Louisville

In many ways, Louisville is a typical mid-sized city. It's the largest city in Kentucky but has the relaxed feel of a small town. The most distinctive thing about Louisville is the Kentucky Derby, probably the most famous horserace in the world. Held at the elegant Churchill Downs track, the Derby attracts some of the best horses in America, and the city holds a festival each year to celebrate the event.

Downtown Louisville is along the Ohio River, and the best spot to look across the scenic landscape is Riverfront Plaza, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. From the Plaza, you can gaze across the river and see both the falls of the Ohio River and the Louisville Falls Fountain. It's also where you can catch the Belle of Louisville, a steamboat from 1914 that cruises the river during the summer. The Kentucky Center for the Arts, where you can see opera, ballet, and classical and popular music, is beside the Plaza as well. Around the downtown area are an unusually large number of parks, many designed by the famous city planner Frederick Law Olmstead. When you're looking for entertainment at night, head down to the bar and restaurant scene located along the strip by Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue.

The most exciting time of year in Louisville is the two weeks before the Kentucky Derby, when the Derby Festival is held. You probably won't be able to get seats for the race but it's worth coming to town for the wild, citywide party that goes on to celebrate it. It's a great to see the city in all its decadent glory.