The Derby is on my mom's birthday this year and it's always been her dream to go. I'm trying to decide if I can swing getting to take her this year but I need tips. Has anybody been? What's the best part? Where to stay? What are the must-dos?

Has anybody been? No but been to Belmont for a triple crown race
What's the best part? Hats
Where to stay? I would try a hotel
What are the must-dos? watch the race

CompliantOkie - I am from across the river from Louisville and have only been to the Derby once - and it was to the infield. Tickets may be hard to come by and hotels book up early. I would research and try to make reservations and get tickets early.

As for the must-do's - that depends on your interests, where you stay and when you plan on arriving and leaving Louisville. There is much to do there; however the weather in early May is questionable. I've known it to be in the 80's for the Derby - and also to snow on Derby Day.

Buy big, goofy hats and drink mint juleps. Oh...and place a winning bet!!!

^^ Moonlights as a tour book writer for AAA.

I'm disappointed Ed didn't work the address to a McDonald's into his post.
And obviously the answer to "Has anybody been?" is Yes. Lots of people go every year.

I'm trying to decide if I can swing getting to take her this year but I need tips.

That is one way to pay for it.

(The Cough medicine is starting to wear off)

Eeek.

how about going to a Kentucky derby party

http://www.partyearth.com/new-york/holid...a7c63ef2fc1f2c/

You can get on the Kentucky Derby ticket e-mail list for 2018 where they will send you a code to buy ticks before the general public. That has already happened for 2017. Reserved seating, I believe, is gone for 2017. But you can check Ticketmaster, as they are the seller of Kentucky Derby ticks. You get the Kentucky Oaks on Friday when the Fillies run as well. It's a two day ticket package. The KD website is very helpful. It will even suggest how to dress depending on where you sit. Also, parking is hard to come by, but I believe they have shuttles from University of Louisville football parking lot.

I went in 2015 and it was amazing and I was fortunate to get see history with American Pharoah. I recommend getting on the email list for reserve seating and plan for a 2018 trip. It was expensive but worth it to cross it off my bucket list. We got a package that included all food and drinks and are area was covered in the event of rain. It covered tickets to the Kentucky Oaks as well as the Derby.

"The Oaks" on the Friday before is when the locals go to the track. Less pageantry, but also less people and significantly less expense. "Derby Day" is pretty exciting, lots of fun and lots of glamor and the locals who are not at the track have a "Derby Party" in their homes. I had the corporate box and 4 out of town guests one year. We went both days and my expense report was nothing short of obscene even though they stayed at my house.

The best recipe I've ever heard for mint juleps contained about 10 steps and the last one was, "Now, pour that thing out on the ground, fill your glass with the best bourbon in the world, and have a good time." (Mint juleps are nasty!)

The Derby's best moment, when they play "My Old Kentucky Home" prior to the race. Second best? When the horses come around the last turn headed for the finish line. (It's a really long moment!)

Derby Week has lots of fun stuff, including "Thunder Over Louisville" an airshow followed by one of the largest fireworks displays in North America. Best way to watch: Rent a hotel room downtown and buy a ticket to watch from the Science Center. After the fireworks are over, go back to your hotel and gloat while you watch an enormous traffic jam on TV.

Come on down and have a good time!

I was hoping you'd pop in Ken. Good tip about the Oaks. Maybe that would be the best way to go. I'm really trying to make this happen for her!