Things to do with children (Lexington, Louisville: 2010, waterpark, houses)

[hays]

Hi everybody!

My family and I will be relocating to Louisville in January 2010. What kinds of things does Louisville have to offer as far as children activities and things to do? Parks? Museums? FUN THINGS?!?! My son will be 3.5 years old then. Thanks.

~Hays~

[tigerlillydownunder]

Hi Hays,

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of places to visit and things to do.

There is of course:
--The Louisville Zoo (open in the winter, and the polar bears and other cold loving animals are particularly active and entertaining that time of the year)
--The Louisville Childrens Science Museum (open all year round, I believe, and has LOTS of hands on stuff--even I get a kick out of going there!)
--Actors Theatre (often has performances that older children will like, but for little ones that are your childs age group the time building up to Christmas is probably best--depends on the child though)
--6 Flags Kentucky Kingdom (can't beat the water park for good old fashioned fun for all ages!)
--lots of parks with excellent play areas (Louisville has beautiful Olmstead Parks...I think there is a thread on here somewhere about them.)
--from memory, the YMCA's have some really good childrens summer programs
--Horse Cave and Mammoth Cave are good, but more appropriate for older kids I think (little ones will not be able to appreciate it)
--in May around Derby time there are lots of day time events and festivals
--in August there is the Kentucky State Fair (the Midway rides, the petting zoos, miniature pig races.....most kids like the animal attractions!)
--in Autumn Joe Hubers Farm/Restaraunt in Star Light Indiana, just over the bridge, within approx 30 min of Louisville Metro area limits....or close to that anyway (the kids can choose their own from the Pumpkin Patch or feed the ducks in the lakes....they even have a play area for kids that just need to run around, with swings and seesaws, etc.)

There is a lot more stuff to do, but as I'm not currently living on Louisville, I'm a little rusty on all the offerings. However, there are a lot of helpful and knowledgable people on this board, so there should be no shortage of info!

Anybody else here able to lend some ideas to Hays?

[missymomof3]

Correction on the zoo.... the polar bears are not there, they have been moved for construction on their new exhibit as well as the seals and sea lions There is also Kart Kountry in Bullitt county that has games and go-karts, as well as Gatti-land, with pizza and an arcade, bowling alleys, movie theaters, not to mention lots of outdoor recreation in all of Kentucky.

[tigerlillydownunder]

Originally Posted by missymomof3

Correction on the zoo.... the polar bears are not there, they have been moved for construction on their new exhibit as well as the seals and sea lions There is also Kart Kountry in Bullitt county that has games and go-karts, as well as Gatti-land, with pizza and an arcade, bowling alleys, movie theaters, not to mention lots of outdoor recreation in all of Kentucky.

Well, there ya go!

(In my defense, it's been a little while (a little too long if you ask me!) since I've been to the zoo. My apologies. Perhaps by Jan 2010, they will be back.......)

But that's right--I knew I was forgetting some other great places. Kart Kountry is pretty cool, and my nephew loved Gattiland, before he went and got all grown up at the age of 10 and decided he wasn't 'a baby anymore!' lol

[natalie brown]

there is also derby dinner playhouse with children plays at times.

[UofLCardFan08]

I would suggest checking out Louisville Slugger Field for a Louisville Bats game (Triple-A team). The field is beautiful and the cheapest tickets are only $6 a piece.

[AZtoWhere]

Was in Louisville just last week. The Kentucky Derby Museum was wonderful! While there, two loads of school children arrived and they seemed to have a total blast! It has several "hands-on" exhibits and a real live racehorse for the kids to meet.

Being in the business, I just love seeing little kids get exposed to our sport and seeing how beautiful and thrilling it is. Horses are so beautiful and never more beautiful then when they are doing what they were born and love to do. In the case of Thoroughbreds, it's running as fast and far as they can for as long as they want.

[mdawg]

There is Waterfront Park downtown, and they put in a new free waterpark there a few years ago. There is also Glassworks, where you can get up close and watch the people there blow and create glass sculptures. There is also Locust Grove, The Farmington Plantation and The Farnsley-Moremen Landing, which are all historic houses but it is fun to explore them and the land. Locust Grove has a pretty hands on museum type thing. The Belle of Louisville is also a great thing to do, it is the oldest true paddlewheel steamboat still in operation. One more thing is the Falls of the Ohio State Park. You get a great view of the Louisville skyline, and you can walk down to the river and look at tons of fossils. A few years ago, a fisherman caught a dead octopus there, and people have also spotted living alligators and crocodiles there, how they got there I have no idea. There is also an interpretive center there that is pretty cool. For a 3.5 year old I would definitely check out the Science Center and the Zoo as well.

[mcamer23]

All of the above mentioned are fun things with kids. I also like taking my kids to these indoor places on days when we cannot play outside. KAZOING KaZoing Party and Play | Louisville, Kentucky ALL ABOUT KIDS All About Kids Sports Center Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Swimming, Dance, Taekwondo Louisville, Kentucky GYMBOREE PLAY & MUSIC Play & Learn, Music, Art, Sports, School Skills, and Preschool Classes for your Baby, Infant, Toddler, and Preschooler - Gymboree Play & Music KGA Kentucky Gymnastics Academy - Louisville Kentucky PUMP-IT UP Pump It Up | Kids Birthday Party | Indoor | Inflatable | Jumping Party | Children's Bounce Party STORYTIME at the library Louisville Free Public Library OXMOOR MALL Oxmoor Mall Louisville - Profile of Oxmoor Mall Louisville

[Cattknap]

How about horseback riding lessons? Huber Farm in Indiana (quick drive), Schimpff's Candy Store just across the river in Jeffersonville (they have tours and lunch and visually such a great place). There is a huge wonderful costume store across the street and down a block or so from the candy store. The Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington offers the presentation of breeds, horse drawn tour, etc. The Belle of Louisville is offers a fun ride on the Ohio and lunch if you want.

Go to the Slugger Museum, then walk over to the Spaghetti Factory for dinner and then take a 15 or 30 minute horse drawn carriage tour of downtown.

Kayaking is also fun. Tom Sawyer Park is a wonderful park with lots to do and see.