Louisville-questions from over the pond! (Lexington, Elizabethtown: friendly, biking, town)

[JefferyT]

NYC might be 2.5 hrs by plane. I know Chicago, which is the nearest major city, is about 5 or 6 hour drive. The other big city nearby is Cincinnati, about 2 hours.

There must be so many people who never see the sea.

That would describe me since I didnt see the ocean until I was in my later teens and my family took me on vacation to Florida. We did have Lake Michigan next to Chicago, which is sort of like the sea as you cant see across it and it has freight ships, but it was freshwater and had low waves, usually.

[mdawg]

Originally Posted by English Liz

There must be so many people who never see the sea.

Yes we are far from the ocean, but Kentucky has the most navigable miles of water than any other state except Alaska actually, and there are many lakes and rivers around Louisville that offer boating, jet skiing, fishing, and swimming. Many people here have lake houses, so your son should try and get a friend whose family has one lol. They are very fun places to go in the summer. And you can't forget the Ohio River, which is a little dirty looking, and there are a few too many logs floating in it for my liking, but many people still boat and swim in it. Many families also go to the panhandle of Florida for spring break and in the summer, it is like Louisville moves there, because you honestly see everyone you would in Louisville, so a lot of people do see the gulf, it is only a 8-9 hour drive.

[Cattknap]

After living in So. California 10 minutes from the beach my whole life, I find that I really don't miss the beach....we live in Prospect near the river and we drive down River Road (well part way anyway with the bridge closure) and find the Ohio River beautiful....we have friends who live in Wesport on the river and go boating with them in the summer - really fun. My husband loves to kayak and I may join him this year (we have only been here 7 months). There are tons of streams and quite a few small waterfalls in our area.

The truth is Kentucky is a gorgeous place - 20 minutes from downtown you can be out in the country - the scenic horse farms (and attached mansions), trees, streams, wonderful houses and pretty views are all very beautiful and abundant....contrast that with the closer-to-town walking neighborhoods filled with independently owned shops, art galleries and restaurants in St. Matthews, Middletown and Frankfort and you have the best of both worlds...we think Louisville is the best kept secret around.

[InLondon]

Originally Posted by English Liz

I have a son who is coming over to Louisville to work for a year and having never visited the USA, only having gained information of this area over the internet (never having read an article on general Kentucky life in the English media) I thought it would be interesting to hear from real-life Louisvillians (is that what you are called?) about life in your city and your views on the area.
He will be based in the central area of the city. Is this a safe place to be? Is there a lot of crime in Louisville? Do people walk around the city or just drive everywhere? Is it safe to walk? That might seem like a totally daft question but a lot of us at this side of the pond are under the impression that Americans tend to drive everywhere. Is this true? Are 'small' meals in restaurants actually quite large?
Having read some of the comments on this forum it appears that if you have not been to a local high school then it is difficult to be accepted socially yet he is very keen to be accepted as part of city life. Will this be difficult having no history with the area? Is the population of the city mostly locals or do people move into this area from other cities/countries to take up work?
He is really looking forward to spending time with you guys but obviously apprehensive too.

I think he will like Louisville. The countryside from Louisville to Lexington looks similiar to England. Lots of horse farms and rolling green hills.

[tigerlillydownunder]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised when you visit Louisville, and Kentuky in general.

One of my very good friends from high school, married an English chap (who had already relocated to Louisville--they met at a local "pub"!). He has made Louisville his home for the past 7 years, and hif family just adored coming for a holiday. They both spend a fair amount of time in the Highlands area, althought they live in Middletown.

Louisvillians, IMPO, are very accepting and welcome anyone from overseas, as I think we generally view anyone from across the pond as being somewhat exotic. My husband is Aussie, and while that's across a whole other pond, he is forever the topic of conversation and never has a moment to himself when we visit my family!

If I may ask, what time of the year do you plan to visit?

[English Liz]

Plan to come late Feb/March '10. We have had orders not to come before September/October as he wants to settle in first. Thought the winter months may be too dark and cold (am I right?) so reckon Springtime in Kentucky is the best time to arrive. Am really looking forward to it even though so far away. Might come earlier though yet and come twice - if I can afford it!! He is flying in a few weeks now so is both very excited and also somewhat nervous. He has travelled before but I think it's the all full year thing and the concern he may not like it! Anyways literally everyone he tells are full of jealousy as the majority of young people over here would like to do it, loads go to Europe/Australia/NZ even Thailand but few go over to USA, maybe the expense of it - health insurance etc, I don't know.
Saw a relocation programme to Kentucky on tv the other week (well half of it anyways). Probably the only one ever filmed as never seen one before - not many Kentucky relocation programmes shown on UK tv actually - lol. They showed Bardstown area, Lake Herrington and the horse farms etc. All looked very pretty and green and the couple they took over were very impressed with the state, maybe they might read this as they said it had confirmed to them they would buy over there and think the programme was filmed in 2002!!

[tigerlillydownunder]

Originally Posted by English Liz

Plan to come late Feb/March '10. We have had orders not to come before September/October as he wants to settle in first. Thought the winter months may be too dark and cold (am I right?) so reckon Springtime in Kentucky is the best time to arrive...........
Anyways literally everyone he tells are full of jealousy as the majority of young people over here would like to do it, loads go to Europe/Australia/NZ even Thailand but few go over to USA, maybe the expense of it - health insurance etc, I don't know...........
Saw a relocation programme to Kentucky on tv the other week (well half of it anyways). Probably the only one ever filmed as never seen one before - not many Kentucky relocation programmes shown on UK tv actually - lol. They showed Bardstown area, Lake Herrington and the horse farms etc. All looked very pretty and green and the couple they took over were very impressed with the state, maybe they might read this as they said it had confirmed to them they would buy over there and think the programme was filmed in 2002!!

Hi Liz,

In regard to best time to visit, I would advise steering clear of "spring" in Louisville/Kentucky, as there isn't much of one! The weather very nearly jumps from wet cold rainy to hot and humid. I think you're best option is late summer or Autumn (Autumn being my personal preference!) Kentucky and Southern Indiana in Autumn is just beautiful. My ideal home visits are always mid-Oct through end of November. After that the trees are bare, everything is asleep for winter and it starts to get cold and overcast. It often stays that way well into March and sometimes April.
However, it's purely a matter of when you're able to travel and the costs involved. And at any rate, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? lol

I don't have much of an explanation for why more people don't travel to the USA for holiday--perhaps it's the negative image they get from the tele and movies. Most countries are horrible lampooned for SOMETHING: England gets lampooned for being too stiff, starchy, and snobby; Australia gets lampooned a la Crocodile Dundee/Paula Hogan; NZ gets lampooned as Lower Australia; Thailand gets lampooned for practically everything.......lol I always advise listening to what people have to say and then making up your own mind after you've been there, done that.

In as far as costs, Kentucky is far more affordable than say, New York or California, and IMO is a fair bit more laid back.

I am proud to say that your QEII can trace the blood lines of many of her prized Thoroughbreds to our studfarms, and has been over 2-3 times in person to personally inspect and select her mares. That must be saying something! And she also visited our Kentucky Derby during her last trip to the USA, in conjunction with the Jamestown settlement anniversary. I was very disappointed that I wasn't not in Louisville to witness it. (I like the BRF!)

Anyway, whenever you do visit the Bluegrass State, I hope you enjoy it and that you take home many fond memories and will return often. Perhaps you'll be able to come at least once per Season and decide which one you enjoy the most! You may be pleasantly surprised at what does it for you!

Cheers!

[English Liz]

Thanks Tigerlil,
Very helpful, especially with regards to the seasons. Oct/Nov definitely sounds good, just thought it may be a bit cold and miserable in those months. Am comparing the weather to our UK seasons but thinking about it I suppose it is much more southern than GB!!
Interesting about the horse purchaser too! (Saying that her latest horse wasn't a winner!!!-maybe that wasn't a Kentucky one however!)

[mdawg]

if you come in october you are still likely to have days in the 60s or 70s so it wouldnt really be that bad during that time of the year. it doesnt start to get really cold here till middle/late november. here is a graph of normal daily temps, and record highs and lows for louisville.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LVLKYHILO.gif

[tigerlillydownunder]

Mdawg is right--the weather is generally lovely--very nice-mild in October, an starting to cool quite a lot in November. That doesn't mean that it doesn't get unseasonably warm or cold, mind you, but I think that being a fair bit further south that GB, the temperatures would be rather pleasant for you.

In regard to the non-winning horse--of COURSE it's not fromKentucky!! lol
Just kidding. Who knows? Though we pride ourselves on our horses, even the best of them are bound to throw a "dud" every now and then! hehe
Ah well, they can't all be winners, and even the "losers" are still beautiful creatures!

Cheers!