Things to Do in Louisville, KY: A Riverboat Cruise

Louisville was once called the Gateway to the South and it has earned the title. A lot of freight goes through here by rail or by truck and lately, by air. The town got started because the river used to be the major means of shipping goods and the barges had to unload on one side of the Falls of the Ohio, and then the goods were reloaded onto other barges on the other side of the falls. It was a natural spot for a rest and to take on provisions before turning around to go back home. The river is still used for shipping, but now there is a canal and a set of locks, so the barges only have to stop for as long as it takes to fill or empty the locks before proceeding on to their destinations. The interstate highways I-64 and I-65 cross here and, consequently; we get a lot of traffic moving towards the Gulf coast and the Eastern seaboard, or from those places to points north or west of us. As long as you're passing through, why not stay for a bit?

We have some excellent restaurants, sporting venues, theaters and other arts attractions, and we have some things that you don't find in most of the places you're going to. One of my favorites has always been our riverboat, the Belle of Louisville. There's nothing like spending an evening cruising up or down the Ohio River. I haven't been on board this season yet, but in times past I would take my girlfriend for one of their dance cruises and we would dance to the music of live bands. We would carry our dinner and some snacks on board, supplement them with items from the snack bar, and have a grand time of it. When we got winded from the dancing we would go out on deck to watch the paddle-wheel push us along or go to the front to feel the wind in our faces and watch the scenery go by.

In its first incarnation, as the Idlewild, the Belle of Louisville was a true steamboat with coal-fired engines, but now its steam is generated by diesel engines. She is the oldest riverboat still operating and will celebrate her 100^th birthday in October of 2014. Looking at the Belle's website, I see that they now offer lunch and dinner cruises, and that she has two climate controlled decks. That doesn't mean that she has lost any of her charm or personality; she still has plenty of both.

Rates are reasonable, and if you have the means, you can even charter a cruise for, maybe, a corporate awards dinner, or some such. The Belle can easily carry hundreds of passengers, so she might be a little beyond the scope for some purposes. Not to worry, she has a little brother, the Spirit of Jefferson, just right for smaller and more intimate festivities. Whether you're looking for a night out with your girl, your whole family, or the graduating class of '98, you will find that this fits the bill.