Holiday World and Mammoth Caves

[dpuck1998]

We are heading down there for a summer trip. Anyone been to either and have some ideas for me? Good places to eat? Things that are a must do? I'm traveling with kids age 11, 9 and 5.

Right now we are staying at Santas Cottages near Holiday World and Drury Suites in Bowling Green.

 

[crazydisneyman]

When are you going? Maybe a DIS Meet at Holiday World?

Mamouth Caves is Awesome. I have done almost all the tours. I enjoyed the all day tour cause you get to see more of the cave. I believe it is the longest cave in the world and they still haven't mapped all of it yet.

Call me if you want more info.

 

[ADP]

We've been to Holiday World a few times.

We enjoy Holiday World, but we never ventured out much past the theme park. All the restaurants in the park are pretty basic fare. The two best aspects of the park are the 3 wooden coasters and the water park. It's one of the best water parks I've ever visited. About my only complaint is it could use a little more shade. Their newest coaster, The Voyage, is one of the best I've ever been on...In fact, it could be the best wooden coaster I've ever experienced. Be prepared because it does jar you around quite a bit. Make sure to check out the on ride POV video at theme park review.com. It really gives you a good perspective of the ride.

The entire park sits on a hill so you'll find yourself hiking up and down quite often.

Have a great time Don. You are making me want to take a trip down there this summer. I've watched the POV of The Voyage and it really gets me in the mood.

 

[MusiqChic99]

We've been to Holiday World a few times.

We enjoy Holiday World, but we never ventured out much past the theme park. All the restaurants in the park are pretty basic fare. The two best aspects of the park are the 3 wooden coasters and the water park. It's one of the best water parks I've ever visited. About my only complaint is it could use a little more shade. Their newest coaster, The Voyage, is one of the best I've ever been on...In fact, it could be the best wooden coaster I've ever experienced. Be prepared because it does jar you around quite a bit. Make sure to check out the on ride POV video at theme park review.com. It really give you a good perspective of the ride.

The entire park sits on a hill so you'll find yourself hiking up and down quite often.

Have a great time Don. You are making me want to take a trip down there this summer. I've watched the POV of The Voyage and it really gets me in the mood.

I believe it's been improved to not jar you around so much...something new for this year I think.

I've been to Holiday World many times. It's enjoyable if you don't compare it to bigger and better parks.

They have added new water rides and I think there is a new ride coming this year too.

 

[ADP]

I believe it's been improved to not jar you around so much...something new for this year I think.

That would be cool if it works.

 

[MusiqChic99]

That would be cool if it works.

I think it's the new trains. They have 2 for this year.

New Water coaster for this year too that looks pretty cool.

 

[LoveKermit]

There is VERY little to do near Holiday World. We ended up going back to the park to eat because there is not much to eat otherwise. It's a fun park if you LOVE coasters.

Make sure you take games with you or something to do in the evenings. Just my opinion.

Haven't done Mammoth Cave since I was a kid. We did the all day hike. I do remember being VERY tired. We stayed in a cabin at the park. I wanted my dad to drive us to the lodge for dinner (it was only a block or so).

 

[elemusing]

Welcome to my neck of the woods!

We have been to both Holiday World and Mammoth Cave a BUNCH.

First of all - please know that Holiday World is definitely NOT WDW. But you probably already know that. The rides do not accomodate Pooh sized people well (you probably won't have that issue - but others might need to know that) and also, they will absolutely NOT let you take a bag onto the ride with you. They have these shelves at the loading of the rides where they will make you place your bag. The first time I went there, I was a little taken back by this. They do have lockers at the front of the park. When you go in, go forward a bit and the locker area is to your right.

The water park is WONDERFUL. And all the soda you can drink plus all the sunscreen you can use is FREE.

Bring a jacket to the cave even if it is 90 degrees outside. The cave stays at one constant temp all year - I think it is something like 57 if I remember correctly. The tours in the cave all vary. We enjoy them all - please know there is alot of stair climbing in many of them.

There really aren't alot of what I would call great restaurants near either of these places. We usally do alot of fast food on these trips. Someone who lives close may know of some local joint that I don't know of though.

If you are staying in Bowling Green, you might remember that the only Corvette Plant (and museum) in the world is there!

Bowling Green is about an hour from Nashville which has lots of great food and fun stuff to do - might want to consider that as well.

There are many "kitschy" little shops on the little 2-land road up to the Cave park. We love this one: http://www.bigmikesrockshop.com/about_us.html

It is a hole in the wall place, but the kids love it and there are lots of crazy things they sell, plus they only charged us 50 cents each to go through their "mystery house." It has a couple of rooms with upsidedown water and such. Great fun!

One more word - BOTH of these places will eventually take you to little 2-lane roads to get there. Take heart- just when you think you aren't going to get there- you arrive!

Oh I forgot to say that parking is free at both places too!

Angie

 

[kehouse]

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2106 you have to drive by the wig wam hotel. my sister and brothers still talk about these stupid things. we never stayed at one but when we would go anywhere near horse cave we would ask our dad to go that way so we would get to pass by them. lol. as teresa would say....good times.!! lol
i also came across this, never knew it was here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLaQj68FKkI&feature=related
if your into history, abe lincolns birthplace is about 30 miles south of m.c. not alot to do there, but a very pretty place.

 

[dpuck1998]

Welcome to my neck of the woods!

We have been to both Holiday World and Mammoth Cave a BUNCH.

First of all - please know that Holiday World is definitely NOT WDW. But you probably already know that. The rides do not accomodate Pooh sized people well (you probably won't have that issue - but others might need to know that) and also, they will absolutely NOT let you take a bag onto the ride with you. They have these shelves at the loading of the rides where they will make you place your bag. The first time I went there, I was a little taken back by this. They do have lockers at the front of the park. When you go in, go forward a bit and the locker area is to your right.

The water park is WONDERFUL. And all the soda you can drink plus all the sunscreen you can use is FREE.

Bring a jacket to the cave even if it is 90 degrees outside. The cave stays at one constant temp all year - I think it is something like 57 if I remember correctly. The tours in the cave all vary. We enjoy them all - please know there is alot of stair climbing in many of them.

There really aren't alot of what I would call great restaurants near either of these places. We usally do alot of fast food on these trips. Someone who lives close may know of some local joint that I don't know of though.

If you are staying in Bowling Green, you might remember that the only Corvette Plant (and museum) in the world is there!

Bowling Green is about an hour from Nashville which has lots of great food and fun stuff to do - might want to consider that as well.

There are many "kitschy" little shops on the little 2-land road up to the Cave park. We love this one: http://www.bigmikesrockshop.com/about_us.html

It is a hole in the wall place, but the kids love it and there are lots of crazy things they sell, plus they only charged us 50 cents each to go through their "mystery house." It has a couple of rooms with upsidedown water and such. Great fun!

One more word - BOTH of these places will eventually take you to little 2-lane roads to get there. Take heart- just when you think you aren't going to get there- you arrive!

Oh I forgot to say that parking is free at both places too!

Angie

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2106 you have to drive by the wig wam hotel. my sister and brothers still talk about these stupid things. we never stayed at one but when we would go anywhere near horse cave we would ask our dad to go that way so we would get to pass by them. lol. as teresa would say....good times.!! lol
i also came across this, never knew it was here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLaQj68FKkI&feature=related
if your into history, abe lincolns birthplace is about 30 miles south of m.c. not alot to do there, but a very pretty place.

Exactly the kind of stuff I wanted to hear Thanks a ton. We love the "off the beaten path" stuff. I know we will have to look for things to do, but thats okay. We are planning 3 nights in Bowling Green and 4 nights in Santa Claus. If we have to drive an hour to find something cool, I'm ok with that. Or if we just hang at our cabin, play games, walk around, eat fast food, its all good.

FYI for Indy peeps, if you want to meet up we are at Holiday World June 29, 30 and July 1st. I'd love to meet up with anyone in the area.

 

[tlcoke]

http://www.schnitzelbank.com/
This restaurant in Jasper is a nice place to eat - good food. It is the same exit for Holiday World, except you go north through Ferdinand into Jasper.

This is home of the World's Largest Beer Stein.

There is also a Wendy's right off the exit for Holiday World.


Cave City, Kentucky - There is a Cracker Barrel at this exit and a few fast food restaurants. Your larger choice is going to be in Bowling Green. In addition to the Caves there is Guntown Mountain.

 

[OKW Lover]

Is Mammoth Cave the same place that the original "Adventure" (AKA Colossal Cave) computer game was based on? I used to really enjoy that game.

 

[adsrtw]

Love Holiday World! It's just a hop, skip & a jump from my home. Huber Farms is a fun attraction too. It's closer to Louisville.

 

[pjacobi]

You might try a visit to Wyandotte Cave located off of I-64 near Holiday World. It's smaller than Mammoth cave, but big enough for the cave experience. It will save lots of driving.


-Paul

 

[dpuck1998]

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2106 you have to drive by the wig wam hotel. my sister and brothers still talk about these stupid things. we never stayed at one but when we would go anywhere near horse cave we would ask our dad to go that way so we would get to pass by them. lol. as teresa would say....good times.!! lol
i also came across this, never knew it was here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLaQj68FKkI&feature=related
if your into history, abe lincolns birthplace is about 30 miles south of m.c. not alot to do there, but a very pretty place.

We almost stayed at the wigwam hotel, but the reviews are so terrible I couldn't bring myself to pay to stay there.

 

[kehouse]

yeah, i don't think i would stay there, they look small and a little run down, but kind of cool to see. Oprah stopped at one of the wig wam hotels on her road trip. she checked in, but then decided it was just to gross to stay. she was actually a bit rude making fun of them...

 

[dpuck1998]

yeah, i don't think i would stay there, they look small and a little run down, but kind of cool to see. Oprah stopped at one of the wig wam hotels on her road trip. she checked in, but then decided it was just to gross to stay. she was actually a bit rude making fun of them...

Well, based on the reviews on tripadvisor, I think she might be on the mark. I stayed there as a child and really wanted to stay there with my kids, but I couldn't put them in a hotel like that, not to mention how they were over priced.

 

[dpuck1998]

We have three days planned at Holiday World, but looking at tickets they are really priced for two days. The third day is back to full price or close to making an annual pass the best deal. Should I just plan two days at the park and spend a day doing other stuff or chillax'en?

 

[ADP]

We have three days planned at Holiday World, but looking at tickets they are really priced for two days. The third day is back to full price or close to making an annual pass the best deal. Should I just plan two days at the park and spend a day doing other stuff or chillax'en?

My personal opinion, but I think you'd be okay with two days. You could easily spend most of one day at the water park enjoying the water rides and relaxing. Most of your 2nd day could be spent enjoying the theme park. You'd be able to do it all and then some.

 

[elemusing]

Yep - you will not need 3 days here. One full day at the waterpark and one full day at the park will do it. Actually, about 1/2 day at the ride park would probably do it.