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National Corvette Museum
I-65 exit 28
Open 7 days a week, year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Hours: 8 am - 5 pm
Phone: 270-781-7973 or 800-53-VETTE
www.corvettemuseum.com
This 68,000 sq. ft. showcase to America's sports car features more than 75 Corvettes. Visit the mid-century barbershop and service station, or make a stop on old Route 66 to see the cars that shaped our country's history. You'll see classics in mint condition, one of a kind prototypes that never went into production, racetrack champions, and modern-day wonders of engineering and design. Interact with educational hands-on exhibits, enjoy a film in the Chevy Theater, and see rare collectibles and memorabilia. Sit behind the wheel of a Corvette and register to drive one home. Enjoy a unique shopping experience in the Corvette Store which offers a wide selection of apparel, collectibles, home and gift items. Located 1/4 mile from the world's only Corvette Assembly Plant.
GM Corvette / Cadillac XLR Assembly Plant
I-65, exit 28
Public tours are available at 9 am and 1 pm weekdays. Group tours are available by reservation only. For a reservation for either the public or group tour, go to www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com or call 270-745-8019. Cost of tours is $5 per person. Tours are closed on most major holidays and July 4-15, 2005 for General Motors annual shut-down. Tour times are subject to change without notice, so call 270-745-8419 before traveling long distance.
Phone: 270-745-8419
www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com
Every Corvette made today in the world is produced in Bowling Green. Here you can see the step-by-step production of America's favorite sports car along with the Cadillac's fabulous new XLR. No cameras, purses, backpacks or fanny packs are allowed. Closed toe shoes only. Children must be seven years or older and school groups must be fourth grade or above. No cost for school groups fourth through eighth grade, active military and GM employees and retirees.
Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science
1229 Center Street
Hours: Thursday - Saturday 10 am to 3 pm; Sunday 1-4 pm
Groups by appointment
Phone: 270-843-9779
www.brimsbg.org
Visit a unique "hands-on" science museum and experience the force of a mini-tornado with the BRIMS Blaster! Have a hair-raising experience with the van de Graaf Electrostatic Generator. Operate one of the largest interactive transportation exhibits in the country featuring HO gauge trains in a model railroad. Measure air flow with the new wind tunnel. Suspend your body with the help of Magic Mirrors. These and over 50 more exhibits await your visit to BRIMS.
Capitol Arts Center
Located at Fountain Square Park • 416 E. Main Avenue
Phone: 270-782-ARTS or toll free 877-694-ARTS
www.capitolarts.com
Located in a renovated 1930s vaudeville house in historic downtown Bowling Green, the Capitol Arts Center features two art galleries and an 840-seat theatre. There are regularly scheduled local and touring stage productions, dance tours and many other activities throughout the year. The CAC galleries are open Monday-Friday 9 am - 5pm featuring works of regional artists and students from across the region.
Beech Bend Raceway
270-781-7634
www.beechbend.com
Beech Bend has an auto racing facility that is nationally recognized for its drag strip as well as an oval track for stock car racing. Race car enthusiasts can enjoy Stock Car racing on Friday nights, Fun Racing on Tuesday and Saturday nights, NHRA drag racing on Sundays and national automotive events throughout the year. The raceway is open March - November. Hours of operation and ticket prices vary with each racing event.
Beech Bend Park & Splash Lagoon
798 Beech Bend Park Road
Open daily Memorial Day to mid-August, weekends only in May and September
Sunday 11 am - 7 pm, Monday - Friday. 10 am - 7 pm, Saturday 10 am - 8 pm (hours may vary depending on the season)
General admission is $8 for those 54 inches and above and $5 for those under 54 inches. General admission includes use of Splash Lagoon.
Unlimited-ride arm bands are $21 (includes general admission and all attractions for all day use with the exception of go-carts and midway games).
Tickets may also be purchased for individual rides.
Phone: 270-781-7634
www.beechbend.com
The amusement park offers more than 40 rides, including the new Wild Mouse Spinning Coaster and new antique cars, a miniture golf course, giant swimming pool, water slides, interactive children's water play pool, games and go-carts. In addition, Beech Bend is home to a full-service riverside campground that is open 24 hours a day year-round. The campground has water, sewer and electrical hookups, a laundromat, bathhouses, a large picnic area and four pavilions that can be rented for group outings or company picnics. Camping rates are $20 per night every night of the year including summer season.
Public Theatre of Kentucky, Phoenix Theatre
545 Morris Alley
Phone: 270-781-6233
www.ptkbg.org
Located in historic downtown, this intimate 147-seat facility is a professional, non-Equity, not-for-profit theatre company founded in 1987. PTK produces annual seasons of contemporary plays and musicals September - May. For information and reservations, phone 270-781-6233 or email ptk@bowlinggreen.net.
Lost River Cave and Valley
2830 Nashville Road - 1-65 exit 22, proceed to stoplight #9, turn left, follow signs to Nashville Road, turn right.
Open seven days a week 9 am to 5 pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.
Phone: 270-393-0077 or toll-free at 866-274-2283
Email: lostrivercave1@hotmail.com
www.lostrivercave.com
Kentucky's only Underground Boat Tour and the enchanting Butterfly Habitat await you at Lost River Cave & Valley. Daylight disappears from view as you board the boat on the river that Ripley's Believe it or Not claims is the shortest, deepest in the world. A comfortable 57 degrees year round, the boat tour offers a visit into the timeless world of a Kentucky Natural wonder. The walking tour along the river's edge will bring alive stories of Native American inhabitants who were sheltered here for 10,000 years. Early European settlers built the only milling operation known to exist inside a cave. Thousands of Civil War troops, Union and Confederate, Col. John Hunt Morgan and even the notorious Jesse James are among our legendary visitors. See the famous 1930s underground Nite Club. Then, rediscover the child inside when you cross the threshold into the captivating world of Butterflies. North American butterflies of every species abound. Enjoy Treetop Bridge, nature trails, bird-watching stations, picnic area, gemstone sluice, Old Mill gifts. Boat tours during the winter months are subject to cancellation due to weather, so call ahead. Call 270-393-0077 for further information or bookings.
Fountain Square Park
http://www.bgky.org/history/ftsqpark.htm
Fountain Square Park has been the focus of downtown Bowling Green since 1798 when Robert Moore donated the original two-acre tract to the county for public use. By 1812, when the state legislature incorporated the town, a two-story brick building replaced the original log courthouse. In addition to the courthouse, the public square was the location of the town's jail and market house. During the late 1820s, the Barren River was opened for steam navigation, and in 1859, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad was completed. Main Street, the most direct route to both the boatlanding and railroad depot, was a natural location for business development. The original brick courthouse on the square was abandoned upon completion of the new courthouse on East 10th Avenue in 1869. The present park was built between 1871 and 1872 according to plans of John Cox Underwood. The original stone fountain was replaced in 1881 by the present cast iron fountain. The statues of the Four Seasons, benches and urns were all cast by J.L. Mott and J.W. Fiske Companies of New York City. Several commemorative structures have been added since, but the concept of a landscaped public park has retained much of the same appearance as when designed by Underwood in 1871.
Smiths Grove Historic District
I-65 Exit 38
Smiths Grove, an antique shoppers' paradise, welcomes you to its quiet, peaceful, historic community located 10 miles north of Bowling Green off I-65 exit 38. It was an important railroad town in its earlier day (1859-1950s) when the famous L & N Line ran through the area and contributed greatly to its growth. It claims 1,000 residents today making it Warren County's second largest city. Many historic buildings, churches and homes remain with architecturally significant designs, many on the National Register. A nostalgic atmosphere permeates this quaint community each time the train whistle breaks the stillness of the air. Amenities of daily living are offered residents and travelers alike in this vintage hamlet.
Kentucky Museum and Library
1 Big Red Way
Phone: 270-745-2592
http://www.wku.edu/Library/museum
Kentucky Museum houses rich collections and offers exciting and educational exhibits that invite visitors to revisit the past to learn about Kentucky's history and heritage. The Kentucky Library houses rich collections of genealogical materials, published works, manuscripts and folk life information. Public programs include workshops, lectures, family events and prearranged guided tours. The museum galleries are open for self-guided tours from 9:30 am to 4 pm Monday - Saturday and 1 to 4 pm on Sunday. The library is open weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and on Saturday from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Both are closed on Western Kentucky University holidays.