Louisville, KY
By many tourists overlooked, Louisville, Kentucky is a fun city with many sights. It is located on the Ohio River, which also marks the border to the state of Indiana. Known for KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), its four bridges, Bourbon Whiskey, derby races, and Slugger manufacturing, it is a metropolis worth every visit.
Louisville is a bustling city rich in international, as well as it's own, unique culture.
Every year the city celebrates it's very own "WorldFest" during the four day Labor Day weekend. Louisville's main international festival attracts over 150,000 visitors. The festival is free to attend and visitors can enjoy various international cuisines supplied by almost 150 vendors and observe a distinctive entertainment program on multiple stages, at the Global Village, and the Parade of Cultures.
Of course, Louisville doesn't disappoint any other day of the year either. Travellers should not miss out on an extraordinary Bourbon and handcrafted spirits experience in the historic downtown on Whiskey Row. For those interested in sports, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the Kentucky Derby are a must see.
Notably, pretty much everything in downtown Louisville is walkable. This makes it the perfect destination as weekend road trip for the entire family.
History facts:
The city was founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark. Louisville was named after King Louis XVI of France in appreciation of his military assistance during the Revolutionary War.
After the Independence War, Louisville prospered as a major trade hub thanks to its convenient strategic location at the Ohio River. Merchant princes and manufacturers settling in Louisville, permanently shaped the economy.
Most importantly, Louisville established itself as one of the major Bourbon and Whiskey distillers in the country. After the American Prohibition, which made alcohol illegal during the 1920s up until 1933, the city profited again from its opportune location. Barrels and surpluses in crops were available at the markets at a very low cost. Distillers discovered this as a particular niche and started distilling Bourbon. Since almost all the distilleries were located along Main Street, which then earned the name Whiskey Row.
What is Bourbon?
First of all, all Bourbon is Whiskey, but not all Whiskey is Bourbon. Bourbon has to contain at least 51% corn , and is aged in new charred oak barrels. Whiskey can contain all different sorts of grains and can be aged in a variety of barrels.
