KY Cave Country

[Styx Fan]

We are planning a short trip to KY the first week of April this year. Looking for information on what to see and do in the cave area and other fun stuff in the central part of the state. Wondering if we should base at the Mammoth area, or further south in Bowling Green, or maybe else where.

It will be me, DH, DD9 and DS16. I have driven through KY many times heading into TN and further south and always loved the state. About 10 years ago we spent one afternoon at Cumberland Lake State Park...I think that is what it was called. We also spent part of a day at Mammoth cave years before that.

We may venture over to Lexington area for the horses and would love to do some riding, but not around and around a corral

Thanks for any help!

 

[4forthemouse]

Mammoth is amazing, and the highlight of any person looking for a cave vacation.
However, I would stay in Bowling Green which has more to offer as far as hotels, restaurants, shopping, for when you're not caving. Mammoth Cave is pretty isolated.
Definitely visit Lost River in BG and do the boat tour. The tour guides there do an excellent job of sharing the interesting history of the area and where else can you go on an underground river boat ride? Last time we took the boat tour we even got to see those white almost see through fish - crazy! Spend some time on the walking trails there too, it's a nice park.

After Lost River go down 31W to Chaneys for the best ice cream. Eat dinner at Lost River Pizza (deep dish)

Also, while in BG you should stop at the Corvette plant and see the most talked about car of the year

Have fun!!

 

[DisneyBill]

The National Corvette Museum is also in Bowling Green right off I-65.

 

[Styx Fan]

The Corvette Museum or plant are definitely on my list. I just saw the new Corvette at the Detroit Auto Show. One very, very sweet vehicle

How long does it take to get from Bowling Green to Mammoth?

 

[DisneyBill]

It's not very far, maybe 35-40 minutes. Some tours at Mammoth Cave sell out depending on when you go, so it may be worth calling ahead for tix.

Oh, and can we not talk about the new Corvette? I'm trying not to obsess over it!

 

[minnierocks]

This is what we did on our Kentucky vacation...
Mammoth Caves
Toured the Corvette factory
Took a river boat ride
Visited historic Bardstown and had one of our best vacation meals ever!
Visited Boonesboro...our son was really into history and Daniel Boone
Visited Lexington...

Outside of Disney...This has been one of our favorite vacations!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Is there any reason why you need to have a specific home base?

What I'd do is to spend a day in Bowling Green (Lost River, Corvette Museum), then come up the road and spend a couple of days in the Mammoth Cave area (Cave Tour, Kentucky Down Under...I'd stay at the Mammoth Cave Lodge right inside the park), then spend a day or two in Louisville (Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger factory), then a day or two in Lexington (Kentucky Horse Farm). You can continue south on I-75 to Cumberland Falls and the Cumberland Gap National Park. Or you can go north to visit my part of the world, Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.

There's so much to do in my fair state.

 

[Styx Fan]

Nope, no reason at all to have one home base. Well, except I hate packing the kids up over and over. So maybe not one home base, but definitely not a different place every night.

We are coming from the north, so we will probably start at Mammoth and head south, then east and back north.

Crossing my fingers for decent weather, really want to spend some time hiking.

 

[Leajess99]

Cave City has a Jellystone Capground which is really nice. That is where we spent Easter Weekend last year and they had a lot to do for the kids. The price was petty reasonable and they have a variety of cabins. We do live less than a hour from there so for us it was just a fun weekend away from the house wth frieds.

 

[teedisney]

The Kentucky dinner train is excellent out of bardstown. Lexington - it may be Keeneland spring meet time. I used to live there and don't anymore. There is an early Sat morning breakfast which is really nice. Also go to Malones for me for dinner. Great food.

 

[mrsklamc]

and where else can you go on an underground river boat ride?

Bedford, Indiana.

 

[DoBug]

This is what we did on our Kentucky vacation...
Mammoth Caves
Toured the Corvette factory
Took a river boat ride
Visited historic Bardstown and had one of our best vacation meals ever!
Visited Boonesboro...our son was really into history and Daniel Boone
Visited Lexington...

Outside of Disney...This has been one of our favorite vacations!

Minnierocks where did u eat in bardstown? We will stay 3 nites near mammoth during spring break

Thanks

 

[minnierocks]

Minnierocks where did u eat in bardstown? We will stay 3 nites near mammoth during spring break

Thanks

The Old Talbott Tavern
www.talbotts.com

Do not be in a hurry...it is a slow-paced meal. The Kentucky Burgoo is a standout...make sure you try it. I dream about the peach cobbler...it was amazing. Take some time to walk around the building...it is really interesting. We laugh about our meal there...we stopped in Bardstown as a last minute decision and only because we were passing through to somewhere else. It was one of the highlights of that trip and one of our favorite memories!

 

[DoBug]

Thank you for the info Minnierocks. The restaurant looks cool - DS10 is studying the civil war and this will be a great area to visit.

We will try several of the suggestions from other posters on this thread so thanks to all!

 

[Styx Fan]

Glad I found these extra comments! And I'm glad others are getting some benefit from the thread also.

 

[minnierocks]

Thank you for the info Minnierocks. The restaurant looks cool - DS10 is studying the civil war and this will be a great area to visit.

We will try several of the suggestions from other posters on this thread so thanks to all!

You are welcome! He might also enjoy the old "haunted" jail...we almost passed it but decided to try it. It is not a big deal but it was interesting...especially to see the courtyard and look at the old photo from the same courtyard with the gallows for public hangings. The history of the building was worth checking out.
As a side note, if he is studying the Civil War, Gettsyburg is a great, inexpensive weekend. We really enjoyed walking around the battlefields.

 

[DoBug]

Bedford, Indiana.

Yes, I was at the Bedford cave this fall helping with a field trip for DS10. The karst area with large sink holes was pretty cool and we saw fish, and craw dads (or something) in the underground river.

I think we will focus on the caves at Mammoth and Lost River and historical area of Bardstown this time around. Seems like visiting a Corvette musuem would be a very bad idea!

 

[DoBug]

You are welcome! He might also enjoy the old "haunted" jail...we almost passed it but decided to try it. It is not a big deal but it was interesting...especially to see the courtyard and look at the old photo from the same courtyard with the gallows for public hangings. The history of the building was worth checking out.
As a side note, if he is studying the Civil War, Gettsyburg is a great, inexpensive weekend. We really enjoyed walking around the battlefields.

Is the Haunted Jail in the museum area - not sure how to describe it but sounded like a row or block of historical buildings ? I enjoy hearing the 'haunted history' stories and even DS may be able to handle that one as I assume its not too intense.

I think both Gettysburg and Williamsburg will be in our future for longer trips.

thanks again

 

[minnierocks]

Is the Haunted Jail in the museum area - not sure how to describe it but sounded like a row or block of historical buildings ? I enjoy hearing the 'haunted history' stories and even DS may be able to handle that one as I assume its not too intense.

I think both Gettysburg and Williamsburg will be in our future for longer trips.

thanks again

It was a quick stop for us so yes, there are a few historical buildings all on one street. It was close to where we had dinner. It was not intense at all...and didn't cost that much. It was neat and not scary...my daughter went through it with no problem and the person there had some great stories.

 

[Cindy B]

'
I have to say I knew that none of this existed. It looks really interesting. I did want to ask this question-especially for people that have been in the caves-

My DH is a huge nature photographer. Can you bring specific camearas in? (SLR/attachments) I saw that there weren't many photos onsite so I wasn't sure.