Kentucky Derby: More Than a Horse Race

The Kentucky Derby might be "the most exciting two minutes in sports," but that's just the horse race.

If you're planning to join the 155,000 or so fans at Churchill Downs on Saturday, you'll need more than 120 seconds of preparation to ensure a memorable time.

When it comes to hotels, Louisville isn't a one-horse town. The favorites include the Seelbach Hilton, the Brown Hotel, the Galt House Hotel & Suites and the 21C Museum Hotel.

The venerable Seelbach opened in 1905, 30 years after the first Kentucky Derby, and is in the middle of a $12 million makeover. The Brown, an English Renaissance building in the city's theater district, offers modern conveniences like Internet access and old-school luxuries.

The Galt House, on the Ohio River, dates back to the early 1800s. During the Civil War, Generals Ulysses Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman met there to devise the strategy that led to Atlanta's capture. The current Galt House is the lodging's fourth iteration.

The 21c is a 90-room boutique hotel that sports a 9,000-square-foot contemporary art museum featuring work by living artists.

Louisville has more than 2,500 restaurants. Seelbach's and 21c's haute offerings, the Oak Room and Proof on Main, respectively, are some of the best bets. Louisville Originals is a consortium of independently owned restaurants, and its Web site is a good place to find out where locals eat.