Car trip: Atlanta to South Bend
Feb 27th, 2005 | 07:45 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Car trip: Atlanta to South Bend
Spouse and I will travel by car from Atlanta, GA to South Bend, IN this summer to attend a wedding. We are retired and have plenty of time for side excursions, scenic routes, etc. We plan to spend a few days in Chicago after the event, my real question is ideas for an interesting trip on the road. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Feb 27th, 2005 | 08:26 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
There are lots of wonderful places in Kentucky. Coming up I-65 there is Barren River Lake State Park, Bowling Green and the only Corvette plant in the country (it is open for touring.)
North of Bowling Green is Mammoth Cave National Park. Beyond Mammoth Cave is Elizabethtown and east of there is Loretto where the Maker's Mark Bourbon distillery is located. If you've never been to a bourbon distillery this is the one to visit because it is smaller and older and located in a beautiful spot.
North of Loretto is Bardstown with My Old Kentucky Home State Park and north of there is Louisville, a beautiful town on the river with lots of things to see and do. Churchill Downs is very intersting, especially if you like horses and the Louisville Slugger Factory is a neat stop.
If you travel east of Louisville on I-64 you arrive in Frankfort the small town capital of Kentucky and one of my favorite towns in the U.S. The Capitol Building there is beautiful and the old Cemetary across the river from the capitol is beautiful and full of history including the grave of Daniel and Rebecca Boone. Frankfort also has a very good museum of Kentucky history. South of Frankfort is Pleasant Hill, the largest preserved Shaker village in the U.S.
Lastly, I don't want to omit Lexington which is where Keeneland racetrack, (the most beautiful in the US)is located. Also, the Kentucky Horse Park and the huge Toyota manufacturing plant are just outside Lexington in Georgetown. Just south of Lexington is Fort Boonesboro, Bybee Pottery and Berea a town known for old Kentucky crafts.
My family lives in Ohio but we are big fans of Kentucky. It is often overlooked and has some very scenic, historic and unique destinations. If you have not visited Kentucky I highly recommend it.
North of Bowling Green is Mammoth Cave National Park. Beyond Mammoth Cave is Elizabethtown and east of there is Loretto where the Maker's Mark Bourbon distillery is located. If you've never been to a bourbon distillery this is the one to visit because it is smaller and older and located in a beautiful spot.
North of Loretto is Bardstown with My Old Kentucky Home State Park and north of there is Louisville, a beautiful town on the river with lots of things to see and do. Churchill Downs is very intersting, especially if you like horses and the Louisville Slugger Factory is a neat stop.
If you travel east of Louisville on I-64 you arrive in Frankfort the small town capital of Kentucky and one of my favorite towns in the U.S. The Capitol Building there is beautiful and the old Cemetary across the river from the capitol is beautiful and full of history including the grave of Daniel and Rebecca Boone. Frankfort also has a very good museum of Kentucky history. South of Frankfort is Pleasant Hill, the largest preserved Shaker village in the U.S.
Lastly, I don't want to omit Lexington which is where Keeneland racetrack, (the most beautiful in the US)is located. Also, the Kentucky Horse Park and the huge Toyota manufacturing plant are just outside Lexington in Georgetown. Just south of Lexington is Fort Boonesboro, Bybee Pottery and Berea a town known for old Kentucky crafts.
My family lives in Ohio but we are big fans of Kentucky. It is often overlooked and has some very scenic, historic and unique destinations. If you have not visited Kentucky I highly recommend it.
Feb 27th, 2005 | 11:34 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 0
Salem, Indiana to the west of I-65 is the start of a on official drive on St. Rd. 135. Drive north through Story and have lunch or stay at the Story Inn. They've converted some of the tiny town's buildings into various accommodations. They're a retreat. No phones or TV's are in the rooms and no cell phone service either.
www.storyinn.com
From Story go north the last piece to St. Rd 46. It's 4 miles further west to Nashville, IN and 15 miles east to Columbus, IN
Nashville is a pleasant little antique and craft shopping kinda place. It has lots of shops and is dedicated to the tourist trade. Dine at the rustic Nashville House if you prefer an alcohol-free environment. The Seasons Lodge has basically the same menu as the Nashville House but has a liquor license if you like wine with dinner.
www.nashville-indiana.com
www.browncountyinn.com
Columbus, IN has an excellent collection of buildings from award winning modern architects: I. M. Pei, Saarinen père & fils, Weese, Pelli and more. Stop at their visitor's center for a map and see them for yourself. Or arrange ahead to take an organized tour and see inside some of the buildings. Have lunch at Zaharakos. It's an old time soda fountain with sandwiches.
Southern Indiana west of Louisville, KY has many caves with beautiful natural formations: Wyandotte, Squire Boone and Marengo are a few.
I'm not as familiar with the northern 1/3 of the state. Amish Country is often mentioned. Nappanee is a focal point for their farm produced foods and hand made items. South Bend has a Studebaker museum of cars and a manmade kayak run.
www.storyinn.com
From Story go north the last piece to St. Rd 46. It's 4 miles further west to Nashville, IN and 15 miles east to Columbus, IN
Nashville is a pleasant little antique and craft shopping kinda place. It has lots of shops and is dedicated to the tourist trade. Dine at the rustic Nashville House if you prefer an alcohol-free environment. The Seasons Lodge has basically the same menu as the Nashville House but has a liquor license if you like wine with dinner.
www.nashville-indiana.com
www.browncountyinn.com
Columbus, IN has an excellent collection of buildings from award winning modern architects: I. M. Pei, Saarinen père & fils, Weese, Pelli and more. Stop at their visitor's center for a map and see them for yourself. Or arrange ahead to take an organized tour and see inside some of the buildings. Have lunch at Zaharakos. It's an old time soda fountain with sandwiches.
Southern Indiana west of Louisville, KY has many caves with beautiful natural formations: Wyandotte, Squire Boone and Marengo are a few.
I'm not as familiar with the northern 1/3 of the state. Amish Country is often mentioned. Nappanee is a focal point for their farm produced foods and hand made items. South Bend has a Studebaker museum of cars and a manmade kayak run.
Feb 28th, 2005 | 05:22 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Wow! What a geat resource this site is! First time I've been here. Thanks for the thoughtful, detailed responses. I'm ready to start my itinerary planning now. Natural beauty, great architecture, small town roads and vice (horses and bourbon!)It's gonna be a great trip!
Sadly, it looks like the racetracks at Churchill Downs and Keeneland will not be racing while I am passing through but I'd like to see one or the other even just as a tourist.
Again, thanks for the tips.
Sadly, it looks like the racetracks at Churchill Downs and Keeneland will not be racing while I am passing through but I'd like to see one or the other even just as a tourist.
Again, thanks for the tips.
Mar 5th, 2005 | 05:53 PM
#6
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
While in South Bend be sure to take some time to see the beautiful Notre Dame campus (the golden dome, touchdown jesus, the grotto, etc.). If you are sports fans, you may also wish to stop in at the College Football Hall of Fame, which is downtown.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Gardyloo
United States
30
Apr 21st, 2007 01:15 PM
