This Whiskey Lovers Mecca is Airbnb's Most Popular Summer Destination

Stacey Ritzen
·2 min read

Airbnb released the company's 2023 summer travel trends earlier this month, as guests have already planned stays in over 72,000 cities and towns for the upcoming season. And with the popularity of whiskey seemingly still at an all-time high, it should come as little surprise that the top trending domestic city is none other than the bourbon destination of Louisville, KY.

Downtown Louisville is home to several spots on Kentucky's famous Bourbon Trail, such as Michter's, Evan Williams, Old Forester, and Rabbit Hole; and nearby bourbon giants Maker's Mark, Heaven Hill, and Four Roses are also within a manageable drive. There's also Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail, which features dozens of local bars and restaurants designed to complement distillery tours, including the trail's five founding bars: Bar at Blu, Bourbons Bistro, Brown Hotel Lobby Bar, the Old Sellback Bar, and Proof on Main.

But besides whiskey, there's also plenty to do in Louisville. The city is also home to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum, and the Muhammad Ali Center. Not to mention, Louisville boats a robust restaurant scene, world-class museums, and outdoor activities galore.

Interestingly enough, the nearby city (and Louisville's biggest rival) of Lexington, Kentucky falls third on Airbnb's list, which is less than an hour and a half drive—making it a fantastic companion destination for the ultimate bourbon excursion. While smaller and slower-paced than Louisville, Lexington also boasts its own impressive booze and dining scene. And for horse racing fans, it's also arguably the bigger draw of the two. Keeneland Race Course is located just outside of the downtown area.

Related: 10 Most Popular Summer Travel Destinations for 2023

The rest of Airbnb's top 10 list is a bit of cross-country mixed bag, with Laconia, New Hampshire; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin evidently as popular as beach towns in New Jersey and North Carolina. You can view the complete list below.

  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