After spending the night just shy of Louisville proper, we kicked around ideas. Tour a distillery to compare Tennessee whiskey making to that of Kentucky bourbon? Hmm. Perhaps, although another distillery? Meh. Not really feeling it.
Take in the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs? Now that is a winner of a plan for the frustrated never-had-her-own-horse-but-still-loves-them, Triple Crown-celebrating gal among us! That’s most likely just a half-day deal though (little did we know), so, what else?
Susie eventually realized that one of the ideas she’d tucked away back in March for potential time in Kentucky was only 15 minutes away. Forget the bourbon! We’re going to see the FOREST GIANTS!
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Oh, an arboretum. Giant trees. Yes, but so much more. The 16,000-acre forest was endowed to the people of Kentucky in 1929 by Isaac W. Bernheim, a German immigrant who arrived in the U.S. in 1867 at the age of 18 with only $4 in his pocket. It’s a fascinating history and even has ties to Frederick Law Olmstead (think Central Park).
For the arboretum’s 90th anniversary in 2019, Danish artist, Thomas Dambo, constructed “Forest Giants in a Giant Forest,” three sculptures made from recycled wood and natural materials. The giant mama and her children can be seen on a two-mile loop trail through the arboretum. So, no, not giant trees. This is about Giant GIANTS!
From there we had to hoof it to stay ahead of several busloads of excited youngsters. Hey – we like children just as much as the next proud grandparents, just not in squealing hordes. Ha!
Fortunately, we have longer legs & don’t have to remain with a defined group. 😉
Cruising through the forest, what do we find lounging on our second stop?
Leaving the quietly resting Mama Loumari in the forest, we came into a clearing to find her other giant child posed at play.
With more than 40-miles of trails and so many other things to explore, we could have easily spent days enjoying the full nature of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, but in order to make it to the Derby Museum for the afternoon, we opted to finish with a quick drive to the far side of the park.
and trees. Dimensions: 16.5′ x 8′ x 10′
Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs
Finally, it was time to take the horse-lovin’ lady who’s never been to Churchill Downs (say it isn’t so) to the Kentucky Derby Museum. When the greeter at the front desk enthusiastically told us about the Secretariat exhibit, Susie got goosebumps and then didn’t stop smiling for hours.
Whoa girl, how about some fuel? Okay, let’s start with lunch at the Derby Cafe – Hot Browns and Mint Juleps!
We get to keep the glasses?!
After the pulse-pounding 360-degree introductory film about the track and the famous race, we spent the remainder of the afternoon in the exhibits covering the 150-year history of the Kentucky Derby – quickly, there’s A LOT to see there.
After the race, we found ourselves leaving downtown Louisville at 1730, smack in the height of rush hour. Perfectly full day! But, no, we were NOT going to stop at a hotel. It may not be the Triple Crown, but this particular Thursday was already the “third leg” of our eight ‘ish hour drive back to Indiana. So, mount up Pearl (silly name for our car) and head on “home,” where you-know-who will sleep with visions of thoroughbreds galloping through her head…
Our Travels 