SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION The Gateway to the South AUTHENTIC SPIRIT-AND SPIRITS-MAKE LOUISVILLE A DREAM DESTINATION FOR GROUP TRAVEL Sitting on the Ohio River, Louisville is a city filled to the brim with authenticity and hospitality. It is sure to impress first-time visitors and will draw in returning visitors with open arms. And the city has no shortage of iconic group-friendly experiences. Celebrate the Kentucky Derby year-round with hands-on activities on the grounds of historic Churchill Downs (or wait until May for the 150th running of the famed race); ride aboard the almost 110-year-old Belle of Louisville, the oldest operating steamboat in the world; learn about the life of Louisville native Muhammad Ali at the Muhammad Ali center; watch an iconic Louisville Slugger baseball bat take shape in real time at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. 94 FEBRUARY 2024 They don't call Louisville " Bourbon City " for nothing. Home to over a dozen Bourbon distilleries and attractions, groups can explore the history of " America's Native Spirit " while also getting firsthand looks at the distilling process. The city also boasts a lively music scene with many well-known musicians-ranging from Lionel Hampton and Mary Ann Fisher (who performed with musical legends like Ray Charles and B.B. King) to folk singer Mary Travers of Peter, Paul & Mary, and rappers Jack Harlow and Bryson Tiller-calling the city home. LOUISVILLE TOURISM 502-560-1496 gotolouisville.com/travel-professionals PHOTOS LOUISVILLE TOURISMhttp://www.gotolouisville.com/travel-professionals