First timer Help needed

We are coming to Louisville in the middle of March. This will be our first time in Louisville. We will be staying at the Holiday Inn downtown. I have 2 quick questions:

1. what are some great family restaurants nearby that would be fun for a big group (lots of pre-teens)?

2. We will have some time in the city. We might not make it back, so what are the ';must see'; things to do for families? (we%26#39;d rather not have to drive far to see an attraction)

Thanks in advance for your help

First timer Help needed

The Louisville Slugger Museum is very interesting. How many preteens exactly? Although I personally hate chain restaurants, The Spaghetti Factory is a favorite for kids. I much prefer authentic Melillo%26#39;s for family Italian, but the space is limited there. Another fun option is Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack on the river. You can take the trolley down to the river. There%26#39;s also a Hard Rock Cafe in 4th St live. It%26#39;s pretty expensive, though.

First timer Help needed

That Holiday Inn is not really in downtown. Its at least 5-6 blocks from where most anything is at. Be careful at night, there are MANY pan handlers and riffraff around that hotel....especially at the neighboring gas station on the corner of Broadway and 1st.

For a family dinner/lunch you could walk down to Cunninghams on 4th street just north of Broadway. They have private party rooms too if you%26#39;d like.

The old spaghetti factory is a good idea. It%26#39;s a nice building, good food and service, and best of all it%26#39;s not expensive at all. You can also get a horse %26amp; carriage tour right out front if you want.

You should at least visit 4th street live once, the kids will like it.

If you drive down broadway about 5-10 minutes it dead-ends at baxter ave. there are TONS of restaurants on baxter ave. and bardstown road. you can park and walk to all the little shops and stores. Wicks pizza is on the corner where baxter and bardstown meet. HUGE pizza, good sandwiches and stuff.

Thank you for all your responses. We are looking forward to our visit.

One last question:

is the Derby Museum worth a visit?

Well I hope so. We went to it before we had kids and we loved it. We took our boys to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and they loved it. I mentioned it to my 12 year old son as a possibility for spring break and he was very positive about the idea. We%26#39;re going to try to hit the Louisville Slugger factory/museum, the Derby Museum, and the Falls of Ohio all in a day to a day and a half. Any other pre-teen attractions in Louisville that I missed? It sounds like the Spaghetti Factory will have to be our dinner place.

1.

a) One of our favorite family places - Buckheads - is just across the river in Jeffersonville, IN. You get a great view of Louisville from their deck.

b) We also like Lynn%26#39;s for southern sass, Impellizerri%26#39;s or Wick%26#39;s on Bardstown Rd for pizza, the NorthEnd on Frankfort Ave. for organic and locally grown meals.

2.

a) Cross the river into Indiana and visit Falls of the Ohio - large Devonion fossil bed and natural history museum

b) Ky. Derby Museum, Slugger Museum, Frazier History Museum, Glassworks and of course - the Muhammed Ali Peace Center are all downtown clustered together.

c)KY exp center has a lot of shows you caneck out at www.kyfairexpo.org

d) finally - if you are coming on the first Friday or last Friday there are free trolley hops from downtown to local galleries, restaurants and shopping areas www.firstfridaytrolleyhop.com or www.fatfridayhop.org

Fourth Street Live is available for clubs, there is a bowling alley and a Hard Rock there.

I definetly recommend Lynn%26#39;s. Very kid-friendly, wonderful food and atmosphere. Wicks is also very good, they may deliver to your room if you don%26#39;t want to drive to the Highlands.

The Derby Museum is worth it. I%26#39;ve been many times and greatly enjoyed it. There is also a Science Museum downtown. I admit I haven%26#39;t been there in years, but loved it as a kid. Slugger Museum is also neat. If you are going to the Derby Museum, I recommend renting a car, its not in downtown.

One caveat: Are you flying out of Lousiville? If so, you cannot take the mini bats in carry-on. There is a big tub in the airport full of abandoned mini bats. Check them.

Several of the downtown restaurants are more expensive, but the Spaghetti Factory is very good.

suits brown skin