Trip Planner 2018-19 Trip Planner for Student Travel | Page 40
Curriculum
RECESS
Compiled by Gabe Webb
Louisville’s Kentucky Derby Museum
Thrills, history and Broadway tunes in Louisville
For all the intensity that a prize fight
evokes, the Muhammad Ali Center
is a peaceful, inviting and thought-
provoking space in downtown Louisville.
After watching “If You Can Dream,” a
14-minute introductory film about the
life of Ali, school groups can explore
the permanent exhibits.
The Core Principles galleries details
the guiding philosophy of Ali’s life:
confidence, conviction, dedication,
giving, respect and spirituality. At
video booths, guests can sit and record
messages about what these principles
mean to them.
Other galleries contain memorabilia
from Ali’s career, and interactive
displays supplement biographical
information with historical context.
Together, these pieces form a
fascinating look at Ali’s youth,
athleticism, conversion to Islam and
growth as an activist for peace against
the backdrop of the civil rights era and
the Vietnam War.
Groups should make reservations
at least three weeks in advance, and
special pricing is available. The museum
Sweet!
TOURS DAILY 9AM - 4PM
• Fun, Interactive and Sensory Exhibits
• Retail Store and Free Samples
Jelly Belly Visitor Centers
FACTORY TOURS
One Jelly Belly Lane
Fairfield, CA
800-953-5592
TRAIN TOURS
10100 Jelly Belly Lane
Pleasant Prairie, WI
JellyBelly.com
866-868-7522
© 2018 Jelly Belly Candy Company
38 NTA Trip Planner for Student Travel
offers easy motorcoach drop off, and
free bus parking is available close by.
Another top Louisville destination
is the Kentucky Derby Museum. The
museum entrance is adjacent to the
gates of Churchill Downs, where the
famous horse race is held each May.
“In the spring and fall, we focus
on live racing,” says Jennifer Riddell,
the attraction’s group tour manager.
“In the winter, we have options
throughout the year. “In the winter, we
have beautiful Christmas decor and
activities like creating ornaments from
horseshoes. Groups can visit in the
spring and again during the holidays
for a completely different experience.”
After photo ops on the backstretch
and from the stands below the famous
twin spires, students can go inside the
museum and watch its 360-degree
film, “The Greatest Race,” followed by
a walk through the exhibits. Artifacts
cover every aspect of the Kentucky
Derby, from the fashions of its famous
attendees to the history
of horse racing.
“With 143 years under our belts,
the Kentucky Derby is the most
well-known event in horse racing, and
there is nowhere else in the country
guests can visit and celebrate it,” says
Riddell. “Most guests have at least
one Derby story, and many have an
emotional connection.”
Groups touring Louisville can also
cross the Ohio River to Clarksville,
Indiana, for a meal and show at the
Derby Dinner Playhouse.
An evening includes a buffet
dinner of comfort food staples and
a performance by the theater’s
professional acting troupe. The stage
is a theater-in-the-round setup,
allowing for surprises and audience
participation during plays or musicals.
Special pricing is available for
groups of 20 or more, and tickets
range from $39 for a weeknight to $44
for a Saturday evening performance.
The 2017–18 season is underway, and
upcoming shows include “Rapunzel,”
“The Little Mermaid” and “Holiday Inn.”
To learn more about group visits to
the Derby Dinner Playhouse, contact
group travel director Cindy Nevitt at
[email protected] or go to
derbydinner.com. For more about the
Kentucky Derby Museum, contact
Riddell at [email protected]
or go to derbymuseum.org.