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Louisville’s winter is just cold enough to enjoy some classic winter activities without those nose-hair-freezing frigid temperatures that make you want to stay indoors until the spring. There is no shortage of things to do outside in the winter, and when you need to warm up, there are plenty of cozy little spots to get those fingers thawed out. Typical Louisville winter weather hovers from December through mid-March in the 20s through the 40s. With the occasional gorgeous 60-degree day. It’s perfect bundle-up weather and a great time to get out of the house. Here are my favorite winter activities to do in Lousiville Kentucky!
Ice Skating
Lousiville has two indoor ice arenas but for the authentic winter ice skating experience, I suggest a little spot in Pairstown with its own Christmas market. Fête De Noël is Louisville’s answer to a European Christmas market, with plenty of twinkling lights, a holiday market full of delicious treats, and Santa’s Workshop. The real attraction star is the large outdoor skating rink where you can rent skates for 60 minutes and enjoy the holiday atmosphere! Fête De Noël runs from mid-November to early January.
To get more info – https://www.paristown.com/fetedenoel
Skiing
Wintertime brings out the coats, the gloves, and the skiers. We have two amazing places for ski adventurers to hit the slopes. Paoli Peaks is about 46 miles from Louisville. It welcomes skiers, snowboarders, and those who enjoy snow tubing. Paoli Peaks has the beauty of snow-covered trees and views of the valley below inspire you, choose from 1 of 17 runs to soar down.
Perfect North Slopes is perfect for anyone looking for a smaller, more manageable ski/snowboarding experience. One hour and thirty minutes from Louisville, you’ll find skiing, snowboarding, and scenic hillside outlooks open all day long. Along with snow tubing available for half the day.
Sledding
Louisville has an abundance of parks within the metro area. But did you know that Louisville Park and Recreation has designated certain hills as the best and safest to sled in the snow? These hills are moderate to fast runs so while super fun, the little, little ones may not enjoy the speed. Here are four of the greatest moderate to fast sledding hills in town, just keep in mind sledding is open when you see the “Sledding Hill Open” sign displayed and closes at 11:00 pm.
Cherokee Park – Baringer Hill at the intersection of Alexander Road and Scenic Loop is probably the most popular spot in town, and possibly the fastest. It has a great open hill so you don’t have to avoid groups of trees as you “fly” down. This is an awesome perk for nervous parents and their kids who want a little “sledding independence”, and great if you’re a big kid and want something more intense!
Joe Creason Park – Located on Trevilian Way across from Louisville Zoo, Joe Creason Park has some great fast hills, but here you have to watch for the occasional tree, and it can get crowded, so you also have to watch out for the occasional people, too.
George Rogers Clark Park – This park is located at 1024 Thruston Avenue, behind the playground, near McKinley Avenue, there are hills for you but there are lots of trees so be ready to dodge and weave. Not the best hill for young newbies going solo, but great if you like a little danger with your sledding experience.
Tyler Park – The hills at Tyler Park off Edenside Avenue has slower hills for those who don’t “feel the need for speed.” But still, it’s a decent size hill that’s mainly tree-free, with a nice long run at the bottom to stop. It is in a residential area park and there are sure to be plenty of sledders.
Snowy Walk of Old Lousiville
Is there anything more magical than walking around a Victorian court while it’s snowing, surrounded by beautifully ornate homes and an icicle-covered fountain? No, there is not!
St. James Court and Belgravia Court are located in the heart of Old Louisville, which boasts the largest contiguous collection of Victorian mansions in the United States. We are talking about intricate ironwork, flickering gas lamps, and tree-covered streets, with walking paths that wind past these historic homes. You can simply wander the area gawking at all the ostentatious splendor, or follow a self-guided walking tour to get to know the area a little better. Also check out Central Park across the street, which is stunning when covered in snow.
Find more info – at https://historiclouisville.com/st-james-belgravia/
Walking Tour Info – http://www.oldlouisville.com/central__park_south_tour.htm
Burbon Sipping
Louisville’s nickname is Bourbon City. So you could say bourbon is kinda our thing! While Louisville has quite a few distilleries and tasting rooms of its own. We’re also just a drive away from the distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail! And y’all can guarantee that there won’t be crowds of tourists in the middle of December. Here are a few of the best to visit in the winter.
Angel’s Envy – Located in NuLu, Angel’s Envy distillery is a small-batch bourbon distiller. Angel’s Envy makes a delicious finished bourbon after the usual aging process, Angel’s Envy bourbon is then aged in port barrels which leaves a deliciously complex bourbon, perfect for both sipping and mixing into cocktails. You can take a full tour of the gorgeous Louisville distillery along with a bourbon tasting.
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience – Evans Williams bourbon is a staple in Louisville. You’ll find it everywhere, which is not surprising because Evan Williams was Kentucky’s first distillery, which opened in 1783! Evan Williams is actually distilled at the Heaven Hill Distillery, and at their downtown location, you can learn about the distilling process, take a unique trip back in time to a Prohibition-era speakeasy, and most importantly, sample bourbon! They have several different tours and experiences to choose from!
Rabbit Hole Distillery – This distillery opened in NuLu 2012 when its founder risked his twenty-year psychology practice and took a plunge down the Rabbit Hole to make Bourbon and Rye spirits instead, best exemplified in their rye-forward Heigold Straight Bourbon Whiskey. During the one-hour, immersive guided tour of the contemporary, industrial-chic distillery, you’ll learn about how grains are transformed into whiskey, how Rabbit Hole’s philosophy is changing the bourbon industry, taste a 4-grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and end at the Overlook lounge for a generous bourbon tasting with a view.
Although there are plenty of distilleries in Louisville, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a whole different experience. As you drive out of Louisville and into the rolling, snow-covered hills of Kentucky horse country. It is recommended to book a tour many will take care of the planning and most importantly the driving for you. Find more info at https://kybourbontrail.com/
Christmas Festivals and Events
If you’re looking for some holiday fun this Christmas in Louisville, then look no further than these must-see Christmas events that will help you get into the holiday spirit!
Winter Wood Spectacular – a magical treat of holiday wonder in the woods of Iroquois Park! On this half-mile driving path, you will see beautiful stained glass windows with familiar characters, sets with holiday decorations, and of course, lots and lots of twinkling lights with a soundtrack to tie it all together. Plus, your ticket helps support Louisville’s public parks through the Parks Alliance of Louisville, which advocates for equitable park development and investment in Louisville’s underserved communities. So grab your best friends and family, throw on your PJs, and be sure to bring some hot chocolate in a thermos along!
Light Up Louisville – Typically occurring just after Thanksgiving, Louisville’s annual Christmas Tree lighting event occurs on the Jefferson Square and Metro Hall lawns, and the lights last all season long. The festive display includes rainbows of colors for all the best winter holidays, from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, and celebrates Louisville’s diversity. On the evening of the kick-off event, you’ll watch the 45-foot-tall tree light up to mark the beginning of the holiday season. You’ll meet Santa Claus when he arrives on Jefferson Street for the “Lots Of Lights” parade. A Vendor Village will be filled with local food and craft vendors, as well as a Children’s Activity area. Kids can have fun writing letters to Santa or taking photos with their families in a photo booth.
Lights Under Louisville – Located near the Louisville Zoo, the Mega Caverns is a 100-acre limestone cavern, which during the holiday season, becomes an underground light show featuring 900 lit characters and over 4 MILLION lights. Lights Under Louisville is a 30-minute drive-through attraction that winds through part of the 17 miles of underground caverns and features music, and of course, all those brilliant lights. They even have something called the “Christmas Express,” which will take you through the caverns on an open-top trailer!
Louisville is the perfect spot to enjoy winter activities throughout the season. Let us know which ones you will be doing this winter. Happy Holidays babes!