Downtown Louisville rolls gently down toward Main Street, then abruptly lunges down to the river. Riverfront Plaza , between Fifth and Sixth streets, is a prime observation point for the natural Falls of the Ohio . The Belle of Louisville , a 1914 steam sternwheeler, leaves from the wharf at 4th Street & River Road for daily cruises in the summer (Tues-Sun at noon, Tues & Thurs also at 6pm; $10; tel 502/574-2355).

No matter what you think of baseball, it's hard not to be impressed by the Louisville Slugger Museum , at 800 W Main St (Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sundays April-Nov noon-5pm; $6; tel 502/588-7228). Frequent tours start with a short, emotive movie featuring prominent shots of Louisville Slugger bats being used to good effect, before visiting displays honoring key players, a batting cage that gives you an idea of just how rapid a 95mph fastball really is, and a working bat factory, explaining all the processes involved in the manufacturing of wooden bats. The trip ends with everyone getting a souvenir miniature bat.

The Speed Art Museum , at 2035 S 3rd St on the University of Louisville campus (Tues, Wed & Fri 10.30am-4pm, Thurs 10.30am-8pm, Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm; free; tel 502/634-2700) hosts traveling exhibits and has a small, but interesting, permanent collection of art and sculpture from medieval to modern times, featuring works by Rembrandt, Monet, Rodin and Henry Moore.

Central Louisville

• Central Louisville

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