Bowling Green celebrates National Tourism Week with spotlight on local attractions

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Whether it’s homeruns, horsepower or hand-scooped ice cream, Bowling Green offers an experience for everyone. And with Monday starting National Tourism Week, the city is celebrating all the places that brings visitors to south-central Kentucky.

The BG Hot Rods, the triple-A affiliate for the Tampa Bay Rays, play from May until September, giving fans plenty opportunities to enjoy themed nights, on-field entertainment and tons of action on the diamond.

“Yeah, the best thing about Bowling Green Ballpark is that it’s affordable family fun that you can have at the ballpark,” said general manager and COO for BG Hot Rods, Kyle Wolz. “When people come into town, it gives them something to do on a night out there may be not a lot going on in downtown Bowling Green.”

For those looking for a faster pace, the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park is just a few miles down the road. Visitors can take laps around the track in a Corvette, participate in educational programs to improve their driving skills or even go go-karting.

“Our events are free all year around, said executive director for NCM Motorsports Park, Greg Waldron. “We want families
to come out and immerse in our products, see our racing and see our events that are happening. You can come in here and within a stone’s throw, not only to see some of the America sports car corvettes out on the racetrack, but see cars and motorcycles of all makes and models on the racetrack.”

Just across the highway from the Motorsports Park is the National Corvette Museum itself.  There are hands-on exhibits, racing simulators, and a chance to see how corvettes are built, making it the perfect pit stop.

“We have brand new exhibits opening right now,” said president and CEO of the National Corvette Museum, Bryce Burklow. “We have our pop culture, which features cars that are not only owned by celebrities, but we also have cars that were in movies. And then also, of course,
our Hall of Fame, which just opened, guests have the opportunity to really understand the personalities and the contributions from individuals in the Corvette community.”

Now when it’s time to hit the brakes, one place visitors should stop is at Chaney’s Dairy Barn, where Carl and Debra have turned their family farm into a sweet destination for homemade ice cream and farm tours.

“We have so many things in Bowling Green to offer, and I think we’re one of the unique parts of that to where people are like, ‘oh well, let’s go watch a cow get milked and eat some fantastic ice cream,’” said co-owner of Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Carl Chaney. “A lot of what we do is also educational, because the average consumer is now four or five generations removed from the farm, and this might be the only chance they have to see what agriculture is really about.”

Now if you’re craving a trip back in time, just down the road you can climb aboard 100 years of history at the Historic Rail Park and Train Museum, where visitors can step inside restored rail cars and journey through Bowling Green’s past.

“We are the storytellers of the community, and we’ve kind of taken on that role and we’ve told everybody, ‘hey, if you want to hear the stories about Bowling Green, you’ve got to come to the train museum,’” said executive director for the Historic Railpark and Train Museum, Jamie Johnson.

No matter someone’s interest, Bowling Green has a story and a place for everyone to enjoy.