NRA Louisville

[hlb14]

After attending last years NRA show, Mrs hlb14 and I have decided to make it a yearly getaway.  I've never stayed in Louisville, are there any areas to avoid? Also, is there anything else that is a must do? Any must eats?

[musicman]

As a teen we took a tour of the Louisville Slugger factory while on a family vacation. That was fun, and we got some factory seconds for stupid cheap. Still have one. If it's anything like it was 20 years ago, I highly recommend it for a fun 2 hr excursion.

[monkeylizard]

+1 to the L.S. factory and museum. Other than that, I don't much care for Louisville. It's just another city. It doesn't have a real tourism area like Nashville or Memphis has. Unless there's an event/concert going on, there's just not a whole lot there. I hear their zoo is pretty good if you like that kind of thing.

 

I'm going to the NRA show, but I wish it was someplace more interesting.

Edited January 14, 2016 by monkeylizard

[E4 No More]

I like the beer at the Gordon Biersch restaurant at the entrance of the 4th street party district. The food was good too. The rest of 4th street I could do without.

[KaNaPaPi]

Don't book any hotels on the west side of town.  South or east would be better.

[NextExit]

You could check out Falls City Brewing on S 10th St or Heaven Hill Distillery on Breckenridge. :)

[monkeylizard]

There are a few hotels on I-65 at exit 121 (Brooks, KY/John Harper Hwy). The usual chain stuff like Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, etc.) plus the customary chain restaurants like Cracker Barrel and Tumbleweeds TexMex. I think I may have seen a Lonestar steakhouse there too. It's a quick 12-15 minute drive up I-65 to the fairgrounds for the convention. Rush hour traffic in the mornings will probably add another 10-15 minutes. When I looked several months ago, they all had normal rates, not jacked up "the NRA is coming" rates like the downtown hotels.

Edited January 14, 2016 by monkeylizard

[musicman]

There are a few hotels on I-65 at exit 121 (Brooks, KY/John Harper Hwy). The usual chain stuff like Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, etc.) plus the customary chain restaurants like Cracker Barrel and Tumbleweeds TexMex. I think I may have seen a Lonestar steakhouse there too. It's a quick 12-15 minute drive up I-65 to the fairgrounds for the convention. Rush hour traffic in the mornings will probably add another 10-15 minutes. When I looked several months ago, they all had normal rates, not jacked up "the NRA is coming" rates like the downtown hotels.

That's great info, thanks! The in-laws have a recreational farm about an hour away and we were planning on staying there for the show. However, they just sold the doublewide on the property to make room for a huge house/bunker they're just starting to build. :/ There goes my free lodging! :-(

[monkeylizard]

FYI - 2017 is Atlanta, 2018 is Dallas.

[toby1304]

The Mega Cavern zip line was pretty cool.

[Trekbike]

FYI - 2017 is Atlanta, 2018 is Dallas.

 

It looks like 2019 is in Indy.    I can't seem to find locations past that since my google fu skills failed me.    

 

I heard Nashville was likely to get another visit but don't know when.   

[hlb14]

definitely want to check out the louisville slugger tour

[monkeylizard]

It looks like 2019 is in Indy.    I can't seem to find locations past that since my google fu skills failed me.    

 

I heard Nashville was likely to get another visit but don't know when.   

 

Indy last had it in 2014 so they're repeating after 5 years.

St. Louis had it in 2008 and 2012, 5 years apart

Louisville last had it in 2008, 8 years ago.

Houston had it in 2005 and 2013, 8 years apart

Pittsburgh had it ion 2004 and 2011, 7 years apart.

 

Anyone see a pattern?

 

Nashville's show was a big success. I'll be surprised if we don't get on the repeat cycle. I'd expect us to get it again sometime between 2020 and 2023.

Edited January 14, 2016 by monkeylizard

[monkeylizard]

definitely want to check out the louisville slugger tour

 

It's pretty fun. Be sure to open everything you can in the museum area. You'll find little hidden things all over the place if you start opening every drawer and tugging on every handle you can find.

 

One thing I didn't know is that they were making wooden stocks during WW2 for the M-1 carbine. They also made billy clubs for the Army. I was up there this fall and they were making billy clubs for police. The tour guide said he had been there 10 years and it was the first time he'd seen them being made.

[btq96r]

So, obviously go see the Louisville Slugger factory.   Horseshoe Casino (Caesars property) is just over the river in Indiana as well if you like casinos.  The area in and around 4th Street Live was packed with restaurants and bars when I visited there.  I'd stay in that area so you can walk around at night, and drive to the NRA Convention.  I found Louisville to be a nice city.  The time of year you're going will be beautiful to walk around downtown day or night too.

[Murgatroy]

Stay out of the West End. East End is good. 4th ST Live is pretty popular. It is a large city just like any other. Though it is becoming more dangerous.

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[monkeylizard]

4th Street Live....meh

 

Hard Rock Café, TGI Friday's, a Brazillian steakhouse, and a couple of brewpubs, plus the mandatory fudge/ice cream shop and a sports bar. Toss in a food court and a Foot Locker and call it a day. I suspect they'll have a live music stage setup there during the NRA convention. Maybe that will make it suck less.

 

It does make me appreciate Nashville and how uncommon a vibrant compact local tourism core really is. Besides Portland, Austin, New Orleans, Savannah, and San Antonio, I can't think of too many others with a wide variety of local stuff in a compact area. Atlanta is spread out and its compact areas like Buckhead have just about become 100% national chains. Boring.

[musicman]

Dagnabbit. I've totally been planning on going to this. Just realized I have conflicting events that weekend, and I cannot go. I'm actully sad. Like... feelings hurt/somebody kicked my puppy sad. Dangit. Fiddlesticks. Ugh. Filth and foul.

Giant sad face emoji.

[CJDore]

My wife and I will take your spots Papa Cap. She went to her 1st one last year and had the time of her life.

[Sam1]

sort of wanted to go again but have to be in Atlanta for a residency that weekend.  sucks.

[Jeb48]

Frazier Arms Museum is a must see.

 

http://fraziermuseum.org/

 

Was there two Summers ago, I went to the Fraizer my wife went to a folk art museum down the street. We agreed we would meet back at the camper and not worry about the time, whoever got back first would just read and entertain them self. Not sure I will get away with that again she finished went back to the truck and I showed up a couple of hours later. I could have stayed longer but I figured she would be back by then.