I really enjoyed the boulder beds on the Cedar Forest Trail, but the special habitat of this region is the limestone glades. Another one of the top things to do in Louisville is visiting the Kentucky Derby Museum. The museum and factory allows visitors to not only learn, but also see for themselves, how the bats are made in the factory. Highly recommend visiting the museum and taking advantage of this tour every October! Indianapolis, colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most-populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. Tours are available from 9 am throughout the day They were all very happy that we decided to do it! See time and distance between places, and optimize your route to get the most of your day. A moderate sized Zoo, the Louisville City loves the place for its wide variety of animals taken care in its premises. 400 Zieglers Fort Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066, USA. Visit with friends and family and enjoy a day at the races and take in the history of the iconic twin spires. Churchill Downs is most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. Today, however, the 100-acre cavern can be explored by visitors. They have a small pool and splash park area for babies and toddlers which is really fun. Lots of fun little shops in the downtown area as well. Such an under rated and under appreciated little amusement park. A fantastic experience. Beech Bend Park is an amusement park, campground and automobile race track located in Warren County, in the U.S. state of Kentucky, just outside the limits of the city of Bowling Green. Also, be sure to take a picture out front next to the world's tallest bat. Our favourite part, other than the splash pad, was the polar bear exhibit. This is a much-visited attraction that attracts huge numbers of visitors for live racing as well as twilight and after dark events. 1075 Charlie Daniels Pkwy, Mt. Pancake Pantry Here you'll find an array of adventure opportunities including the world's only fully underground zip line course. Was so interesting learning all the history and with that was put into this. There was not anyone else really around and even though there were signs I didnt know what to do. Family-friendly setting with playgrounds, plus tennis, basketball & sand volleyball courts. You don't need a reason to visit this place, just show up and there is plenty to be engaged in. The Louisville Slugger Museum is located at the manufacturing plant and headquarters of this famous company. Although Nashville has them in spades, the biggest standout is definitely The Hermitage Hotel. Films, interactive exhibits & more tell the famed horse race's story at this Churchill Downs venue. Created by a massive limestone quarry during the 20th century, join in on a thrilling adventure inside Louisville Mega Cavern, with its fun, informative, and family-friendly underground activities. Guests can mingle during the cocktail hour around one of many different world-class exhibits, such as South America or Africa. The view was stunning. You can meet the cows responsible for your delicious homemade ice cream made on the premises. | Photo courtesy Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. 22 hours 10 minutes. Technically Huberts is in Indiana but it is worth the drive. The Louisville Zoo is very highly rated, clean, and you can tell they truly love the animals in their care. A spirit believed to have been that of a woman called Kate Batts began haunting Bell's home. The Louisville Zoo is one of the most unique venues for weddings in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, providing couples with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tie the knot surrounded by their favorite zoo animals, such as the Western Lowland Gorilla Troop, the Sea Lions and Harbor Seals, or the Sumatran Tigers. You will find a range of exhibits to explore here as well as exciting tours including night time tours. Read this:Die a true Louisvillian by completing this Derby City bucket list. Graduated more astronauts than any other school including Neil Armstrong. It is definitely an "urban" National Park. 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. It combines 2 things that Lias terrified of but Jeremy loves: spelunking and ziplining!. What is your favorite restaurant in Indianapolis? This is a great place to get something for a holiday or small gift as much as just a sweet treat. Worth the visit! Here, you can feel like youre going around the world, seeing how all kinds of animals live. Right down the road is Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby. Be sure to stop by the Kentucky Derby Museum next door, which is an excellent homage to all things Derby. The engineering program may be the best in the US or world, tons of research going on and they have a lot of associated research campuses next to the campus including with aerospace companies. Nashville is generally bustling and active while the weather is pleasant - mid-spring to mid-fall is when many of the local music festivals take place, attracting major crowds. 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. 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. A nature lovers paradise, The Parklands is made up of four different sections (as well as The Strand). Find out more about one of the world's most famous baseball bats at this museum and factory. There was a gift shop, snack area, very nice restrooms, and an open indoor ropes course to the side. Grand Ole Opry (8 mentions) The number of things there are to see on the road trip from Chicago to Nashville is quite staggering, and a lot of the attractions are located in or near major cities, so you don't have to do much offroading. Further south, make an optional (but much-recommended) detour to Bowling Green before entering Tennessee. The Zoos collections which include botanical gardens are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). 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. This historic hotel is definitely expensive, but when you consider all it has to offer, it has every reason to be. It all started in 1875, and this derby still takes place each year on the first Saturday in May. Indianapolis Museum of Art (4 mentions) While the thrilling spectacle is undoubtedly the venues biggest draw, countless other warm-up races and competitions take place at the track throughout the year. Float through, uncover something new and view one of Bowling Greens famous tourist attractions!. It was PACKED which was to be expected but there were no issues. This is an artificial cave, but its a chance for thrills that are anything but fun. 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. This year we decided to see if we could top that with a visit to the Louisville Mega Cavern. Loved Purdue! On the Mega Zips ride, youll get a two-hour zip line tour of the man-made cavern, which was once mined for limestone. This park is huge and has very well managed trails. Check them out here: Yes! Quiet, peaceful place surrounded by nature. Water sport rentals are available. More than 150,000 people attend the event, the energy and of the crowd is part of the experience. Now it is a driving tour, adventure area, zip line tour, light show and even commercial storage. Their accommodation was world class. The Kentucky Derby Museum exhibits the derbys history, fine arts, trophies, photographs, racing artifacts and much more. Make sure you check road conditions Chaneys Dairy Barn is a family-friendly restaurant in Bowling Green, KY. You dont have to come on Derby Day to get some thrills at 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. Snap a selfie in front of the Barbaro statue, and make a promise to yourself to visit when you can cheer on your favorite horse. Fido is welcome to join you at one of their ten pet-friendly outdoor tables while you enjoy your meal, or snag a seat at one of their rocking chairs. It ends in the state of Tennessee. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park's 15,000 acres will continually enchant you. It has approximately 100 acres. 1,220 miles. There are so many animals, plants, and fun facts about each section! Ryman Auditorium (6 mentions) Sipped his black raspberry bourbon liqueur and it was delicious. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and encouraged us often to ask questions. r/rav4club FINALLY took delivery of my 2023 XSE hybrid! The 100-acre Louisville Mega Cavern is a unique attraction in the city. Story Links. It's displeasing to say the least. Southwest Desert. Ken. Indoor museum telling Corvette's history, with over 70 different car models plus memorabilia & more. We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information. The view was clear enough at the West Beach we could see the Chicago skyline. Road Trip Conditions. We tried the pizza and cheese curds, both with the amazing pickled veggies on them! You may also want to plan your trip around some of the stopover towns, as they all have their own seasonal highs and lows. To commemorate your stay with some regional artwork, be sure to stop by The Brown Gift Shop and Gallery for a souvenir, and follow it up with a meal at The Lobby Bar or one of the two on-site restaurants. 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. 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. Was a phenomenal experience. He, and several of his men, including a witch-slayer that carried silver bullets in his gun, visited Bell's farm, and it was JACKSON, who dubbed the presence, the "Bell Witch." The 470-mile road trip from Chicago to Nashville takes 7 hours 10 minutes on the road. Feels like 47.5 Wind speed 3 mph Pressure 1020 hPa. An ode to a beloved American pastime, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory has long stood as one of the most beloved attractions in town, detailing the process of handcrafting the infamous and sturdy bats that quickly become industry-standard nationwide. a good collection of beautiful cars. Also, if you want to spend a day in the city, Nashville is less than 45 minutes away. Such a cool experience! Although Lost River Cave isnt entirely a natural cave system, it is a man-made cave with natural features that deserves exploring. Down-to-earth casino complex with a horse racing track & slot machines, plus dining & live music. There genuinely isn't a definitive road trip route from Chicago to Nashville. We got our tickets when we arrived which ended up costing us a third of the price. The Kentucky Derby Museum is a unique destination for hosting wedding receptions, business events, and other private parties in Louisville, Kentucky. The restrooms were always clean and fully stocked, the staff was always very polite. Driving time from Chicago: 5 hrs. They also offer a great experience for the visitors of the room. While on most days it seats up to 50,000 people, on that famed Derby Day, crowds can soar above 150,000. Indiana Dunes National Park is a beautiful park with lots to see! 1 minute off the main route, 39% of way to Nashville. We got to see all the puppies who were friendly! 798 Beech Bend Park Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA. If you have the chance, visit Churchill Downs. The museum offers two floors of interactive exhibits sharing history dating back to the very first Kentucky Derby. 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