South Central Kentucky has a lot of attractions worthy of a long weekend or a week-long trip this summer.  From caving, to zip-lining, to Corvettes to dinosaurs; there’s bound to be something of interest to the entire family.

Situated right smack in the center of the country, Bowling Green is easy get to. Take any of nine exits off I-65 (Exits 20-28) or fly into Nashville and it’s just a one hour drive north.

There’s no lack of good food and fun places to see, so let’s take a look at some that we recently enjoyed on our last trip to Bowling Green.

Ten places to go in Bowling Green:

Lost River Cave is Kentucky’s only underground boat tour.  If the proverbial creek don’t rise, you can actually take a flat bottom boat into the cave for a naturally air-conditioned look at a true natural wonder. Maybe you’ll even find some loot left over from Jesse James who supposedly hid out here.  There’s hiking, a kid’s play area and a great gift shop as well.

The National Corvette Museum is located near the plant where all the Corvettes are made, right here in Bowling Green. It’s like walking back in history as you wander through the exhibits from the 50’s to today. You can also look into the rotunda and watch work being done to repair the sinkhole that swallowed eight Corvettes.

Montana Grill is a great place for a nice lunch or dinner. Built like a giant log cabin, the warm interior blends perfectly with the cuisine.  Try the Kentucky Bourbon Tenderloin Filet or Northwest Salmon.

The Kentucky Museum is located on the campus of Western Kentucky University and has a number of permanent and rotating exhibits of interest. I was especially interested in Anthony Bourdain’s predecessor – Duncan Hines. In addition, be sure to check out their excellent exhibits of quilts, furniture and Instruments of American Excellence.

Boyce General Store is 10 miles outside the city, but well worth the trip.  Restored by their new owners, this is a great place for lunch, but leave room for some of their homemade pies for dessert. Locally sourced food is always fresh.

Historic Fountain Square is the town center of Bowling Green.  Nice park benches provide somewhere to rest after exploring the four streets of stores and shops worth checking out.

Tea Bayou is located right on the square and offers a New Orleans influenced menu of beignets, pizzetas, home-made soups, sandwiches and po’ boys. They’re famous for their large selection of fair trade teas.  Free Wi-Fi – yep that’s nice too.

Historic Railpark and Railroad Museum is a place the young and the young at heart could spend hours and hours.  With a giant model train layout, informative museum exhibits and a tour of a real historic train, everybody is going to love this place.

Double Dogs Chow House is a must if you are an animal lover. Think sports bar meets animal rescue. Pick from menu favorites like Sit, Heel & Peel Shrimp or Double Dog Dare You Hot Wings. Be sure to read Bo & Chancey’s story.

TownePlace Suites is where we camped out for this excursion.  Nice and close to shopping and restaurants, this is a perfect place for travelers. Clean, airy and comfortable surroundings from the room to the breakfast nook, we really enjoyed this place. Read our review here.