/blog/entry/ en info@visitbgky.com Copyright 2013 2013-04-24T15:31:40+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/bowling-green-lodging-buzz http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/bowling-green-lodging-buzz#When:15:31:40Z At last count, Bowling Green has 35 hotels, more than 2,800 rooms, four bed and breakfasts and two campgrounds. The latest lodging buzz is around two of the newest properties that offer unique visitor experiences: Spongie Acres Bed & Breakfast and Candle Loft above Candle Makers on the Square. “It’s a great day at Spongie Acres Bed & Breakfast. Wish you were here!” That heartwarming phrase is scattered across all the web pages, rack cards and social media for Bowling Green’s newest bed and breakfast experience. Find it nestled outside the city on 14 acres of Kentucky’s beautiful rolling hills. Known as the Matlock Mansion, Spongie Acres is a newly-renovated Old Kentucky Home with a modern twist. Innkeepers Clint and Juannie provide the most pampered care to guests, boasting six themed suite-style rooms with car-friendly parking and a homemade breakfast made specially for visitors. Whether it’s relaxing on the back patio during a peaceful getaway, playing pool and foosball in the recreation area or cozying up by the fire in the piano room, there’s a little something for everyone at Spongie Acres. Unique extra amenities include access to Spongie’s Whimsicals, Juannie’s gift shop full of quirky and cute items to commemorate a visit, bicycle rentals available on site at Clint’s Bicycle Shack, homemade cookies made fresh daily and a serve-yourself Keurig always ready in the kitchen. For more about Spongie Acres Bed & Breakfast, call 1-855-752-1061 or click here. It’s been many decades since visitors were able to find lodging in historic downtown Bowling Green, but the new Candle Loft above Candle Makers on the Square is changing that! Perhaps the best feature of this apartment-style suite nestled in a historic building is the stunning view of Fountain Square Park from each floor-to-ceiling window. Sleeping up to six guests comfortably, the layout consists of one private bedroom with a queen bed, one large living room with lounge area and king bed, a dining room, a sitting area with flat panel TV, full kitchen and bath. Beautifully renovated and decorated with soft colors and accents, it is hard to imagine the surroundings have been there for almost 200 years, but just take a look at the historic prints on the walls and return to yesteryear.  While no one will come knocking on the door early in the morning to prepare a hearty meal, the bed and breakfast concept still holds true as guests are presented upon arrival with breakfast vouchers good at one of several eateries within walking distance or downstairs in the Candle Makers store. For details on Candle Loft, please call 270-843-3001 or click here. Announcements, Attraction News, 2013-04-24T15:31:40+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/celebrating-duncan-hines-133rd-birthday http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/celebrating-duncan-hines-133rd-birthday#When:19:18:40Z Duncan Hines is much more than a cake mix. He was a man with a vision for higher quality dining in the United States. He was a man who raised the standards for more products than we can name. But what you might not know is that Duncan Hines was born right here in Bowling Green in 1880.  This month we’re celebrating his great influence by honoring his birthday 133 years later on March 26. He’s been celebrating your birthday for years, so why not celebrate his now? While traveling the byways and highways of a newly motorized nation in the 1930s, Hines was both impressed and shocked by many establishments. At a time when health departments weren’t available, he was not afraid of asking to see the kitchen as he anonymously inspected a restaurant. His humble, yet humorous, opinions became the basis for his guidebooks, soon to be in nearly every glove box in the nation. The simple travel writer became a legendary product icon. Several attractions around the Bowling Green area are dedicated to Duncan Hines’ impact on American culture. The Duncan Hines Scenic Byway is an 80-mile loop taking you through rural countryside similar to what Hines traveled during his early career. The Byway begins and ends at Hines’ former home and office in Bowling Green. The Kentucky Museum on Western Kentucky University’s campus features a “Recommended by Duncan Hines” exhibit that’s fun and educational for the whole family. You’ll find loads of travel memorabilia and state of the art media tools to help tell the story of Hines’ life and career. Every summer the Bowling Green Junior Woman’s Club organizes the Duncan Hines Festival featuring live music, an art exhibit, kids’ activities, and of course, a baking contest. Not only do festival goers enjoy the atmosphere of charming downtown Bowling Green, but they also get a chance to participate in fundraisers like Uncle Duncan’s Duck Derby. More information about Duncan Hines and these attractions can be found at our Duncan Hines micro site. Visit our Facebook page for some fun Duncan Hines trivia and a chance to win prizes during his birthday week of March 19-26! Then plan your visit to Bowling Green to learn more about the man behind the cake mix.  From now on you’ll think twice while frosting those cupcakes. All this sweet talk has made me hungry. I’ll be baking. Announcements, Just for Fun, 2013-03-14T19:18:40+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/what-to-do-with-the-winter-weather-blues http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/what-to-do-with-the-winter-weather-blues#When:16:18:43Z You don’t have to spend Bowling Green’s winter months cooped up in hibernation! There’s so much going on with BG’s entertainment and theatre scene that you won’t want to miss. For instance, how would you feel about spending an evening with a Grammy award-winning artist for Best Pop Female? SKyPAC welcomes Juice Newton, the “Queen of Hearts” on Jan. 12 for a night full of chart-topping hits! But that’s not all. Tons of other classic performers are taking the SKyPAC stage this winter. Do any of the headliners sound familiar? See iconic Willie Nelson on Jan. 19 (sorry—it sold out in 20 minutes), Elvis Lives on Jan. 25, or experience The Beatles with RAIN on Feb. 25. Concerts aren’t your style? That’s alright because SKyPAC also offers special shows and comedies this winter. America’s comedian made famous for his talks about “nothing,” Jerry Seinfeld (who sold out in two hours), is performing live on Feb. 7 while Mark Nizer’s 3-D showcase is Feb. 9. Get out of the house for some classic Broadway performances straight from the big leagues of New York City! Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” DRUMLINE live and A Chorus Line are huge hits coming to the SKyPAC stage! If you’re looking for somewhere to take the kids, then head to E.A. Diddle Arena at Western Kentucky University for some basketball mayhem at the Harlem Globetrotters’ “You Write the Rules” World Tour Jan. 14. You could always take them to the local kids’ talent show, “Show Your Stuff,” presented by the Sunburst Youth Theatre on Jan. 18. Or if you want an educational outing, drop by the National Corvette Museum anytime Jan. 26-May 5 for an interactive exhibit teaching kids about the importance of economics at “Moneyville.” But if you find your appreciation of the arts growing thin amidst those wintry blues, then the 31st Annual Lone Star Championship Rodeo offers an alternative for the whole family. Book the whole weekend of Feb. 8-10 for some fun at the WKU Ag. Expo Center—you’ll see everything from bronc riding to Native American hoop dancing! But that’s not all BG offers to cure the wintertime blues. For a complete list of events and activities, please visit our events page. If you need me, I’ll be watching “Seinfeld” prepping for my night of one-liners about airline peanuts, “close talkers”, “puffy shirts” and “man hands.” Events, Announcements, 2013-01-02T16:18:43+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/lots-of-family-fun-on-bowling-greens-holiday-scene http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/lots-of-family-fun-on-bowling-greens-holiday-scene#When:17:23:01Z It’s still a few weeks away from ‘looking a lot like Christmas,’ but we have been busy collecting holiday event information for almost a month now!  We know the holidays mean lots of family and friends may be visiting Bowling Green, so we hope to help with the entertaining plans by providing a comprehensive list of activities for the whole family to enjoy.  For a quick glance, jump over to our Holiday microsite here or keep reading about why we love the holidays in BG! Friday, November 30 through Sunday, December 2 is by far the best bet for a bustling few days of holiday fun.  There are a ton of events scheduled for these days and if the flexibility is there, this should be when you plan a visit or extend the invitation to guests.  From the annual Bowling Green Christmas Parade downtown and Christmas in Kentucky to the Festival of Trains and Cave Sing at Mammoth Cave National Park, holiday cheer can be found all around town.  Mix in a couple of holiday performances like “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at the Phoenix Theatre, WKU’s WinterDance: A Holiday Extravaganza, or “Two From Galilee,” Rich Pond Baptist’s Christmas Musical, and you have the best of the season.  Be sure to visit Fountain Square Park in the evening to see the dazzling light displays and catch a horse-drawn Carriage Ride around our old-fashioned square. Another favorite of the season is just across the county line at the South Union Shaker Village, the Christmas at Shakertown Holiday Market, also on December 1.  For other shopping opportunities, don’t miss the BG Gallery Hop on Friday, November 30 to browse one-of-a-kind pieces.  Holiday tree exhibits at the Kentucky Museum and the Houchens Center plus the Landmark Association’s Christmas Tour of Homes round out a delightful weekend. With many of these events continuing throughout the month and several more additions in the following weeks, December is such a glorious time in Bowling Green, offering visitors a true taste of the town.  For me, I am most looking forward to seeing the delight in our 2-year-old’s eyes at the Christmas Parade, the model train displays at the Festival of Trains, and Breakfast with Santa!   Events, Just for Fun, 2012-11-16T17:23:01+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/fall-festivities-in-bowling-green http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/fall-festivities-in-bowling-green#When:19:13:55Z Looking for some fun activities to do this fall? Head on over to Bowling Green and you’ll be sure to find something festive to take part in! The scenery in Bowling Green is stunning this part of the year, and the community is filled with tons of fall activities for the entire family! From haunted woods and houses to hay rides, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches, we’ve got your invitation for fall family fun. Kicking of the fall season at Jackson’s Orchard is something you won’t want to miss out on. That means taking wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, picking out your own pumpkin, walking through the corn maze, visiting the petting zoo, taking pony rides, playing in the straw castle, face painting, visiting the goat ranch, and going down the cider slider. Not to mention all the great food including the Jackson’s Orchard’s hot dog cart, caramel apples, peach and apple pies and more! You can also join Chaney’s Dairy Barn for fall fun on the farm. There are tons of family activities including hayrides, face painting, pumpkin painting, visiting the corn maze and taking pony rides. Not to mention it’s where you can try the #1 homemade ice cream in Kentucky! Feeling adventurous? Dare to take part in the “13 Years of FEAR” with a trip through Ravencraft Haunted Saw Mill at Skeleton’s Lair Scream Park. They’re sharpening the blades for a haunted hayride through an old decrepit saw mill with spinning saws and severed limbs. After they scare you, GET EVEN… in the all new Monster Paintball Adventure. Monster Paintball is an interactive ride that lets YOU shoot the monsters without being shot at. The show is a high energy, specialty themed event featuring a haunted hayride, haunted woods, 3D zone and the all NEW Monster Paintball Adventure. This fall season brings lots of excitement to Bowling Green and with Halloween approaching, there is definitely something spooky in the air! Visit our Fall website to view a complete list of events happening in Bowling Green this season! Events, Just for Fun, 2012-10-08T19:13:55+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/starry-nights-music-arts-festival-sept.-28-29 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/starry-nights-music-arts-festival-sept.-28-29#When:20:08:05Z Indie Rock invades Southcenteral Kentucky again!  And all eyes in the rock world will be on us! The 2012 Starry Nights Music + Arts Festival (video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-as4PLTgHDY) will be happening at Ballance Farms on U.S. 31-W several miles outside of Bowling Green, Sept. 28 & 29.  I was able to attend two years ago when it was out on Morgantown Road, northwest of Bowling Green to see indie rock bands Sleeper Agent and Cage The Elephant perform because a friend gave me a press pass from a local political party at the last minute.  Actually, I went to see my son, Tony Smith perform, who is a member of Sleeper Agent. But was I really impressed too when I saw Cage The Elephant (watch here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX5OOJ-IdfE&feature=relmfu) perform for the first time. I had a chance to talk with Bryan Graves, founder of the music festival about a week ago and he said tickets sales are going great and they have festival goers from 32 states so far who plan to attend and as far as away as Australia. This hometown music festival is Cage The Elephant‘s baby and they will curate Starry Nights again this year. CTE band members which include brothers Matt and Brad Shultz, Lincoln Paris, Daniel Tichenor and Jared Champion, are known to give back to the Bowling Green music scene by curating Starry Nights and helping other local bands get their start in the industry.  They are responsible for helping Bowling Green’s Sleeper Agent get their first recording contract and are currently helping other bands with the same process too. However, 15 local band who are not currently on the line-up, have a chance to be voted on by fans to perform at Starry Nights this year.  Starry Nights officials have held five slots for Bowling Green’s favorite local acts, but the final decision is up to the fans.  Go to the Starry Nights’ web-site to vote and fans can vote up to five times per band.  Voting will close on Friday, Sept. 7th at 11:59 p.m. CST.  Here’s a list of local bands that you can vote for: Billy Swayze, The Black Shades, Buffalo Rodeo, Canago, DroBot, Fair-Weather Kings, Heavy Chase, The Japanese School Girls,  Mahtulu, Opossum Holler, Patson, Rainbow Kitty Kitty, Schools, The Sex Bombs and Technology vs. Horse. And here is the line-up of the of international and nationally known bands that are already scheduled to perform during the two day event:  Cage The Elephant (of course!), Sleeper Agent, Portugal The Man, Manchester Orchestra, Mimosa, Justin Townes Earle, The Whigs, Moon Taxi, Jeff The Bortherhood, Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s, Morning Teleportation, Wild Belle, Space Capone, Pujol, The Kingston Springs, Five Knives, Bad Cop and more.  Tickets are $45 and camping is included. For more information, go to their web-site at http://www.starrynightsfestival.com/ Galen A. Smith Sr. is a native of Memphis, Tenn. He is a former reporter and book reviewer for The Bowling Green (Ky) Daily News from 1990-1995 and has lived in Bowling Green with his wife, Patty and son, Galen Jr. “Tony,” since 1988. You can read more from Galen’s blog, A Critic From the South, at http://www.acriticfromthesouth.blogspot.com/ Events, Just for Fun, 2012-09-19T20:08:05+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/new-kidzone-opens-at-national-corvette-museum http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/new-kidzone-opens-at-national-corvette-museum#When:22:55:51Z Families visiting the Bowling Green and Mammoth Cave, Ky. area often pass right by the landmark yellow dome and red spire of the National Corvette Museum because they assume there’s not much in the 115,000 square foot facility to keep young children entertained. Well, think again! The brand new KidZone exhibit opened yesterday and promises loads of fun and educational opportunities for children. Featuring several hands on activities, both through exhibits and with on-going daily specials, the KidZone encourages kids to touch the cars unlike those on display in the Museum! Little mechanics will love working in the Super Service Center where children can step into a pretend auto shop equipped with all the tools they need to perform maintenance on a kid-sized car mounted on a lift. The exhibit’s hands-on activities encourage cooperative play and stimulate the development of fundamental skills in young children. Children also will have fun sorting, matching and problem-solving as they select tools, replace parts and fill work orders. Working with other mechanics encourages positive social skills, and the exhibit’s activities help enhance fine and gross motor skills. Other activities include an automotive assembly line. Working with a team, you must develop a strategy for supplying parts, assembling the vehicle and inspecting the work. An electronic display monitors your progress. Admission to KidZone is included in the general NCM ticket price. To learn more about what this new exhibit offers, visit http://www.corvettemuseum.org/kids/kidzone.shtml Announcements, Attraction News, 2012-08-31T22:55:51+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/thinking-of-moving-to-bowling-green http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/thinking-of-moving-to-bowling-green#When:01:45:06Z Visitors to Bowling Green often find the town so charming that they immediately plan a return visit, or go even further by looking at real estate listings while still in town. If you find yourself dreaming of life in Bowling Green while visiting, consider purchasing a ticket for a chance to win the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is celebrating 50 years of building a healthier community by giving Kentuckians a chance to win a dream home on Sept. 16. Visitors and residents can reserve a $100 ticket for a chance to win the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. All proceeds will help save the lives of children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases. Built by Sweets Design Build, Inc., the 3,205-square-foot dream home is located in the Ivan Downs subdivision of Bowling Green, Ky., and includes four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Its estimated value is $320,000. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital relies primarily on the public’s generosity to support its lifesaving mission and pioneering research. Since the hospital opened 50 years ago, researchers and doctors have pushed the overall survival rates of childhood cancer from 20 percent to 80 percent. Despite progress, pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of death due to disease among U.S. children older than 1. Fundraising help is needed to defeat these terrible diseases once and for all. It costs $1.7 million to operate the hospital every day and more than 75 percent of that funding comes from the public through fundraisers, such as this one. Thanks to donations, families never have to pay St. Jude anything because the hospital covers the cost of treatment, travel, lodging and food. To learn more about the Dream Home sponsors, other prizes or how to purchase a ticket, visit http://www.dreamhome.org A lim.ited number of tickets are available. You may also take a virtual tour online or drop by the open house, hosted on weekends from Aug. 4 through Sept. 9 at 1805 Affirmed Circle in Bowling Green. St. Jude freely shares its research with the global medical community, helping children who never even visit St. Jude. Information provided by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Attraction News, 2012-08-23T01:45:06+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/american-idol-small-town-audition-bus-tour-in-BG-Friday http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/american-idol-small-town-audition-bus-tour-in-BG-Friday#When:23:45:41Z After weeks of behind-the-scenes preparation, we are ready to welcome the American Idol Small Town Audition Bus Tour to Bowling Green this Friday!! The audition location will be in historic downtown BG at Fountain Square Park. Auditions will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Full details including rules and facts can be found at http://www.americanidol.com on the Small Town Bus Tour page, but here are a few specifics including parking information and directions. There is quite a bit of on-street parking in the downtown Bowling Green area, but a new parking garage on 8th Avenue between College and Center Streets is available for free parking. Enter off of 8th Avenue. A short walk up College St. takes you to Fountain Square Park. No parking will be allowed on the square (Park Row and Main Ave.) after 2 a.m. on Friday morning. Cars will be towed at the owners expense. Information directly from American Idol: There is no pre-registration for the Small Town Auditions registration will take place on-site Friday. There will be no overnight camping allowed. Those auditioning MUST have two forms of ID that show proof of your age and a photograph, and the Personal Release Form (forms available at http://media.americanidol.com/season_12_auditions/Season_12_Audition_Release_Forms.pdf) Ther.e will only be a limited number of releases at the audition site. Full details concerning what to bring, what to sing, what happens next, etc. are available at http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/10090 PLEASE NOTE: If you are under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by by your parent or legal guardian. If your parent or legal guardian is not available, they may appoint a guardian who is at least 21 years of age to accompany you. Your parent or legal guardian must complete, sign and have notarized the Guardian and Medical Authorization for Minors form, also available at the link above. Food will be available at multiple downtown restaurants, several of which are located on the square. For a full list of restaurants in the downtown area, visit our “Eat” section here and filter your search by ‘downtown.’ A local volleyball team will be selling beverages as a fundraiser, including bottled waters. Public restrooms will be available at some businesses surrounding the square, but porta-potties will also be on-site. DIRECTIONS FROM I-65: Take exit #26, Cemetery Road, towards Bowling Green. Continue forward across US 31W By-pass. The road splits as you approach downtown, just continue forward on the one-way street. At the third intersection, turn left onto College Street. Turn right onto 8th Avenue. Parking garage will be on your right. DIRECTIONS FROM SCOTTSVILLE ROAD: Take Scottsville Road into town, crossing US 31W By-pass. The road becomes Broadway as you approach downtown and ends at State Street. Turn right (one-way) onto State Street. Pass the square and turn left onto 8th Avenue. Parking garage will be on your right. DIRECTIONS FROM HWY 68/80: Follow 68/80 (Russellville Road) into downtown Bowling Green. Turn right on 8th Avenue by the Bowling Green Ballpark. Parking garage will be on your left. Click here for the official American Idol release announcing the Small Town Audition Bus Tour. Announcements, 2012-07-23T23:45:41+00:00 http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/help-put-bowling-greens-sleeper-agent-on-rolling-stone http://www.visitbgky.com/blog/entry/help-put-bowling-greens-sleeper-agent-on-rolling-stone#When:22:15:10Z This contest designed to let fans decide who would be on the cover of Rolling Stone’s “Women Who Rock” issue has passed. Bowling Green’s own Alex Kandel from local band Sleeper Agent was one of the five finalists, but unfortunately was not selected. However, we look forward to more news, announcements and excitement surrounding this group of talented young musicians! Just for Fun, 2012-07-11T22:15:10+00:00