Bowling Green

Since 1981, every Chevrolet Corvette in the world has come from Bowling Green. That’s not all this early settler city has to offer. Outdoor adventure lands include lush green park areas, groomed golf courses, the spectacular Lost River Cave and fun water parks.

The National Corvette Museum is located near the assembly plant and features a vast collection of classics, unique prototypes and speedway champions. Informative displays illustrate the engineering, design and history of the famous car. Take a 1-mile (0.6-kilometer) walking tour of the manufacturing plant; check the website for tour times and restrictions.

Explore a mysterious waterway at Lost River Cave and Valley Tour. The underground boat tour includes stories about local Native American culture, early European settlers and missing Civil War soldiers. The whole family can learn about Kentucky’s wildlife at the site’s butterfly habitat and nature trails. Tours operate daily, subject to weather conditions; call ahead to avoid disappointment.

Visit the heart of Bowling Green, Fountain Square Park, located downtown. This area was a key site for the city’s development, housing the courthouse, jail and marketplace. A 20-minute walk southeast will bring you to the scenic RiverWalk at Mitch McConnell Park, a landscaped path that meanders north along a section of the Gasper River and looks out to the tree-lined Weldon Peete Park.

Visit on the last Saturday of September to experience the Bowling Green International Festival, a celebration of multiculturalism featuring music, performances, diverse cuisine and a bazaar. See Western Kentucky University on downtown’s southwest side with nice views of the city.

Bowling Green has a humid climate that brings warm summers, rainy springs and relatively mild winters. The city is easily accessible by car on interstate routes. Arrive by air via Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport, located centrally, or Nashville International Airport, located a one-hour drive south of Bowling Green. The city has a convenient local bus service operating Monday through Friday.

Enjoy Bowling Green for its cars and caves, a rare combination not found in many other locations.