Sure, you could head out for a fancy meal, but with so many other options in Louisville, it's time to take your dates to a whole new level! There's nothing wrong with a traditional night on the town, but here are nine other excellent, unconventional ideas for fun activities to do with that special someone.
9. Hit up Museum Row
tart your afternoon off at the 21C Museum Hotel. Grab some food and cocktails, and then
gawk at the modern art exhibits. You’re on Museum Row, so you have a choice of nine other
museums to visit, all within four blocks of each other. Your options span from artistic to alcoholic,
and you can even visit a shrine to one of the world’s greatest athletes.
Take your pick: The
Muhammad Ali Center, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Kentucky Museum of Art and
Craft, Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the
KentuckyShow, Frazier History Museum, Glassworks, and the Kentucky Science Center.
8. Walk across the border for a beer and some chocolate
Yes, it IS possible to walk to Indiana from Louisville. Using the the Big Four Bridge, take a stroll
over the Ohio River to Jeffersonville, IN. On the the other side, grab lunch and a beer at the
Red Yeti.
Head down the street to Schimpp's Confectionery, which is an old-style candy
shop that has been in operation since 1891. All of their candies are homemade, and they even
have a 1950s soda fountain. They also have a museum where you can watch candy-making
demonstrations with their turn-of-the-century equipment.
7. Explore Cave Hill Cemetery
If you're looking for a slightly creepier adventure, check out Cave Hill in the Highlands. It’s storied in
history and is also the final resting place for many famous Kentuckians, including Muhammad
Ali, Col. Harland Sanders, and George Rogers Clark.
Cave Hill is named for its most notable
natural landmark. Yep, you guessed it— a cave. A spring flows from the mouth and into a picturesque lake that is home to many ducks, geese, and swans.
6. Take an alternative approach to "dinner and a movie"
There's no need to get all dolled up for this one! Tucked behind the ValuMarket in Mid City Mall is the Back Door, a favorite Highlands watering
hole. The spacious bar used to be a warehouse and storage facility for the grocery that once
occupied ValuMarket’s current space, but now it’s an casual place to go to get beer and wings.
They have pool tables, darts, foosball, skee-ball, and various other arcade games, so you’re
never going to be bored here!
Walk across the parking lot to Baxter Avenue Theatres, located in the same building on the other side of Mid City Mall. This is not your typical cinema; Baxter Avenue Theatres not only shows popular box office hits, but also independent and foreign films. Break the mold for a traditional date night with a 'dive bar' coupled with a classy, artsy film!
5. Zipline through the canopies at Jefferson Memorial Forest
Located about 25 minutes from downtown Louisville, Jefferson Memorial Forest is home to a Go
Ape Zip Line. Swing through canopies of the largest municipal urban forest in the United States,
or complete a treetop obstacle course. It’s recommended that you book this one in advance.
4. Catch a play in Central Park
In the summer months, you can see a free production of a Shakespeare play in the C. Douglas Ramey
Amphitheater, located in Central Park in Old Louisville. Food trucks line the perimeter of the
park, and they sell beer, wine, and Brown-Forman products at the back of the
amphitheater. A less 'kid-friendly' performance by the Louisville Improvisors, called "Late Night
Shakes" immediately follows the show.
3. Paddle down Floyd’s Fork
In East Louisville, the Parklands of Floyd’s Fork occupies the last major undeveloped area in
Metro Louisville. Floyd’s Fork Creek cuts right through it, and there are 19 miles of canoe trails!
Rent a canoe or kayak from Blue Moon Rentals in the Beckley section of the Parklands, or bring
your own boat and use one the seven access points to hit the water.
2. Hold on tight for rock climbing and BBQ
Climb Nulu is a bouldering gym located in the East Market District. They have a special "date
night" on Fridays, and it’s only $24.00 for two people to climb, which is $6.00 off from the usual price for two people any other day of the week. All gear is included in this deal too.
Once your forearms are burning and you’re ready to call it quits, head down the street to Feast
for some BBQ and bourbon slushies, or walk a tad farther to Garage Bar for pizza and outdoor
ping pong.
1. Enjoy some sweet beats on the river
On the last Wednesday of the month, April through September, public radio station WFPK hosts a free concert series on the Big Four Lawn called Waterfront Wednesday. It attracts thousands of people to the riverfront to listen to musical acts from all over the country. Bring some lawn chairs or beach towels to claim your spot because it gets crowded fast! A wide variety of food and drinks are only a few steps away.
This summer, take your date on an adventure they won't soon forget! Louisville has so many options for fun-loving couples of all ages, so don't wait to dive into these excellent activities!
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