While Louisville is rightfully known for its unbeatable bourbons, it is also famous for hosting one of the worlds biggest and best horse races: the unforgettable Kentucky Derby. The main lobby is also the delivery area for people to collect their new cars, so you get to see the absolute latest cars too. Their wave pool, lazy River, and splash park for bigger kids is always a good time and keeps everyone cool and happy. On the first Saturday in May, a who's who of upper-crust America puts on their seersucker suits and most flamboyant hats and descends for the 'greatest two minutes in sports': the Kentucky Derby, the longest-running continuous sporting event in North America. The short walk back up the hill is worth it! This is another must-see when considering things to do in Bowling Green KY. The famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat gets its own spotlight at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. When you need a break from all the activity, the Mega Cavern also offers a seated Tram Tour. | Photo by Steve Fuhrman. Dont mess with the long lines and the high prices of the huge theme parks; at Beech Bend, you get free parking, free sunscreen, and free inner tubes all day, every day!. All kinds of candy from when I remember when I was a little girl. Several exhibitions in this museum celebrate the history of horse racing in Kentucky, including legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker. String of green spaces along Floyds Fork stream with lawns, playgrounds, canoeing & forest trails. Fun facts: Guests are treated to the history behind the top bat used in Major League Baseball before seeing the factory in action. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Chicago to Tennessee. Then it all comes to life with a guided tour through the factory to witness the journey of the famous Louisville Slugger bat, from wood to finished product. I cant imagine anyone not loving this app! We try to hike at least one trail at every National Park and we hiked the Dune Succession Trail here, which had over 200 steps and went through forest-like parts of the park. My husband and I enjoyed the long walk on the beach. Learn all about American thoroughbred horse racing at the Kentucky Derby Museum. How far is it from Chicago Ridge, IL to Lebanon, TN? With an average temperature of 58 degrees year-round, and over 100 acres, Louisville Mega Cavern is a unique place to explore when planning things to do in Louisville KY with kids. I found their firewood to be a better deal than that from stores in town. Best stops along Chicago to Nashville drive The top stops along the way from Chicago to Nashville (with short detours) are Horseshoe Hammond, Louisville Mega Cavern, and Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Leave Chicago via Interstate 90, following it to Gary - from there, continue south along Interstate 65, passing through Lafayette and Indianapolis. Louisville Mega Cavern is a former limestone mine, over 17 miles of underground passageways located in Louisville, Kentucky. Pet friendly as well! It was super cool to see the track at night and hear these stories under the hallowed spires. Horse Races700 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208MoreLess Info. The atmosphere was very nice and somewhat romantic. Delicious!! There are tons of cool things to see in the museum and both you and your kiddos will enjoy it. According to legends, the family also discovered a vial an unknown liquid inside the house. 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. drive for about 50 minutes. 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. Indoor museum telling Corvette's history, with over 70 different car models plus memorabilia & more. Take the time to explore Moss-Wright Park and Rockland Recreation Area in Goodlettsville, then continue south to Nashville. There are currently more than 1,500 animals at the Louisville Zoo. Loved Purdue! Located at the Churchill Downs racecourse, its floors are packed with artifacts and exhibits that look at everything from the breeding and training of young foals to illustrious owners, age-old traditions and winning horses and jockeys. The Kentucky Derby, also known as The Run for the Roses, is one of the most prized traditions in the state. The massive underground earning it the name Mega Cavern began as a quarry in the 1930s. The museum showcases the story of Louisville Slugger baseball bats in Major League Baseball and American history. SPECIAL GROUPON DEAL: Underground Bike Park Admission at Louisville Mega Cavern. There are displays highlighting baseball greats and other unique facets of the sport. The magic show was great. For instance, Louisville summers tend to be on the rainy side, while St. Louis' hotel prices skyrocket around June. You can go ziplining underground in this massive underground limestone quarry!. Despite it being snowy and dead and almost everything closed and many animals put indoors, it was still fun! 1,220 miles. Awesome food trucks? First time here and all staff and rangers have been very nice. The Hockensmith Barn boasts a unique location on a hilltop with a rustic setting that can accommodate as many as 275 guests with additional space available by expanding into the Brown-Forman Silo Center. One of the best ways to discover the history beneath Bowling Green is to see it for yourself with a visit to Lost River Cave. Being a family that lives 40 miles from Lake Erie and has spent a lot of time there, on various parts of its coast, Lake Michigan was so much nicer and appeared cleaner. Such a cool experience! Growing in popularity is one of my favorite parks to visit, the Parklands of Floyds Fork. It also has a vast number of things to do outside and beautiful hiking areas to peruse. The Skybox is located on the third floor of the 812 building, the tall building that the iconic Big Bat leans against. It is surrounded by rolling farmlands and offers the best homemade ice cream in Kentucky. The current design of this vessel dates back to 2008, with 350,000 square feet of gaming space anchored by a huge main gaming floor. BOOK HERE: General Admission to the Kentucky Derby Museum. We needed a stop on our road-trip from MN to Panama City Beach to break it up and stretch our legs and let me tell you this didnt Disappoint!! According to the United States Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion County in 2020 was 977,642. Peanut butter cups are amazing!! If you are looking for something deeper and more meaningful, head to the museums in city. Read this:Die a true Louisvillian by completing this Derby City bucket list. The Gheens Foundation Lodge is a beautiful venue offering space inside and outside for events with up to 300 guests, as well as amazing views of the Floyds Fork. Explore the cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical side of Bowling Green with these museums. The highways cross. Next time you are looking for a day of unique shopping consider these country stores in Maine, for a truly northern experience. Down-to-earth casino complex with a horse racing track & slot machines, plus dining & live music. We are one of their regulars. Or, you might consider stopping for the night and enjoying visits to a few famous attractions along the way. Cruise an underground river and explore the trails at Lost River Cave, downtown Bowling Greens natural wonder. There is also Jackson cave which requires permit to enter of course. We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information. My favorite is the margarita from the bar in the back. It was PACKED which was to be expected but there were no issues. Grand Ole Opry (8 mentions) 7. Munster 29F. Mist. The Kentucky Derby Museum is the exclusive provider for the famous Churchill Downs Race Course. Animal interaction is available, from camel or pony riding right through to giraffe and parakeet feeding. You can learn all about Louisville Slugger baseball bats throughout history here as well as exploring a variety of other exhibits. you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, Has been very quiet compared to a lot of other places we have stayed. We went right after a big storm and got to see the water frozen pretty high! I caught orbs on camera and felt so calm in there. The amusement park has gone from strength to strength over the last 20 years, adding a host of high-tech rides to go with family favorites like mini golf, a haunted house, a tilt-a-whirl and plenty of kiddie rides. This museum showcases the Leo exhibit, and the factory tour is fantastic. 9.05 mi / 14.56 km from the hotel, If you are baseball fans, visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory should be on your list of things to do in Louisville for couples. Have seen a ton of deer walking around and not too far away. It was gorgeous. When Josh mentioned we would be visiting the Kentucky Derby Museum I yawned. Lets see what fun things for couples to do in Louisville you can try there:. Your gift giving is cheap. Tucked away on 134 acres in the Poplar Level neighborhood, an easy 15-minute drive (or about 35 mins if you jump on the #43 bus), this animal oasis plays host to hundreds of different species across eight fascinating major exhibits: Glacier Run, Lorikeet Landing, Wallaroo Walkabout, South America, Gorilla Forest, Africa, Herpaquarium (where youll find over 100 species of reptiles, amphibians, and fish, including an albino alligator) and Islands. We had an amazing two week stay at the campground. The line to get into the park was extremely long but the beach area and lake itself was just beautiful and refreshing. The five sections of The Parklands offer miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding on the waterway known as Floyd Fork. However, they do have nice octagon shaped bricks inside and those are $250 for non members and $200 for members. Brentwood 48F. Home to the Churchill Downs racecourse, Louisville has become known for its world famous Kentucky Derby. The price was $21.94 and the tour lasted a little over an hour. This tour of the winery and distillery was awesome. What a BEAUTIFUL campground! Very comforting place. 10:00 am start in Chicagodrive for about 2 hours, 12:14 pm eat at Triple XXX Family Restaurant The city is full of ways to get some fresh air and exercise in the beautiful Kentucky outdoors. 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. Was a phenomenal experience. The direct drive from Chicago to Gatlinburg is 579 mi (931 km), and should have a drive time of 9 hrs 30 mins in normal traffic.. 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. Adults might even want to try outthe slide too. Located 20 miles from Caesars Southern Indiana in Louisville, Kentucky, the Kentucky Derby Museum sits on the front steps of historic Churchill Downs. Absolutely love this place, the best chocolate pecan caramel patties you could find!! This is a perfectly doable one-day car trip. You can enjoy learning about history and science as well as taking in the wonders of this huge man-made cavern. This interactive museum gives guests the chance to climb onto a model of a horse and pretend they are competing for the grand prize. Huge selection of delicious treats!! Aside from that, this is a really nice place. 4:58 pm Indiana Dunes State Park (Dunes Nature Preserve) stay for about 1 hour. Or get a full Chicago to Tennessee flight plan. The guided tour is well worth taking; it starts with a movie and then heads out onto the factory floor. Watch bats being created out of blocks of wood. Kids will enjoy the large playground area to burn off lots of energy. 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