

That is terrific, and that hotel gets great reviews. One time we took a cruise on Super Bowl weekend (Miami) and while other cruisers couldn%26#39;t find rooms, we were able to use our Priority Club points for Holiday Inn. They do honor club members well!

I posted yesterday that we are staying at the Embassy Suites for hotel points and that the room was going for $650. I can guarantee that these hotels are not selling out as the price for the Embassy Suite just fell to $350 per night. Still too much, of course, but if it is dropping prices, others might be, as well. Keep going to the chains%26#39; websites: hilton.com; hyatt.com; marriott.com; holidayinn.com, etc. The closer it gets to Derby Day, the lower the price. I would sure be mad if I paid $650 and then found out others are paying $350.

Howdy,

The Hilton Garden Inn at Blankenbaker and I64 is showing room availability for May 1-3rd for 229.oo.

Very convenient to hop on the expressway. Let me do some other chking and will post.

Drury inn and Suites is 239.oo at Hurstbourne Lane and I64

Courtyard East and Northeast 299.00

Holiday Inn Express Louisville East 289.00

lip plumper

Is this a Derby plan?

Two years ago a friend and I went to the Oaks and the Derby. Of course in our cheap (!!! like $495 for Derby Day) seats we couldn%26#39;t see anything, but we had a great time. We have been thinking of coming back, but with a twist. We%26#39;d stay in Lexington again (which we enjoyed for its farm and distillery access) and get better tickets for Oaks Day, but for Derby Day, go to the simulcast facility at Keeneland. I%26#39;m assuming that it would be crowded and sort of festive with lots of serious race fans; is this right? One thing we loved about our trip was that everyone in town shared our passion--';So, who do ya like?'; everywhere! But it would lbe nice to actually ';see'; the Derby too!

Any thoughts?

Is this a Derby plan?

Keeneland hosts the world%26#39;s largest Derby party, but the grounds at Keeneland are so large that you%26#39;re not uncomfortable by any means. There are usually around 20,000 people at the party, but a couple of days during the Keeneland Spring Meet there were around 30,000!

It is a very fun, festive atmosphere with a hat contest, ';build your own stuffed horse booth'; and other activities going on all day. A big plus is they serve the signature Derby drink of Mint Juleps in official Kentucky Derby glasses.

Hope this helps!

Is this a Derby plan?

If you have not been to Keeneland, it is beautiful!! As for Derby Day, I know that there will be a lot people there; ready to enjoy food, drinks, and the races. On Derby Days in the past, even the ';drive thru'; betting windows are backed up to the entrance (for those that cannot stay for the party). I also know that many people get to Keeneland early, and spend the day tailgating before the actual race runs. Keeneland on Derby Day is a blast! Have a great time!

Keeneland is a zoo on Derby Day. It can be a lot of fun, but be prepared for a real crowd. Parking can be a nightmare unless you get there early, and by early, I mean the morning. The problem is that the usual parking and traffic patterns and policies are not in effect on Derby Day like they are during the regular meets. People park in traffic lanes, on the sides of buildings, and in the trees.

We are going out there around lunch time, stay for a few races on the undercard, make our Derby bets, and then go home to watch the race.

Question to Linda

Linda, I just read that you are a musician. Did you happen to know my brother, Bron Jenkins. He was drummer. He passed away in 2001.

Question to Linda

No, I don%26#39;t think so. Who did he play with?

Question to Linda

He played with many groups, taught at Mel Owens. He was a music ed major at U of L. He worked with kids with the Leopard Percussionist [spell sorry] He was very close to Jeff Jarboe and Jeff Rehmet. I can%26#39;t remember the name of Jeff%26#39;s band. I know they go to many schools around town are are very interactive with kids. I did not realize how close the musicians were in this town until after he died. Anyhow just thought I would ask, Louisville can be such a small world, the reason I love this city.

Oh, that%26#39;s a shame. I know I haven%26#39;t worked with him but I might have met him as I did a gig down at the Center with the Leopards. What a great group! I%26#39;m working with a drummer right now who teaches at Mel Owens, small world. Jeff Jarboe and the other Wulfe Bros (pack) are old friends of mine. I know Jeff well (JBoy). I used to play keyboards with Christopher Robin in 1972-3 and Quickdraw down at Eddie Donaldson%26#39;s from 75-81. After that, I soloed while going to UofL. I still do a solo/duo but have a new band and I fill in with the Fanatics, Flying Martinis, Toulouse and Johnny Combo. I also play the calliope on the Belle of Louisville!

Small Small world. Jeff Jarbo is awsome, he calls my parents every single year on the anniversery of his death. We gave him some of my brothers equipment. He still carries sticks that belonged to Bron.

I have been on TA planning a trip to CA. Then the swine flu deal so I have been keeping an eye on the Cancun Forum but my husbands company cancelled trips to Mexico thank goodness. There is now a case in Lagrange, Ky 30 year old woman who was in Cancun. op

Nice meeting you maybe we will see you around Louisville sometime. I have another good friend who%26#39;s husband is in a band. Draper is their last name. As usual with my memory I can%26#39;t remember the name but I love his group!

Infield Club - Track Admission???

The infield club tickets for the derby have ';track admission'; included whereas the general admission infield tickets do not. Does anyone know what track admission means? Does that mean we can go inside the main building where everyone is (besides the infield crowd). Or does that mean paddock access to see the horses. I have no idea and would appreciate any help as we are leaving tomorrow. Thanks!

Infield Club - Track Admission???

www.churchilldowns.com/visit-us/derbyoaks-faq

the above might answer some of your questions.

You will walk thru a tunnel to get from the infield to the main building which is divided and cut up. Remember it will be extremely crowded and very difficult to manuever thru some areas of the building.

You will not be able to see the track from the main building. Security is tight and wristbands are used and checked to enter each section. I would still wonder over and see the Paddock where you can get a very upclose look at the beautiful horses, jockeys, trainers, owners etc.

Make sure you ck the list of what you can and bring [above link]. There will be long tables as you enter and each bag will be checked and they are strict.

I hope you have an awsome time. After spending the day at the Infield of the Kentucky Derby you should have some interesting stories to take back to your friends!

Derby Parking

Last year I went to Derby and parked at the expo center and took the shuttle. This was a cheap way, and getting to the track was easy. However, getting back was chaos! It was very disorganized, took forever just to get on the bus, and several fights broke out. I%26#39;d like to avoid this option this year. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to park and when we should arrive?

Derby Parking

If you get there early and are willing to take the risk, there are people around the track who sacrifice their yards to park cars. Expect to pay about $25. Remember, they are not responsible for any damages.

Derby Parking

We generally park across Central Ave. and parking there was $75 just for Oaks Day. My brother generally goes earlier in the week and reserves a place. But there are cheaper options if you park a little further away. If you drive down Taylor Blvd. you will see a lot of people holding signs for parking places. They range in price usually getting more expensive the closer you get. As LLindaC mentiond, you should be able to get fairly close for $25 or $30.

The best experience we ever had was parking downtown (free in many spots, meters, etc.) and taking the TARC to Churchill Downs. It was cheap, quick, and the lines weren%26#39;t too long. We left after the 7th race and were back home within about an hour.

kyderbymom--if you left after the seventh race you missed ';the greatest two minutes in sports';........

Duh! We left two races after the Derby. I never remember how many races there are that day! I don%26#39;t go for the horses anyway! :)

That will be the last time TARC will be handling it. From now on, Miller Transportation will be supplying the busses and I%26#39;m sure there will be problems with the new service.

Derby visitors, bring your poncho!

You won%26#39;t be allowed to carry an umbrella and we%26#39;re expeting rain so please pack your rain poncho! Here%26#39;s the official can/can%26#39;t bring list. Have a wonderful time!

Alcoholic beverages of any kind;

Glass bottles or containers;

Grills;

Thermoses;

Backpacks;

Luggage (includes briefcases);

Duffel bags;

Wagons;

Umbrellas;

Weapons, including knives.

Along with the infield-bound coolers, items permitted for carry-in to Churchill

Downs on Oaks and Derby Days include:

Food items in clear plastic bags (maximum size 18”x 18” – no trash bags) – LIMIT TWO (2) PER PERSON;

“Box” lunches if packaged in clear plastic bags or plastic containers (maximum size 18” x 18” – no trash bags) – LIMIT TWO (2) PER PERSON;

Sunscreen (non-glass containers only);

Cellular telephones, cameras, and camcorders (patrons may be required to turn electronic items ‘on’ before entry is allowed);

Small personal music systems, radios and televisions – no “boom boxes”;

Binoculars;

Purses and baby bags (all subject to search);

Strollers (only if carrying a child – no other items allowed);

Seat cushions (no backs);

Chairs (Gate 3 only);

Blankets (Gates 1 %26amp; 3 for infield use only);

Tarpaulins (Gates 1 %26amp; 3 for infield use only)

Derby visitors, bring your poncho!

Thanks for the list. I am so mad it is going to rain. I still plan to have a great time.

Derby visitors, bring your poncho!

I%26#39;ve got mine packed already! We%26#39;re just waiting for Grandma to arrive for Baby Duty and then we%26#39;re on the road. Can%26#39;t wait!

I have a feeling that Infield is going to be EXTRA muddy this year. We usually do a walk through sometime in the late afternoon to check out the madness. May have to skip it this time.

Best route to Crossville TN

Would you recommend driving from Indianapolis to Crossville TN (midway between Nashville %26amp; Knoxville on 40) via Louisville or via Lexington? They%26#39;re both about same time/mileage. Any major difference between the two routes? We%26#39;d be traveling Sunday May 17 with arrival in C%26#39;ville Wed May 20. Thanks!

Best route to Crossville TN

I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s much of a difference (as far as ease of driving goes). Both routes are primarily interstate. I%26#39;d base my decision upon which city I%26#39;d prefer to drive through %26amp; perhaps stop for lunch along the way.

If you take the Louisville/Nashville route, you could stop and check out Churchill Downs (which will still be running) or the Louisville Slugger Museum.

If you take the Cincy/Lexington route, you could stop at The Kentucky Horse Park (in Lex) or the Newport Aquarium (in Cincy).

Best route to Crossville TN

OK, thanks. I think we%26#39;ll go down via Nashville route and return via Lexington. Just wanted to check with the ';experts';.

lip plumper

Confessions from a local ';Derby Princess';

1) I will probably wear the same dress I wore last year.....or the year before....or the year before that.

2) My ';Derby Hat'; from last year is still in the back window of my car. It was once black. It is now light gray.

3) I%26#39;ve found that the best time to get a drink (or to go to the ladies room) is during the singing of ';My Old Kentucky Home';

4) I probably won%26#39;t make it to the track until the 4th race.

5) I will have a hangover....and will have a beer with breakfast in an effort to fix it.

6) I will most likely paint my toe nails...in the car....on the way to the track.

7) I will probably make fun (inside of my own head) of an out-of-town girl who decided that a skin tight, disco dress %26amp; stripper heels would be a good thing to wear.

8) I will order a mint julep %26amp; throw the mint away. Not because I like mint juleps. But because there are guys walking through the crowds selling them...and there is no line.

9) I will lose my program. And will steal another one that has been left laying on top of a trash can or empty seat....ditto for the green sheet.

10) I will forget to cash a winning ticket from one of the last races of the day. I will remember this much later in the evening...or possibly the next day.

11) I will do it all again next year.

Happy Derby Everyone!

Confessions from a local ';Derby Princess';

Dahlink....you forgot to mention....after several Mint Juleps I will be in line a the men%26#39;s room and I will Not enjoy it! wink wink....now, behave and have fun

Confessions from a local ';Derby Princess';

Good stuff. Right on the mark.

Where is this place close to?

reynolds station

Where is this place close to?

Reynolds Station around 20 miles from Owensboro Ky

Where is this place close to?

That%26#39;s about an 1 1/2 NE of Hopkinsville - probably less than 30 minutes SE of Owensboro. Does that help?

From Owensboro you take HWY 54 past Whitesville and Reynolds Station is off to the right before you get to Fordsville. I assume we are talking about the same place.

Mid range hotel with pool and pleasant neighbourhood?

Excuse my ignorance, but I don%26#39;t know the area at all and my research thus far has left me overwhelmed with information overload.

Can anyone recommend a good mid range hotel (for a two night stay) with a nice swimming pool, and perhaps in an area that has some decent bars/restaurants/parks that are walkable from the hotel.

Will have a car, so parking needed, but would prefer to do a little exploring on foot if its possible, and hopefully discover a bit of the character of the city.

Thanks in advance.

PC :)

Mid range hotel with pool and pleasant neighbourhood?

Hi,

I%26#39;d stick with downtown hotels if you want a pool AND to be within walking distance to pubs %26amp; restaurants. The Galt House has a nice pool and they%26#39;ve done a remodel so I would imagine that the rooms are fine. There%26#39;s a new Marriott downtown also, but I haven%26#39;t seen the pool. (All downtown hotels will have ZIP code 40202)

If you can do without the pool, I%26#39;d take a look at the Bed %26amp; Breakfasts located in/around Old Louisville (just south of downtown) with more of a neighborhood %26amp; mature tree vibe.

bedandbreakfast.com/louisville-kentucky.html

Bardstown Road or Frankfort Ave. are the two main pub/restaurant row areas of Louisville. Unfortunately, there aren%26#39;t any hotels nearby.

There is one B%26amp;B in the heart of Bardstown Rd. It doesn%26#39;t have a pool, but you couldn%26#39;t get a better location. Here%26#39;s the contact info.

http://www.lanierbb.com/inns/bb16677.html

Best of luck.

Mid range hotel with pool and pleasant neighbourhood?

Sounds like sterling advice. I%26#39;m digging the mature tree vibe, lol. I will check out those links pronto.

Many thanks!

LBL: Best camping with kids?

Looking at tent camping at Land Between the Lakes in July, but have never been to the area before. Will have 2 very active 11 year-old boys. :-)

We%26#39;re looking for a nice swimming beach, good fishing from a pier or shore, plus other fun activities. We%26#39;re not looking for complete peace and quiet, but large and loud party crowds are not our thing.

Found 3 campgrounds that look interesting:

Hillman Ferry Campground

Piney Campground

Prizer Point KOA Campground

Any feedback on which might make a good choice or other places to consider is greatly appreciated!

The Campbell House

I%26#39;m in the process of planning a trip to Lexington. We%26#39;re looking at The Campbell House as a possibility for lodging. It looks really nice from the website, but after looking at the Tripadvisor ratings, it seems people either love it or hate it. Has anyone stayed at The Campbell House recently and what did you think of your stay?

The Campbell House

eh,...it%26#39;s ok. Historic-looking exterior, but nothing special inside. You%26#39;d probably have an alright stay there. I prefer the nearby Springhill Suites....

The Campbell House

Thanks for your opinion. I think after looking at reviews here and on other sites, we%26#39;ve made the decision to stay elsewhere.

Stephen Foster Musical

We are planning a July trip to KY and plan to see the Stephen Foster musical. Right now there are plenty tickets available and it is difficult to determine if there are any disadvantages to getting seats near the front center (such as having the orchestra block one%26#39;s view, etc). Do you have any recommendations?

Stephen Foster Musical

The last time I was there was about 4 years ago, but from what I remember, there are really no bad seats. I do not remember the orchestra blocking anyone%26#39;s view. I believe we were towards the right, about halfway back and we could see everything perfectly. To be doubly sure, you mayc all and ask if there are any obstructions. Bardstown is a beautiful city. I%26#39;m sure you will enjoy your time there.

lip plumper

Best route to Crossville TN

Would you recommend driving from Indianapolis to Crossville TN (midway between Nashville %26amp; Knoxville on 40) via Louisville or via Lexington? They%26#39;re both about same time/mileage. Any major difference between the two routes? We%26#39;d be traveling Sunday May 17 with arrival in C%26#39;ville Wed May 20. I%26#39;m posting in both Lex %26amp; L%26#39;ville forums. Thanks!

Best route to Crossville TN

Driving through Lexington would be beautiful. The Bluegrass Region is surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful horse farms with many places to eat and stay just off the interstate.

Closest beach to Lexington?

Trying to plan a quick beach getaway for the kiddos this summer. What is the closest beach in driving distance to Lexington?

Closest beach to Lexington?

If you mean an ocean beach, it would probably Myrtle Beach, SC - but that%26#39;s a 9 1/2 hr. drive. If a lake beach would work, we have several in the LBL area of West KY - which would be about 4 hours from you. There may be state parks closer to you that would also have beaches, but I%26#39;m not familiar with which ones they%26#39;d be.

Closest beach to Lexington?

LBL is a great suggestion! I haven%26#39;t been there but have heard good things. Thanks!

Destin Fl is about 10 hrs. imo it%26#39;s much nicer than Myrtle Beach.

Actually, the closest ocean beach is the Isle of Palms near Charleston,, S.C. Its about 7 1/2 to 8 hours away. Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach are about 9 hours. We like to go to Seagrove Beach, Florida, which is between Destin and Panama City. 10 hour drive. Seagrove, and all of South Walton County, Florida, are great.

Thoughts on Infield Club @ Derby

Having just returned from the derby and sitting in the new infield club I was just curious to what others thought of it. I thought it was ok, but definitely not worth the $150. I thought the 2 jumbotrons were a joke as the picture wasn%26#39;t even clear and there was no sound anywhere. That was my biggest gripe. The bar was a nice touch and the bathrooms were pretty good too. Any thoughts? I%26#39;m wondering if it will be back next year.

Thoughts on Infield Club @ Derby

From what I have heard it would be worth the extra $100 just to have decent toilets in that area! ;-)

Considering the Derby next year...

I will be enjoying the Derby, with Mint Julip in hand, from our friends Derby party on Sat. However, next year we are thinking about making the trip down.

How far in advance should we start looking, or book, a hotel?

I like to be prepared, if a Derby trip is what we decide to do, since I know events such as this it becomes difficult if you wait too long.

Considering the Derby next year...

I am thinking of doing it next year also! I just started looking at places online but its hard to see prices when they don%26#39;t let you book this far in advance.

Considering the Derby next year...

Yeah, that is a problem this far out. I am curious if it is one of those things were you can reserve 6 months out, after the 1st of the year, etc

I am sure if we called we could probably get prices but we haven%26#39;t totally decided if this is what we want to do next year.

Call the places directly and book now. If it were me, I%26#39;d do a B%26amp;B in Old Louisville. Otherwise, 21C, The Seelbach, Galt House or Marriott would all be good choices. Make your dinner reservations now as well. Jack Fry%26#39;s is the Holy Grail.

If you want to go to the Derby and get a seat (good luck), it depends on a complicated formula. They used to spell it out on their site (kentuckyderby.com/2009/鈥eneral-admission) but my link for the FAQ is defunct (and I didn%26#39;t post it). Basically it went something like this (as I remember it): Apply for a non-infield ticket and you%26#39;ll get a random chance at it where the likelihood of you getting a ticket depends on

1. How many times you%26#39;ve asked in the past.

2. How consistently you%26#39;ve asked in the past. (Yes they keep track!)

3. Whether you%26#39;re a member of the Twin Spires Club and how much you%26#39;ve bet in person and on-line

and probably a bunch of other things I%26#39;ve forgotten (like whether you%26#39;ve won an Academy Award or Nobel Prize recently). However, they do have a certain (small) number of tickets for first-time askers, so if you%26#39;re lucky at your state lottery you might luck out on this too.

There%26#39;s no limit on the infield admission but from what I%26#39;ve heard don%26#39;t pay the $40 for that unless you like to not see the horses, like standing a long time, and don%26#39;t mind various fluids (rain, beer, vomit, etc.) landing on you.

Best bet is to start asking. Some people get in after 4 years, or 10 years, or 1 year, or never. You can probably buy a seat from a tour agency (I never looked because I assume they%26#39;d be prohibitively expensive). Of course if you%26#39;re an actor/entertainer you%26#39;ll have no problem getting in on even the first year.

I%26#39;ve only asked twice and gotten turned down. But then I let a few years elapse so I probably have to start over again.

Sorry, I can%26#39;t help you on the hotel question though.

recommendations on food on to do

My family of five will be spending 5 days in Lexington in mid-July for hubby%26#39;s convention. We will be staying at the Hyatt downtown. We plan on doing the Explorium. Kids are 12, 10, 2. Will the older ones be bored? We will be attending an after-hours dinner and party at the horse park, so we wont do that twice. I figured they would be bored with the shaker village. Too far to drive to any zoos? I have Ghattitown listed, too. Is it a Chuck E Cheese kind of place?

These are the restaurants I have on my list:

Cheapside

Ramseys

Joe Bologna

Magees

Sawyers/or Jimmy Ds

Feel free to add suggestions or to boo any choices

Thanks for the help =)

recommendations on food on to do

You and your kids will enjoy Lexington and the Bluegrass Region! Actually, many children take field trips to Shaker Village (I did in 6th grade and had a great time). You can also take a ride down the Kentucky River on the Dixie Belle Riverboat while you%26#39;re there. The Louisville and Cincinnati zoos are a little over an hour away, Lexington has lots of horses though! You may want to think about touring a horse farm (go to www.visitlex.com/idea/horse-farms.php for more info). Gattitown is very similar to Chuck E Cheese. It%26#39;s an all you can eat pizza buffet (but also has a salad bar, pasta, etc.). There are games you play for tickets that you trade in for prizes.

All the restaurants you listed are great! Sawyers is very close to the Hyatt (about a block) and has ';Lexington%26#39;s best burger'; according to Southern Living magazine. When you go to Joe Bologna%26#39;s, make sure you try the breadsticks (try putting parmasean cheese in the butter :). Cheapside and Ramseys both serve great food and reasonably priced. Originally from Maysville, Magees is more of a bakery but has sandwiches. Maysville-native George Clooney loves the ';transparent pies';.

Other things to do that the kids would enjoy in Lexington would be: Aviation Museum of Kentucky (at Blue Grass airport), tour Keeneland Race Course and eat breakfast in the track kitchen, tour Old Kentucky Chocolates Monday through Thursday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., hike Raven Run Nature Sanctuary and/or McConnell Springs, and tour The Thoroughbred Center. If you want to shop, Fayette Mall has over a hundred stores and many places to eat.

Other things just outside of Lexington in the Bluegrass Region: tour Toyota Motor Manufacturing (about 20-25 minutes from downtown Lexington in Georgetown), tour Camp Nelson Heritage Park (union supply depot, enlistment camp and African-American refugee camp), Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site (site of the bloddiest Kentucky Civil War battle), Nostalgia Station Toy %26amp; Train Museum (minutes from downtown in Versailles) and Fort Boonesboro (replica of 1775 Fort where Daniel Boone lived).

For more information, go to www.visitlex.com. We%26#39;ll see you in Lexington!

recommendations on food on to do

Food Choices...

Cheapside is really more of a bar-type atmosphere, not sure it is a place I%26#39;d take my kids if I was visiting Lexington. Ramsey%26#39;s is a good bet for a home-cooked meal. Joe B%26#39;s is always full of kids and VERY loud. My 10-year-old loves Gattitown still, it is really a C-E-C for older kids. Another palce, close to downtown, that the kids love is Logan%26#39;s Steakhouse. It is a casual dining restaurant and the kids love to eat the peanuts and through the on the floor...part of the fun!

WOW!! THanks so much for all of the info. It is very much appreciated.

Isnt there a really good aquarium near the KY/OH line? Is it worth the drive?

We will def be checking out a lot of those places. Thanks again!

The aquarium is The Newport Aquarium in Newport, KY. Just across the river from Cincinnati. It would be about an hour and twenty minute drive from Lexington (north on I-75).

I haven%26#39;t been there, but have heard good things. If you make a day trip to the aquarium, then you%26#39;ve opened up a whole other potential list of things to do in and around the Cincy area.

The aquarium is great. I recommend getting up early and being there at opening time. I%26#39;m sorry I can%26#39;t remember the time but it%26#39;s name is The Newport Aquarium so you can look at their website. There is a zoo in Cincy as well. Also in Cincy is a great Art Museum. While you wouldn%26#39;t think of that for kids they have little cards for different ages that are treasure hunts. Gives the kids something to look for while you enjoy the art! Another Cincy thing to do is the Children%26#39;s Museum. I would probably recommend it over the aquarium, zoo and museum. It is in the Union Terminal. There is also an Imax and a natural history museum in the same building. If you go there plan on spending at least 4 hours.

The Explorium may well bore your older children. My son is 11 and we went a few weeks ago. He was finished within a half an hour. Of course he%26#39;s also been there many times so he may just have been bored from having already seen everything.

Pazzo%26#39;s has great pizza. It%26#39;s somewhat of a bar atmosphere but being in the summer UK students will be gone so it should be fine for a family (we go with our son a lot).

Shaker Village? pretty but not what I would do with our son.

Raven Run is great. It%26#39;s only about 10-15 minutes from downtown and is great for easy, but pretty hiking.

Joseph Beth Booksellers is something I would highly recommend taking in. Check out their website as they have storytelling at various times.

Another thing our son loves is the Movie Tavern. Basically a movie theater where you order food and drinks while you watch the movie. The food is okay but for some reason kids seem to love it.

On Reynolds Rd is a complex called Champs. They have laser tag and roller skating.

thrifting/yard sale tips from locals

Several of us girls from the sticks will be in Lex.for a weekend soon, and invite the challlenge of finding ';the good stuff'; cheap at consignment shops and tag/yard sales. Any suggestions from locals? Will check the H-L for yard sale listings, and have had success at the Goodwill on Limestone/New Circle in the past. Thanks in advance!

thrifting/yard sale tips from locals

I don%26#39;t really have any good tips, except the Southland Drive area and the surrounding neighborhoods sometimes have good sales. There is a Re-Store (Habitat for Humanity) place that I think is on Southland and you can find some great deals on home things in there sometimes.

thrifting/yard sale tips from locals

For clothing; Plato%26#39;s Closet in Zandale Shopping Center on Nicholasville Road is good. They have name brand clothing for mostly the younger crowd (Abercrombie, American Eagle, etc), but also have purses, shoes, and men%26#39;s clothing. I once bought a pair of Steve Madden wedges that had never been worn for $8.00. Next door to Plato%26#39;s Closet is also Once Upon a Child which sells bargain baby/toddler items.

Also, there is Salvation Army on New Circle Road, and don%26#39;t forget to check out some of the other Goodwill stores; I prefer the Heartland Parkway location.

Have a great time %26amp; happy shopping!

Thanks for the suggestions--we had a wonderful weekend in Lexington.

lip plumper

3rd of July/Waterfront Festival

Looking for some hotel reccomendations with in walking distance to this on 7/3.

The website for it only lists 1, and that one has waterfront balcony rooms. Would we be able to see the fireworks from the balcony?

Any other hotels with-in walking distance that are decent and under $200/night?

Any one that has been to this prior years? Opinions on it?

Thanks

Mel

3rd of July/Waterfront Festival

Walking distance is always subjective - but within a mile or less there are a number of hotels:

21C Museum Hotel, Hyatt, Fairfield, Econolodge, Hampton, Seelbach %26amp; Brown - The Marriott line has 4:Residence, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites %26amp; a Marriott.

You%26#39;d have to specifically reserve a room with a fireworks view at the Galt House I%26#39;d think.

We%26#39;ve been to the Fireworks %26amp; Live Music show - I think it%26#39;s been going on about 10 years now - a number of times. Generally the music style is dramatically different on the two nights, but the fire works shows are basically the same on both nights. Since I%26#39;m a local I have never looked into renting a hotel for either evening.

It%26#39;s well organized.

What types of opinions and info are you looking for?

Things to do for group of teenagers in November

We will be bringing a group of teenagers (mostly girls) to either Louisville or Salt Lake City for a Convention in November. We are looking for things to do (not too expensive) on our one sightseeing day. What are some suggestions, so we can decide between the two cities?

Things to do for group of teenagers in November

Take a ride on the Belle of Louisville (might not be running in Nov, however)

Derby Museum

Falls of the Ohio (Louisville exists because of the falls)

I was thinking about the Lou. Slugger Museum or the Muhammad Ali Center, but those might not interest teen girls.

Maybe an IMAX film at the Science Center.

Things to do for group of teenagers in November

The Belle stops on October 31. Falls of the Ohio is cool....the Frazier Arms Museum is fun. We also have 2 huge malls 1/8 of a mile apart. That%26#39;s definitely what my teens love.

Thanks! We are leaning towards the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Louisville Slugger Museum %26amp; Factory, and maybe the Falls of the Ohio (depending on the weather). Probably not the Science Center/IMAX since we have one in our hometown. And the Belle will be closed. What about Glassworks? We are checking out Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack, and are probably going to take the long way %26amp; go to Lambert%26#39;s Cafe in Sikeston, MO. Any other suggestions for fun, unique, inexpensive places to eat for teenagers?

We have an Old Spaghetti Factory here. It%26#39;s rather Ragu type food, but the inside is beautiful and it%26#39;s cheap. Kids like it. We also have a Hard Rock Cafe on 4th Street Live.

Took a 12 year old to Frazier Museum. She was ready to leave after 15 minutes. Don%26#39;t bother with teen-age girls.

Fun place to eat for your group would be Lynn%26#39;s Paradise Cafe, Barrett Ave.

Glassworks is a good idea. Haven%26#39;t been there yet, but glassblowing is a cool thing. Going there on a field trip with 5th graders on May 27. If I remember I%26#39;ll let you know how it is.

Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack might be fun for your group. Just don%26#39;t expect the food to be any good. Typical chain fare.

Take the teens to Bardstown Road area %26amp; let them go thru all the local shops %26amp; then sit down to a meal at Ramsi%26#39;s. Ramsi%26#39;s can cater to vegan or carnivore.

http://www.ramsiscafe.com/

Bardstown Road has a number of small shops that have funky clothing, huge music shop, jewelry etc. In addition to those shops there are some great comic book stores %26amp; used cd stores as well.

The Ali Center can be interesting, but my bet is the teens will be less impressed with Museums %26amp; more excited about the stores -lol.

http://www.alicenter.org/Pages/default.aspx

The Derby Musuem is intersting %26amp; the track is open in November (although under 18 can%26#39;t bet).

http://www.derbymuseum.org/

If you are staying in Louisville where would you be (area wise?) - that might help get some ideas of fun places for the teens (%26amp; adults).

If the teens are into skateboarding from downtown the Extreme Park can be fun weather permitting.

http://www.louisvilleextremepark.org/

And if you id the type convention it might make it easier to id things of interest - ie a baseball convention would want to check out Louisville Slugger Museum.

I posed this question to my 15 year old. She suggested starting on Bardstown Road at Ear Xtacy (a record store) and strolling from there. There are lots of shops, restaurants and crazy people! My girls love it. Ramsi%26#39;s is good, but there are pizza places and oyher stops as well. Mark%26#39;s feed Store (barbecue) is popular as is Wick%26#39;s Pizza. Rights down from Wick%26#39;s is Pitaya, a girls%26#39; clothing store which is popular and not too $$$.