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 Thoroughbreds just one facet of LouisvilleSouthern Living maps out three ways to experience the cityBy Wanda McKinney  Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Churchill Downs offered by the Kentucky Derby Museum. RELATED
IF YOU GO ...Churchill Downs: (502) 636-4400 or http://www.churchilldowns.com Kentucky Derby Museum: (502) 637-7097 or http://www.derbymuseum.org Wagner's Pharmacy: (502) 375-3800 A Taste of Kentucky: (502) 244-3355 or http://www.atasteofky.com Louisville Stoneware: (502) 582-1900 or http://www.louisvillestoneware.com Muhammad Ali Center: (502) 584-9254 or http://www.alicenter.org Equus Restaurant: (502) 897-9721 or http://www.equusrestaurant.com Marriott Louisville Downtown: (502) 627-5045 or http://www.marriottlouisville.com Louisville Zoo: (502) 459-2181 or http://www.louisvillezoo.org Fourth Street Live: http://www.4thstlive.com Louisville Bats Baseball, Slugger Field: (502) 212-2287 Browning's Restaurant & Brewery: (502) 515-0174 Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge: (502) 568-9009 or http://www.makerslounge.com Marriott Courtyard Downtown: (800) 533-0127 The Galt House: (502) 589-5200 or http://www.galthouse.com Lynn's Paradise Cafe: (502) 583-3447 or http://www.lynnsparadisecafe.com The Speed Art Museum: (502) 634-2700 or http://www.speedmuseum.org Cafe Bristol: (502) 634-2723 Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft: (502) 589-0102 or http://www.kentuckyarts.org Glassworks: (502) 584-4510 Artemisia: (502) 583-4177 Actors Theatre: (502) 584-1205 or http://www.actorstheatre.org The Kentucky Center: (502) 584-7777 or http://www.kentuckycenter.com The Brown, A Camberley Hotel: (502) 583-1234 or http://www.brownhotel.com YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(Southern Living The city offers a range of activities to fit any taste and budget. Sneak an inside peek at the Thoroughbreds that gallop around the track at historic Churchill Downs, or wander the hot new downtown entertainment district. You can even nourish your love for the arts at the first-rate theaters and museums. Come along for the ride as we show you three ways to enjoy this fun-filled city. Galloping good timesAll eyes will be on recently refurbished Churchill Downs May 6 for the Kentucky Derby. For you horse lovers out there, visit Louisville now to take advantage of the track tours offered by the Kentucky Derby Museum ($6 for tour, $9 admission to museum). Get up early; the tours start at 6:45 and 8 a.m. (beginning in mid-March). If you're lucky, a trainer will invite you over to pet a Thoroughbred as it munches on its morning hay. Speaking of breakfast, walk over to Wagner's Pharmacy, where trainers and jockeys eat. The drugstore/diner, open since 1910, also features a tack shop. Order a fried-egg sandwich for $2.25, and look at all the photos of famous horses and jockeys. Shopping with an equine theme is easy in Louisville. The best place to find horse-related items is A Taste of Kentucky. Sherry and John Hassmann fill their store with everything from sterling silver mint julep cups ($260) to T-shirts that say, "Talk Derby To Me" ($15). The most popular souvenir? A dirty, old horseshoe from Churchill Downs for $3 -- bound to bring you lots of good luck. Another great shopping spot is Louisville Stoneware. Pick up some of their hand-painted china depicting thundering Thoroughbreds, a fleur-de-lis, or the original Bachelor Button pattern ($30 per plate) before lunching at The Brown hotel's J. Graham's Restaurant, home of the Hot Brown ($11.50). The delicious combination of turkey, bacon, and cheese sauce on toast was invented here. Follow up with a piece of Derby-Pie ($5.50), which originated in Louisville at Kern's Kitchen and can be found in restaurants around town. This delicacy is filled with chocolate and pecans and topped with whipped cream. Now it's time to visit a venue that represents another sport of kings -- boxing. The new Muhammad Ali Center ($9 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students, $4 ages 6-12) features exhibits, a theater and two art galleries. Continue the equine theme into dinner at Equus restaurant. A Louisville favorite for 20 years, this venerable spot offers more than 250 bottles of wine in its cellar, and chef/owner Dean Corbett uses the finest regional produce in his fabulous cuisine. Order the deservedly famous Parmesan-crusted sea bass ($30). Cross the sweet finish line with their signature dessert -- Equus Chess Cake, a confection filled with chocolate, ice cream, and cream filling ($8). You'll sleep well in the new Marriott Louisville Downtown, where crisp white linens and wonderful service promise and deliver a great experience. Big fun in the bluegrassYou can have a great time in Louisville without spending a lot of money. Go visit the Louisville Zoo, where the first daffodils of spring turn the pathways into a yellow-brick road. This one-time cornfield now bursts forth with five major exhibit areas spread over 134 acres. Don't miss the "Gorilla Forest," one of the most popular spots in the 1,300-animal menagerie. Buy a ZooTram ticket for $2.50, and ride all day. (Admission: $10.95 adults, $7.95 ages 2-11.) Take a shopping-and-dining break at the hottest new venue in town. Fourth Street Live occupies an area of downtown once filled by a sleepy indoor mall. Open now for a year-and-a-half, the lively space has enticed visitors and locals alike back to the heart of the city. Don't miss a pin-popping game of bowling in Lucky Strike Lanes, and grab a gigantic burger at Hard Rock Cafe ($9). Peruse Borders for books by local authors, and then plan to come back in the evening, when lights and live music fill the air. But before the music starts, take in a Louisville Bats baseball game at Slugger Field (home games begin April 14). You'll love the stadium, with its friendly feel and excellent food. Browning's, one of the restaurants in the ballpark, serves up a great pulled-pork barbecue sandwich ($7.25) and a plate of miniature cheeseburgers ($7.50). Now, head back to Fourth Street Live. Just follow the sound of music and laughter. Have a drink at Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge. Toast the town with a mint julep ($8), or just sip on a smooth Woodford Reserve bourbon ($6). They have Late Night Bites and drink specials after 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. Walk on over to the Marriott Courtyard Downtown or Galt House for a night of sweet Kentucky dreams. Looking lovelyBefore you begin exploring the city's artistic side, have a memorable breakfast at Lynn's Paradise Cafe. The Greek Scramble ($9.50) is a real winner, as is the French toast ($6.75). Head over to The Speed Art Museum, where you'll see a special exhibit that includes works by Rembrandt. Permanent exhibits feature bronze sculptures by Henry Moore and paintings by Cézanne, Picasso, and Chagall. Have lunch in the museum's Café Bristol, where their chicken salad sandwich ($5.75) -- spruced up with celery, raisins, and pecans -- is pretty and delicious.  You'll be off to a great start if you begin your day of artsy fun at Lynn's Paradise Cafe. After browsing the Speed's museum shop, continue that same trend at Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft. Not only will you find wonderful exhibits, such as innovative woodwork and textile creations, but you'll also discover gift items by 200 different artists. The gallery shop holds its derby hat show every spring, with lots of fancy toppers to try on (starting at $150). Pick up a pair of handcrafted earrings for $20. More art and shopping await at Glassworks, where you can watch the glassblowers at work and then buy a finished piece. Discuss your evening activity choices over dinner at Artemisia. Try Chicken Marchan de Vin ($17). The New Orleans-style dish comes with a red wine sauce and aromatic veggies. This month (April 19-May 14) Actors Theatre presents "Crowns," a musical about African American women and their fabulous church hats. Or take in an event at The Kentucky Center, where you'll see a ballet, symphony, or Broadway play. For a perfect ending, check in to The Brown hotel, with its large rooms and inviting lobby. Sleep well, and dream of places yet to see. It's a sure bet that you'll love Louisville in the spring. This article is from the March 2006 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans. Copyright 1996-2005 SOUTHERN LIVING Magazine. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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) -- No matter which way you see Louisville, you'll make it to the winner's circle. A bumper sticker sums it up perfectly: "I wasn't born in Kentucky, but I got here as fast as I could." 
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