Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Kentucky’s third most populous city is located in South Central Kentucky and has long been recognized as a hub for manufacturing.

Since 1981, all Corvettes have been produced in Bowling Green. America’s Favorite Sports Car continues to evoke excitement, and you could easily center your entire visit around this automotive icon.

While there is a dedicated museum, visitors can also observe the assembly of Corvettes at the production facility and experience the performance of a C8 on the museum’s specially designed race track.

Bowling Green offers much more, including the captivating Lost River Cave, the amusement park at Beech Bend, WKU with its prominent basketball program, and Fountain Square Park, a historic centerpiece of the city since 1872.

1. Lost River Cave

A remarkable natural wonder is located just minutes from downtown Bowling Green. Here, the Lost River, measuring only 400 feet in length, meanders through a verdant valley before vanishing into a substantial chasm, creating a blue hole that extends more than 430 feet deep.

On a guided excursion, you will trace the river’s path on foot before delving into the cave’s interior by boat. During the tour, you will learn about the cave’s intriguing history, following in the footsteps of Indigenous peoples, settlers, Civil War soldiers, and outlaws such as Jesse James.

The cave’s natural beauty is undeniable, and regardless of when you visit, you can expect a consistent temperature of 57°F.

The site encompasses over 70 acres, featuring two miles of trails available to the public free of charge. Additionally, visitors can borrow binoculars for birdwatching, explore the beautiful butterfly habitat, or soar above the treetops on the Flying Squirrel Zipline adventure.

2. National Corvette Museum

Close to the site where these iconic sports cars are manufactured lies a museum dedicated exclusively to Corvettes in Bowling Green.

This is the only museum in the world dedicated to a single car model, which holds the record as the longest-running model in American automotive history.

Visitors can explore over 70 years of Corvette history through interactive exhibits and admire a collection of more than 70 rare Corvettes, including race-winners, prototypes, and classics in exceptional condition.

A racing simulator allows you to experience what it’s like to drive a C6, complemented by a KidZone to keep younger visitors engaged.

The on-site Stingray Grill provides a delightful respite, with appealing options such as avocado toast, blackberry grilled cheese, gourmet burgers, and bourbon bread pudding.

3. Beech Bend

This picturesque destination along the Barren River has attracted visitors since the 1880s. Today, Beech Bend is a diverse attraction featuring an amusement park, a dragstrip, and a campground.

The amusement park has flourished in recent years, incorporating a variety of high-tech rides alongside beloved family activities such as mini-golf, a haunted house, a tilt-a-whirl, and numerous kiddie rides.

For thrill-seekers, the standout attractions include the Wild Mouse spinning roller coaster and the Kentucky Rumbler wooden coaster.

The Splash Lagoon water park, introduced in 2010, boasts an impressive array of 16 water slides, as well as a lazy river and a wave pool to delight guests.

The dragstrip hosts events most weekends from March through October, with the NHRA SportsNATIONAL Open on Memorial Day weekend being particularly noteworthy.

4. Historic RailPark & Train Museum

For many years, the first sight greeting visitors in Bowling Green was the impressive L&N Passenger Depot.

The remaining depot structure, built from Warren County limestone in 1925, remained in use until 1979.

Today, you can explore the museum to discover the extensive 160-year history of the railroads in Bowling Green.

The museum features authentic artifacts alongside accounts from the Civil War and the experiences of African Americans (the museum building originally housed the old “colored” waiting room).

Outside, a collection of locomotives and cars is displayed, including a WWII hospital car and one of only five known pre-1911 Jim Crow segregation cars.

5. Fountain Square Park

This elegantly designed green space has served as a cornerstone for downtown Bowling Green since 1872.

Today, it stands as a central feature of a revitalized commercial district, bordered by thriving local businesses, from dining establishments to boutiques selling candles, home goods, clothing, and jewelry, all set within historic storefronts.

Fountain Square Park offers a serene retreat, complete with well-maintained landscaping, comfortable seating, and seasonal floral displays.

At the heart of the park is the iconic fountain, which has recently undergone restoration, enhancing its appeal.

This beautiful location is the ideal venue for seasonal events such as Downtown Lights Up! during the holidays and Concerts in the Park throughout the summer.

Brochures for a self-guided tour of the historic buildings surrounding the square are available at the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

6. Western Kentucky University (WKU)

The campus of Western Kentucky University is notably perched on a hilltop, providing a panoramic view of Bowling Green and the Barren River valley.

Founded in 1876, the campus is renowned for its beauty and merits exploration on a guided tour.

Prospective students are invited to participate in guided tours, while a free app is available for a self-guided exploration, highlighting significant landmarks such as the impressive Cherry Hall (1937).

WKU’s Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers are known for their competitive spirit within Division I of the NCAA. The men’s and women’s basketball teams, who play at the 7,500-capacity E. A. Diddle Arena, are perennial contenders.

The men’s program has achieved the 16th most victories in NCAA history and enjoyed a dominant era from 2001 to 2013, with seven tournament appearances.

7. The Kentucky Museum

This museum, situated on the campus of Western Kentucky University, provides a comprehensive overview of the state of Kentucky.

Housed in an impressive structure with an attractive portico, the Kentucky Museum showcases extensive collections of archaeology, clothing, quilts, musical instruments, toys, decorative arts, and items associated with notable figures ranging from Madeleine Albright to Liza Minnelli and Daniel Boone.

A diverse array of temporary exhibits is available during each visit. At the time of this writing, featured exhibits included insights into Kentucky’s renowned Mammoth Cave, Victorian fashion, and the historical contributions of Kentucky women in politics.

Additionally, the property includes a 1815 Log House, furnished with artifacts representative of the early 19th century in the Commonwealth.

8. GM Corvette Assembly Plant

For any Corvette enthusiast, witnessing the assembly of these precision vehicles is an exciting opportunity. At the GM Corvette facility, you will gain firsthand insights into the production line, observing how the chassis and body of the sophisticated C8 and ZR1 come together.

The mile-long walking tour provides fascinating details on the advanced engineering involved in creating a new Corvette, showcasing gleaming cars being completed for eager owners.

Public tours last approximately one hour and are conducted three times daily from Monday to Friday.

9. Aviation Heritage Park

South Central Kentucky holds a significant place in the annals of aviation history, encompassing contributions from WWI fighter aces to commanders of the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, along with mission commanders for the space shuttle Atlantis.

This rich heritage is commemorated at a complimentary outdoor museum featuring meticulously maintained aircraft arranged around a circular plaza.

Accompanied by informative interpretative signs, notable exhibits include the F-4D Phantom II 550 (with an engaging backstory), a Lockheed T-33A-5 Shooting Star, a Bell UH-1P Iroquois “Huey,” and a Grumman F9F-5 Panther.

A highlight of the park is the NASA T-38 Talon, recognized as the world’s first supersonic trainer, displayed in tribute to local astronaut Terry Wilcutt.

10. Bowling Green Ballpark

In 2009, this contemporary baseball stadium was inaugurated in downtown Bowling Green. The 4,500-seat Bowling Green Ballpark serves as the home field for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, who compete in the Minor League High-A East as an affiliate of MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays.

At the time of this writing, the Hot Rods were enjoying a successful period, having secured two league titles in three years.

Above all, this venue offers a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere for watching games, featuring fireworks every Friday, entertaining themed days on Saturdays, and “tail-waggin’ Tuesdays,” allowing you to bring your dog along.

Additionally, there is a children’s play area with a carousel, splash pad, and play zone, while the stadium also functions as a concert venue, having hosted performances by artists such as Nelly and Jake Owen.

11. Riverview at Hobson Grove

This splendid Italianate mansion, constructed in the late 1850s and finished in 1872, had its construction interrupted by the Civil War.

The Hobson family, who resided here until 1952, were supporters of the Union, though the incomplete residence was appropriated as a Confederate munitions depot during the winter of 1861-1862.

The property has welcomed the public for tours for over 50 years, offering insights into the lives of the upper class in Bowling Green during the latter half of the 19th century.

The building features some advanced ventilation and plumbing systems that were groundbreaking for their time and is topped with a stately cupola that visitors can ascend for breathtaking views.

12. Russell Sims Aquatic Center

Located on the west side of Bowling Green, the Russell Sims Aquatic Center stands as one of the largest public water parks in this region of the Commonwealth.

Typically operational from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, the Aquatic Center provides a relaxing escape during the summer school break, staffed by lifeguards certified by the American Red Cross.

The facility features a beach-style leisure pool complete with play structures and palm trees, a 50-meter lap pool, two exhilarating water slides, two diving boards, and a splash pad for younger guests.

Additionally, there is an affordable concession stand offering a variety of snacks, both hot and cold.

13. NCM Motorsports Park

The development of a racing circuit to complement the National Corvette Museum had been anticipated for years before the $20 million project was completed in 2014.

This adaptable track can be divided into different layouts, with the longest configuration, featuring an impressive home straight, spanning 3.2 miles. Naturally, most events held here showcase Corvettes.

Visitors can also participate, whether by bringing their own car to drive at speeds exceeding the highway limit or by taking the wheel of a cutting-edge C8 Corvette.

Additionally, there is a Kartplex at this venue, which hosts competitive league racing, parties, corporate outings, and casual Arrive & Drive experiences.

14. West KY Brewery Hop

In recent years, the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has partnered with eight other visitor bureaus and approximately 13 breweries in western Kentucky to establish an engaging craft brewery trail.

Visitors can collect a passport from one of the participating breweries, earning a prize after obtaining a stamp from at least seven locations on the trail.

The two breweries located in Bowling Green are Gasper Brewing Co., where guests can observe the brewing process from the taproom, and Blue Holler (which was undergoing short-term refurbishment at the time of writing), featuring as many as 20 craft beers on tap.

15. Chaney’s Dairy Barn

A short trip into the picturesque South Central Kentucky countryside leads to this dairy farm, which has opened as an agritourism destination.

On a self-guided tour, guests will observe the herd of Jersey cows and the robotic milker, one of the few in Kentucky.

Children can enjoy the newly updated playground and seasonal attractions like a corn maze.

Chaney’s homemade ice cream, crafted from milk and cream sourced from these cows, is a major draw, offering a menu featuring over 60 flavors (some seasonal), from vanilla to peanut butter fudge swirl, lime sorbet, bourbon crunch, and birthday cake.

Additionally, there is a restaurant with a lunch and dinner menu, renowned for its exceptional chicken salad.