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When you travel to Bourbon City, head to the Welcome Center at the Louisville Airport before you take a rideshare or a hotel shuttle. Grab a Louisville pen or sticker. Sample Bourbon Balls and Modjeska. Pick up a card for 25% off and a gift at the Downtown Louisville location. At each center, workers strongly suggested I walk the Big Four Bridge.
If participating in the 50 States Challenge, check Southwest for inexpensive flights to cross Kentucky off your list. Although I have visited Louisville several times, I took this trip to increase the flights required for A-List Preferred status. I booked this roundtrip nonstop flight for $98. Yes, I took another flight on Southwest for under $100. I booked in June and headed to Louisville in August.
If you travel to Bourbon City, book your stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Louisville. I used 52,000 Hilton Honors points to reserve my room. Because I am a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I receive a Food & Beverage credit. The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. I look for this service to save money on transportation. However, I did not take the first shuttle. This hotel has an airline contract. If a flight crew is waiting, they ride first. Yes, I waited an hour, but I used that time to hang out at the Welcome Center.
Ei8ht Up offers incredible views of Louisville. I enjoyed a beer on the rooftop as I caught a glimpse of a partial sunset. I also tried the kale and artichoke dip. Even though I enjoyed breakfast the last time I visited, I was disappointed on this visit. The hostess/server informed me they were out of waffles and turkey sausage. In addition, patrons could only order scrambled eggs. Therefore, I could not order an omelet or chicken and waffles. I ordered bacon, breakfast potatoes, and wheat toast. Well, the potatoes were overcooked. The hostess/server offered to put in a new order. I declined. My Food & Beverage credit covered the dip and breakfast. I paid $9 for the beer.
When I travel, I always look for a walking trail similar to the promenade in Ballito, Bob Kearney Bridge in Omaha, or Little Island in New York. It should take about 37 minutes to walk the 1.9-mile out-and-back trail that connects Louisville to Jeffersonville, Indiana. After I crossed the bridge, I walked to the first restaurant (Parlour) I saw and ordered a Summer Shandy and smoked wings. Of course, I needed food for my walk back over the bridge. If you are tracking your steps, your Fitbit or Apple Watch will get a workout.
If participating in the 50 States Challenge, you can scratch off two states at once when you travel to Bourbon City. There is a Hilton Garden Inn in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Are you a Hilton Honors member? I spent $181 for my flight, accommodations, meals, and rideshare for a one-night stay in the Bourbon City.
