March - April 2018
After flying into Louisville the previous evening, we spent our first full day in Kentucky getting the feel for the city. We went to an early morning tour of the Louisville Slugger factory and got to see some of the most well-known baseball bats in the world being made. Then it was off to our first of many bourbon distilleries, Evan Williams, for a tour and tasting. One of the most unique parts of the day came as we headed underground into the Louisville Mega Cavern, a massive man-made cavern under the city. Once we emerged back into the sunlight, we checked out Fourth Street Live!, an entertainment area. After tasting some more bourbons at Jim Beam's Urban Stillhouse, we had an obscenely expensive hamburger and a bourbon milkshake.
A dreary first look from our hotel in Louisville
There's a White Castle across the street from our hotel. I've never tried one before.
Taking a walk down Whiskey Row
Must be getting close to the Louisville Slugger factory
We'll be checking out the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience later on
Like most things bourbon related here, Evan Williams was a historic figure
My mother made a friend, former Louisville mayor, Charles Farnsley
Red penguins and golden naked giant. This building isn't tacky at all.
That is one big baseball bat. We've arrived at the Louisville Slugger factory.
Heading into the Louisville Slugger factory
The Louisville Slugger company is actually called Hillerch & Bradsby
That is one big baseball bat. We've arrived at the Louisville Slugger factory.
Walking among baseball's historic players
This gentleman is Babe Ruth
Not the kind of bats you usually worry about flying over your head
Babe Ruth's bat
Hillerch & Bradsby didn't always make only bats
This is the original Louisville Slugger bat
Some of Louisville Slugger's most famous bats
A torch from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, autographed by Kentuckian Muhammad Ali
A torch from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, autographed by Kentuckian Muhammad Ali
A torch from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
The bat in the middle belongs to my favorite baseball player, Mike Schmidt of the Phillies
Memories of A League of Their Own
Lousiville Slugger pitched in during wartime like everyone else
Walking the halls of the Louisville Slugger factory
MLB Hall of Famers who used Lousville Slugger bats
To say there are a lot of MLB players who use Louisville Slugger bats is an understatement
Checking out the stills at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Tasting our first bourbon in Kentucky, Evan Williams
Tasting our first bourbon in Kentucky, Evan Williams
Touring the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
That is one big bottle of Evan Williams bourbon
Where there is a giant bottle of bourbon, there is a giant glass to pour it into
You could swim in that glass of bourbon
Why is it not surprising that Lousiville's public art program consists of painted horses?
Trying out some Kentucky barbecue brisket
Walking Whiskey Row under clearer skies
Talk about gutting a building!
The 400 West Market Building is a defining feature of the Louisville skyline
Heading down into the Louisville Mega Cavern
We're way below ground in the Louisville Mega Cavern
The Louisville Mega Cavern is quite a place
Our chariot awaits
The city actually stores road salt down in the cavern
People (not us) ziplining down in the Louisville Mega Cavern
Taking a tour of the Louisville Mega Cavern
Underground storage containers?
All sorts of rock formations in the Louisville Mega Cavern
All sorts of rock formations in the Louisville Mega Cavern
The cavern was also used as a potential bunker in case of nuclear war
Need more space, just blast a hole in a wall
Back above ground and passing the skyline of Louisville
If a horse painted with bourbon barrels doesn't define Kentucky, I'm not sure what does!
My mother found a mint julip. I may have to carry her back to the hotel after this one!
Fourth Street Live! is a fun entertainment & dining district
Fourth Street Live! is a fun entertainment & dining district
Jim Beam's downtown location, their Urban Stillhouse
These guys sing as they make fudge
Fourth Street Live! is a fun entertainment & dining district
I love a good pedestrian mall. This is Fourth Street Live!
Fourth Street Live! in some great golden hour light.
Inside Jim Beam's Urban Stillhouse
Visiting Jim Beam's Urban Stillhouse
Jim Beam's tree of bourbon barrel staves
Our second bourbon tasting, Jim Beam
You're looking at a $25 koji beef burger at Whiskey Dry. It was good, but not $25 good!
A bourbon milkshake? Only in Kentucky!
Fourth Street Live after dark
Back at our hotel with a view the the Big Four Bridge and ferris wheel