Kentucky’s largest city, this concrete paradise sits deftly upon the Ohio River along the Indiana border. It is named after King Louis XVI of France.Interestingly, it was founded in 1778 by none other than George Rogers Clark- a legend in American lore.
Clark was the highest ranking American military officer on the North-Western frontier during the notorious American Revolution. He served as the leader of the military in Kentucky and helped free the state from the hands of the British. In the process, he earned himself the tag of ‘the conqueror of the Old Northwest’. This also makes Louisville one of the oldest cities in America.
Today, this tourist-friendly city has a plethora of attractions such as the Churchill Downs, the Louisville Slugger Museum, and the Belle of Louisville; which is the oldest surviving river steamboat- to name a few. Even if you are on a budget, this city boasts myriads of free attractions for your benefit, including more than 100 parks for some sparkling outdoor fun!
Children are sure to fall in love with this magical place. With its tranquil speed of life, easy going people, uber friendly neighbourhoods, and picturesque sites, the Derby Citywill make for a treasure trove of memories.
A trip to this city will forever be etched in your mind.So, without much further ado, here are the best places to visit with kids in Louisville!
Top Things to Do in Louisville
Bring your children to Louisville and experience history, culture and scintillating fun like never before! Gift your children a trip to Louisville and thank us later.
Louisville Zoo 
Startingthis list is the Louisville Zoo. A certified, bonafide success amongst the children, the Louisville Zoo is a must-see tourist hotspot, especially for families. Here you will find exotic animals you may never have seen (or even heard off before), such as the Addax, the colobus monkeys, and snow leopards to name a few.
However, while the main attraction here may be the wildlife, the zoo is also replete with other amazing exhibits. The Louisville Zoo is home to an Herpaquarium is riddled with reptiles, snakes and other critters, a waterpark where children can frolic around and make merry, and severalother playgrounds. It even has a miniature train garden complete with a miniature albeit ridable train, a carousel, and a motion simulator.
But the best exhibit of all at the Louisville is their Dinosaur exhibit! Yes, you heard that right. Louisville has their very own Jurassic Park-esque exhibit where children can spend their day running around all kinds of life-sized dinosaurs. There are over twelve species of dinosaurs, including Hollywood’s favourite- the popular T-Rex!This coupled with the advanced animatronics technology make the dinosaurs seem even more lifelike.
With over 1,200 animals spread out across 134 acres of natural zoogeographical settings, the Louisville Zoo is the perfect start to your vacation in the city.
PRICE
Between $6.95 to $9.95
Timings
Admissions open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (You can stay until 5 p.m.)
Kennedy Science Centre 
Continuing on our trend of adventure joy rides, up next is a visit to the historic Kennedy Science Centre. Formerly known as the Louisville Science Centre, it is an interactive learning centre where children can learn concepts and theories in a wide array of fields, ranging from physics, chemistry and biology, to even some harder domains such as engineering, tele-communications, technology and even life sciences! It is a multi-story building that houses some of the most awe-inspiring science artefacts and exhibitsfor the enjoyment of your kids.
Some of the play rooms are ‘Science In Play’, where children can investigate different activity zones and solve challenging quests and puzzles, ‘Science Depot’ where kids can try their hand out at some of history’s biggest scientific inventions (and even touch the Van de Graaff generator to get their hair spiked!), and ‘Uniquely Human’- an intellectual workshop for slightly older children wherein they are made to delve into esoteric questions on human existence such as how humans think, feel, perceive, identify, and act?
But the biggest highlight of the Kentucky Science Centre is their four-story tall IMAXTheatre! Here, kids will be shown documentaries on several topics such as endangered species, species from pre-historic eras, feature films on the environment and its preservation, and many more. Complete with 3D screening capabilities and Surround Sound to build an immersive experience, this theatre will make the movie come alive.So now your children won’t just see a movie, they will live it!
PRICE
Between $10.50 to $12.50
Timings
Admissions open from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. –7 p.m.
(Shut on Sundays)
Renaissance Fun Park 
If you ever find yourself in Louisville, Kentucky then do yourself and your children a favour and make sure you visit the Renaissance Fun Park! Often labelled as ‘Four Acres of Fun’ (and rightly so), this place never fails to amuse and entertain both kids and adults alike. With activities such as Go Karting, Laser Tag, and MiniatureGolf, this place is a slice of paradise for your children.
This park even has lots of different areas set aside for video gaming. Here you will find all sorts of games ranging from retro arcade titles like Donkey Kong, Tetris, and Mario Kart to more modern ones such as Battlefield, FIFA, and Call of Duty.
There is also a Renaissance themed café at the centre of the Park with all the food and beverages being suitably named. Great exotic food, refreshing drinks and a multitude of games- this place has all the ingredients for an exquisitefun-filled day!
PRICE
Unlimited 1 Day Pass: $30
Timings
Admissions open from 8 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.
(Shut on Tuesdays)
Kentucky Derby Museum 
The Kentucky Derby Museum is one of America’sfinest thoroughbred horse racing museums. Now, we know what you may be thinking- Why would anyone have any interest in visiting a museum about horse racing? Well, we are here to tell you exactly why!Located on the grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville, this wonderful museum is unlike any other.
It is common knowledge that horses are a huge part of Kentucky’s history. In fact, it is why the city is nicknamed ‘the Derby City’. And this museum gives you an opportunity to take a trip down through the pages of history and relive some of the most iconic races.
The museum is made to be very hands-on so as to attract a wider age group of audiences. And once you step inside the grand hall of this museum, you will be startled to find the amount of youth over there. This museum has been inspiring the younger generations for decades and will certainly have a hold over you as well. Here, your children can try out the interactive horse racing game. Seated on the saddle over a mechanically horse, they are made to become virtual jockeys and compete against the other tourists there.
In fact, to make the experience more holistic and captivating, you can even fake bet on who do you think will win, and the winnings are given in the form of coupons for further games. Moreover, the exhibit called ‘The Greatest Race’ will give you a 360 degree 18-minute visual experience that will make your heart race and emotions soar.
There are lot of places in Louisville that will give you a glimpse of the city’s history, but the Kentucky Derby Museum will allow you to live through it!
PRICE
Age 5-14: $8
Age 14+: $15
Timings
Admissions open from 11 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.
(Shut on Thursdays)
The Muhammad AliCentre 
“Float like a butterfly,
Sting like a bee.
The hands can’t hit,
What his eyes can’t see.”
These are the immortal words of the late, great Muhammad Ali; the greatest boxer the world has ever seen!Ali was often referred to by some as the Louisville Lip because of his wit with words.
The Muhammad Ali Centre is a multi-faceted cultural centre(with an award-winning museum attached to it)dedicated to the enigmatic character that is Ali. To honour is life and enduring legacy, his hometown of Louisville has forever branded his name onto its streetsby the construction of this centre. Here, you will find all things belonging to the legendary boxer. The kids can enjoy shadow boxing in rings, creating art and sculpture of Ali, and even play as Ali himself in a video game to relive some of his greatest victories. The tours and multimedia presentations are also spectacular.
So, come on down and partake in the regal history of the most elite boxer in the history of the sport! Visit this museum and you never know- you might just get inspired to join the gym again!
PRICE
Adult pass: $9.99
Timings
Admissions open from 9 a.m. –12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory 
Peggedas “One of the Greatest Sports Museum’s in the World” by Forbes Magazine, the Louisville Slugger Museum is an absolute gem for all sports fans around the world. The history, the authenticity, the artefacts, and the memorabilia encompassed in this museum have earned it this prestigious label.
Nestled into the heart of the city itself, the Louisville Slugger Museum also has a Factory attached adjacent to it; which is home to the #1Bat in Major League Baseball. Here, you can take your children and witness history in the making itself, as you explore the actual factory where the world-famous Louisville Slugger bats are crafted to perfection. For any MLS fan, it is a behind the scenes bonanza!
You will be taken on a guided tour throughthe factory and given all the important milestones of this museum’s long and illustrious 135-year-old history. You will also be shown bats used by decorated legends of the game.
However, the biggest attraction of the Louisville Slugger M&F isn’t inside the building but rather poised right next to it on the outside. Towering a staggering 120 feet into the heavens, The Big Bat is an exact scale replica of Babe Ruth’s 34-inch Louisville Slugger Bat. This is an excellent place to take your children to get an exciting insight into one of the world’s most popular sports. Children can even practise a few swings in the batting cages here and compete for longest distance hit among other tourists.
And that’s not all- children below the ages of 16 also get a miniature bat, completely on the house. And for an additional $2, you can have your name inscribed on the hilt of the bat too.
Visit this pantheon of legends and take home with you personalized token!
PRICE
Age below 16: $6.79
Age 16+: $12.99
Timings
Admissions open from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(Shut on Sundays)
TheLouisville Mega Cavern 
The Louisville Mega Cavern isn’t like any other place on this list. A simply sensational park crawling with different activities and games, this place is Heaven for all the thrill seekers. There are two ways to traverse this 17-mile-long man-made underground cavern- tram or zipline. We highly recommend the zipline! It is perfectly safe, and children of all ages are allowed.
Once you reach the heart of this cavern, you have a buffet of activities waiting for your choosing! You can pick froma plethora of activities such as mountain biking, aerial rope climbing, trekking, and even a full-fledged treasure hunt. Furthermore, you happen to be visiting during the Christmas holidays, be sure to check out their very own Lights Under L ouisville Show. It is the world’s only all underground light show!
This one-of-a-kindexperienceis sure to ignite the adrenaline junkie in you!
PRICE
Adult Ticket Price: $29.99
Child Ticket Price: $12.49
Timings
Admissions open from 3:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The Louisville Waterfront Park
To a child, the word ‘waterpark’ is almost synonymous with the word ‘fun’! And the Louisville Waterfront Park is almost oozing with lively, fun-filled family entertainment. This park can be found right in the middle of this metropolitan city, with the Ohio River to one side stretching as far as the horizon. It offers tourists myriads of fun activities such as a beautiful urban garden for senior citizens to sit and take in the mesmerizing sunset over the river, obstacle biking trails for adolescents, lawns to sprawl out on and cloud watch, swing gardens for some tranquillity while you read, a gigantic amphitheatre for screenings, a roller-coaster set for the daredevils among us,and of course- their enthralling water slides for some wholesome merrymaking!
In other words, if you want to escape the hurly-burly and banality of everyday existence, step into this world of magic andbeguilement!
In fact, they have also reopened 4 new phases in the park and are in the process of building more attractions as we speak.Some of the new additions here include chartered fishing cruises, kayaking tours and a ride on the oldest operating Mississippi-style steamboat in the world- Kentucky’s very own the Belle of Louisville!Easy on the wallet, and heavy on the entertainment, the Louisville Waterfront Park is the ideal destination for any family vacation.
PRICE
Tickets range from Free Entry up till $13.99
Timings
Admissions open from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apart from these wonderful attractions, Louisville also has some smaller tourist hotspots if you wish to visit. If the time permits, do have a look at these as well:
- KaZoing:A smaller scaled version of an amusement park, complete with indoor ball pits, slides, bouncy houses, inflatable figures, and an Art and Craft room; this place is perfect to let your children run amuck and expend their energy. Parents can sit in the café on the terrace and treat themselves to the amazing skyline. After the children are done playing in the activities area, you can head over to the Glamour Studio where your whole family can choose from over 400 quirky dress options and take several silly pictures together!
- Thunder Over Louisville: This is actually a seasonal event and doesn’t happen year-round. However, if you are planning a visit to The Derby City, make sure it is during the week of Thunder Over Louisville. This is an annual celebration that kicks off two weeks prior to the much anticipated Kentucky Derby. In fact, this celebration is so massive that it has garnered international acclaim for having the largest pyro works display in the world forevery year since 1990! Need we say more?
- Cave Hill Cemetery:This Victorian-era cemetery and arboretum is a wonderful place to go for some self-reflection and peace of mind. This tranquil is highly picturesque and has some intricate architecture left over from colonial times. It is home to some of the most famous Louisvillians, such as Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders. In fact, it is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
So, there you have it! These are some of the most exciting and mesmerizing things you can do in the Louisville with your children to have the time of your life. Take a trip down to this phenomenal place and we promise you, you won’t regret it!
There really is no place quite like the Derby City!