I recently took a trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky. I was pleasantly surprised at all that Bowling Green has to offer vacationing families. Almost all of the places we visited were true family-run business and everyone we met was so welcoming. Southern Hospitality is alive and well in Kentucky!
8. Beech Bend Park & Splash Lagoon
Beech Bend is two parks in one: an amusement park and a water park. Whether your idea of a good time means taking on the Kentucky Rumbler roller coaster or floating down the Lazy River, this park is for you! There are huge "flying saucer" water slides, kiddie rides (as I kid, I LOVED the swings,) family favorites like the Tilt-A-Whirl & Bumper Cars, and many, many more. You can even ride the Sea Dragon, which formerly resided at Michael Jackson's Neverland!
7. Chaney's Dairy Barn
Four words: Kentucky bourbon ice cream. Ok, so that's not the only reason to visit Chaney's Dairy Barn, but it's really THAT good! You can also grab some lunch, take a farm tour and see their new robotic milker, bounce on the jumbo jump pillow or play in the barnyard playground. Plan your visit just right and eat ice cream under the stars at one of their "Ice Cream & a Moovie" nights.
6. Bowling Green Hot Rods Game
A sure bet for family fun is baseball, America's favorite pastime! Like the Tampa Bay Rays? Did you know that the Bowling Green Hot Rods are one of their minor league affiliate teams? A Hot Rods game is great family fun-- even better if you can catch one of their family fun nights!
5. Kentucky Museum
Take a stroll through or complete the scavenger hunt and learn about Kentucky And American history at the Kentucky Museum. Families can play dress up in period clothes, check out everyday objects used by presidents, scientists, athletes and more in the Instruments of American Excellence gallery or see a tribute to the life and work of Bowling Green native, Duncan Hines (yep, the guy on the cake box was a real person & KY resident!)
4. National Corvette Museum
3. GM Corvette Assembly Plant Tour
See how the Corvette is made form start to finish at the GM Corvette Assembly Plant. This experience is for guests ages 10 and up. If you've got little ones, no worries! If are also visiting the Corvette Museum across the street, an adult can stay behind with the younger kids and enjoy the kids zone. It amazing to see how these vehicles are assembled. At the end of the tour, you can even see the "birth" of a Corvette as its wheels touch the ground for the first time and the engine is started!2. Boyce General Store
Did someone say "fish fry?" Check out Boyce General Store for an amazing catfish dinner and old time atmosphere. They also have live outdoor events like Pickin' on the Patio where you can enjoy live music along with your dinner. Boyce General Store is home of the Pie Queen of Bowing Green who makes THE best cookies I've ever had in my life (I'm kind of a cookie expert too) and some pretty fantastic pies!
1. Lost River Cave
Board Kentucky’s only underground boat tour at the The Lost River Cave. This is a truly unique experience. You'll take a guided tour though the valley, see the "blue hole" and an underground night club from the 1930s... then take the boat ride right into the cave! Other adventures at Lost River Cave include nature trails, geocaching, treasure mining and a butterfly habitat.
The Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted Macaroni Kid for a three-day press trip. Accommodations and most meals and activities were complimentary. No other compensation was received in consideration of this article and all opinions are that of the writer.
