Hip, Cool and Surprising

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 27, 2018) – National media, including a multitude of prominent travel and tourism authorities, singled out Louisville in 2018 affirming the city as one of the “U.S. Cities on the Rise” as well as one of “The 10 Coolest U.S. Cities to Visit in 2018.” A major highlight was Lonely Planet designating Bourbon Country one of the “10 Top U.S. Destinations for 2018.”

Louisville’s culinary scene continues to be an attraction, bolstered by Top Chef Kentucky’s filming of the show’s 16th season and accolades including Fodor's Travel nod to the city on their list of “Cities with an Unexpectedly International Food Scene.”

It’s not just about the Bourbon in Louisville. The craft beer scene is buzzing, making the list of the “10 Fastest-Growing Beer Destinations in America,” according to Airbnb as noted in Food & Wine.

Here is a roundup of some more of the accolades Louisville garnered in the past year:

Overall
“10 Top U.S. Destinations for 2018” (Bourbon Country) – Lonely Planet
“The 10 Coolest U.S. Cities to Visit in 2018” – Forbes
“U.S. Cities on the Rise/29 Best Small Cities in the U.S.” – National Geographic
“20 U.S. Destinations You Should Add to Your Bucket List” – Travelocity
“20 of America’s Best Cities for a Long Weekend” – PureWow
“7 U.S. Cities That are Hipper Than You Think” – Jetsetter
“6 Surprising Cities for LGBTQ Families” – Family Traveler

Eat & Drink
“The 10 Fastest-Growing Beer Destinations in America, according to Airbnb” – Food & Wine
“Cities With an Unexpectedly International Food Scene” - Fodor’s Travel
“12 Foodie Cities to Discover Before Everyone Else” – Where Traveler
“The World’s Top 10 Beer Destinations for 2018” – Vinepair
“The Best Drinking Neighborhoods in the Country” (Downtown/Nulu) – Thrillist
“21 Best Korean Restaurants in the Country” (Milkwood) – Thrillist
“Best Beer Bar in Kentucky” (Holy Grale) – CraftBeer.com
“Best Fried Chicken in America” (Harvest & Shirley Mae’s) – Thrillist

Play
“30 Best US Summer Travel Destinations” – Travel Pulse
“The Best Places to See Fall Colors in the U.S.” – Lonely Planet
“8 Affordable U.S. Destinations for a Weekend Getaway” – WiseBread
“Best Kentucky Attractions” (Mega Cavern, Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory) – USA Today
“30 Places to Travel this Spring” – Conde Nast Traveler
“15 Incredible Solo Vacations to Take in the South” – Southern Living
“17 Southeast Destinations Perfect for Fall” – Travel Pulse
“America’s Best Sports Attractions” (Slugger Museum & Derby Museum) – USA Today 10Best
“Couples Getaways That Actually Rock” (Urban Bourbon Trail) – Budget Travel
“Best Free Attraction” (Big Four Bridge) – TripSavvy Editors’ Choice Awards

Stay
“12 Best Hotels and Resorts of the Year 2018” (Omni) – Forbes
“Top Hotels in the South” (The Brown Hotel) – Conde Nast Traveler
“Top 5 Artsy Hotels in America" (21c Museum Hotel) – World Property Journal
“The 15 Best Hotels in The South” (21c Museum Hotel) – House Beautiful
“The Best Hotels for a Good Night’s Sleep” (21c Museum Hotel) – Daily Mail
“11 New Hotels Everybody Will Be Talking About in 2018” (Omni) – Orbitz

2018 was a busy year for the downtown corridor, as the 200,125 sq. ft. convention center re-opened in August, along with additional urban bourbon attractions including Old Forester Distillery and the Frazier Museum’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center. The Bourbon District is poised to add another distillery in 2019 with the addition of Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery. New developments expected to open in 2019 include Paristowne Pointe and Logan Street Market, along with the first building/phase of the Waterfront Botanical Gardens. These projects will contribute to Louisville’s tourism industry as the area continues to welcome a growing number of annual visitors to Louisville in 2019 and beyond. These national accolades have given travelers even more reasons to consider a trip to Louisville.