Families visiting Louisville, Kentucky, can enjoy seeing animals, taking adventure rides, learning about baseball, performing hands-on science experiments, and playing by the Ohio River.
No family visit to Louisville would be complete without visiting the Louisville Zoo. Owned by the City of Louisville, this 134 acre site between the Highlands neighborhood and the south end is home to over 1,300 animals. Lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, snakes, birds, monkeys, apes, and other kid favorites are all here. A 4 acre Gorilla Forest completed in 2002 also includes pygmy hippos. A simulated rain forest is designed so that visitors appear to be "up close and personal" with dangerous animals. Don't miss seeing King Louis, a rare albino alligator who lives in the HerpAquarium. Full food services with indoor and outdoor eating sites are available. Parents can enjoy the African Outpost Restaurant while the children expend some energy at the adjacent playground. Picnic areas are also available. It costs extra to ride to the ZooTram, which loops through the inner areas of the zoo, and the Train, which goes around the outer borders. Additional fees are also charged for the antique carousel ride, ZooKeys which give access to animal information throughout the zoo, and Morphis a full motion simulator that offers a virtual experience of gorillas in the mountains. Special programs for the whole family and day camps for pre-schoolers through teens are held every summer. One of the most popular special events, billed as the World's Largest Halloween Party, is held every October.
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is located in the south end next to the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center. Looney Tunes Movie Town surrounds the area with rides and attractions for children. Families can float in a raft at the Penguins Blizzard River or take a hot air balloon ride. Kids can enjoy driving Tin Lizzie antique cars, or exploring Looney Tunes Acre Fun Factory, an interactive house filled with foam balls. Everyone can go for a spin on the antique carousel and enjoy the regularly scheduled musical shows. Bring your swimsuits and cool off at Hurricane Bay Water Park, which is included with the price of admission. Kids love the Barefoot Cove, which is a wet playground, and Hooks Lagoon, a five story water tree house with plenty of splashing fun, including slides. The whole family can relax in the Hurricane Bay Wave Pool which is surrounded by a beach-like setting. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom also has an area with plenty of thrilling action rides for mom, dad, and older children. During the Kentucky State Fair every August admission to the park is free and rides are individually priced.
The 3 story Louisville Science Center is located in the downtown area. The first floor houses special exhibits and the KidZone, an interactive play area of great interest to preschoolers. The World We Create, which is on the second floor, offers about 50 hands-on activities to encourage creative thinking that leads to scientific advancements. Kids of all ages can experiment in the chemistry kitchen, learn more about computers, or design a bicycle in the Inventor's Garage. The top floor houses The World Within Us which explains anatomy, physiology, and nutrition through hands-on exhibits. There's also an IMAX theatre inside the center.
Less than a block from the Louisville Science Center is the Louisville Slugger Museum and Bat Factory. You can't miss it. Just look for a bat. The museum's entrance is marked by the world's largest baseball bat which is 120 feet long and weighs 68,000 pounds. As if that isn't enough, the atrium is home to the world's largest baseball glove, a 21 ton limestone glove sculpture. Kids especially enjoy one popular exhibit that allows visitors to select one of six major league pitchers and learn what it feels like to have a 90 mile per hour fastball aimed at them. On weekdays the last part of the tour is a walk through the manufacturing facility at Hillerich and Bradsby where each visitor receives a miniature souvenir bat. Speaking of baseball, check out the schedule for the Louisville Bats to see if they have a home game at nearby Slugger Field during your visit.
Weather permitting, allow time to explore Waterfront Park. This 50 acre public park is in the downtown area on the banks of the Ohio River overlooking southern Indiana. The 3 acre Adventure Playground includes play structures suited for the area, including a steamboat, towboat and barge, and bridges. There's plenty of room for active games on the Great Lawn. Jogging trails are also available. Bring your own picnic, as there are no restaurants or food vendors nearby. This park is frequently used for large community wide festivities, so it's best to check a local calendar of events in advance of your visit.
