We hope you’ve packed your appetite. This month, we’re finishing our Hit the Road series with a foodie foray into Louisville, KY. Whether you’re interested in taking a tour of Angel’s Envy Distillery, putting your cooking skills to the test at a Cooking at Millie’s class, or trying the award-winning Hot Brown at The Brown Hotel, this driving-distance destination is every foodie’s dream.

Before you start packing your bags, here’s everything you need to know about the area + our insider recommendations.

Drive time: ~2 hours from downtown

Est. population: 618,733

Avg. high in August: 85.6°

🎟️ Things to do

Kentucky Bourbon Trail, various locations

There’s no shortage of experiences to try + bourbons to sample on this trail — with ~18 distilleries to visit, cocktail classes to take, and blind tastings to challenge your palette.

Derby Dinner Playhouse, 525 Marriott Dr. Clarksville

Get dinner + a show at this spot known for its professional productions of Broadway musicals. See Bright Star now until Sun., Oct. 2 at one of the oldest and largest continually operating dinner theaters in the country.

Cooking at Millie’s, 340 W. Chestnut St.

Learn how to make pasta from scratch or try your hand at macaron baking at this kitchen, which brings in chefs from local restaurants around the city to teach guests how to craft Louisville favorites.

Agave & Rye has locations in Ohio, too. | Photo via @agaveandrye

🍲 Memorable eats

Kern’s Kitchen, 2420 Ampere Dr.

It wouldn’t be a stop in Louisville without a slice of the incomparable Derby-Pie from Kern’s. The chocolate + nut concoction is so beloved, it’s literally trademarked.

Agave & Rye, 426 Baxter Ave.

Taco Tuesday, anyone? In addition to dishes like The Crown Jewel, which marries together lobster + mac ‘n cheese into one big taco, this art-filled eatery offers beignets, ramen, and sweet corn fritters.

V-Grits, 1025 Barret Ave.

You won’t miss meat when you stop by this vegan restaurant, which offers meat alternatives in its chorizo cheesesteaks, hot chicken sandwiches + burgers. Plus, a portion of every Chimera beer you buy will benefit a local nonprofit.

Cozy up in the living room of this Vrbo with your road trip buddies. | Photo via Vrbo

🏨 Accommodations with award-winning cuisine

Brown Hotel, 335 W. Broadway

Two words: Hot Brown. If you haven’t tried the iconic Louisville open-faced turkey sandwich, now’s the time to test it out at the hotel that invented it.

Galt House Hotel, 140 N. Fourth St.

There are four different dining experiences to choose from located inside this popular hotel. Swizzle Dinner & Drinks offers 1940s-inspired ambience with prime steaks and panoramic views, while Jockey Silks and The Veranda serve up drinks for the 21+ crowd. Walker’s Exchange is an American brasserie with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Old Louisville Victorian home

Stay at a conveniently located VRBO home like this one, which is minutes away from Churchill Downs — home of the Kentucky Derby.

Hungry for more? Catch up on the last two months’ Hit the Road features: a 46-mile getaway to Columbus, IN and an outdoor adventure to Brown County.