Ten Louisville Tourist Attractions I've Been To: Belle of Louisville (#6)

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A lot of people go on vacation to sight see, and I'm certainly no exception. However, a lot of people probably have plenty of sightseeing options in their own region. That's true for me, because I live in Louisville! Tourists flock here for the Derby and for other events, or just as a destination. It's a pretty darn nice town, and it has lots to offer for visitor and resident alike. Here's a great tourist attraction I've been to. #6: Belle of Louisville One of the most popular events during Derby Week is the Great Steamboat Race. It pitted the Belle of Louisville against Cincinnati's Delta Queen for ages. Then the feds stepped in, declaring the Delta Queen unfit for passengers or "seaworthiness" (I guess river worthiness in this case), blah blah blah. So Cincinnati went out and got itself another steamboat! Now it's the Belle of Louisville against the Belle of Cincinnati (and, as of this writing, they have a two-year winning streak against the hometown boat)! The race aside, there's a lot of history floating on the Ohio River. The Belle was built in 1914, and it really is a steamboat with a real operating paddle wheel. Those things aren't for show. It's on the list of historic landmarks. It is, for many, the symbol of Louisville. And here's a kicker: it's only been the "Belle of Louisville" since 1962. When it was built in 1914 it was commissioned the Idlewild. Tours are available, and cruises, ranging from sitting outside in the sun to eating brunch, lunch, or dinner, are also available. It's a fun time on the river! Here's a video about the Belle's centennial anniversary: