Spring Break Ideas from Louisville, KY

[left210]

We live near Louisville, KY and are looking for spring break ideas for someplace within a 5 hour drive. We have considered going back to Gatlinburg but were looking for other suggestions. We have an 8 yr old son and a baby who will be 9 months at that time. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[DawnS]

From Louisville you are so close to alot of cities, we have been to the following places, Indianapolis, Nashville, Chattanooga, atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati. All are close by and have lots of things to do for all ages.

 

[madge]

We live near Louisville, KY and are looking for spring break ideas for someplace within a 5 hour drive. We have considered going back to Gatlinburg but were looking for other suggestions. We have an 8 yr old son and a baby who will be 9 months at that time. Anyone have any suggestions?

Cincinnati area: Newport Aquarium, Great Wolf Lodge

Indianapolis: Children's Museum

St. Louis: I'm not sure what's there .. but it always comes up as a fun place to go that's nearby

Chatanooga, TN has a great children's museum and aquarium

Chicago might be pushing it... but I think it's 5 hours-ish.

 

[daleswife]

Come over to WV and ride the Hatfield McCoy Trails!!! They are loads of fun!!!

 

[Danemom]

We live in the same area. I think everyone's suggested the main spots within a 5 hour drive. Cincy and Indy are close enough to do as daytrips so I'd probably pick Chicago or St. Louis.
To help with ideas and cost, Chicago has the citypass http://www.citypass.com and St. Louis has a lot of free stuff http://www.free-attractions.com/st_louis.htm.
Have fun wherever you go!

 

[uk_wildcat]

Chicago has a new Lego discovery store that your 8 year old might enjoy. We live near Cincinnati and I have been wanting to take my kids for a while now.

 

[disynut]

I don't have much to add, just wanted to say Hi to my fellow Kentuckians.

Our Spring Break in our district this year is the last week in March, so we've been talking about our options.....it would be too cold for anything north of Orlando, and if I'm going somewhere, I'd want it to be warm so I think we'll probably stay home this year.....out of the options that people mentioned, if it was warmer I like the idea of Chicago(we're actually talking about taking a weekend trip to here this summer)or the Smoky Mountains.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[kydisneyfans]

We live in the Lexington area and are debating options for a 4 day trip over the break. We cancelled Disney as my wife's employer changes how vacation time is allocated this year and she won't have enough time built up to go anywhere.

We have done the following:
St Louis-about 6 hrs from Louisville-long and boring drive. The city is great though, so much to do there. THe free attraction link above is a good start.

Chicago-a little further than St louis but is another great place to visit. Weather may be an issue though.

Nashville has the country music things if you are into that.

Atlanta is another great city with much to do. We are thinking about this for our break.

We have never visited Chatanooga, only passed through.

Columbus, OH has many things too, COSI is one of the best children's museums in the country. That would be 3-4 hours from Louisville.

Have fun wherever your go.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

Great Wolf Lodge just outside of Cincinatti, in Mason. Very fun for the kids, and grown-ups, too. There will be stuff for the baby to enjoy.
Check out their website for pictures!

 

[left210]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I should have mentioned some of the places we have already done like Great Wolf Lodge, Gatlinburg, Newport Aquarium, Indianapolis and Nashville. DS and husband want to go back to Gatlinburg but I kind of want to do something different. I was thinking about Chattanooga but when I checked into it alot of the things you would do I do not think would be feasible with a baby like Ruby Falls and the caves. Has anyone stayed in one of the train cars in Chattanooga? So what are some fun things to do in St. Louis? I even considered Chicago but as one person mentioned I was concerned about the weather. Thanks for the input.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I should have mentioned some of the places we have already done like Great Wolf Lodge, Gatlinburg, Newport Aquarium, Indianapolis and Nashville. DS and husband want to go back to Gatlinburg but I kind of want to do something different. I was thinking about Chattanooga but when I checked into it alot of the things you would do I do not think would be feasible with a baby like Ruby Falls and the caves. Has anyone stayed in one of the train cars in Chattanooga? So what are some fun things to do in St. Louis? I even considered Chicago but as one person mentioned I was concerned about the weather. Thanks for the input.

I also live around Louisville and I'm having this same dilemma .
Gatlinburg was my first choice, but, I'm afraid it will be so cold there at the end of March first of April & the same goes for Chicago.
I want to save Ohio (Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge, etc..) for a early June trip & Indy for sometime in Sept.
So...I leaning w/Gatlinburg and hoping for nice weather .

 

[janie91]

Here are a few attractions I know of and I'm sure you could google for more information.

Science Center
Zoo
Six Flags
City Museum
Magic House
Arch
Baseball Museum
The Fox
Grants Farm
St. Charles Historic District
The Mills
Incredible Pizza Company
Purina Farms
Union Station

 

[maleficentmom]

hi! used to live in Louisville area and it is great!there is a place in Goshen called Henrys Ark that is free, sort of a petting zoo and is good for a day trip w/kids...but for a few days i would pick pigeon forge(its easier to navigate traffic, and usually nicer hotels and cheaper than gatlinburg and you can zip to gatlinburg quickly)we went in june and got a jacuzzi room for 65! in sevierville. did dixie stampede at christmas.aquarium has combo tix and most of the attractions have AAA discounts that you can get at attraction or at AAA before you leave. every place down there has a coupon so check coupon rack at hotel. Black Bear Jamboree is good, although i like the christmas show better.

 

[disynut]

We stayed in a train car in Chattanooga---never again That room had dust in it that was so thick.....not to mention the fact that when they brought the crib---the guy was saying---"you might want to spray it down...we haven't had time to clean them yet...there's something on it" Needless to say, THAT stayed in the hallway. The bathroom was awful--they had tried to throw a mat down to cover the mold/mildew stains on the tub. Even DH with his "guy" attitude wouldn't take a shower in it. It was so bad, I did email them(Holiday Inn's parent company--I think it's Intercontinental or something like that). They sent me a letter wanting me to come back and stay in that hotel for one night for free Like I'll be doing THAT!

BTW, we paid $179 for that room for one night!

But there is a nice Holiday Inn Express by a Cracker Barrel in Chattanooga--we tried to stay there the next time but it was booked. That's where I'd pick!

 

[crazelion]

Chattanooga has a lot things to do. There's the Tennessee aquarium , Creative Discovery musum ,and hunter Musum. There's also the Waterfront on the river that is nice. But it will be to cold for that.

We have excellent resturants downtown Big River Grille, Chee Chee Burger, Melly Mushroom and Blue water Grill all have excellent food.

The Choo Choo is basicly located not so go part of downtown. Do not stay the Marriott hotel. I can't remember the exact name that Marriott is basically in the projects. The Hilton Garden Hotel, Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott is all close to the tourist attractions. Those hotels right the attractions you could walk easy.

Now if was coming in the summer. I would tell check out the Chattanooga Lookouts baseball team. We have cheap prices for seats.

Shopping Hamilton Place is the place go. There is everything out that hotels and restaurants.

 

[Leajess99]

I can totally recommend St Louis as a great trip amd it is about 5 hours from Louisville. It is also cost effective as the zoo is free except for parking and certain extras like the Sea Lion show. Also the science Museum is free with the exception of certain exhibits. They also have Grant's Farm which we enjoy as well and is free except for the cost of parking.

I live in Etown so I know it is not a bad drive.

 

[Leajess99]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I should have mentioned some of the places we have already done like Great Wolf Lodge, Gatlinburg, Newport Aquarium, Indianapolis and Nashville. DS and husband want to go back to Gatlinburg but I kind of want to do something different. I was thinking about Chattanooga but when I checked into it alot of the things you would do I do not think would be feasible with a baby like Ruby Falls and the caves. Has anyone stayed in one of the train cars in Chattanooga? So what are some fun things to do in St. Louis? I even considered Chicago but as one person mentioned I was concerned about the weather. Thanks for the input.

We did not stay in the train cars but I read many bad reviews. When we stayed in Chattanooga we stayed at the Candlewood Suites which was nice. It gave us more room and free use of washers and dryers. We did get the military discount rate though. Ruby Falls was no fun with a 2 year old so I would not recommend it with a child younger. My older 2 (7 and 12 at the time) were not really impressed with it either.

 

[left210]

I can totally recommend St Louis as a great trip amd it is about 5 hours from Louisville. It is also cost effective as the zoo is free except for parking and certain extras like the Sea Lion show. Also the science Museum is free with the exception of certain exhibits. They also have Grant's Farm which we enjoy as well and is free except for the cost of parking.

I live in Etown so I know it is not a bad drive.

Grants Farm doesnt open until April so that would be out of the question for our trip but thanks for the info. Is the St. Louis Zoo better than Louisville Zoo? Is it about the same size zoo or bigger?

 

[jacksmomma]

Hello from good ole Indiana. lol There are lots of things here in the city to do:

Our children's museum is world class
We have a great state museum
Brown County IN is sort of like a mini (okay very mini) Gatlinburg, lots of little shops and eateries
The zoo just underwent some major upgades

We also have some unique things like the natatorium at IUPUI which boosts Olympic size pools that have been used for olympic qualifications, funky little neighborhoods like Broad Ripple which offer great ethnic food, and a medical history museum which dates back to the early 1900s.

If you would like specific recommendations please send me a message.

 

[lovemygoofy]

How about Santa clause, Indiana? I'm not quite sure how far from Louisville though. It's age apprpriate and has cute things for your children and has a theme park,holiday world.