Pick a day when they have music. These spots can be found between Gary, Indiana and Nashville along Interstate 65 southbound. This is a great place to take your kiddos, my girls loved the water spouts. We got our tickets when we arrived which ended up costing us a third of the price. Take pictures inside the cave. Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions First time here and everything went smooth. We can't wait to come back in the summer. next trip! This is a facility where these famous bats were made and is a great place for those who are interested in baseball and its history. Learn all about American thoroughbred horse racing at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Has a parking lot concession stand for food drinks and a gift shop. Churchill Downs opened its gates in 1875 and has been home to the world-famous Kentucky Derby horse race ever since. We come with our guests here and everyone likes a unique experience. Churchill Downs is most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. We even saw a deer. To be honest I want to give it one star because I never ever win here but I'm not really that petty LOL. You will also be able to take in the plant life at the zoo, which is an added bonus for those with an interest in horticulture. Sights en route include St. Louis and Fort Knox, Housier and Shawnee National Forests, stops at Mammoth Cave and Horse Cave, and the amazing Louisville Mega Cavern. This has more than 300 video poker machines, 700 new slot games, sportsbook betting and a wealth of table games. The staff were courteous and knowledgeable. We like hiking or taking a walk at these locations too, so be sure to explore them. She loved it! Louisville is home to one of the largest caverns in the country. Click on any question to see answers from the community! If exploring Nashville doesn't tire you out, a workout session at the on-site fitness area definitely will. Chaney's Dairy Barn is the place to stop for a family-friendly day full of delicious eats. Guests can mingle during the cocktail hour around one of many different world-class exhibits, such as South America or Africa. Louisville, Kentucky's largest city, sits on the Ohio River along the Indiana border. Churchill Downs is home to the world famous Kentucky Derby race!. This cave was worth exploring. 350 Corvette Dr, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA. There are parking lots spaced throughout, making it convenient to get in and get to relaxing quickly. suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it Disappearing underground, surrounded by jaw dropping beauty this cave is open year around and offers fun activities for all. I cant imagine anyone not loving this app! Anna Harris Youll easily spend a whole day here. Indoor museum telling Corvette's history, with over 70 different car models plus memorabilia & more. If you you baseball and its history, this is a place you must visit! Hattie B's Hot Chicken - 19th Ave You cant bring your kids to Louisville without visiting Churchill Downs. We were just traveling through and we saw a billboard and we thought we would stop. 2 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (130 miles) Sandra Foyt/Shutterstock.com. We are going back to the zoo in the day because this is our first visit to this one! The amusement park is open from May through September each year and deserves a spot on your list of things to do in Bowling Green KY. As one of Kentucky's only underground boat tours, the non-profit Lost River Cave provides a unique experience riding the current of a subterranean river. They did have a non-smoking area up on the second floor, but it was very small and very few games. Kids might get a little bored on the tram. Starved Rock has lots of hiking and camping opportunities, but it has so much more than that. This is the only museum in the world to be devoted to a single car model, which also happens to be the longest-running model in Americas history. Wanderlog makes planning a trip so effortless. If being active outdoors is your "thing," then Eureka Springs is a perfect winter road trip idea! It had been years since I had been. Definitely must try it for yourself. If you happen to be visiting during the race, grab a ticket for a once-in-a-lifetime event and roaring atmosphere with over $3 million in prizes, the crowd gets mightily riled up. When we visited, they had a bunch of food trucks in the vicinity. And if you know Chicago well, please help your fellow Explore the lovely green spaces of Lost River Cave and enjoy the bowling alleys in Bowling Green. 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. The beauty of the track is that you can stay all day or stay for a couple of races. Bowling Green has been the exclusive home of Corvette manufacturing since 1981. Also, be sure to take a picture out front next to the world's tallest bat. Amazing product, even more awesome team behind the brand! We had seen one movie also in the open air, after it gets dark. Check out the charming coffeehouses or top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area. We paid $17 each for a 30 minute tour of the grounds as well as entrance to the museum. We are one of their regulars. But did you know that one of the greatest sports museums in the world is located in downtown Louisville, KY? When we were there in late winter there was not much to be seen in the way of wildflowers, but the trails were very quiet and pleasant. If youre going on a road trip from Chicago to Nashville, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Louisville, Indianapolis, and Bowling Green and top places to visit like Indiana Dunes State Park and Indiana Dunes National Park, or the ever-popular Horseshoe Hammond. 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. Spring Hill 48F. They also have some beautiful gardens that are worth walking around. Kentucky is known worldwide for its famous horse race, The Kentucky Derby. It was gorgeous. The Kentucky Derby, also known as The Run for the Roses, is one of the most prized traditions in the state. Id have stayed longer, but a thunderstorm chased me out. The rides and attractions of the amusement park are well-known throughout the region and include upside-down rollercoasters, rotating joy rides, and an epic collection of waterslides at the Splash Lagoon Waterpark. It is a real college campus feel, so much fun and so incredibly well run and operated. Sat in the rolling hills, among beech wood trees and the Barren River is a family friendly park with endless joy. Now it is a driving tour, adventure area, zip line tour, light show and even commercial storage. On the outskirts, Beech Bend Raceway stages drag races. not much to do in this area, this was worth the visit. The visit includes a tour inside the factory where you can see how bats are made. Its hard to believe that its the same place! This place offers an exclusive tour which meanders around the journey that the brand has made with some of the most legendary Baseball players of all times. The building architecture is a mix of brick and modern. I like this place but I honestly expected more from it. A 120-foot, exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth's 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat rests against the wall of the building. Driving time from Chicago: 5 hrs. 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. One of the most magical and memorable things to do in town is take an epic underground boat tour through the Lost River Cave. The route you choose should depend on which specific landmarks you want to check out, although your best bet is to take one on the way to Nashville and the other on the return trip. Choose from menu options like sandwiches, salads, wraps, paninis, soups, burgers, hotdogs, and even homemade ice cream made with fresh milk and cream!. Safe area? If you havent visited in the winter, you must. Definitely a work out fighting that sand! Walking from the parking lot to the shore line was a easy walk. Once you enter you can't return. Make a trip around the planet with the help of the Louisville Zoo. Once you're good and tired, take advantage of the concierge service and enjoy an in-room meal while enjoying the city view. The ice cream tastes like butter cream icing with chunks of carrot cake. 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. Baseball is known as Americas pastime, and Louisville baseball is no different. The workers there for the most part though are awful. This is a large green area that covers about 4 thousand acres and includes 4 amazing parks. sOoo much to do!! Every turn you take is a new light up display you weren't expecting! A particular highlight is their African Exhibit. 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. Specialty Museums704 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208MoreLess Info. With four waterfalls that cascade down from over 250 feet, Burgess Fall State Park is known for its natural beauty and family-friendly activities. What's the best neighborhood in Nashville for a first time visitor? Guests are treated to the history behind the top bat used in Major League Baseball before seeing the factory in action. Thank you for being open to the public. Quiet, peaceful place surrounded by nature. Is there anything more iconically Louisville than Churchill Downs?. When in Louisville, catching a live derby match here is a must as you appreciate the dedication, love for the sport and spectacular trained horses. Spread out over 134 acres, the Louisville Zoo features more than 1,500 exotic animals and a variety of award-winning exhibits. Here you can see wild animals and beautiful plants from different parts of the world: Africa, South America, Australia, Islands. Opened in 1985, the museum lets you see the fascinating history of the Kentucky Derby, fit for all horse racing enthusiasts. This is a place for the entire family fun is practically guaranteed. If you feel so inclined, you can take Interstate 70 from Effingham to do a detour to St. Louis, which is sprawling with attractions like City Museum LLC and the Gateway Arch. Horse Races700 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208MoreLess Info. Park with hotels & eateries, plus 15 miles of shoreline for swimming, hiking, bird-watching & more. It was pumpkin season and advertisements for Huberts orchard and winery were everywhere. Right down the road is Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby. The open road can be a fun and exciting place, and who better to help you plan your next adventure than the AAA travel experts. Both drives can be done in a single day, but for the best experience possible, be sure to split the trip up into at least 3 days to explore as much as you can on the way. Possible roads closed in Tennessee: (more info from TDOT) Near Union City until Jun 30. So you can delve into all 70+ years of the Corvette via hands-on exhibits, and admire more than 70 rare Corvettes, race-winners, prototypes and classics in mint condition. This section could be endless, so rather than trying to I love the nature here with all the birds chirping and the wind through the beautiful trees. As well as being a great place to enjoy an ice cream, Chaneys is also a working dairy farm. Visit with friends and family and enjoy a day at the races and take in the history of the iconic twin spires. If you have real young ones then maybe just head out on the Mega Tram for a tour of this enormous underground facility that was once designated as a bomb shelter in case of a nuclear strike. Moline and Rock Island are two cool detours but you can head straight for East Dubuque for its Chicago Great Western . The Kentucky Derby Museum is a unique destination for hosting wedding receptions, business events, and other private parties in Louisville, Kentucky. Really nice campground. We were a little short for one or two rides. Similarly, art is performed at this place. Mega Tram excursions take visitors on guided underground expeditions that cover geology, mining, green building technology, and recycling, as well as the history of the cavern. It was a warm sunny day when we visited the Louisville Zoo so the kids spent a large chunk of their time in the splash pad giggling, screaming and playing with other children. Shout out my tour guide Skeeter! Lake Michigan and the sand dunes are majestic in the wintertime. If youre looking for things to do in Louisville with kids, a visit to the Louisville Zoo is a must!. and i didnt even mention the best part, Theres Beckley Creek Park, which boasts both paved and natural trails that wind along the glistening creek; The Parklands of Floyds Fork provides several different venues that can be reserved for a classic Kentucky rustic wedding, including both outdoor and indoor event sites. It was a nice spot. Story Links. Not often that you'll see a quote from Calvin Coolidge in stone, but this is a good one! Rollers coasters, kiddie rides, happy ponds, a lazy river, and plenty of entertaining things to do in one day await at the Beech Bend Park & Splash Lagoon. With just under 30 family/children rides, Beech Bend Amusement Park entertains the whole family. We have come here numerous times even back when it was the World Music Theater. Being from Detroit and seeing all the packards makes me wish I was alive back in the days to see the city in it's prime. The park itself was nice and clean. The property is beautiful and well kept. A spirit believed to have been that of a woman called Kate Batts began haunting Bell's home. Wear a helmet it's short at the beginning. So many all original cars in this collection. by calculating the distance from Chicago to Tennessee. It's always clean, organized and well staffed. This museum showcases the Leo exhibit, and the factory tour is fantastic. They have a variety of food and snacks, I got a slice of cheese pizza from connies it was good just not real hot. We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information. In addition to having more than 130 exhibits, the zoo also features a carousel, concession stands, and a petting zoo. Overall, we had an absolute blast! The attendant will share some interesting tales of vanishing Civil War soldiers, in the past. Indianapolis Museum of Art (4 mentions) Barbaro, a most beloved horse, greets guests to the Kentucky Derby Museum. Iconic thoroughbred horse-racing track (it hosts the Kentucky Derby), with a museum & tours. The famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat gets its own spotlight at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. All of the plants are real - including the miniature Lily pads. Theres an amazing natural wonder just a few minutes from downtown Bowling Green. The campground host was very friendly and helpful. It is cool in the cavern but not cold. In addition to the animal exhibits within their replica environments, visitors can experience popular movies and documentaries at the on-site 4-D theater. Brentwood 48F. by Flickr user Nous avons beaucoup de difficults choisir notre itinraire dans l'Est des USA . Ive never been interested in horses. They provided recommendations on restaurants, nearby activities and other state parks to visit. but a tree growing out of the top of courthouse. If you've never been, you should go! Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is all about celebrating the extraordinary role of Louisville Slugger in baseballs past, present and future. 1:44 am (past midnight) arrive at Tennessee driving 9.5 hours Change your route From: To: Alternate route Enter a city to drive through, or find all trips from Chicago to Tennessee. So we were seating in the designated seating part of the concert, they made everyone show them their tickets and this happened at every entrance due to people trying to sneak in to our section. By Katie Quine June 13, 2018 There are several restaurants in the grounds too. and leave at 5:58 pm. Unreal !!! Last year we had one of our most fun underground experiences trampolining in a 168-foot deep cave in Wales, UK. Stay organized with a to-do list, packing list, shopping list, any kind of list. There is a HUGE open lawn with a trail around it. Today, its been converted into a fun recreation complex with various attractions, including zip-lining, tram tours, walking tours, and an underground, aerial ropes course. Inside you will find a series of well appointed interactive exhibits, which shed light on how the 1.8 million baseball bats are made here each year. The Courthouse Tree is a very unique sight growing 110 feet above where you would expect a tree to be growing. There's even a world-class "concert hall" with a grand piano and some of the most elegant decor you've ever seen. Kudos to all the staff and specially to KISS for a memorable experience!! The story of the Bell Witch of Tennessee began circulating in the early 1800's, after Farmer John Bell and his family moved to the community of Red River, Tennessee, from North Carolina. Such a cool experience! The two ladies that we talked to were very knowledgable with the history of the home. There was a gift shop, snack area, very nice restrooms, and an open indoor ropes course to the side. Whether youre an automotive fan, history buff, or neither, a stop at the 55-acre National Corvette Museum is definitely an enjoyable learning experience. Would recommend sunscreen and water bottles for sure! Loved taking my walk there. Its a wonderful visit!!! Take Interstates 90 and 94 south to Roseland, and from there, hop onto Interstate 57 and follow it out of Chicago, past Kankakee River State Park. Louisville Mega Cavern is a former limestone mine, over 17 miles of underground passageways located in Louisville, Kentucky. Was hoping it was bigger but hey its a cave! Churchill Downs is Americas most legendary racetrack, having first opened its doors back in 1875 (just in time for that first Derby), and today it stands as a National Historic Landmark open year-round for public tours and thoroughbred races. 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. There's sooooooo much room. Just attended the 8th Annual History Trail here with my 3 and 5 year old. The Parthenon (5 mentions) 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. For more information and hours of operation, please call 502-637-7097. The cottage was quiet except for the sounds of the theme park across the parking lot attached to the cottages. 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