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Hotels in Louisville
• Microtel Inn Louisville from $49.95 USD
• Breckinridge Inn Louisville from $54.00 USD
• Candlewood Suites East Louisville from $55.95 USD
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Vacation Rentals in Louisville
• Extendedstay Louisvl Dutchman Louisville from $55.95 USD
• Extendedstay St. Matthews Louisville from $55.95 USD
• Extendedstay Hurstbourne Louisville from $55.95 USD
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Louisville
• Arrival, Information And Getting Around
• Eating
• Nightlife And Entertainment
• Explore Louisville
• Hotels in Louisville
Exploring Louisville
• Central Louisville
• Louisville's horses: the Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE , just south of Indiana across the Ohio River, is firmly embedded in the American national consciousness for its multimillion-dollar Kentucky Derby . Each year, the horse race attracts over 500,000 fans to this cosmopolitan and well-diversified industrial city, which still bears the traces of the early French settlers who came upriver from New Orleans. Today a third of the country's bourbon is made here.
Louisville's history revolves around a perennial rivalry with Cincinnati, a mere one hundred miles upstream. For example, despite being pro-Union during the Civil War, it promoted itself thereafter - erecting Confederate statues and so on - as the place for Southern business to invest, as opposed to Midwestern Yankee cities like Cincinnati.
Besides a lively arts scene and lots of citywide festivals, Louisville boasts an unrivaled network of public parks, many designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. One native son who took advantage of the recreation facilities was three-time world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali , who used to do his early-morning training in the scenic environs of Chickasaw Park.
Most major US airlines fly into Louisville International Airport (tel 502/367-4636), five miles south of downtown on I-65; take bus #2 or pay a $15 cab fare. Greyhound terminates at fairly central 720 W Muhammad Ali Blvd (tel 502/585-3331). An excellent bus service (75?) makes getting around easy. Some routes operate as late as 2am, and downtown trolleys run from 7.30am to 6pm. The visitor center is at 3rd and Market streets (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm; tel 502/584-2121 or 1-800/626-5646, ext 321, ). For news of upcoming events, pick up a copy of the free listings magazine LEO ( Louisville Eccentric Observer ).
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