This holiday season, give the gift of unforgettable experiences in Louisville! From culinary adventures to unique tours, here’s a curated list of recommendations perfect for creating memories and celebrating the local flavor of Louisville. Taste, tour, and create with these fun local experience gifts!

All experiences below have the option to buy a gift card, perfect for giving a gift to make memories that will last throughout the years.

Nulu Food Tour Louisville Kentucky Royals Hot Chicken

Foodie Adventures

Have some foodies in your life? Here are some ways to treat them to a food adventure!

Louisville Food Tours

Give the gift of experience that your loved ones will never forget. From bourbon tastings and delicious local dishes to hidden speakeasies, they’ll discover Louisville through expert storytelling, excellent food, and strolls through gorgeous historic neighborhoods. Pick up a Louisville Food Tours gift certificate which can be shipped anywhere in the USA or delivered digitally.

Cooking & Cocktail Classes

Cooking at the Cottage offers hands-on cooking classes that are fun and interactive. From baking holiday cookies, to date night cooking, to making an epic gingerbread house there are a ton of classes to chose from!
Date Night at Cooking at Millie’s is a great choice for couples looking to spice up their evening (literally). From making sushi to cooking with bourbon, Millie’s has all kinds of classes that will suit all kinds of couples.
Liquor Lab is a great place to take your mixology to a new level. They have classes that pair cocktails and comedy, bingo and brunch, even prohibition-era cocktails!

Bourbon and food tasting on a bourbon food tour in Louisville, Kentucky

Distillery Tours & Bourbon Experiences

You can’t spell “Kentucky” without “Bourbon”, or something like that. Here are some of the best distillery tours and bourbon experiences in Louisville!

Beyond the Barrel: Bourbon & Bites Food Tour: Uncover the secrets of Kentucky bourbon and go beyond the barrel to dive into bourbon’s storied history – and learn all the stories they won’t tell you on a Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery tour. As the sun sets over the vibrant NuLu neighborhood, you’ll visit award-winning restaurants, hidden speakeasies, rooftop terraces, and cozy tasting rooms. Gift certificates available at Louisville Food Tours.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience: Dive into Louisville’s bourbon heritage with an immersive distillery tour. You can take the Traditional Tour and Tasting, a Speakeasy Tasting Experience, and many others! *Gift Certificates must be bought in the gift shop.
Barrels and Billets: Craft and bottle your own bespoke bourbon blend—a perfect gift for whiskey enthusiasts with a refined palate! Located within the iconic Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Barrels and Billets offers bourbon enthusiasts and the bourbon curious an unparalleled blend of excitement and flavor.
Angel’s Envy Distillery Tour: Explore the intricate art of bourbon-making in this luxurious Louisville distillery. On their Signature Tour, you’ll see our bourbon distillation process first-hand, from start to finish. Check out all their other tours here.
Mint Julep Tours: From distillery visits, to jaunting around horse farms, to unique Bluegrass Chef taping experiences, these tours will bring joy to any friend or family member.

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Artistic Experiences

If your friends and family are more into getting artsy, why not give them the gift of creation with a gift card from one of these fine establishments?

Glassblowing at Flame Run: For fans of Blown Away on Netflix, why not give them the experience to be a glass artist! Create a custom piece of glass art, like a Christmas ornament, with the guidance of expert artisans.
Board & Brush in LaGrange: Get crafty with workshops that offer everything from making your own wooden signs to personalized leather projects to pottery painting.
Work the Metal: Explore Butchertown’s not-so-hidden gem featuring unique gifts, Christmas décor, and even workshops! Upcoming classes include pet watercolors, sourdough bread class, and a holiday card workshop.
Maddox & Rose Marketplace: Craft custom candles, sugar scrubs, and more while sipping cocktails. A creative and relaxing gift experience.
The Craftery: Located in the hip NuLu Marketplace, the Craftery has a bar and a menu of crafts to choose from like making ornaments, leathercraft, and decorating pottery!

Outdoor Adventure Experiences

We all have that person in our life who loves *adrenaline*. Why not feed their need for speed with one of these experiences?

Mega Cavern Adventures: Enjoy ziplining, guided tours, mountain biking, and their stunning holiday lights display “Lights Under Louisville”.
Canoe Kentucky: Paddle through scenic waterways in Frankfort, KY for an outdoor escape on the Kentucky River or Elkhorn Creek.
Endless Summer Paddle: Get out on the Ohio River on a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)! They offer an intro class, yoga, and even a sunset SUP session. Order a gift card online here.
Rail Explorers: Located in Versailles, Kentucky, riding along the train tracks through farmland, over bridges, ending with a scenic overview of a Kentucky gorge.

Louisville Kentucky Belle of Louisville Steamboat on Ohio River

Classic Louisville Experience Gifts

If your gift givee is really in Louisville, or plans a visit from out of town, here are some excellent experiences to discover the story of Lousiville:

Backside Tour at Churchill Downs: Enjoy an early morning tour of Churchill Downs, complete with breakfast at Wagner’s Pharmacy. We’re filing this one under “cultural” because Churchill Downs is an integral part of Louisville’s culture!
KY Derby Museum: Celebrate Kentucky’s rich horse racing heritage with interactive exhibits and guided tours. For anyone that’s obsessed with horse racing this museum is a must!
Belle of Louisville: Cruise down the scenic Ohio River on the Belle of Louisville! They have all kinds of trips from sunset cruises, to murder mysteries, to dinner cruises!
Take a Ghost Tour with Louisville Food Tours: Learn about the dark history of Louisville, KY on Whiskey Row: Murder, Crime, & The Ghosts of Derby City. One part ghosts, one part grisly history that is, sadly, entirely true, this guided 1.5-hour walking tour through downtown Louisville unveils the deepest, darkest corners of Louisville’s gruesome past.
Louisville Historic Tours: Learn more about the country’s best-preserved Victorian neighborhood on a History and Architecture Tour of Old Louisville! You can also take a ghost tour of the area.

Experience Gifts for Nature Lovers

For that friend with a green thumb, give the gift of a membership to a garden!

Yew Dell Botanical Gardens: Combine nature, music, and local brews with their event series or explore the serene grounds. You can give a gift of membership and see the gardens all year round!
Bernheim Forest: Explore 16,000+ Acres of forest, trails, lakes, and even giants! Bernheim constantly has events from art exhibits to star gazing. Give the gift of membership!
Waterfront Botanical Gardens: Located by the Ohio River, these gardens are growing by the year with a new Japanese garden on its way! With plenty of activities, you can enjoy this garden every seaosn.

READ: Best corporate event spaces in Louisville, Kentucky

Getaways from Louisville

If you’ve had enough of Louisville and need a getaway, we have you covered too!

Barn8 at Hermitage Farm: Step into a storybook setting at Hermitage Farm, where you can have an upscale farm-to-table dining experience in a picturesque setting. Located in Goshen, it feels a world away from with city without being too far!
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train: Treat your loved ones to a unique dining journey through Kentucky’s countryside. Located in Bardstown, Kentucky, roll past farms, over bridges, and past historic buildings on this 2.5-hour experience.
Little Mount Lavender: This beautiful lavender store and cafe is located in Simpsonville, Ky. This is a great way to get some luxurious lavender products and enjoy quaint Simpsonville. Find gift cards here.
Red River Gorgeous Cabins: Give the gift of one of the most beautiful places in Kentucky: Red River Gorge! These cabins are stunning and big enough to bring your friends or family.

This list is packed with experiences that suit every personality. Whether you’re shopping for adventure seekers, food lovers, or creative souls, Louisville has something special to offer. Give the gift of memories this season!

About us: we run walking food tours of Louisville, Kentucky. Come with us to experience the story of Bourbon City one bite at a time!

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Hope to see you on a tour soon!