Beech Bend Park is one of the best things to do near Bowling Green. The camp hosts were always around and eager to help. The Louisville Zoo is very highly rated, clean, and you can tell they truly love the animals in their care. The Museum has a wonderful collection of corvettes over the years. For an incredible scenic drive, take the two-lane Foothills Parkway located off Hwy. No one ever took our spots because the staff was always making sure no strays came by. The Parthenon (5 mentions) It's a must see place. While on most days it seats up to 50,000 people, on that famed Derby Day, crowds can soar above 150,000. On the Mega Zips ride, youll get a two-hour zip line tour of the man-made cavern, which was once mined for limestone. Stay organized with a to-do list, packing list, shopping list, any kind of list. We'll certainly be back to explore the Bird Trail. The drinks were a bit pricey but well worth it if you get a mixed drink which was called a "double." How far is it from Chicago Ridge, IL to Lebanon, TN? Your out-of-town friends probably wont believe you when you tell them how big the bat is. Formerly a limestone quarry, the humongous Louisville Mega Cavern is now one of the most unique things to do in Louisville. Several exhibitions in this museum celebrate the history of horse racing in Kentucky, including legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker. Go Boilermaker! The Kentucky Derby Museum is a unique destination for hosting wedding receptions, business events, and other private parties in Louisville, Kentucky. Southern Kentucky is home to an American icon and our city is a safe haven for the worlds only GM Corvette Assembly Plant here in Bowling Green. Exactly what are the camp hosts doing? When we visited, they had a bunch of food trucks in the vicinity. You cant leave town without getting a glimpse of the horses or trying on a hat or two. (The Center Square) - A Tennessee bill that passed House committee Tuesday would put $3 billion into a new Transportation Modernization Fund as the state looks to change the way it funds future road infrastructure. 10/10, must visit! When youre looking for activities that cant be had just anywhere, you need to go to Louisville Mega Cavern. If you just want your chance to get on the racetrack drive your own car on the track, the Touring Laps experience is less than $150. The machines are my money thou,. Loved everything about it! You could easily spend an entire day here, and it's great exercise! It's okay, you can start planning your What's the best neighborhood in Nashville for a first time visitor? See our list of top 10 hotels in Bowling Green, KY and find the lowest rates. Was a phenomenal experience. Chaney's Dairy Barn is the place to stop for a family-friendly day full of delicious eats. The kids loved everything! A fascinating place for baseball fans as well as those with just a passing knowledge of the game. So call before you book to avoid issues. There is also Jackson cave which requires permit to enter of course. We saw some of the best concerts ever here. Even though weekly races have no spectators right now, you can still strike a pose outside Churchill Downs. A drive to Music City through a chain of incredible landmarks should be on everybody's to-do list - the road trip from Chicago to Nashville will take you past some of the fanciest cities, deepest caverns, and greenest forests in the Midwest and Upper South. We are going back to the zoo in the day because this is our first visit to this one! 10:00 am start in Chicagodrive for about 2 hours, 12:14 pm eat at Triple XXX Family Restaurant Daylight disappears from view as you board the boat on the river that Ripley's Believe It or Not claims is the shortest and deepest in the world. Chaneys Dairy Barn is a family-friendly restaurant in Bowling Green, KY. Tennessee Road Trip | From Chicago to the Smoky Mountains Xhynet Useinovski 2.55K subscribers Subscribe 3.3K views 2 years ago Summer is coming to an end and we really wanted to get one. If you are visiting when it is cooler be sure to bring a jacket you do have to walk outside some and will want a jacket. What's the best neighborhood in Nashville for a first time visitor? On a guided tour youll trace the course of the river on foot before exploring the caves interior by boat. They also host many events for kids and families. It depends on when you visit! Distance: 3.5-hour drive. Right around the corner from the Kentucky Derby Museum, a quintessential Louisville attraction awaits; one doused in history and cultural significance, and site of that annual two-minute horse race. Established by 21st Century Parks, a nonprofit organization, and first opened to the public in 2011, The Parklands now totals nearly 4,000 acres of natural beauty, a mix of both beautiful landscape design and preserved landscape, across four parks. If, for no other reason, because it wields the title of hosting the worlds only underground zip line adventure tour!. Definitely a work out fighting that sand! Built in search to find the best places so you dont have to open 50 more tabs. Even with the amount of people that was there, they handled the crowds well. A former limestone mine thats been turned into an underground playground, the Mega Cavern now delights visitors of all ages with its adventure-focused activities: from the six different zip lines that zoom 100 feet over the cavern floor to not-as-easy-as-it-looks Mega Quest ropes courses (with no less than 76 challenging elements), historical tram and e-bike tours (offering a comparatively relaxed cavern experience) and more, making it a top pick for outdoor enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, and families alike. 704 Central Ave, Louisville, KY 40208, USA. Beech Bend Amusement Park is the place to be during the summer in Bowling Green. The Lost Cave Boat Tour is appropriate for all ages, where you will learn the history of the area and see the sites of this manufactured feature. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Study the exhibits at National Corvette Museum, a popular museum in Bowling Green. Very interesting place about Derby History, you have to take the tour to the barns to see the horses but you have to be older than 8 years old. The haunted house ride to us is our favorite. Has been very quiet compared to a lot of other places we have stayed. Families will enjoy the KidZone with plenty of hands-on activities for kids while teens and adults can try out the educational driving simulators offering free demos at 10am, 1pm and 3:30pm. A key attraction in the Louisville region, more so for horse racing enthusiasts, the Kentucky Derby Museum is established on Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. AAA Photo. The original was first noticed in the early 1870's. Kids will enjoy the large playground area to burn off lots of energy. An advantage of taking this route is bypassing the traffic problem since Champaign and Mt Vernon don't have the same levels of congestion as the cities on the other route. Two men names John and Henry Churchill leased a piece of land to their nephew Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the grandson of William Clark, in the 1800s. I Love coming here. 7. Their balloons spacious baskets are equipped with doors, allowing for easy access rather than climbing in over the sides! The campsite we were at was a bit small and close to the next camper, but there were many others to choose from that were more spacious and shaded. Outside the factory, you will see the worlds biggest bat, stretching 120 feet into the sky. You can enjoy learning about history and science as well as taking in the wonders of this huge man-made cavern. After his funeral, the sounds of laughter and SINGING could be heard coming from the graveyard, and Bell became the only person in history whose death was attributed to the actions of a spirit. eat at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. If being active outdoors is your "thing," then Eureka Springs is a perfect winter road trip idea! Moline and Rock Island are two cool detours but you can head straight for East Dubuque for its Chicago Great Western . Plus, you will get to explore the underground geology and mines of Louisville. Never dig through your emails again access all your flights, lodging, and any reservations in 1 place. sOoo much to do!! Louisville is a wonderful city for those who like to break up their time in the city with outdoor experiences. We always stop at Chaney's every time we are in the area. From its luxurious lobby to the top-of-the-line rooms, the attention to detail at this hotel is second to none. Take an actual tour through the factory and museum to see firsthand how the bats are made and also hear a brief history of the Louisville Slugger. Another option is to add 30 miles to the drive by taking Interstates 57 and 24 through Illinois and a chunk of Kentucky. Guests can mingle during the cocktail hour around one of many different world-class exhibits, such as South America or Africa. It changed elevation often. I had a glass of margarita and left. A nature lovers paradise, The Parklands is made up of four different sections (as well as The Strand). The Parklands of Floyds Fork is located miles away from downtown, where youll find a more rural part of the city with one of the best parks in Louisville!. There are places to gather and eat, get a cup of coffee, shop, and get a tattoo. When we were there, they were making bats for opening day. It is a real college campus feel, so much fun and so incredibly well run and operated. It was definitely something different and fun to do. Since it was only a 30 minute tour, we didn't go far from the museum, but we did get to see the track and the winners circle under the twin towers! There is plenty of hiking in and around the park. Was very clean it wasn't too smoky, but it was early on a Sunday when we were traveling and maybe all the smokers weren't there yet. As the story goes, before he became president, Andrew Jackson had heard of Bell's troubles, and decided to investigate the haunting. One of the best activities for families in Lousiville, Kentucky is going to the Louisville Zoo. This horse race is one of the most famous and has one of the highest purses in the world. Excellent tour with our tour guide Skeeter. Road Trip From Chicago To Mackinac Island, Road Trip From Chicago To Yellowstone National Park, the swankiest resort in town would have to be The Brown Hotel, the biggest standout is definitely The Hermitage Hotel. Zip through a freaking enormous limestone cavern underneath the city of Louisville. Be warned that mid-summer temperatures can reach the 90s, not to mention that the city can go from blazingly hot to massive rainstorms at the drop of a hat this time of year. The view was stunning. Sat in the rolling hills, among beech wood trees and the Barren River is a family friendly park with endless joy. The highways cross. Here you'll find an array of adventure opportunities including the world's only fully underground zip line course. When you visit the Kentucky Derby Museum you will find yourself immersed in the next best thing to actually being at the Derby!. But, wonderfully put together. The Kentucky Derby Museum is the exclusive provider for the famous Churchill Downs Race Course. The quicker route will have you following Interstate 65 through Indiana and Nashville. Animal interaction is available, from camel or pony riding right through to giraffe and parakeet feeding. Indoor museum telling Corvette's history, with over 70 different car models plus memorabilia & more. Located in Louisville, Kentuckys Museum Row, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory lets you get a glimpse of Louisville Sluggers history and the bat-making process that baseball lovers eye. Every May, its race course Churchill Downs hosts the Kentucky Derby, a renowned horse race whose long history is explored at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Spacious lodging and clean. It combines 2 things that Lias terrified of but Jeremy loves: spelunking and ziplining!. Definitely check them out if you're in that area!! Overall, we had an absolute blast! We stayed a few hours and enjoyed the change of scenery from the Utah deserts we came from. Just a one minute walk from the Frazier History Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory should be on everyones list of things to do in Louisville! Entertaining for all ages, this family friendly museum has kid zones, interactive exhibits, guided tours and much more to be seen. Seasonal bicycle rentals are available. The Skybox is located on the third floor of the 812 building, the tall building that the iconic Big Bat leans against. Mid-Atlantic. Nashville, Tennessee 7 hours 15 mins from Chicago (480 miles) The cavern is human-made and stretches 17 miles beneath the city. The appropriate tagline that says, Where every day is Derby day!. Find pet-friendly stops. It was super cool to see the track at night and hear these stories under the hallowed spires. Spanning over seven miles of incomparable sights, the Lost River Cave is full of spectacular natural cave formations and crystal blue underground pools thatll make the hour-long tour a walk in the park. Walking from the parking lot to the shore line was a easy walk. Churchill Downs is a horse racetrack located in Louisville, Ky. Officially opened in 1875, both the first Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks were held in the same year. If you are a baseball enthusiast, then this establishment is the place where you will find your passion come alive. After a hot and humid summer day spent enjoying the sites, no trip to Bowling Green is complete without a stop at Chaneys Dairy Barn. 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