I was fortunate to have a 30th surprise party thrown for me at Mint on Mellwood and it was the…read morePERFECT venue. The staff was incredibly accommodating and worked with my family on logistics, catering, bar options, parking and keeping the entire thing a surprise up until the moment I walked through the door. The venue itself was very clean, spacious and flexible. My favorite part about it was all the Kentucky derby memorabilia that fills the walls - it's like walking through a museum! I highly recommend using this venue for parties, receptions, showers or anything else you can think of.

Mint on Mellwood is a great space to have any kind of function or gathering. It is very fitting…read morethat it is "Mint on Mellwood" because it is owned by Mint Julep Tours! The area is located in the Butchertown area where you are surrounded by other great restaurants, breweries/distilleries, boutiques, the arts, etc. The space is open & has the potential to be any kind of set up you want. We had hot & cold hors d'oeuvres, so I assume there were ways they were kept warm & cold between replenishments. The bathroom facilities were very neat & clean. The onsite staff were very inviting, social & professional.

Beautiful space, helpful waitstaff. The bar no longer makes cocktails of any kind. It is now a…read moretasting bar where you can get a flight of bourbon or a pour. As a lover of cocktails, I was pretty sad to discover those were eliminated. I also understand that it likely shortens the guest visit time since people are more apt to be tempted by an additional cocktail... which allows for more turnover in this smallish space. You arrive to this area after a tour. Alternately, you can request to be put on a list to visit this area from the gift shop. The list doesn't involve texting you when you're up, so you need to be hanging around or risk losing your place. The gift shop bar was pouring samples of one spirit during our wait (not of your choosing, more of a "this is what we're pouring today" situation) which was appreciated. The gift shop itself is really lovely, so that can help burn a little time as well. Last call was at 4pm if I remember correctly, which is fairly standard for distilleries in KY.

Hidden gem at Rabbit Hole. You can't make a reservation here, but you can ask to go up from…read moredownstairs where the gift shop is. There is an amazing balcony with comfy chairs that are perfect for a beautiful day. The relaxing balcony is half the reason to go, and it was extra nice that they ensure it isn't packed.

We had a great experience today at Angel's Envy. We did the bourbon and chocolate tasting with…read moreAnderson. Very informative and fun! Anderson was knowledgeable, professional, and entertaining. Would highly recommend this experience. We also enjoyed some quite tasty drinks upstairs in the bar. And of course we couldn't leave without making a few purchases to take home from the shop.

When you think Kentucky, "it bourbon you think of."…read more Without a doubt this establishment is a must go. If you do the bourbon tour it's the first stop. You will learn so much. The climate and culture dating back to the 1800s still runs through the city today. The company that operates Angels Envy is Louisville Distilling Co. The founder was Lincoln Henderson. This gentleman went to college right here in Louisville and after forty plus years of working in a distillery worked his way to the top as master distiller. His own brews are pretty good too. How about Jack Daniel's Gentleman's Jack. That was Mr. Henderson. The building that Angels Envy occupies was occupied prior by American Elevator and Machine and American Saw. Later it existed as Vermont American Complex, then it was abandoned. The site was deteriorated but became the place where in 2010 revival. The Henderson family and Louisville Distilling Co made their permanent presence. They invested in the surrounding area too. They made a massive complex when you visit . Now come and visit today. Learn the basics of how the Henderson family double distills their Angels Envy in a wine cast barrel after aging. Taste the quality of their legacy that will establish and endure the ages. Although the legacy lives on forever in this family and their double mystery their dad left, the story continues. Plan your visit today .

A beautifully restored site! We took the house tour today and loved seeing everything inside and…read morehearing about the history. Our 20 year old guide seemed very nervous, maybe it was his first week there? He's obviously studying history and knew a fair amount, but could honestly use some more practice with public speaking. However, the home was incredible and we enjoyed ourselves. Hoping to come back in a few weeks and walk the grounds. They have a very cool "self guided" QR code tour around the outbuildings and gardens that you can do for free! And the gift shop is probably one of the nicest I've been to at a site of this size. Handmade and local items when possible, and a very chatty and kind store manager.

It's been 10+ years since I last visited Locust Grove, so I was excited to recently, when I stopped…read moreby for their annual book sale fundraiser. First, what a beautiful spot! I only got to see a sliver of its many acres, but my blood pressure dropped just from driving up to its main building. And if you are a bibliophile, don't miss this annual book sale! The proceeds benefit Locust Grove, and it boasts an awesome, overflowing selection of used books. I got there right when it opened at 10 a.m., and by 10:15, everyone was shoulder to shoulder. I came away, though, with a box of books for my and my family, costing just $30. The volunteers were great too, taking everyone's stacks of books to set aside while they shopped for more. I would love to come back for a proper tour and to bring my kids. Can't believe this site is just 10 minutes from my house and that I haven't properly enjoyed it yet. I'm excited to learn more about it!

Are we talking "On Heavens Gate!"…read more Yes, Bob Dylan, that inspirational author, songwriter, wordsmith, and artist has a Bourbon. Now they were looking for where to build his so called place to breathe life into it. That "it," place. It's not in Nashville, it's here in small little Louisville. What better place than an old church? Bourbon and Church! Amen! All are welcome! Now they don't make it here this is where they come to pour it and enjoy the flavors of it. Is life about the ride? How about dinner and some Heavens Bourbon made and inspired by Bob Dylan in a church. It's a must! Now this is a small venue and off the beaten track of life. What drew me? A large image of Bob Dylan on a building, mural style seemed out of place. Come to find out explore more and salut to a better version of heaven in this world of art, music, and words that have never been better than now. This is not just a church but the grounds house an art deco museum to his work. It's true dedication to the man of Bob Dylan. A Tennessee whiskey, distilled in Pleasureville, Ky. This the final stop here at the Last Refuge to celebrate his legacy and better aged bourbon among us.

This place came highly recommended for a restaurant to visit when in Louisville so it was our first…read morestop! Turning an old church into a bar/restaurant always makes for a unique environment. I loved walking through the rooms and seeing all the vintage details and stained glass. The Whiskey room has quite the shock factor with floor to ceiling bottles lining the walls. No complaints to be made about the service! It felt quick and smooth! The signature cocktails we ordered were very good (not pictured)! My only disappointment was the limited menu. The menu seemed to be mostly appetizers and pizza with some additional options for entrees. We ordered the Holy Fire Dip for a starter and it was delicious! It was warm and had great flavor. The waitress did need to bring more bread, the dipping options felt sparse. My husband and I split The Burnt Offering Pizza and Sanctuary Sliders, they were both solid. We both favored the pizza but would have liked more variety. I can see why this place comes highly recommended for the experience. I would definitely come back but hope they expand the menu by then!

Water it's what keeps life going for us humans!…read more Louisville Water Tower No. 1, began in 1860. This large structure is adorned with an array of varied shapes and esoteric features. It is 185 feet tall. Its a national monument now. You can take the whole tour of the inner island and White House looking structure behind it. It's a beautiful masterpiece. From afar it seems like a perfect light house, but upon reflection it's to pump water from the Ohio River to provide water to Kentucky . This is a beautiful relic from the early days. Its was pumping station No. 3, finished in 1919 to replace the original tower. As the station sits its a large grassy field with trees and picnic tables and walking paths . The iconic museum has drawn many visitors year after year to see one of the countries water tower that is so famous for its period perfect architecture. Now come and still see this marvel .

Last time I was in Louisville I didn't get to see too many sites. I had a limited amount of time…read moreand made my way through the city hitting up the highlights. I wanted to see a lot more than I had time to see and when I found out I was coming here for work, I knew I was going to have more time in the evenings to see things. My work area for this week was right up the street from here. After I was done for the day, I made my way to the grounds to give a quick look around. I was one of two people in the area for the time that I visited which made for an easy and somewhat fast visit. I came here to take in the area and take a few pictures. I would have loved to have visited the museum portion of this, but they have some very odd hours that make it hard to visit if you are from out of town. Something like one Sunday a month. You can, it appears, rent the space for events and have a school field trip. This is on the National Historic Landmark rolls as it is the oldest ornamental water tower in the world. The water tower was almost totally destroyed by a tornado way back and they had to rebuild some of it. But for the most part, what you see, is what was there originally. Completed in 1860 it has served Louisville for years by supplying water to the city. Mimicking buildings you might find in Europe. A tower rising out of a Corinthian portico that holds up several statues. It's a beautiful place to spend your day to pass the time. Beautiful grounds to get your steps in. Benches to sit and watch the water flow on by, and some beautiful views.

If you're in the mood for a new and modern putt putt experience this is the place to go! 9 holes is…read more$14, unlimited is $25. Puttshack is currently on Groupon and offering a Monday-Friday deal. We went on Sunday and chose unlimited so we could try all 4 courses. You sign up for each course on your phone, they send you a text. The place was crowded, but we didn't have too much trouble moving through the courses. The lights and sound effects throughout the course are fun, our group became very competitive. You can dine or grab drinks at the bar like we did (happy hour during the week). I will say the courses are pretty similar, so it becomes repetitive. For that reason, this is probably a once a year place for me.

I returned with my family for Mother's Day. This was my first experience booking the visit and it…read morewas easy. After visiting the website I chose the location, date, and time. A credit card is needed for the reservation. You have 3 hours ahead of time to cancel for a full refund: Five minutes before our reservation, I got a text to head to our course. Makayla set up our team and the ball assignment. We had a great time competing. The opportunity to win and lose points kept the top scores changing. I'm definitely considering coming back with my youngest for a $25 all day pass.

Our yearly work Christmas party has been held here the past several years. The place is always…read moreperfect for us. The restrooms/kitchen work well and the place is roomy and comfortable. It's also conveniently by the expressway for those who have to come from other cities.

My husband and I attended St Matthews Chamber of Commerce 2017 Legislative Coffee meeting there on…read moreMonday, March 20th. There is a large parking lot in front of the building. The event rooms look spacious and clean. This facility is very modest but it can be beautifully decorated for special events.

What a neighborhood gem! Since moving to Clifton/Crescent Hill, the Peterson Dumesnil House has…read morebecome an important part of our holidays especially. For the third year in a row, we attended the Easter egg hunt yesterday. Eggs are strewn all over the large lawn, and this event is large enough to feel like a community event while not being too big. It's still intimate and special. Important to know: This Easter egg hunt starts promptly at 10 a.m. If you arrive at 10:03 you'll miss out on eggs. We've also attended the Halloween event, complete with a small Halloween parade for kids in costumes along the driveway, and the Christmas open house with Santa. The PD House is large and stately but very welcoming. I love that it has become a symbol and gathering point for the neighborhood. It can also be rented out for events. I've passed by some beautiful weddings being held there. We are so lucky to have this landmark so close!

While I've never rented the space, the Peterson Dumesnil House is a well-known historical building…read morein Louisville. It is now overseen by the Foundation and is available for event rentals. It is also the annual site for the Crescent Hill 4th of July Celebration. They allow visitors to come inside to view the second floor and view raffle/silent auction items. The bathrooms have been updated and provide a mix of old and new. One room is a perfect bridal suite area with a 3-way mirror. Rentals of Peterson Dumesnil also include beautiful outdoor spaces, whether for intimate vow exchanges or to increase seating space with tables and bartenders on the front lawn. Parking is available nearby the space, primarily as street parking. Kudos to those on the Foundation for taking great care of this space and making it available for the public. To learn more about the history and family, view the website.