Bowling Green blends horsepower and history with underground wonders, small-town charm, and plenty of ways to get outside. Whether you’re into fast cars, scenic trails, sweet treats, or a little retail therapy, this Southern Kentucky city delivers more than you might expect.
Here are ten reasons Bowling Green deserves a spot on your travel list.
Visit the National Corvette Museum
Bowling Green is the official home of the Corvette, and the National Corvette Museum celebrates it in style. More than 70 Corvettes are on display here, from pristine classics and rare prototypes to race-day legends. Interactive exhibits, including the McMichael Family Education Gallery, make it fun for kids, while “Driven by Design” highlights the creatives who shaped the car’s iconic look. Even if you’re not a car expert, it’s hard not to be impressed.
Drive at NCM Motorsports Park
Just across the way, NCM Motorsports Park lets you move from spectator to driver. Get your adrenaline pumping and sign up for a High Performance Driving Course, hit an Open Track Day with your own vehicle, or test your skills at the NCM Kartplex in a high-speed go-kart. Be sure to check the calendar and book the Corvette Experience. This event packs in expert classroom sessions, real seat time with in-car instruction, lots of laps on the track, lunch to refuel, and a VIP-guided tour of the Museum. It’s the full throttle day your inner driver has been waiting for.
Take an Underground Boat Tour at Lost River Cave
At Lost River Cave, you’ll board a boat on Kentucky’s only underground river tour. As you explore, your guide brings the cave’s history to life, sharing stories that stretch back centuries, from Indigenous American hunting grounds and Civil War encampments to legends of Jesse James hiding out here, and even its surprising chapter as a 1930s nightclub.
Back above ground, scenic walking trails loop past the area’s famous blue holes. In the warmer months, you’ll also find a butterfly sanctuary, an outdoor playscape, hands-on gem mining, and bites from the Trailside Treats food truck. Planning a fall visit? October brings the limited-time “Lost Tales of the Underground” tour, adding just the right amount of spooky to your adventure.
Grab a Scoop at Chaney’s Dairy Barn
Chaney’s Dairy Barn is known for its rich, farm-fresh ice cream, including its award-winning Cookie Butter flavor. Gold Medal favorites like Mint Chocolate Chip and Wow Now Brownie Cow also keep regulars coming back. Families love the playground and summer “Ice Cream and a Moovie” nights, when a family-friendly film plays beside the barn. You can even take a self-guided tour to see the robotic milking system that keeps the Jersey cows working behind the scenes.
Stroll Historic Downtown Bowling Green
Downtown Bowling Green comes to life around Fountain Square Park, the true heart of the city. Ringing the square, you’ll find a mix of locally loved boutiques and restaurants that make it easy to spend an afternoon exploring.
Pop into Back Down South for trendy clothing and accessories, browse the beautifully odd and fascinating finds at Amothecary, known for its unique curios and entomology art, or head to Candle Makers on the Square to pour your own custom scent, or pick up one of their ready-made favorites, along with a variety of locally made Bowling Green goodies.
You can also catch a movie at The Capitol Theatre or grab a cup at Spencer’s Coffee, BG’s favorite hometown coffee shop and the perfect place to recharge before your next stop.
Sip Local at Bowling Green’s Wineries
Yes, you’ll find wine here, too. Bowling Green is home to three standout wineries that make it easy to turn an afternoon into a leisurely tasting tour.
Just outside town in Smiths Grove, Bluegrass Vineyard pairs relaxed tastings with peaceful views of the vines. Want to linger a little longer? Their on-site bed and breakfast makes the perfect countryside escape. Purple Toad Winery, Kentucky’s best-selling winery, is famous for its wide lineup of fruit-forward favorites. Think bold Huckleberry, juicy Black Peach, and plenty more playful pours to sample. Rounding out the trio is Reid’s Livery Winery, where small-batch berry and grape wines are served in a charming historic setting that feels equal parts cozy and classic.
Explore Mammoth Cave National Park
Just 45 minutes from Bowling Green, Mammoth Cave National Park feels like another world. With more than 420 explored miles of passageways, it’s the longest-known cave system on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that truly earns its bucket list status.
Choose from a variety of underground tours, including an accessible option for visitors with limited mobility. Along the way, you’ll encounter 350-million-year-old rock formations, unique cave-adapted wildlife, and powerful stories from the park’s past, including the vital role African Americans played in early cave exploration and tourism. Whether you prefer an easy walk or a hands-on wild cave adventure, there’s a tour to match your comfort level.
Above ground, the beauty continues with scenic trails, horseback riding, and paddling along the Green and Nolin Rivers, recently designated a National Recreation Trail, plus seasonal ranger programs and campfire experiences.
Discover Planes and Trains
Bowling Green celebrates transportation history in more ways than one. At Aviation Heritage Park, visitors can explore the outdoor aircraft park and the new indoor museum, both open to the public with complimentary admission. Get an up-close look at historic aircraft, including the striking F-4D Phantom II 550, and discover the stories of local aviators whose careers took them from Kentucky to the skies above the world.
Across town, the Historic RailPark & Train Museum keeps the journey moving. Tour beautifully restored railcars and dive into a two-story museum featuring exhibits on the African American experience during segregation, the Civil War and the Railroad, the Business of the Railroad, and the new Women in Railroading exhibit.
Together, these attractions tell the story of how generations once traveled across Kentucky and far beyond.
Visit the Downing Museum and Baker Arboretum
For a perfect blend of art and nature, head to Baker Arboretum and the Downing Museum. Set on nearly 115 acres of rolling hills, Baker Arboretum invites visitors to wander peaceful paths lined with conifers, Japanese maples, dogwoods and magnolias (depending on the season), with sweeping views overlooking downtown Bowling Green and WKU.
Located on the arboretum grounds, the Downing Museum showcases the bold, colorful work of Kentucky-born artist Joe Downing, alongside rotating exhibits featuring regional and national artists. The museum’s vibrant collection of abstract pieces provides a striking contrast to the natural beauty just outside its doors.
Hunt for Antiques in Smiths Grove
Just a short drive from Bowling Green, downtown Smiths Grove is packed with antique stores and vintage shops worth the detour. Start at Sly in the Grove for curated home décor, furniture, and clothing, plus coffee or matcha to fuel your browsing. Across the street, Smalls on Main and Marigold Vintage add even more retro treasures and nostalgic pieces to the mix. Main Street Antiques spans multiple floors, offering everything from statement furniture to tucked-away collectibles.
It’s the kind of place where every shop feels different, and you never quite know what gem you’ll uncover next.
