Louisville : Great Balls of Fire
Posted by admin on Sep 12, 2008
Louisville Hot Air Balloon Festival - Courtesy z.about.com
The first thing you ought to learn before making it to Louisville, Kentucky is to learn how to pronounce the place. Quite different from the Louisville of Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio or even Mississippi, Louisvillians in Kentucky pronounce Louisville in a myriad ways but always, the ’s’ is silent. So it can be Looaville, Looeyville or even luhvul but no ’s’ please. The variability in local pronunciation is said to be due to the confluence of Northern and Southern cultures merging here to bring in the mixed intonations.
A stint at the Jefferson Memorial Forest for the Team Building Program had me staying at the Horine Conference Center located 15 miles from downtown Louisville. Besides taking me up to another level on corporate management skills the 6191 acres of spectacular woods had me hitting the trails in the nation’s largest municipal urban forest. Once the program was over I was keen to explore Louisville, home to Kentucky’s most famous icons – Kentucky Bourbon, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Kentucky Derby!
Since the Derby excitement was all over and done with I decided to dig into the rich culture and history of the city known as the Gateway to the South. Named after King Louis XVI of France the city has grown beyond the dreams of an isolated camp site into a major shipping port solely because of its location by the Ohio river. This Bluegrass region of US known for its highly fertile tracts of land has been an excellent center for breeding quality livestock – especially thoroughbred race horses. Little wonder Derby city got inherently involved in the widely watched horse racing event.
Louisville offers affordable fun and excitement all the year round as I was to discover. I began my quick tour by first visiting Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum that is open throughout the year. Enjoying some famed fare and imbibing the native drink of America I surveyed my options and focussed on the three major attractions located close to each other - The Louisville Slugger Museum, The Louisville Science Center and Glassworks. Nothing energies me as much as the feel of the vibrant culture of a city.
The downtown business district had major roads extending in all directions. It was the best place to be settled in the city, as I was to find out, since it afforded quick access to most attractions with even the airport being just 7 miles away. My lodgings had been a good choice as it turned out with the amazing tip having come from Downtown Louisville hotel site. The cool nip of Fall air setting in the ambiance for the legendary Autumn just round the corner, I was in for a good time knowing full well that the weather was to stay perfect for a while.
Located south of the Ohio river and with the Falls of Ohio close by I spend time to check out the Louisville Riverboat excursions that was also an inspired decision. The great weather and the sumptuous dining aboard the Spirit of Jefferson had me in a wonderful state of mind. The following day saw me walking along the streets to pay homage to the city’s architecture. Needless to say the old Louisville takes you back in time featuring some well preserved Victorian homes and buildings. It was also a pleasure to stroll by West Main Street in downtown that has such an outstanding collection of cast iron facades. It lends an inimitable air to the city not to be found elsewhere. ‘The Ville’ is in a class of her own.
Louisville is home to a number of annual cultural events besides the most well-known thats the Kentucky Derby. This September is having the Adam Matthews Balloon Festival featuring early morning balloon races as well as balloon glows in the evening. I got pretty excited about it as its the fifth largest hot air balloon festival in the US. Of course nearby at Bardstown the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival had to be attended since besides some corporate skills I had also to learn to distinguish some of the finest bourbons in the world. I could not leave without buying some of the best whiskeys that were up on sale here. Close at hand at Jeffersontown the annual Gaslight Festival was having a series of events spread over a week and I learned that nearly 200,000 people converge here all through the week.
Locals informed me that the St James Court Art Show in October in old Louisville will have thousands of artists gather on the streets to exhibit and sell their wares when collectors and enthusiasts will crowd in on Louisville. Its the most heavily attended event after the Derby. Oh well since I would miss that I decided to do the monthly art event at First Friday Trolley Hop that took me to the downtown area art galleries to appease my artistic sensibilities. It was a good feeling to see art and artists taking their rightful place in a world settling for virtual realities.
At the end of it all I was really glad that I had spent the extended week end to discover Louisville. It has spurred me on to make sure that I would be back here for the much touted mint julep bourbons that are said to be de riguer at the Derby and to witness the largest annual fireworks display in US. Just a day long drive away from home, I plan to return with my family for all the grand festivities preceding the Derby. And the Derby is just the perfect reason to be here again. My tributes to the Jefferson Memorial Forest and to the Kentucky veterans that brought me to the city in the first place.
Autumn round the corner in Louisville - Courtesy lh3.ggpht.com