Louisville is located in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky...

The downtown area sits on the banks of the Ohio River. It's home to Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, the Louisville Zoo (and the new Gorilla Forest), a world class extreme park, the Louisville Slugger Museum, unique Cave Hill Cemetery, the Belle of Louisville (the nation's oldest operating sternwheel steamboat) and beautiful Cherokee Park (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same man responsible for New York City's Central Park). Muhammad Ali, actor Ned Beatty, and writers Hunter S. Thompson, Sue Grafton and Karen Robards were born here. Kentuckian Diane Sawyer began her career in Louisville, and actor Tom Cruise spent a lot of his youth in the Derby City. I'm an eastern Kentucky native, but I've lived in Ohio, Indiana, Wyoming and California. I've traveled extensively, and I have to say that Louisville is one of the friendliest cities I've encountered.

Since the merger in January 2003 of Louisville and Jefferson County, this city now ranks about sixteenth in the country with regards to population. In the nineteenth century, it used to be quite the genteel Victorian town. Much of Old Louisville (the country's largest historic Victorian district) survives today, thanks to a local preservation society and young professionals who have dedicated themselves to its restoration. It's definitely worth a look-see - especially in the fall, when the St. James Court Art Show is held in the heart of Old Louisville. Around 700 artists converge at St. James and Belgravia Courts every year, come rain or shine, to participate.

Truthfully, the most exciting time to visit this city is in the spring during the Kentucky Derby Festival - the two weeks leading up to Derby Day. The festival is kicked off in April by a spectacular fireworks show (Thunder Over Louisville), and hundreds of events are scheduled, including a marathon and a colorful hot air balloon race.

So, y'all stop by and see us sometime - sip a mint julep on our verandah and eat a big, sinful piece of rich Derby Pie.

For more information, visit www.Louisville.com