Family of 4 looking for very nice hotel

About us:

Arriving Late June 2008

2 adults, 2 children (5 %26amp; 6 years old)

Our activities:

Six Flags

Minor League Game

Others???? any other recommendations for our children

Hotel musts / desires:

Pool...doesn%26#39;t need to be a water park

Excellent location

Free Parking or small fee acceptable as we will be driving from Chicago

Don%26#39;t want to spend an arm and leg since we should be out and about

Family of 4 looking for very nice hotel

As long as you stay out of downtown, most hotels have free parking. There is a Ramada and a Hilton Garden Inn down the street from Six Flags. They often have packages for 6 flags. I%26#39;m not sure if either one has a pool. It is right off I-65.

If you choose to stay in either hotel, Churchill Down is very close. I%26#39;m not sure when racing ends, but the Derby Museum is open year round and off season they take you on a short tour of Churchill.

Depending on where you park, there are many garages downton and the maxium rate for a city garage (Don%26#39;t park in a hotel garage, its often much more) for 12 hours is $14 I believe. Downtown is the Frazier Museum, Glassworks (free glass blowing demonstrations and beautiful work for sale) the Science Museum, the Slugger Museum, and the Ali Center. I have no idea, what the Ali center has on display, but it is nearby.

Slugger Field is a great ballpark. The hot dogs are very good and the view is wonderful. Parking is $7 dollars I think for the lot next to the ball field. Waterfront park is nearby and dearly loved by the locals.

For restaurants, I steer all out of towners to Lynn%26#39;s Paradise Cafe. I promise I don%26#39;t work for them. I just really like their food. Plus, they have a parking lot. That area of town often doesn%26#39;t have individual lots. Bardstown Road and Frankfort Avenue have just about any cuisine imaginable. On the Indiana side I recommend Rocky%26#39;s for very good Italian, including Pizza and a great view of the Ohio. If you want local pizza, Wicks is the big favorite. They are located in the highlands, on Bardstown Road.

Regarding 6 Flags, I used to work there. The biggest coasters are on the far side of the park along with the water park. The rides on the near side are mostly tamer, kiddy rides. The only coaster I recall is the mousetrap. So, go to the far side, ride Change (stand up coaster) and the other one next to it (forgot the name) Those two have the longest lines. Chang moves faster. The other coaster has a very slow line. The other two coasters are wooden/steel roller coasters. Follow the path to the next ride (wooden coaster), somewhat slow line, and Twisted Sisters (dueling coasters, only one is usually open except during the fair, and a fast line.) There is also a ferris wheel and a ride that is called Quake. It twists and stimulates and an earthquake. However, it is often closed. Mousetrap is on the other side of the park. Work your way back to the entrance, then get a stamp and go get your swimsuits for the waterpark.

Six Flags in in the fairgrounds. You have to pay $5 I think to get in. May be more now. You can leave the park, but there is no re-admittance to the fairgrounds. You pay the entrance fee each time.

Hope this helps. Louisville does have traffic, but nowhere near as bad as Chicago. However, I recommend staying off I-65 and out of spaghetti junction during rush hour. It really slows down there. You can get to the ballfield from the Ramada by going down Central Avenue to 3rd Street. 3rd will divide into 3rd and 2nd street, becoming one way. You can take 2nd street to downtown and avoid the interstate. You also will go through a beautiful neighborhood.

Family of 4 looking for very nice hotel

I echo what the previous correspondent says about Slugger Field-it is a great place to watch a ballgame. You can park for free on River Road if you%26#39;re willing to walk just a few blocks.

Also--do not miss a chance to take the kids to Churchill Downs for some racing action. The Downs is very family and kid friendly.

I really like the downtown hotels for kids. The river front has a wonderful park/playground and water fountains, plus a nice walking path. I also recommend a lunch cruise on the riverboat Belle of Louisville. I play the calliope every other week, board early and watch how we play it! Although the airport hotels are closer to Six Flags, the area is not so great....no restaurants within walking distance and traffic gets a bit crazy. If you parked in the Galt House, for instance, you can take the trolley all over downtown. On the night of the game, go to Melillo%26#39;s for great REAL Italian fare in a family friendly place. Your kids might also enjoy Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack on the river....the place is pretty comical. You may be tempted to stay in the Executive West...but i wouldn%26#39;t at this time. It%26#39;s in renovation and will soon be a Crowne Plaza. Until then, your stay might be a disaster.

Keep in mind, all the downtown hotels charge for parking. I dunno what Galt House charges, but the Seelbach is $19 a day.

I echo the statement about the Executive West and the Executive. Bad decor and the restaurant food is expensive and tasteless. Literally tasteless.

A cheaper option might be to stay on the New Albany/Jeffersonville side of the river. No, you won%26#39;t see some of the atmosphere of downtown, but you will have easy access to the city via 65 if you avoid the rush hour. There is a Kingfish, a Rocky%26#39;s, a Hooters, and a decent Japanese steakhouse along that side of the river. Or take Second Street bridge and go through downtown.

My vote always goes for the Drury inn at I-64 and Hurtsbourne. It%26#39;s close enough to the interstate you dont have to worry about traffic on Hurtsboure, has really clean rooms, an indoor/outdoor pool (you can swim under the wall to the outside), and gated free parking. Louisville isnt all that big, so if you dont mind driving 10 minutes to downtown, I would definitely consider drury.

PS, my parents visit from Chiacgo often. Every hotel they%26#39;ve stayed on the Indiana side has not been a pleasant experience. Dirty, beat rooms, no sound insulation, etc. So just be cautious about what you expect over there.

The Louisville Slugger museum is excellent if you%26#39;re into baseball at all--which I assume you are since you%26#39;re going to a game. The Science Center is also excellent and it is right across the street. I would spend one day doing those two things. You aren%26#39;t far from the Belle of Louisville or Slugger field either.