Road Trips

Go With Your Bros: How to Do a Guys’ Getaway in Louisville

by Christine Ryan

Photograph by Christine Ryan

evan williams bourbon experience

Hanging with your bros in Louisville? Try the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Whisky Row. (Photo: Getty Images)

You and your buddies looking to blow off steam? With guy-friendly attractions to explore by day and a nightlife that won’t quit, Louisville, Kentucky, is the perfect place to celebrate your bromance with a guys’ getaway. From horse racing and baseball to culinary hot spots, here are a smattering of Louisville highlights for dudes.

Batter Up

At the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, you can hold bats used by baseball legends including Cal Ripken, Jr. and Mickey Mantle. See how the bats are made on the factory tour and get one with your name on it. A full-sized personalized bat costs $59.

If you’re visiting Louisville during baseball season, catch a Louisville Bats game at the Louisville Slugger Field. The AAA minor-league team is affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. Maybe you’ll see baseball’s next big star. Sit on the bleachers or lawn for only $10 or spring for club-level seats at $18.

Dig In

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse has a classic à la carte menu of dry-aged steaks and seafood dishes plus a long list of scotches, bourbons and local beers. It’s a special-occasion place, with white tablecloths and a glitzy Art Deco interior. There’s also live entertainment most nights.

If you’re craving a good steak without the fuss, determinedly old-school Pat’s Steak House might be more your speed. The wood-paneled, pub-like interior hasn’t changed much in the last 50 years, but that’s part of the charm. The house specialty is a 32-ounce U.S. prime porterhouse, but you can also get nostalgic dishes such as country ham or chicken livers. And in keeping with Pat’s vintage vibe, it’s cash or check only.

Sip and Savor

Of the nine distilleries stretching across the state to form the famed Bourbon Trail, two are in Louisville. At the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience downtown on Whiskey Row you get to see an artisanal distillery at work, learn about the history of the drink and, of course, sample bourbon.

About five miles from downtown, the 1935 Stitzel-Weller Distillery offers tours and tastings Wednesday through Sunday. There’s no longer a working on-site still, but there’s an old cooperage where guests can see how barrels were made.

Check out the official Bourbon Trail website for a list of distilleries and a map. There are also links to tour companies that do the driving for you.

Place a Bet

The Churchill Downs racetrack is famous for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby, but there’s live racing most weekends from late spring through fall. Throw down bets and make the winner pick up the bar tab. General admission for races is $3, reserved seating $10, or $38 if you want to watch from “Millionaire’s Row.”

If there aren’t any races on, visit the Kentucky Derby Museum, where exhibits walk you through the life of a thoroughbred and celebrate the derby’s history. You can also take a tour of the racetrack and grounds.