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The 27 Best Breweries, Distilleries, & Bars in Louisville, KY: A Local’s Guide

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Louisville, Kentucky is a city that’s famously known for a drink: bourbon.  Sure, it’s technically Kentucky that invented Bourbon, but Louisville has embraced it, built upon it, and created a drinking scene honoring it.  Whether you’re stopping in Louisville on your way to do the Bourbon Trail or just visiting Louisville because it’s the best city ever (though I’m slightly biased, as a local), you can’t skip out on tasting a few Louisville specialties. We spent a few weeks exploring my old Kentucky hometown and drinking a ridiculous amount, discovering everything from the best Louisville breweries to amazing Louisville bourbon bars and, of course, incredible Louisville distilleries. Of course we ate a lot, too: make sure to check out our foodie guide to Louisville! Whether you’re a bourbon drinker or you just haven’t spent enough time in Louisville yet to develop a taste for it (it’ll happen… give it time), there are tons of incredible places to grab a drink in Louisville, bourbon or otherwise.  Louisville, KY is an must-visit booze tourism destination!

Here’s what you’ll find in this local’s drinking guide to Louisville, Kentucky.

Psst: Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for a FREE downloadable Google Map of the best Louisville bars, bourbon, breweries, and distilleries!

By the way, did you know that we have a BUNCH of posts about Louisville? It is my hometown, after all! Take a look below at our other Louisville travel guides.

We’ve also compiled all of our suggestions for where to go, what to do, where to visit, what & where to eat, and what & where to drink (and taste bourbon) into one downloadable PDF Local’s Guide to Louisville. Subscribe below to get the download and save it to your smartphone or tablet to take with you on your trip to Louisville!

A Mint Julep at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Getting a Mint Julep at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky is like a rite of passage. If you don’t do it, did you really visit Louisville?

Here’s where to get the best drinks in Louisville, from craft beer to bourbon to cocktails and everything in between! But first, a quick primer on the most famous drinks in Louisville, Kentucky.

Famous Louisville (& Kentucky) Drinks

    I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned, but bourbon is a pretty big deal here. Even if you come to Louisville saying “I’m not a bourbon person,” first of all, how dare you, and secondly, expect that to change by the time you leave. With so many brands and varieties, there is truly something for everyone on the bourbon spectrum. Each of these drinks will be served at just about any Louisville bourbon bar!

    The official cocktail of Louisville is The Old Fashioned – a spirit forward cocktail made with bourbon, sugar or syrup, bitters, and orange peel. This bittersweet king of cocktails varies from place to place, but it’s always delicious. I won’t blame you if you thought “Hold your horses,” (get it, cuz Kentucky?), “that’s the official cocktail? What about Mint Juleps?!” Well I’m getting there.

    The Mint Julep is the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby, not Louisville. I’m pretty sure that’s just an excuse to have multiple kinds of Official cocktails – very clever, Louisville government. No trip to Churchill Downs is complete without an ice cold Mint Julep. It’s the perfect cocktail to sip in the hot sun while you cheer your horse on while wearing a ridiculously fancy hat. Made with bourbon, simple syrup, muddled mint, and shaved ice, these boozy mint snow cones pack a punch. Oh, and of course they have to be served in a silver Mint Julep tin (or a Derby Glass).

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    Another famous Kentucky cocktail deserving of it’s own vessel is the Kentucky Mule, for those sweet drink lovers. A great summer cocktail, it is made from bourbon, lime, and ginger beer then thrown into a copper mule mug. Delicious!

Bourbon tasting is a must-do activity when you're in Kentucky. Conveniently, you can visit several bourbon distilleries without leaving Louisville! One of our faves is Angel's Envy in the heart of downtown Louisville.

Bourbon tasting is a must-do activity when you’re in Kentucky. Conveniently, you can visit several bourbon distilleries without leaving Louisville! One of our faves is Angel’s Envy in the heart of downtown Louisville.

The Best Louisville Distilleries

    Let’s be real here. Going to Kentucky and not going bourbon tasting is like going to Mexico and never having a taco. Not only is it hard to actually pull off, but why would you want to!? As fun as it is to go out into Bourbon country and tour a distillery, sometimes the logistics can pose a challenge. But fear not! There are actually several bourbon distilleries in Louisville where you can enjoy tours and bourbon tastings without leaving the city.  Here are our picks for the best Louisville distilleries.

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Situated right in downtown Louisville is the Angel’s Envy distillery. These small batch bourbon distillers pride themselves on making a smooth sipping, unique finished bourbon.  What do I mean by finished? After the usual aging process, Angel’s Envy bourbon is then aged in port barrels. The end product? A deliciously complex introductory bourbon, perfect for both sipping and mixing into cocktails. There’s also an incredible Rye Whiskey finished in rum barrels! Guests can take a full tour of the gorgeous Louisville distillery along with a bourbon tasting, or the speed round called the Sensory Tour, which also includes a bourbon tasting (and chocolate, too).

  • Angel’s Envy | Address: 500 East Main St, Louisville, KY (Downtown)

Two things Louisville loves – theater and bourbon – merge at another downtown Louisville distillery: The Evan Williams Experience. Visitors have the choice between two tours and tastings. The first is a film and unique historical walk through the founding of the distillery to today. We recommend this for anyone who hasn’t done a full blown distillery tour, as you’ll learn a lot about the process of bourbon making. The other option is a Speakeasy Tour, which takes guests through a safe and into a Prohibition era bar where you’ll sample the premium bourbons. Both tours include tastings, as well as a souvenir distillers glass.

Located next to Museum Row sits Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Wanna talk credentials? The first bourbon this family made went into the barrel in 1889. You know what else happened that year? Montana, Washington, and the Dakotas became states. It’s pretty safe to say these guys know bourbon, y’all. Unlike some of the other bourbon distilleries in Louisville, Peerless Distilling does everything from milling to shipping all under the same roof. What does that mean to you? Well it means you can see every step along the way!

Located just 5 miles from downtown Louisville you’ll find The Bulleit Experience. Take a $10 tour and tasting and you’ll get a chance to explore the office where Pappy van Winkle himself used to work, later inspiring what is now one of the most loved and expensive varieties of bourbon available today (last time I checked, you can get a shot of Pappy Van Winkle for $100 at my favorite bourbon bar in San Francisco, so there’s that). Sadly, they aren’t handing out any sample-sized bottles of Pappy, but the tour is still fantastic and well worth a stop.

It’s not just bourbon you can taste in Louisville! Recently the Butchertown based Copper & Kings has been making waves in the brandy and absinthe arena. But hey, this is bourbon country, so you better believe bourbon plays a role. Their American style brandies and apple brandies are aged in bourbon barrels to give it a signature sweetness and smoothness. Even the absinthe is unique. Unlike most absinthes that get their green color from dyes or steeping plants, their absinthe is clear and comes in four flavors: regular, ginger, lavender, and citrus. Not only are the tours great, but they also host an event called Mixt&pe, where bartenders craft their own cocktails inspired by songs from an album. Check it out. It’s fire.

You can't go to Louisville and not get a Mint Julep, or 2, or 3. The real deal is served in a Mint Julep cup, like this one, which we got along with our brunch at Silver Dollar on Frankfort Avenue in the Clifton neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.

You can’t go to Louisville and not get a Mint Julep, or 2, or 3. The real deal is served in a Mint Julep cup, like this one, which we got along with our brunch at Silver Dollar on Frankfort Avenue in the Clifton neighborhood of Louisville.

The Best Louisville Bourbon Bars

Y’all didn’t think we were done with bourbon already, did you? In addition to Louisville distilleries, there are tons of Louisville bars that specialize in bourbon & whiskey.  In fact, there are so many Louisville bourbon bars that they have their own name: the Urban Bourbon trail (cute, right?).  To quality for the Urban Bourbon trail, bars in Louisville have to offer 50+ different varieties of bourbon – and a staff that can walk you through nosing each of them like a pro. You can even get a little passport to stamp, just like the real Bourbon Trail! Once you’ve filled up your passport, you can trade it in for a souvenir t-shirt. How awesome is that? I wish they gave out t-shirts for eating your way through Louisville, too. I’d have a whole wardrobe. To help you on your Urban Bourbon journey, be sure to download the app to help guide you to the nearest bourbon bar.

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One of our fave Louisville bourbon bars is Doc Crow’s on Whiskey Row, which serves up delicious food alongside a plethora of bourbon. Try anything from the smoker, the mint julep lemonade, and for dessert order the Wilbur sundae with brown butter praline ice cream, candied bacon and cinnamon pork rinds.

Historic Whiskey Row is  also home to the speakeasy themed Down One Bourbon Bar. With over 160 bourbons, you’ll find whatever rare bourbon you’ve got your heart set on here, plus a few more you’ve never heard of – all alongside some absolutely fantastic food, of course. Consistently ranked and awarded as one of the best Bourbon Bars in America, Down One is an incredible bourbon bar that can’t be skipped when visiting Louisville.

Bourbon, burgers, and beer: if you’re a fan of any of these things, you’ll definitely want to visit Sidebar at Whiskey Row. Local legend has it that their burgers are the best in town. Pair your burger with a barrel aged cocktail (yes, y’all) or an expertly crafted bourbon cocktail.

Looking for a bourbon bar to celebrate a special occasion? Or just like any excuse to be fancy? We love Buck’s, an upscale bourbon bar in the beautiful historic Old Louisville neighborhood. Be sure to give yourself time to take a stroll around the neighborhood, which is one of our absolute favorite places to explore in Louisville

When it comes to bourbon, we like to pair ours with brunch, which is our favorite excuse to visit Harvest, Butchertown Grocery, and Proof on Main – all excellent bourbon bars and restaurants as well. We’ve got more information about each of them, along with our other fave spots for the best brunch in Louisville, over at our Louisville food post.

Now some of you might be wondering, “I don’t know where to begin. I don’t have a favorite bourbon! Can I do a tasting of a bunch of kinds of bourbon and figure out what I like?” This is Louisville, y’all! Of course you can! Head down to NuLu and check out Taste Fine Wines and Bourbon for a $7 tasting of Kentucky’s finest small-batch bourbons. It’s not a bourbon bar, but we thought it was fitting for this section anyway.

At Great Flood Brewery in Louisville, Kentucky you'll find delicious craft beer flights and of course, plenty of bourbon barrel aged beers!

At Great Flood Brewery in Louisville, Kentucky you’ll find delicious craft beer flights and of course, plenty of bourbon barrel aged beers!

The Best Louisville Breweries

I was under 21 when I moved away from Louisville, so I might be mis-remembering, but it seems there are a TON of amazing new craft breweries in Louisville! And yes – there’s plenty of bourbon barrel aged beer. Don’t worry. That was my first question, too.

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I think a defining characteristic of craft breweries is placing quality over profit and output. While that’s evident at all of these Louisville breweries, it’s especially obvious with Monnik Beer, located in Germantown. Monnik Beer sources all of their ingredients locally and won’t put a single drop they don’t love in your glass. Their beer list is long and varied, making this a crowd pleaser bar for anyone looking to grab a beer in Germantown.

  • Monnik Beer | Address: 1036 E Burnett Ave, Louisville, KY (Germantown)

“Like our namesake, the mighty Ohio River, we never stop moving forward” is the tagline for Mile Wide Beer, and it shows. The brewery was once a biscuit factory and the very first brewpub in Louisville, and Mile Wide has turned it into something truly special. They have food trucks, arcade games, pub games, and plenty of space for you and your friends to enjoy great beers. Be sure to check out the Wooderson, a mesquite smoked blonde ale. Any “Always Sunny” fans? You’ll get a kick out of the McPoyle, a nitro milk stout.

Tucked unobtrusively into a space on Bardstown Road in the Highlands neighborhood, Great Flood Brewing is much larger inside than it first appears from the outside. The taps at this Louisville brewery offer everything from Bourbon Barrel Aged beer – see, we told you – to excellent Saisons and dark stouts. In addition to their own brews, Great Flood serves up a few notable outside offerings, such as the delicious Beer X-Tacy (a play on a much-beloved, but now closed, local record store called Ear X-Tacy, RIP).

I do love me a bar that sticks to a shtick, and Apocalypse Brew Works certainly has a shtick: It’s the end of the world, might as well drink! This excellent Louisville brewery’s tasting room is called “The Fallout Shelter,” and it serves up small batch brews. The beers are all appropriately named: there’s Cream-ation, a cream ale, ashes not included; Sunspot Stout, an oatmeal stout; and Fallout Dust, a peppery specialty beer. One of my favorite things about Apocalypse is their dedication to sustainable brewing practices. Just because their theme is a dead planet, it doesn’t mean they can’t help prolong that fate.

Old Louisville Brewery started as a passion project between two brothers and has grown steadily for the past few years. They are located in the heart of Old Louisville, one of my favorite (and Louisville’s most beautiful) neighborhoods. It’s proximity to University of Louisville makes this a lively spot, but not so much so that you feel old. They also feature the number one quality in any bar: dog friendly! With 12 rotating taps, there’s always something new and fun to try at this Louisville brewery. Grab a glass of their refreshingly crisp Raspberry Wheat, Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout, or the tangy “Kentucky Common,” a throwback to the early 20th century when bourbon mash was reused to make beer.

The Bloody Mary at Butchertown Grocery in Louisville Kentucky comes with a hunk of buttery bone marrow in it. Yummy! Butchertown Grocery is an excellent Louisville bar.

The Bloody Mary at Butchertown Grocery in Louisville Kentucky comes with a hunk of buttery bone marrow in it. Yummy! Butchertown Grocery is an excellent Louisville bar, especially for weekend brunch, which is a totally valid time to be looking for a bar.

The Best Louisville Bars

In a town (and state) that is known for their pride in alcohol, you better believe that Louisville bars are second to none. In addition to the aforementioned craft breweries, you can find some unique bars to get a little taste of everything. 

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     NuLu – aka New Louisville, a super hip up and coming neighborhood – is home to a number of fantastic Louisville bars. One of our favorites is Garage Bar, a bar slash restaurant with delicious brick oven pizzas and an amazing patio, all set in a converted mechanic shop! Personally, whenever I go I feel like I stepped into the Cars movie, except without Owen Wilson ruining his career (psst – remember when Owen Wilson was in Steve Zissou? His character was from Louisville. His accent, however, was not).

  • Garage Bar | Address: 700 E. Market St, Louisville, KY (NuLu)

 Down the street from Garage Bar in NuLu, fans of tacos and/or craft cocktails will love to see Galaxie Bar. Galaxie has a rad hidden patio area called Outer Space that’s open for dancing on the weekends, and hosts tons of awesome events. Every Wednesday they even have a Trivia Night, so get those know-it-all friends of yours down there (as you may have guessed, we’re a lot of people’s know-it-all Trivia Night friends).

  • Galaxie Bar | Address: 732 E. Market St, Louisville, Ky (NuLu)

Mag Bar in Old Louisville isn’t the kind of Louisville bar you go to looking for a fancy craft cocktail. It’s the kind of dive bar where you go to have an amazing night that you may or may not remember fueled by cheap drinks and brand new besties that you’ll end up dancing with all night long while shouting the words to some song you barely know. Mag Bar hosts tons of eclectic events from trivia to themed dance parties to bingo to DJ’s and local bands that you’ve never heard of but will probably end up buying a CD of by the end of a night (are CD’s still a thing?). Simultaneously described as “old school” and “hipster,” Mag Bar is a much-loved local hot spot.

  • Mag Bar | Address:  1398 S 2nd St, Louisville, KY (Old Louisville)

    If you’re looking for a unique Louisville bar that caters to beer lovers (*raises hand*), head over to The Highlands neighborhood and check out Holy Grale. Its building was once a church – hence the clever name – but they serve you more than just a sip of communion wine. They’ve got 27 rotating taps, which include (to my delight) hella Belgian beers!  Y’all know we love our Belgian beer. 

  • Holy Grale | Address: 1034 Bardstown Road Louisville, KY  (The Highlands)

The Highlands is also home to the best Irish bars in Louisville, all conveniently clustered together. There are 3 Irish bars right next to each other, and everyone has a different opinion about which one is “best,” but our favorite is O’Sheas.

If you like live music, be sure to stop by the Highlands Taproom and see who’s playing.

    Over in Germantown, a must visit Louisville bar for beer lovers is Four Pegs. With a dozen beers on tap and an incredible comfort food menu, this place is sure to fill you up. While you’re there, be sure to get the Kentucky Poutine and a Beer Burger – a burger topped with beer sauce and a fried green tomato!

    If you’re looking for a fancier Louisville bar, there’s 8UP in Downtown, a chic rooftop bar overlooking the city and serving up craft cocktails. 8up is the perfect place to bring a date and watch one of Louisville’s famously beautiful sunsets.

  • 8up | Address: 350 West Chesnut Street Rooftop, Louisville, KY   (Downtown)
Mint Julep in at Rye in Louisville, Kentucky

Look, don’t judge us. We got a LOT of Mint Juleps while we were in Louisville. You know – for research. Besides, it was Derby Season! … Also, this one was in a really pretty souvenir glass. (From Rye on Market.)

Map of the Best Bourbon, Breweries, Distilleries, & Bars in Louisville

Use our handy map to locate the best places to drink in Louisville on the go!

Travel Tip: Download this map to your smartphone for offline browsing (click here for instructions).

By the way, did you know that we have a BUNCH of posts about Louisville? It is my hometown, after all! Take a look below at our other Louisville travel guides.

Planning a trip to Louisville? We’ve compiled all of our suggestions for where to go, what to do, where to visit, what & where to eat, and what & where to drink (and taste bourbon) in Louisville into one FREE e-book: the Local’s Guide to Louisville. Subscribe below to get the download and save it to your smartphone or tablet to take with you on your trip to Louisville!

Are you thirsty? After writing all this, we sure are. Have you ever been to Louisville? Are you a bourbon drinker? Or were you like “where the heck is Louisville?” before you clicked on this post? I hope you know now, right?! Leave us a comment below!

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Louisville, Kentucky, USA: Home of bourbon whiskey... and a lot more! A local's guide to the 27 best breweries, bars, and distilleries in Louisville, KY. The perfect Midwest or South travel destination for booze tourism! Louisville, Kentucky, USA: Home of bourbon whiskey... and a lot more! A local's guide to the 27 best breweries, bars, and distilleries in Louisville, KY. The perfect destination for booze tourism!

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Disclaimer: This post was written in partnership with Go To Louisville. All opinions, recommendations, things that we may have done or said while ~researching~ for this post, and poorly executed jokes are entirely our own and totally not their fault.

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Comments

  1. drivebytowns says: June 17, 2017 at 11:36 am

    You had me at Angel’s Envy and Bulleit and bourbon-barrel-aged beer…. I’m bookmarking this (and your restaurants round-up) for the next time I visit my parents in Asheville. We drive through Louisville, and it’s a good spot for an overnight to break of the drive.

    Reply
    • Lia says: June 17, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      Oh definitely! It would be the perfect place to overnight. We’ve done Asheville from Louisville a couple of times too, it’s a very doable drive.

      Reply
  2. Alissa says: June 17, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    Thanks for this super in-depth post! I’ve never been to Louisville (or Kentucky, for that matter) but if I ever make it over there I will keep this in mind. I’ve always wanted to try a mint julep… and your photo made it look quiiiiite tasty 🙂

    Reply
  3. Dany says: June 17, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    Hubby loves to visit breweries and even if I’m not a huge drinker, I still find it’s an interesting experience. Kentucky sounds more and more tempting, thanks to you!

    Reply
    • Lia says: June 17, 2017 at 2:06 pm

      I’m kinda the same way! I don’t drink at home and I’m not a big drinker in general, but when we travel I LOVE going to breweries and distilleries and wineries. I’m a booze tourist but not a big drinker 😛 So weird!

      Reply
  4. Maša says: June 17, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    Haha Love it! As an alcohol aficionado – sold in a first paragraph. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Emily Hines says: June 17, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    I freaking love Garage Bar! I had no idea there were this many breweries there now. Need to go back asap

    Reply
    • Lia says: June 17, 2017 at 7:53 pm

      Yeah, I was kinda surprised too! Louisville is comin UP lately. We’ll be there again for a bit this month, lmk if you feel like driving down 😛

      Reply
  6. Candiss says: June 17, 2017 at 8:42 pm

    Ah! I needed this soo bad when I was in Louisville for a wedding in November I was too tired from my own travels to research anything! Next time though!

    Reply
  7. Tracy Schwartz (@_Travelist_) says: June 17, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Best in-depth post on Louisville. I have yet to visit but it’s on my list of places!

    Reply
  8. Kristin says: June 17, 2017 at 10:19 pm

    I don’t think you left a single bar out either! 😉 Have you done Lexington yet? Equally as awesome cocktail spots!

    Reply
    • Lia says: June 17, 2017 at 11:08 pm

      Not at all. Like, I think I visited Lexington a couple of times growing up for maybe like, school field trips? Now I’m hearing from all my friends (and my dad, believe it or not) all about how Lexington is apparently cool now. So I guess it’s time to check it out!

      Reply
  9. operatingrn says: June 17, 2017 at 11:23 pm

    You certainly do thorough posts. It has been a couple of years since I was in Louisville. Sounds like I need to go back.

    Reply
  10. Janis says: June 18, 2017 at 7:47 am

    Really enjoyed this post and your one on restaurants in Louisville, its making me want to plan a road trip around Kentucky. I like the look of the Mint Julep 🙂

    Reply
  11. Megan Starr says: June 19, 2017 at 10:36 am

    I am not a huge spirits fan, but I saw beer in there and it made my mouth water 😛 Definitely keeping this in mind for my next trip that way!

    Reply
  12. Charlotte says: June 19, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    I’d love to go to Kentucky! This is so detailed I’ll definitely be back here when I do 🙂

    Reply
  13. Claire says: June 20, 2017 at 10:36 pm

    I’m so glad you included distilleries here too, not just breweries, I don’t drink beer but love to explore other drinks!! The mint julep is a must for me I think, and on old fashioned while I’m at it! 😉

    Reply
  14. Shaun says: May 30, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    Hello there!
    Next time you are in Louisville you should check out Bourbon’s Bistro. I am a cook there and not only is our food delicious, we also have some of the most bourbon knowledgeable bartenders as well as over 140 different bourbons to choose from. Bourbon’s is located on Frankfort Avenue in the Clifton neighborhood.

    Reply

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  • Even though I'm not a Cast Member anymore, visiting the Disney Parks always makes me un-characteristically giddy. My voice goes up a full octave and my face, which is typically frozen solid into the angriest Resting B*tch Face you've ever seen, crinkles into something vaguely resembling a grin. Even Jeremy tones down his signature sarcastic, judgemental sass a little bit. .Even though we're typically bitter old hags who want nothing more than a couch, Netflix, and to avoid our social obligations, Disneyland brings out a cheerful, youthful side of us that's otherwise reserved exclusively for meeting puppies. . That's not to say we don't take our Disneying seriously, though. By now you know that we're competitive AF (psst: I DID post some Creed Karaoke in our stories, FYI). We're also obsessively focused on Disney Strategy, timing our precious few hours in the park with the efficiency of people who you'd think would be a whole lot better at things like cleaning and staying on top of the laundry. Waiting in line for 20 minutes is NOT AN OPTION. Wandering around aimlessly with no plan? NO. This is Disneyland. This is the REAL DEAL. Every second we're here costs roughly a zillion dollars and we have way too much student loan debt to waste that precious time! . We've developed a strategy that maximizes our enjoyment of the park by allowing us to ride as many rides as we can, wait in line for as little time as possible, and fully acknowledges and prepares for that late afternoon hunger/exhaustion meltdown that everyone has during a long day spend running around in the sun. To learn all about our Disneyland Strategy, as well as a free preview of the ultra-competitive Disneyland Scavenger Hunt we created on our last trip, click the link in our bio! . What makes YOU giddy? Disney? Puppies? Drop a comment below! . #travelinladies #ladiesgoneglobal #wearetravelgirls #globelletravels #radgirlcollective #girlsthatwander #GirlsBornToTravel #thetravelwomen #igglobalwomenclub #wanderful #girlsborntotravel #girlslovetravel #girlslovetravel #wearetravelgirls
  • Jeremy and I are the kind of people who get aggressively competitive about things that most other (normal) people wouldn't consider competitions. Like karaoke. Or stand-up paddleboarding. Or berry picking. Or who ordered a better meal at a restaurant. Literally anything. . We don't even necessarily compete against each other. If we can turn something into a game, with points or strategy or a way to "win" or "lose," chances are we're gonna get competitive about it, much to the chagrin of any non-competitive friends or family members who might happen to be in our vicinity. . We developed this tendency scarily early in our relationship. Within 2 weeks of dating one another, we realized that we shared one important thing in common: we both do a REALLY good Creed impression, specifically when it comes to singing "With Arms Wide Open." So obviously, we headed to a karaoke bar to duke it out on stage. (Jeremy is the reigning champion.) . I also planned a massive, day-long Scavenger Hunt for Jeremy to celebrate Valentine's Day together BEFORE WE WERE EVEN OFFICIAL. It was as over-the-top as you can get: there were rhyming handmade clues, the involvement of multiple friends & family members that I'd barely met, and a stop at every place we'd been to together (all 6 of them. This was like, a month into us dating). It was AMAZINGLY over the top. Any other guy might have run the other way at this ridiculous display of affection, but Jeremy is my soulmate, so he was wildly impressed (and swears he will one day one-up my Scavenger Hunt with one of his own, likely involving plane tickets). . When it comes to Disney, we've been longing for something to make our Disneyland trips EPIC. Sure,our incredibly specific Disney Strategy helps, as does competitively finding Hidden Mickeys. But what we really needed was a game. Somethine to give us an excuse to DESTROY one another. To WIN. But we couldn't find one that wasn't laughably easy or targetted to kids. So ... we made our own! . Yep. That's right. We've made the most epic Disney Scavenger Hunts EVER! Click on the link in our bio! . But first ... tell me: what do you get weirdly competitive about? Spill!
  • All those years ago as a Cast Member, Walt Disney World was my stomping ground. I still get a little teary-eyed when I see the castle in the intro of Disney movies, because it feels like my old home. For that matter, so does Hogwarts, but I digress. . Even though Disney World in Orlando was once my home, Disneyland in Anaheim, California is closer to my home NOW. Much closer. Like, a few hours south, conveniently located near multiple family members. Muahaha. Well done, family. . We're not baller status so we don't have season tickets (to anything, just like ... generally speaking) but we do try to go at least once per year. Jeremy even finagled a trip once as the chaperone of his students' Grad Nite, because if you go to high school in California you get to go to Disneyland all night, apparently. I'll add that to my lengthy list of YET ANOTHER THING I missed out on by growing up in Kentucky instead of California, along with having O.C. lookalikes as classmates, frolicking with dolphins on my lunch break, and learning to identify non-predatory jellyfish on sight. . Here's the thing about Disneyland versus Disney World: It's a LOT smaller. That's not a downside, though. Thanks to its size, you can actually see the parks (there are 2!) all in one (long) day. . We've just published a brand new post with our favorite tips to help you take your next Disneyland trip to a whole new level. AND, we're debuting our FAVORITE way to experiencing the parks: via Scavenger Hunt, of course! Stay tuned for more info... or check out the link in our bio for a sneak preview. . Since we're sharing our Disneyland secrets, we want to know yours! What's your favorite Disney Parks tip? (Non-Disney people: what's your favorite Disney movie? Come on, join in on the love.) . . . #DameTraveler #wearetravelgirls #sheisnotlost #GirlsWhoTravel #girlslovetravel #sheexplores #WomenWhoExplore #radgirlslife #thetravelwomen #girlsvsglobe #femaletravelbloggers #girlsjustwannatravel #ladiesgoneglobal #wearetravelladies #girlaroundworld #girlsthatwander #disneyland #disneylandresort #disneygram #disneylovers #disneylove #disneyfan #disneylife #disneymagic #disneylandpark #disneylandcalifornia
  • As you can see, I managed to find the most Instagrammable macaron in all of Disneyland. I known, you're amazed - please hold your applause until the end of this post 😉 . This macaron was calling my name at the Holly Jolly Bakery (it's Mary Poppins themed, for y'all not in the know. And yes, it's adorable). It was like a sign, and the sign said "Millennial Pink Macaron $5.99." (No, it really did. Check the story on my highlights if you don't believe me). I thought to myself, self, there's no sense fighting it: the marketing team at Disney clearly GETS ME. . I bought that Millennial Pink macaron entirely, like 10000%, for the 'gram. It tasted like student loan debt and never being able to afford a house, but it sparkled in the sunlight like a diamond. 💎❤ . Here's the thing about Theme Park food: sometimes it's overpriced cardboard, but sometimes it's SO GOOD and exactly what you need on a hot day of rides and fun. Disney Parks food is in the "SO GOOD" category. It's genuinely amazing. It also happens to be highly photogenic, which is convenient AF for anyone looking to take pictures of themselves holding stuff in front of stuff *ahem*. . Other than waxing poetic about 'gram foods, I do have quite a few Disneyland foodie favorites. Like churros. And Dole Whips. And the Monte Christo Sandwhich at the Blue Bayou cafe. And Mickey Bars! Omg, Mickey Bars 😍those things actually manage to taste better as they melt all over your hand. Remarkable. . What about you - what are your favorite theme park foods, Disney or otherwise? Drop me a comment! . . . . #disneyland #disneylandresort #disneygram #disneylovers #disneylove #disneyfan #disneylife #disneymagic #disney #disneylandpark #disneylandcalifornia #disneystyle #anaheim #disneyparks #disneypark #disneylandforever #disneylandanaheim #disneyexperience #disneymemories #tastespotting #disneyforever #disneyside #disneyfood #darlingescapes #wheretofindme #passionpassport #femaletravelbloggers #disneyaddict #disnerd #disneyig
  • I've traveled all over, but I'll always think of Disney as the most magical place on earth. I drank the Kool-Aid HARD back when I was a Cast Member, y'all! But once you go Disney, you never go back, and I've gone WAY down this rabbit hole. . I was a WDW Cast Member the semester that I turned 21. It's been 7 years, and I still struggle not to refer to little girls and boys as Princes and Princesses when I'm strolling through the parks. Luckily, I dropped the 2-finger point a few years back - otherwise I'd probably still have people coming up to me and asking "what time is the 3 o'clock parade?" (YES, this is the #1 most common question that guests ask Cast Members, and it still makes my head explode). . Unlike me, Jeremy grew up going to Disneyland. It's his Disney "home." So on our most recent Disney vacation in May, I let him show me the ropes. I learned all kinds of tips and tricks (Disneyland and Disney World really are quite different, as it turns out), and together we created something REALLY exciting that I can't WAIT to tell y'all about. But I'm gonna stretch it out over like 83 pictures because hello, that's how this works, and also because I have a LOT of cute pictures I want to share and that's a pretty good excuse. . Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? If you've been to both, which is your favorite? If you've never been to either, WHY WON'T YOU DRINK THE KOOLAID WITH US?!?!?! Drop us a comment below! . #sponsored #disneyland #disneylandresort
  • For the 2nd summer in a row, I came home. Like, HOME home: Louisville, Kentucky. Some people crave the beach or somewhere exotic and strange - I crave the familiar. I crave nostalgia. I crave friends and family and "y'all" and bourbon and summer weather and strangers striking up conversations and people letting me over when I put on my turn signal and stopping to let deer cross the road and seeing horses around every corner and the slow, heavy current of the Ohio River. Louisville runs through my veins, and I come back as often as I can. I took this picture in the garden of my childhood home. It's like, HOME home. You know what I mean? . This visit home comes right on the tail end of a series of trips, all back to back, and right before a big trip abroad (more on that later). This is my new life as a full-time travel blogger, and to be honest, I'm still getting used to it. Traveling this frequently means I have to pull out all my tricks to make myself look presentable, because spoilers: I've pretty much been carrying the same suitcase full of clothes around for 2 months now. . To keep myself looking like a Regular Person who has a job and rent to pay (which I do! I swear!), I roll my clothes (never fold!). I unpack the minute I arrive at my next destination. And I carry a small battalion of Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus with me to disguise the inevitable creases that appear in everything I own. I don't want to have to worry about much more than throwing on my clothes and heading out to see friends and family and explore my beloved hometown, so having these tools in my arsenal helps me from looking like a person who's been living out of a suitcase for the past few months (not to mention, a whole year before that). . Do you have any tips for looking fresh when you travel? Drop me a comment below! . #sponsored @downywrinklereleaserplus #spraytugsmooth #NoIronRequired #AlwaysLookYourBest #SprayOutWrinkles
  • Cayucos is the kind of place you go to escape the many, many stresses of the world. Life moves slowly here – this is SLO-Cal, after all – and you can feel your troubles drift away with the waves crashing on the beach. If Gilmore Girls had been filmed in California, it could have been filmed here. This homey, simple life beach vibe is why many families return to Cayucos year after year, visiting the same beloved places and reveling in the same beloved charm. . Before our most recent trip to Cayucos, our experience was mostly limited to surfing and eating cookies. (Oh, did I mention? There's a BOMB cookie company in Cayucos, Brown Butter Cookie Company, and we're obsessed with it.) . But our recent trip opened our eyes to the many charms of Cayucos. A quaint little main street filled with historic buildings turned into delicious farm-to-table (and sea to fork) restaurants. A slew of amazing antique shops selling everything from beach-house themed housewares to vintage finds with a cowboy feel. The pier, where you can watch surfers and dolphins and even catch migrating whales as they pass through on their twice annual migration. Our hosts, the @shorelineinn_cayucos, with a beautiful inn located right on the beach. And the people! Friendly, hospitable, and eager to tell you about the history of Cayucos, to share what the town means to them, and to explain why it's so incredibly special. . Cayucos is a must-visit stop on the Pacific Coast Highway. Blink as you zoom through and you might pass right through it, but stop and stay for a few days and we think you'll find its charm is undeniable, just like we did! . #sponsored #cayucos #VisitSLO #centralcoast #SLOcal #SLOcounty #PassionPassport #LetsGoSomewhere #welltravelled #travelDeeper #californiaadventure #californiadreamin #californialove #calivibes #californiacoast#visitcalifornia #californiaholics#explorecalifornia #caliexplored #igerscalifornia#relaxyoureincali #calilife #ShareSLO #TheGlobeWanderer #girlsvsglobe #LovetoTravel #DameTraveler #wearetravelgirls #sheisnotlost #GirlsWhoTravel
  • Jeremy and I both have the tendency to be workaholics. Most nights, you'll find us at home on the couch, furiously tapping away on our respective Macbooks, with some awful reality TV show playing on the projector until one of us drags the other one to bed an hour after we meant to turn in. Workaholicism (sp) is one side effect of loving your job - it doesn't feel like work when you love it! Well, until you've been working non-stop 14-hour days for like, a month straight, and it hits you like a ton of bricks and oh my god, you NEED a break.⠀ .⠀ It's times like those when we're even more grateful than usual to live in California, where weekend getaways abound, and everything you could ever want is just a few hours away. Want some snow-topped mountains? Maybe some Jurassic Park-esque forest with giant trees and massive ferns? Perhaps a nice desert? A giant lake? Wine country? Or maybe a beautiful, white sand beach with perfect waves (just a few minutes away from wine country)?⠀ .⠀ Before we were travel bloggers, Jeremy and I spent most of our weekends exploring California. We were out finding "hidden gems" before we ever wrote the words "hidden gem." Now, of course, we've written it so many times our eyes are permanently crossed and the phrase just sounds like gibberish.⠀ .⠀ Now that travel is Lia's full time job, it seems rare just to have a weekend at home. But sometimes, in between flights and international trips and adventures and catching up on laundry, we find the time to steal away on a little weekend getaway. To return to our roots. To hop in a car after work on a Friday, turn on our "Driving in California" playlist, and drive off into the sunset, only stopping for In N Out and gas before finally pulling in to somewhere new and exciting sometime after midnight. ⠀ .⠀ Cayucos, California was one of those perfect California getaways. Check out the link in our bio for 12 charming things to do in this beautiful little beach town 4 hours south of San Francisco. ⠀ .⠀ Do you like to take weekend getaways? Where is your favorite place to escape to?

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