Detour

Airbnb says this U.S. city is more than just bourbon and the Derby

Louisville, Kentucky was named the top travel destination in the U.S. by Aibnb, based on search data from the site.
Louisville, Kentucky was named the top travel destination in the U.S. by Aibnb, based on search data from the site. Shutterstock

While bourbon and the Derby are great reasons to visit Louisville, Kentucky, there are many other reasons to venture to the Bluegrass State.

Airbnb recently released its picks for this year’s top summer travel trends and the top 10 trending destinations in the U.S. The first quarter results are in, and Louisville was on the top of people’s hit list for this summer.

Although the recent Kentucky Derby could have thrown the search for lodging in Louisville over the top, Travel + Leisure noted the city has many attractions that draw a crowd. It is home to the Muhammad Ali Center, the Kentucky Derby Museum, and the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and “it doesn’t get more American summer than that,” according to the outlet.

The city’s official website, Go To Louisville, provided more reasons why the Airbnb list got it right. It proudly mentioned that Louisville won recognition as one of the “52 Places to Travel in 2023” on a worldwide list curated by The New York Times. It was also one of the 10 cities on Travel + Leisure’s 2023 list of “Best Food Cities in the U.S.

Living up to its other alias, “Bourbon City,” Louisville was awarded a spot on the coveted list for the city’s independent restaurant scene and Urban Bourbon Trail® (UBT) offerings.

Louisville is for lovers as well. The city of almost 630,000 was recognized as one of the “10 Most Underrated Romantic Destinations Around The Globe” by Travel Pulse, due to the city’s “inclusive and queer-friendly atmosphere.” The publication highlighted having “the ultimate bourbon tasting at Old Forester, which has the first openly gay master taster.”

Travel + Leisure provided some of the city’s most sought-after Airbnb listings that still have some availability this summer. The listings include a room inside the Bohemian Bluegrass Moroccan Abode, the ultimate summer party house; the Highball Speakeasy Lounge House; and this luxurious three-bedroom abode on Whisky Row.

See the complete Airbnb list below.

Trending summer domestic destinations – by search by U.S. guests in Q1

  1. Louisville, Kentucky

  2. Laconia, New Hampshire

  3. Lexington, Kentucky

  4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  5. Panama City, Florida

  6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

  7. Surf City, New Jersey

  8. Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

  9. Kansas City, Missouri

  10. North Topsail Beach, North Carolina

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.

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