Louisville, on deck to be your next adventure!

Known for baseball, horse racing and bourbon, Louisville, Ky., is also home to more than 120 parks, diverse museums, 2,500 restaurants, the world's largest baseball bat and Fourth Street Live!  The blend of Louisville's rich heritage and modern attractions set the scene for a great weekend adventure.

Louisville's 120 public parks are distinguished by residents and frequented by tourists for the panoramic views, captivating landscapes and Victorian charm, said Gathan Borden, marketing manager for Louisville's Visitor Information Center.  Each park offers its own unique amenities, such as sports venues, exercise trails, annual events, dog parks and playgrounds.

Central Park, Iroquois Park and Shawnee Park are among the most well-known and most visited attractions in Louisville, Borden said. All designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, nationally recognized landscape architect noted for designing Central Park in New York City, these parks harbor a unique aesthetic.

However, the city has more to offer visitors than just parks. The Speed Art Museum, the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory are popular among tourists, Borden said.

The Speed Art Museum is the oldest and biggest art spectacle in Kentucky, said Shannin Thompson, Speed Art Museum employee. 

"We have collections of 17th century paintings, 18th century art, Renaissance period pieces, contemporary American art and a growing African and Native American exhibit," Thompson said.

The Kentucky Derby Museum pays homage to Churchill Downs, past races, derby traditions and the "greatest two minutes in sports." said Wendy Treinen, director of communications for the Kentucky Derby Museum. 

"The Derby Hat exhibit is a favorite of patrons," Treinen said.  "Each year's most beautiful and unique derby hats are judged, and the top 20 are displayed in the exhibit for a year."

The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory has been in operation since 1884 and produces the official bat of Major League Baseball, said Marisol Collingsworth, Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory guide.  Home to the world's largest baseball bat, the museum offers several exhibits, such as Linedrives and Lipstick, the untold story of women's baseball and an examination of the evolution of baseball, Collingsworth said.

Louisville also offers several unique and diverse restaurants.

"The most difficult decision to make in Louisville is where to eat," Borden said.

  Louisville is home to more than 2,500 restaurants, bistros, cafes, barbequues, grills, pubs, saloons, pizzerias, steakhouses, lounges, shacks, factories and fast food joints, he said.

   After dinner, visitors can head to Fourth Street Live!, the city's entertainment district, for concerts, night clubs and shopping.

   "Fourth Street Live! is in the heart of downtown Louisville," Borden said.  "Shopping, dining and entertainment are Fourth Street Live's specialties."

   Kelly Crouch can be contacted at crouch16@marshall.edu.