Typical KY stuff

My daughter is coming home from London for a visit in September. She's bringing her very English sweetie pie with her. We won't have much time together but I wanted to make sure Rhys has a good time and sees some stuff typical to both the U.S. and KY. These are my ideas. Please add any you may think of.
!. Trip to Fort Knox
2. Trip to Berheim
3. Do a drive in movie in Georgetown
4. Some sort of "river walk"
5. One of the bourbon tours
6. Churchill Downs or CD museum
7. My Old KY Home

[Robin Garr]

My daughter is coming home from London for a visit in September. She's bringing her very English sweetie pie with her. We won't have much time together but I wanted to make sure Rhys has a good time and sees some stuff typical to both the U.S. and KY. These are my ideas. Please add any you may think of.
!. Trip to Fort Knox
2. Trip to Berheim
3. Do a drive in movie in Georgetown
4. Some sort of "river walk"
5. One of the bourbon tours
6. Churchill Downs or CD museum
7. My Old KY Home

Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville would add one, and satisfy the "river walk" experience, although she should definitely walk around in the Riverfront Park on the Louisville side.

Louisville Slugger Museum, with a walk down West Main to enjoy the old buildings, maybe including a stop at Luigi's for a slice or at Proof for a drink.

Old Louisville

Louisville Zoo

A drive out River Road, with a stop at Captain's Quarters.

A drive through Cherokee Park, and maybe, if it doesn't creep them out, Cave Hill for the arboretum and the ornate old Victorian-era monuments. Finish with a drive or stroll around the Cherokee Triangle, ending up with a ride down Bardstown Road and a stop for a snack or drink at Jack Fry's or Seviche, a slice at Papalino's, or you get the idea.

Or take them on a spin out Frankfort Avenue, particularly the blocks from around Franck out past Heine's and Carmichael's, the Crescent Hill Library, Crescent Hill Baptist, St. Mark's, Blue Dog and the Water Company, which is about as close to fin de siecle Paris architecture and streetscape as you're going to find in this city named after a French king. And you can stop at Heine's or Blue Dog or check out the new "Five at Five" $5 small plates offer at Porcini, where on request they may show you the infamous Pitino booth.

Personally, I think it's little inner glimpses of a city like this, as much as tourist attractions, that build memories.

I like Robin's approach to seeing the city. I'd rather, as a tourist, get the organic feel of a city by being in the places where the locals are, as compared to hopping from tourist spot to tourist spot. That being said, I do think you have some keepers on your original list - CD, river, bourbon tour.

The rest really depends on the likes and dislikes of a particular person. While I don't find Bernheim to be specifically "Kentucky," I do love it and would take someone who likes such things there. Ft. Knox does not interest me at all, nor do I find it all that "Kentucky." But it might do the trick for someone else. Same in regards to My Old KY Home.

I think there's a tendency as a host to want to take people to certain "spots." Truth be told, though, these spots don't mean much to the visitor w/o the proper contextualization. I'd pick a few noteworthy tourist places - Churchill, Slugger Museum, Bourbon etc. - to go to and then build the rest of the trip around those local places that flow more seamlessly into daily life (waterfront park, the Olmstead parks, Bardstown Road). You could even skip on a Bourbon tour - if that is not super attractive to the guest - and replace it with a tasting at Bourbons Bistro.

The great thing about Louisville is there are so many options - touristy and otherwise - to satisfy almost any person. I do think the drive-in movie is uniquely Americana and a great way to waste-away an evening.

Have fun!

Cave Hill

Colonel Sanders grave is about as America and Kentucky as it gets.

"Five at Five" $5 small plates offer at Porcini

Details?

[Robin Garr]

Colonel Sanders grave is about as America and Kentucky as it gets.

I'll leave it to the Louisvillians of 2110 to pass judgement on that. I get a deeper pleasure out of the Victorian Baroque monuments of the late 1800s, which have had the benefit of time to soften their edges.

"Five at Five" $5 small plates offer at Porcini

Details?

I don't know! John at The Wine Rack mentioned it last night, but I haven't checked it out yet, and they haven't sent any announcement. Apparently it's something they've started doing, maybe at the bar only, to attract an early crowd with affordable nibbles in small plate portions at small plate prices. Maybe they're trying to get serious diners in to combat the hordes of Pitino-inspired sightseers?

Colonel Sanders grave is about as America and Kentucky as it gets.

I'll leave it to the Louisvillians of 2110 to pass judgement on that. I get a deeper pleasure out of the Victorian Baroque monuments of the late 1800s, which have had the benefit of time to soften their edges.

Semi tongue in cheek, but fried chicken is pretty American and KFC is the biggest name in the biz.

The Porcini deal is very exciting.

Quick drive down to Frankfort, then the back roads into Lexington to see the horse farms. (I recent drove from Maysville to Georgetown on the back roads and was stunned with the beauty I had skipped by being on interstates too much.)

Carla- how great to have your daughter back for a bit!
My recent visitors really enjoyed Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood and The Pleasent Hill Shaker Village, but that takes a whold day with the boat trip which I love.
I always drive through Cherokee and the Highlands.
In my mind 21C is a must.
Have fun whatever you do.

I tried the whole Fort Knox thing (Patton Museum) when my in-laws were visiting from France. They haven't spoken to me since.

j/k but they really did hate it. It truly is one of the most boring places in the world if you aren't fascinated by tanks, tanks & more tanks. I personally wouldn't risk it.

I took them to several nice local dining establishments in Kentucky, Tennessee & Florida but the only place they seemed to care about was Cracker Barrel. They just couldn't get enough of it. We ended up eating there 3 times. These are 2 individuals that really know their food. I just can't get over it.

.
The Porcini deal is very exciting.

Hopefully longer than 15 seconds...

Quick drive down to Frankfort, then the back roads into Lexington to see the horse farms. (I recent drove from Maysville to Georgetown on the back roads and was stunned with the beauty I had skipped by being on interstates too much.)

Definitely agree !!, U.S.- 68 is one of the most scenic roads in the state

I agree w/ Robin about Cave Hill. My father-in-law is in the cemetery business (he manages most of the major cemeteries in Paris). He absolutely loved Cave Hill & said that it was the most beautiful cemetery that he'd ever visited.

My father-in-law also enjoyed the Falls of the Ohio but what most impressed them was the view of Louisville from that small nearby park. It's a lovely place to have a picnic.

How about Mammoth Cave?

TP just wondering. Any personal connections with Maysville. I was born and raised there. Moved to Louisville when I was 35.

Quick drive down to Frankfort, then the back roads into Lexington to see the horse farms. (I recent drove from Maysville to Georgetown on the back roads and was stunned with the beauty I had skipped by being on interstates too much.)

And this is why I asked. Great GREAT suggestions and ideas all. Sarah says she'll be happy to just be home. All she asks for is one night for sushi and at least one day of movies. This is the first trip to the US for her BF. He'd like to see things he can relate to. How could I have overlooked the Slugger museum, Falls of the Ohio and Cave Hill? (Actually he'd love to see Col. Sanders grave.) Also it looks like the last game of the season for a baseball game @ Slugger Field is 9/6 so that's a maybe.

Food wise I'm not sure what we'll do. Originally I wanted to take them to Flabby's but that's out. Sarah mentioned Cunninghams by the river. They get plenty of great Indian, Thai, and other international foods - except for Mexican so maybe we'll do Mayan Cafe. But I'm still taking any ideas anyone might have.

Thank you thank you thank you