DigitalWidgets

It's way cool....but maybe not worth a 7 hour drive. My buyer's tour got me in the plant for two full days while my car was being built....which was one of the coolest things I've done in my life. But...I only spent about 2 hours at the museum....so if you're just doing the public plant tour (I don't know how long that is), it might not be worth that long drive.

But that being said, if you can take a couple of days and maybe hang out in Nashville for a day too that might be fun. Jack Daniel's plant might be somewhere in between there (heck I don't remember).

Either way...a I'd say maybe a bit much to drag the wife if she's not a Corvette fan, but there's other stuff on the way if you can make the NCM and plant just one of the activities over a few days.

Bellebuddy1

I did it in 2006 before I was a Vette owner. I highly recommend it! I am just waiting on them to start tours again and plan another trip. The museum alone is worth the trip. That's my .02$ JB

3GenVettes

My wife is very tolerant of the time, I spend with cars, but taking her significantly out of her way for something that she didn't want to do would not be good move.

While I fully enjoyed my time at the plant and museum, if she had come also I don't think she would have shared my enjoyment. By the same token, there are things that she might like to do that I'll bow out of and let her go with other family or friends that share her interest in such activity that isn't interesting to me.

jperaino

I took the buyers tour for my 101 GS. It was an incredible experience. My wife wasn't sure that she would enjoy it but it turned out that she enjoyed herself as much as I did. We then went across the street to the NCM and that also was a great experience. We then drove 90 miles to Nashville and made a great vacation out of the whole experience. Nashville was also fantastic.

mpuzach

Taking the plant tour is definitely a must-do experience for any fan of Corvettes. So is visiting the museum. My recommendation is to go to Bowling Green even if you can't tour the plant; the museum alone is more than enough to justify the trip. It is truly a wonderful place and it's operated by great people.

JimmyLee

I'll be in the area in mid-September, so I'm crossing my fingers that the plant will be open for tours.

By the way, National Geographic has a nice video of a Z06 being built from start to finish in their "Ultimate Factories" series, available on DVD.

brettbolt

My wife just informed me that the annual conference was held in Nashville last October. We should have gone then.

Stavesacre21

Whenever it opens back up for public tours you definitely have to do it! However, as others have mentioned tours are not currently going on until late fall. Knock out both the museum and the Corvette plant in the same trip. Most definitely worth it. I plan on even making another trip from Ohio within the next year.

corvettelover25

It's a must do if you are a Corvette fan, not just a driver. I have a few friends that work for the plant as interns and rumor is first week of October they will reopen for tours. If you want a decent night life hit up Nashville while you are here. 2nd Ave and Broadway are a good time and Nashville is only 50 minutes to an hour away. (60 miles)

MTsVette

A trip to the NCM and factory are on my to-do list as well.

MT

RobLo

We did this last year, the plant was closed but we had a great time touring the museum. We'll plan another road trip to see the plant when it reopens.... We also went to Nashville, spent a few hours seeing the Country Music Hall of Fame, toured the Ryman Auditorium, walked aroung town and had an ice cold beer (this was in July) at one of the bars on Honky Tonk Blvd., a great time and great memories.

dvilin

Sounds like your Wife will not enjoy it and to be honest unless you have other interesting things to do in the area, I would not drive 440 miles just for the tour.

Allan

absolutely!

BettermostCorvette

Its a must see for any Corvette owner also the NCM is right across the street another must see. I hope its open for you by then.

whiteboy

Louisville to Charlotte is 500 miles, Bowling Green is another 120 miles from Louisville. Just so you know. If and when you have the chance to visit Bowling Green, in addition to a wonderful Corvette Museum and factory tour, Arts Corvettes and Muscle Cars is across the street from the Museum and is well worth the price of admission. They have between 50 and 75 muscle cars from the 50's 60's and 70's. You could easily spend a full day touring the factory and museum and the muscle car showroom. Bowling Green is a nice city, 120 miles from Louisville Ky and about 70 miles from Nashville.

whiteboy

As an after thought, let her fly into Charlotte for her seminar. You fly into Nashville, or Louisville, rent a car and tour which ever city you choose to fly into and then drive over to Bowling Green and enjoy the museum and the muscle car showroom, and hopefully the factory tour. You don't have to be with her in Charlotte do you? lol.

m kraz

if you have the $ do it you only live once

brettbolt

Very good idea. The seminar is for four days, and I don't want to stay in Charlotte that long. I could fly to Nashville the day before the seminar ends, rent a car, and then visit Bowling Green.

After that, I could pick her up in Charlotte and then we both want to see Washington, DC.

Since she doesn't need a car in Charlotte while shes at the seminar, this could work out very well.

Thanks for the idea.

whiteboy

He He, Fly into Nashville, see the points of interest there, drive the 70 miles over to Bowling Green, ( preferably driving US 31, two lanes, ) . See the Corvette Museum and Factory and Arts Muscle Car Showroom. You can spend 6 to 8 hours in BG alone. Drive the 110 miles to Louisville and see the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Hillerich & Bradsby,= Louisville Slugger Museum. Both are wonderful museums. I promise you will be glad you did. All the above attractions are very inexpensive to visit. The drive from Louisville to Charlotte is a 7 to 8 hour drive and lots of beautiful scenery. Horse farms in Ky, Smokey Mountains in Tn and NC. I think I would plan on at least three of her four days for myself. lol.
Good Luck
PS: October is a beautiful time of year in Kentucky, Tn, and NC.

JoesC5

Plant tour is absolutely worth it. I've been to the museum five times and the plant four times. I'll be visiting the plant, and the museum, again once as soon as they open it up for tours.

We go as a club cruise(425 miles one way) and the ladies do enjoy the plant tour. They enjoy seeing the cars being built.

Side trip to Nashville is also worth it. I'm not into country music, but going to the Grand Ole Opry was neat. Saw Dolly Parton and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band when we were there.

The Super 8, located between the museum and the plant is a good place to stay, but there are plenty of nice places(but more expensive) located a couple of miles south of the museum/plant.

The Holiday Inn Express is a great place to stay in Nashville, as it is close to the Opry. Easy to get to as it's just off Hwy 155(east bypass). They have a M-B van to shuttle you to/from the Opry, so you don't have to mess with the very crowded parking, etc.

Also the Country Music Museum, down town, is a great place to visit.