At The Gardner School, we know parents are always looking for fun, recreational places to take their family. Louisville has a lot to offer when it comes to recreation, so The Gardner School of Louisville asked parents to share their favorite kid-friendly outdoor activities. Here is what they had to say:
Big Four Pedestrian Bridge
The Big Four Bridge in Louisville’s waterfront park is a regional experience like no other. With no shortage of monumental natural beauty and one-of-a-kind views, this pedestrian-only bridge across the impressive Ohio River inspires wonder in children and parents alike. Make it an event by completing the entire two-mile there-and-back journey, or bring snacks along for a walking picnic to catch the sunset over the water.
Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead
Budding naturalists, lace up your shoes! Blackacre Preserve is the premier destination for childhood outdoor education in Louisville. Begin with an open exploration of the site’s stunning and accessible trails across fields, forests, and a destination waterfall. Then, check out their exciting offering of day camps and classes, with everything from guided nature exploration, crafts that teach Kentucky history, and outdoor sports like archery! For a truly unique activity, families can rent out a plot on the homestead’s community garden to learn the ins and outs of kitchen agriculture up close.
Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay
Kentucky Kingdom is a 63-acre amusement park in Louisville that includes a collection of thrilling amusement rides, including the unforgettable Hurricane Bay water park. If you have several little ones in tow, be sure to stop by King Louie’s Playland, a park designed just for younger children that contains over a dozen tamer rides for the under-six crowd. Families love watching the rescued sea lions romp at the Aqua Theatre and birds soar through the air at the Avian Adventure bird show. Kentucky Kingdom opens weekends in April and is open daily starting Memorial Day weekend. Check the website in advance for schedules, ticket prices, and other info.
Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant
Located just thirty minutes outside of Louisville, this unique farm and restaurant introduces children to how food goes from seedling to the dinner plate. Let your children explore freely in the farm market, pick their own produce, meet a few farm animals, and enjoy a picnic by the lake or a meal in the restaurant. This family-friendly weekend activity will delight your crew.
Churchill Downs
The storied history of horseracing in Kentucky isn’t just for adults! Introduce children to this time-honored Louisville tradition through a visit to Churchill Downs. Admission is always free for children, and opportunities abound to meet the horses, enjoy a virgin mint julep, or dress up and wear a fancy hat during special Family Adventure Days at the racetrack.
Cherokee Park
This is the perfect place to take your child to explore nature. Cherokee Park is more than 300 acres and features rolling hills, meadows, forests, and creeks. With scenic nature paths, picnic shelters, fishing areas, and playgrounds, Cherokee Park makes for an adventurous day out for the family. By the end of the day, after lots of running around and exploration, your child will be tired out. Cherokee Park is a great place to get into nature and have the entire family unplug from technology.
Louisville Nature Center
The Louisville Nature Center is a great place to educate your child about the Earth and the environment around them. With wildflower gardens, seasonal butterflies, hiking trails, and wildlife exhibits, the Louisville Nature Center offers education and recreation for your entire family. Admissions into the Nature Center is free, and their mission focuses on preserving the environment through active education. This is the perfect destination to unplug from your busy life and dig into the nature that’s around you while educating your child about the Earth. Your family will love being immersed in nature so close to the city.
The Louisville Zoo
Visitors can travel the world without leaving town, all in one day’s visit to the Louisville Zoo! Make friends with animals across the globe, from golden-eyed jaguars and magnificent elephants to charming troupes of wallabies and colorful lorikeets. For children who can’t get enough of the natural world, check out the zoo’s educational camps and resources like Backyard Action Hero to introduce fun ways to learn about animal conservation and stoke your child’s curiosity for nature.
An Exceptional Preschool for Louisville Parents
Louisville parents trust The Gardner School to care for their children during the day so they can enjoy connected family time at home. Our interactive curriculum and teachers keep children engaged and learning on a daily basis. If you’re looking for an exceptional preschool experience in the Louisville area, we’d love to share more about what we do. To learn more about how we fulfill our mission to parents, set up a time to tour our school.