Although I have been a vette owner for about 3 yrs+, I've never been to the museum or factory (tour).

Some friends are participating in the 2009 Caravan but I shy away from mob scenes, crowds, and lines. Example: I live in central FL but would not consider going to Disney! I can't imagine a town the size of BG being able to accomodate that many folks in the space of just a couple of days. I seek comments from those who have gone in the past...are there endless lines waiting to get into just a few restaurants? Parking?? Hotels???

I enjoy the camaraderie of fellow vette owners, but just a few at a time...Am I better off planning my own trip to BG for the factory/museum tour? Thanx in advance for all comments

 

I am like you in that I can't stand crowds or lines and avoid them at all costs.

I have had the vette for a little over a year now and my sweetie and I did a BG event last May and had a wonderful time. We did not stay in the Hampton Inn where most of the vette owners stay but in a B&B outside of town. That gave us a chance to get away from it all if we needed to. Lines at the factory tour are well managed by the assembly plant and likewise the Museum can handle a crowd. Remember there are lots of things going on at the same time so crowding was never a problem for us.

We can't wait for the upcoming forum event in May again to renew old acquaintances and enjoy the planned events. Don't procrastinate about registering early and signing up for the things that have limited attendance allowances.

You will have a ball.

 

I'm not one for crowds as I drive in serious traffic out here every day. I did the R8C in October 2006 for my '07 and loved it. I'm doing the Corvette Caravan 2009 as I've never done one of these before and I heard the prevous was 2003 and had something like 11,000 Corvettes all converging on the Museum in a cordinated plan. From what I heard, it was something else! Just to clarify, the Corvette Caravan 2009, the event runs Sept 3-5th in BG. Out here, there may be 250 Corvettes all leaving from S. Calif. on August 29th for the drive out, then meeting up with another large group from Texas on the way. From there, other people are running the meetup, plans and etc... but it sure sounds like it will be fun. As for hotels in BG, they are already booked up solid...I looked already. A B&B away from there would be best if you can find one now and it will give you a little break from the crowds.

 

Good post and I will be assisting the Central Texas Caravan to the Museum and our club has booked one of the hotels and we did this last summer over a year before the event. Yes it will be lots of fun and I am looking forward to meeting new Vette fans from all over America

 

It's fun but the traffic jams will be horrendous on this one. I'd like to go but I hate sitting in traffic watching the temps rise. Not sure what I'm going to do yet.

 

I suggest you take a look at the Museum's Caravan page.

Rooms may be tight but you might check with your region's caravan captain who may have a block of rooms reserved. Also rooms become available as blocks are released and or people cancel.

http://www.corvettecaravan.com/

 

I was a participant in the '03 50th Caravan and enjoyed it. Part of that, I believe, is that it was HQ'd in Nashville where there were more options for accommodations. We stayed at the Opryland Hotel, which was the main hotel and there were buses running to the downtown events. On the way back home, we stopped at the Museum portion of the festivities and left after about an hour-too hot and too crowded. (this was in the Summer, not Sept. as the '09 event will be) I was a participant in the Motorama II for GM's 100th in September and that included 55 cars, one of each model year. That was also great, in part due to the managability of the event with the smaller size. I'm opting to pass on the '09 event. The only way to really feel part of it is to stay at one of the close locations, and if you didn't commit early enough to get one you'll spend a lot of time in traffic. Just my opinions...

 

based on what I heard about the last caravan with people arriving in BG while others were still in traffic in TN...no thanks.

I have led caravans of 30 people from Florida to BG....that was enough.

 

Thanx for all your responses! Think I may sit this one out

 

Unlike BG, Disney can accomodate you so get goin'

As much fun as it would be, I would advise if you have never been to BG, go another time. I would scout out some corvette clubs in you area and go either with them in a small group or make a trip on your own sometime. I just think you would enjoy all the displays and the factory tour without the associated mass.

 

I visit Bowling Green several times a year for business and pleasure. My wife and I attended the 2003 Caravan to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. While the traffic was a bottleneck getting in to Bowling Green on the first day it was NEVER a problem otherwise. There were a lot of Corvettes in town for the days leading up to the event and during the event. We went out to dinner and while we may have waited at a restaurant or two while there it was not unreasonable. Bowling Green restaurants are very busy anyway and late diners will find themselves waiting on most nights from Wednesday on. It was actually a little calmer in town for dinner as most of the locals just stayed home for fear of crowds.

It will be busy. It will be managed. It is not a mob scene. It will be incredible to see and witness. I suspect that the turnout will be down from the 2003 as that was the 50th celebration. Hotel rooms will be difficult to come by. Many hotels have rooms blocked off for the event and many Caravan's have rooms held and blocked off. You will need to call a few places and you will likely need to try to get yourself on a waiting list. I'm sure that rooms will open up as the year goes on. Between the mess that is the economy and folks just not planning ahead I suspect that many that have rooms held will end up releasing them. However, Bowling Green does not have as many hotel rooms as there will likely be people wanting to attend. Some may end up 15 to 30 minutes north or south of the city. Those that attend Carlisle will be very used to this type of lodging arrangement.

For the record, I HATE crowds and I went in 2003, I love Disney World and I wouldn't miss this event for the world.

 

We're not real fond of crowds either but not having done a Caravan before we've decided to do 2009.

One club we belong to is coordinating the trip and has even booked blocks of room at the various hotels along the way. Our plan is to stay at motel/hotels that appear to be "Corvette safe" (read that "not in a crappy part of town") and while we'll be traveling with the main group, there may be times we don't stay at the same lodging (but not far away). Hopefully that will help a bit.

We're even thinking about spending a night at the Grand Ol' Opry as Nashville isn't that far from Bowling Green.

We're looking forward to this - we consider it a once in a lifetime trip (until next time!)

 

i've been on the last two national caravans ('99 and '03).. iv'e already got rooms for this year and yes it will be crowded... what i really like was the fact that hotels fill up so fast and when you finally get one, every night looks like a corvette party... i'd guess 90% or more guests will be in corvettes... dont' miss it...