Bowling Green Bound
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Bowling Green Bound
My wife and I are planning our first trip to bowling Green the end of Aug. We want to tour the assembly plant as well as the Museum. Looking for recomendations as to where to stay and eat while visiting. Any tips or sugestions for touring the plant and museum from anyone whom has been there.
#2
Melting Slicks
The wife and I were there this past Feb. We toured the Museum and the plant, Both were great. Two exits south of the Museum on highway 231. We stayed at the Holiday inn express, and had a very good meal at Rafferty"s that was less than a mile from the hotel.
Last edited by Fcar 98; 07-27-2015 at 09:56 AM.
#3
Le Mans Master
Pro Mechanic
Montana's is a local favorite and well worth a visit...
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Have a fun and safe trip. Both the museum and plant are great places to visit.
#6
Drifting
Mammoth Caves Natl Park, is not too far away, if you have time for a side trip. About 30some miles to the Northeast, I think. Well worth it, if time permits!
Don
Don
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sonny557 (06-13-2016)
#7
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#8
Melting Slicks
Wife and I went last month(watched 2016's being built) and we stayed at Super 8 due to ease of convience. Although free breakfast was included I wouldn't recommend staying there. The super 8 seemed like it had seen better days. There was a motel behind it that was new but not sure what it was called. Seemed like a better place to stay.
Plant tour was cheaper and a much more fun experience IMO than the corvette museum. If you opt to eat at the cafe in the corvette museum pay to get in first as you get a small discount on food. The cafe was pretty neat, it was set up like a 50s dinner, food was mediocre. One of those things you do more for the nostalgia feeling than anything else. The tables are cool since they have pictures of corvettes (some with their owners).
Pre register for the plant tour otherwise you will be waiting and could get tossed in the last group. IIRC groups leave in 15 minute intervals. We did the mid morning tour in the first group and then went to the museum afterwards and ate at the cafe.
The guides which are college students at Western Kentucky University are very knowledgable. They did a great job of answering questions and our guide injected humor at each stop so it made for a fun experience.
If you are driving your corvette be prepared for a sore arm at the end of the day from all the waving you will do around the museum and plant. Lol
FYI the drive thru car wash next to the Corvette Musuem can't handle Vettes that are lowered or have wide tires. I was turned away and had to drive to a DIY car wash. I didn't mind though as I was glad the attendant was honest and observant of my car.
Enjoy your trip! We drove 1920 miles round trip in my C5Z and it was worth every gas fill up it took to get there.
Plant tour was cheaper and a much more fun experience IMO than the corvette museum. If you opt to eat at the cafe in the corvette museum pay to get in first as you get a small discount on food. The cafe was pretty neat, it was set up like a 50s dinner, food was mediocre. One of those things you do more for the nostalgia feeling than anything else. The tables are cool since they have pictures of corvettes (some with their owners).
Pre register for the plant tour otherwise you will be waiting and could get tossed in the last group. IIRC groups leave in 15 minute intervals. We did the mid morning tour in the first group and then went to the museum afterwards and ate at the cafe.
The guides which are college students at Western Kentucky University are very knowledgable. They did a great job of answering questions and our guide injected humor at each stop so it made for a fun experience.
If you are driving your corvette be prepared for a sore arm at the end of the day from all the waving you will do around the museum and plant. Lol
FYI the drive thru car wash next to the Corvette Musuem can't handle Vettes that are lowered or have wide tires. I was turned away and had to drive to a DIY car wash. I didn't mind though as I was glad the attendant was honest and observant of my car.
Enjoy your trip! We drove 1920 miles round trip in my C5Z and it was worth every gas fill up it took to get there.
#9
Instructor
We try to take a road trip once a month and we are planning on heading down there in Aug as well. I didn't realize we had to schedule or tours. I'll make sure to do that asap.
I used Yelp to help us out with hotels and places to eat. I use a booking sight to get the best prices on hotels. Rooms at the better hotels are a bit pricey I thought, but I'd rather spend the money for a good nights sleep rather than be grumpy the next day.
I'd be interested to know how much time we'll spend? If it is an all day event, we may opt for a room for two days, otherwise if it a half a day, we'll drive home after lunch.
I used Yelp to help us out with hotels and places to eat. I use a booking sight to get the best prices on hotels. Rooms at the better hotels are a bit pricey I thought, but I'd rather spend the money for a good nights sleep rather than be grumpy the next day.
I'd be interested to know how much time we'll spend? If it is an all day event, we may opt for a room for two days, otherwise if it a half a day, we'll drive home after lunch.
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
How long does each tour take? We will most likely plan for a morning plant tour. Would this allow enough time to see the museum in the same day or is this better to be spread out over a couple of days?
#11
Drifting
A lot of our caravan members stayed at the La Quinta hotel for 3 nights last year. They were very nice to us and we had a huge party (150+ Vettes) on their grounds on a Friday night.
As others have said the NCM and the Assembly Plant tour are both special. You may also want to consider the Motor Sports Park--we were there for the Grand Opening last year.
There are several places to visit outside of Bowling Green (Nashville TN is about 65 miles south), here is a link that's pretty useful http://www.visitbgky.com/trip-planner/maps-directions/
You can search on here for pictures, several of us from last year's caravan posted tons of them.
Good Luck
Sonny
As others have said the NCM and the Assembly Plant tour are both special. You may also want to consider the Motor Sports Park--we were there for the Grand Opening last year.
There are several places to visit outside of Bowling Green (Nashville TN is about 65 miles south), here is a link that's pretty useful http://www.visitbgky.com/trip-planner/maps-directions/
You can search on here for pictures, several of us from last year's caravan posted tons of them.
Good Luck
Sonny
Last edited by Sonny71; 07-28-2015 at 08:19 AM. Reason: adding
#12
Instructor
I was surprised to know they only do tours on M_F. I guess is makes sense if I thought about it. We booked the Hampton for two nights ($89 w/ no cancellation, or $99 with), and a afternoon plant tour on Friday. We'll go back on Saturday for the museum and lunch and the café. Then spend the rest of the day exploring KY.
#13
Coming up from the DFW area, we stayed in the Opry Land in Nashville. Interesting hotel with some good eateries on site (albeit somewhat pricey). About an hour drive up to the museum. Worked well for us.
While in BG, take a few and drive through the Western Kentucky U campus: home of the fighting Hilltoppers. Really.
We trudge on.
While in BG, take a few and drive through the Western Kentucky U campus: home of the fighting Hilltoppers. Really.
We trudge on.
#14
Melting Slicks
About an hour. And there's plenty of time afterwards to head over to the museum. My wife and I knocked everything out in one day. Wasn't a problem.