WATERFRONT PARK

In a town blessed with an abundance of parks known for foliage, nature centers and scenic vistas, the 85-acreWaterfront Park serves as Louisville’s northern doorstep. Visitors can walk, jog and bike along paths that offer scenic views of the Ohio River and downtown Louisville. Linger long enough, and chances are good that you’ll see a massive barge floating along the Ohio, a busy waterway for commerce.

The park’s Great Lawn stretches out as a giant front yard for downtown, offering playgrounds and an amphitheater. A popular attraction is the Big Four Bridge, an old railroad span that’s been turned into a pedestrian and cycling path spanning the Ohio River between Louisville and Jeffersonville, Ind. on display in 9,000 square feet of exhibition space in the awardwinning boutique hotel in downtown Louisville. The artwork ranges from quirky and whimsical to daring, dark and thoughtprovoking. It was a goal of the hotel’s owners to introduce contemporary art to a wider audience.

The exhibitions feature internationally acclaimed artists as well as emerging artists, some from the area. The hotel offers free cultural programming for the public that includes artist lectures and film screenings. There are free, twice-a-week tours of the exhibitions. The hotel’s most recognizable artwork looms overMain Street— a 37-foot-tall replica of Michel-