Breanna Rahe
Students are aware of the effect COVID-19 has had on their college experience, with graduations canceled, events postponed and everyone moved off-campus.
Now everyone is back on campus, with the chance to enjoy the academic year. Whether a first-year student or a transfer senior, new to Louisville or a native, BU students are looking for safe and inexpensive ways to have fun. The following is a list of COVID-19 and cost friendly locations and events worth checking out this semester.
The Louisville waterfront offers many opportunities for fun, including the Splash Park. The Splash Park is a free water park open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., where friends and family can gather to grill and play. The Splash Park is located at 101 River Road, open May through October and includes water cannons, spray misters and fountains.
The Big Four Pedestrian Bridge at 129 E. River Road spans the Ohio River connecting Louisville to Indiana, and offers fantastic views of the cities, river and waterfront park. Across the walking bridge, there are plenty of small shops and restaurants to visit. The River Stage is across the bridge and offers free events, including movies and live performances a couple of times a month. The schedule is available at https://jeffparks.org/the-riverstage.
Looking for something a little spookier? Then check out the Old Louisville Ghost Tour at 1300 S. Fourth St. The tour is a narrated walk through the most haunted part of Louisville with narrated tales of ghost stories and old architecture. However, this is not for anyone who cannot go 90 minutes without a bathroom. These tours are $25 per person and leave at 7:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. the last tour being on November 15th, The tickets go fast, so book soon at https://louisvillehistorictours.com/louisville-ghost-tours/.
For those in search of the purrfect day, consider the Purrfectday Cat Café at 1741 Bardstown Road. This experience is open to everyone, but 6 p.m. sessions Friday and Saturday are reserved for people ages 18 and older. This cost $15 for a 50-minute session inside the main lounge with kittens to cuddle. There are typically 15 to 20 cats available for adoption. The cafe highly recommends reservations because spaces fill up quickly. Book now at http://www.purrfectdaycafe.com/book-now/.
The 21c Museum Hotel is a hotel containing 21st century art located at 700 W. Main St. This museum is free and open 24 hours a day. This museum has more than 75,000 square feet of exhibition space and space available for rent. The current exhibitions available are “What Lies Beneath,” “Truth or Dare: A Reality Show,” “Wim Botha: Still Life with Discontent,” “The Other South: Photographs by Laura Lee Brown,” and “Fallen Fruit: The Practices of Everyday Life.” No reservations are required. Find more information available at https://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/.
Cave Hill Cemetery is a Victorian-era cemetery located at 701 Baxter Ave. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and guided walking or wagon tours are offered at a cost from $15 to $35. Upcoming events include the “Notable Women of Cave Hill Tour” on Sept. 12 and “Lecture: Death and Dying in the Civil War” on Sept. 15. This is a free place to visit not because it is spooky but because the lovely scenery and rolling hills. This land is home to a cave, several lakes to have lunch by and intricate gravestones of many famous Louisville natives such as Muhammed Ali and Colonel Harlan Sanders. Find more information at https://www.cavehillcemetery.com/.
Do you have a sweet tooth? Schimpff’s Confectionery opened on April 11th, 1891 at 347 Spring Street and has stayed put due to its success. This shop offers free tours showing the process of classic candy creation and an American candy museum. These tours take about 35 to 40 minutes and can be booked for times between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Tours must be booked in advance by calling (812) 283-8367. More information can be found at http://www.schimpffs.com/tours.html.