What makes Valley Station sights so special is the way history can be felt here not only in dusty plaques, but in every sloping house facade and every sloping sidewalk. I remember wandering through the old railroads of the former Louisville & Nashville Railroad for the first time – a relic from the 1880s, which today serves more as a photo motif for nostalgics. The area, officially part of the Louisville Metro in Jefferson County, was once a vibrant industrial centre that attracted workers from all the corners of the Middle West; Today it is a patch carpet of small cafés, used car houses and a surprisingly lively street art scene.
When you arrive by car, just follow the I‐64 to exit 2 and let the GPS “Valley Station” say what will lead you directly into the heart of the district – no joke, the Navi has almost developed personality here. For those who prefer to travel by bus, Route 70 stops on Main Street, where one immediately notices the busy driving of the locals joking between work and a fast coffee run.
I have to admit, I don't understand the hype around the “Hip-ster bakery” at the corner, but the crispy croissant there is really great and gives the whole neighborhood a sweet touch. And if you ask yourself where to get a drink in the evening, just look at the backyards of the old warehouses – there the locals meet to enjoy a cool beer after a long working day, and the whole has a charm you only find in a place that breathes history and doesn't take too seriously.
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You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Valley Station, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first impression I have Louisville Mega Cavern get, is almost a bit like a film set for a low-budget adventure – only that the light actually comes from LED spotlights and not from a director. I tried the “Zip‐Line adventure” with a group of friends there; the noise of the ropes above the dark rock was a real adrenalinkick, and parking was a children's play as long as you don't show up there on Friday night after work, then the field becomes a battlefield quickly.
A short trip to the west leads you to Bernheim Arboretum and Research Foresta place where I first asked myself if I accidentally landed in a botanical laboratory. The trails slew through ancient oaks and artistic sculptures, and the café at the entrance serves the best homemade apple cake I have ever tasted – no joke that was part of my daily schedule. Practical: The entrance road is wide enough for a car, but on weekends the visitor center can be somewhat overrun, so it's better to be there early.
A few miles south is the Falls of the Ohio State Parkfamous for his fossils. I excavated a couple of ancient fish bones with a small fossil club, and that was almost as exciting as a cinema film, only that the “screen book” was written by nature itself. Access to the river is free, and parking is usually easy, except when the weather suddenly hits and suddenly everyone shows up with umbrella and camera.
The Big Four Bridge is another highlight that I cannot overlook – a pedestrian and cycling path that leads via the Ohio River to Jeffersonville, Indiana. I remember an evening when I drove over with my bike while the sun went behind the high houses; the play of light on the water was almost too beautiful to be true. Access is free, and parking on the Indiana site is usually sufficient as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with a whole group of tourists.
Just a cat jump across the bridge lies the charming town New Albany, Indiana. There I met an old man in a small café on Main Street who told me about the "Golden Times" of the city – a bit of nostalgia, a bit of history lesson, and a good piece of cake. The main road is well signposted, and parking is in most cases a walk if you do not park directly in front of the museum, then it suddenly becomes narrow.
A bit further, about an hour drive from Valley Station, lies Bardstownthe heart of the Bourbon Trail. I visited the famous “Heaven Hill Distillery” there; the leadership team was friendly, but I do not understand the hype about the “Bourbon-Tasting” because I prefer to drink a good beer. Nevertheless, the historic city centre with its cobblestone streets is a real eye-catcher, and parking on the outskirts of the city is almost always free as long as you do not come to the high season.
For those looking for the adventure in the mountains, this is Red River Gorge A must. I spent a weekend in a hut surrounded by limestone rocks that almost look like natural sculptures. The trails are well marked, and parking at the visitor center is usually sufficient, but on the holidays there can be traffic jams, so better start early.
Whether you're exploring the dark maze of the Mega Caverns, looking for peace in the woods of Bernheim, collecting fossils on the Ohio River, cycling over the Big Four Bridge, enjoying the small flair of New Albany, experiencing the Bourbon charm of Bardstown or wanting to walk through the rocky paths of the Red River Gorge – the surroundings of Valley Station offer a colourful mix of nature, history and a bit of adventure. All this makes Valley Station Attractions a surprisingly versatile destination that convinces even the most sceptical travellers.
This guide invites you to stroll through the underestimated heart of Valley Station, where every brick has a story to tell. I have gathered my favorite places here, because I believe that most visitors know the true “Valley Station” – and this is a real jammer.
That's right. Valley Station Park, a piece of green that has more to offer than a few benches and a playground. I remember hearing a picnic with friends from a hot July afternoon, while an older gentleman swung loudly in the background over the “good old times” of the 80’s baseball. The park is surprisingly well maintained, and parking is almost always a Klack – only Saturdays when the local football tournament starts, it can become narrow. The small lake in the north is not an ocean, but it reflects the evening sun so beautiful that you almost forget that you are in the middle of Kentucky.
A short walk further down the Hurstbourne Parkway The St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The building is a real piece of jewelry from the 1920s, with a facade that has more Gothic details than one would expect in a suburb. I don't quite understand the hype about the weekly fairs – I'm not a believer – but the organ sounds on Sunday morning are so powerful that even a sceptical tourist has to stop briefly. The interior is freely accessible, and parking directly in front of the church is usually easy as long as you do not come to the main service period.
If you are looking for a place where you can find a bit of rest and at the same time suck a bit of “local knowledge”, then the Valley Station Library That's right. I borrowed more than once a book about the history of Louisville, just to find out that the library itself is a small museum for the neighborhood – old photos on the walls, a wall poster about the former railway line that led through the neighborhood. The staff is friendly, but not excessively polite, which I feel as refreshing. And the best thing: there are free Wi-Fi corners where you can raise your feet after a long walk.
Another highlight I always like to mention is that Valley Station. Here you will find not only a gym, but also regular workshops – from yoga for seniors to graffiti courses for young people. I once took part in a “Koch for Beginners” course, where we learned how to prepare the famous Kentucky Hot chicken without too much fat. The course was a bit chaotic, but the result was a real pale mouse. The center has a small parking lot, which is usually free as long as you do not come during the evening classes.
A little off the hustle and bustle St. Joseph’s Cemeterya quiet place that surprisingly tells a lot about the people who once lived here. I visited my great aunt, whose gravestone has an artistic relief that reminds of the early settlers. The cemetery is well maintained, and parking is possible directly at the entrance – a short walk through the paths lined by trees is almost meditative. So whoever wants to sniff a bit of history should look over here.
For those who like to enjoy some fresh air and local products, there are Farmers Market, which takes place every second Saturday in the summer in the parking lot of the Community Center. I tried the best homemade applesauce I've ever eaten there – no joke, that was almost better than what you find in the tourist shops of Louisville. The market is small, but the atmosphere is warm, and parking is a children's game thanks to the proximity to the center.
Finally, I would like to mention that the Valley Station Attractions cannot be summarized in a single guide – this is the beauty of it. Each angle has its own charm, and if you take the time to stay a little, you will notice that this neighborhood has more to offer than most people suspect. So, grab your shoes, leave the phone aside and discover Valley Station as I love it – with an eye-catcher and a portion of healthy scepticism.
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