10 Romantic Things to Do in Louisville

Whether you're looking to pop the question or celebrate another year of marriage, you can't go wrong with dinner at one of Louisville's most romantic restaurants. 

Want more of a casual date? Louisville has those options, too:

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• Best Burgers in Louisville, KY
• 5 Best Places for Donuts

From the top of the hill at Iroquois Park, you can see the entire city of Louisville. If you're brave, venture up at night for a great view of both the city and the stars. But even in the day, the view is breathtaking and the park's many paths make great scenic strolls for hand-holding, happy couples.

Jumping on a bicycle built for two and pedaling alongside the Ohio River through Waterfront Park on a nice day is a great romantic activity. Plus, you'll have an ideal view of the Ohio River and the Louisville skyline.

The horse-drawn carriages that annoy you when you're driving through Downtown Louisville can become your new favorite local attraction when you're looking for romantic things to do. It's impossible to ride around Downtown Louisville in a horse-drawn carriage without feeling like you're in a fairytale. Move over, Cinderella.

Though a hot air balloon ride makes for an expensive date, it's almost guaranteed that your romantic date in the air will be unlike any other your sweetheart has been on. If it's Derby season, check out the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Glow.

At Buffalo Trace Park in Palmyra, Indiana, about an hour outside of the city, you can rent a paddleboat for two and spend an hour peddling along the river with your sweetheart. On a nice summer day, you can peddle to a quiet spot on the lake and enjoy some uninterrupted conversation.

You don't have to leave town for a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast. Many of Louisville's bed and breakfasts are housed in gorgeous Victorian homes and make for a perfect romantic mini-vacation for you and your loved one. If you want to drive a bit, check out the French Lick Resort in Indiana.

If you and your date have been together for any amount of time, you've probably been to most of the Best Movie Spots in Louisville, so maybe seeing movies together is anything but romantic. If this sounds like your situation, why not check out a show at one of our many performing arts venues? In the end, it's not all that much more expensive than movie tickets and snacks, and it will certainly make for a romantic night on the town.

While there are several spas you can go to in Louisville, I find The Natural Touch in Corydon, Indiana, to be the most romantic, relaxing, and cost-friendly spa in the area. The Natural Touch is a small establishment, so you probably won't run into other patrons. While you're there, you can get in the hot tub with your loved one or get a couple's massage. And since you're already out of town, you can explore the historic Corydon town square hand-in-hand.

Doing the Hokey Pokey with a crowded room of kids may not be the most romantic part of a Belle of Louisville cruise, but finding a quiet spot on the ship's deck and enjoying a couple hours on the river definitely is. My advice would be to take a night cruise but skip the cruise buffet and simply hide out on the deck for some quiet conversation and a romantic nighttime view of the Ohio River and the Louisville skyline.