Start from 26 curated places around Bowling Green, KY, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Gerard's 1907 Tavern
A beloved downtown institution housed in a century-old brick building on College Street, Gerard's deals in elevated pub fare — think Crusted Chicken Rosa and house-made desserts — alongside a solid bourbon and craft beer lineup. The exposed-brick interior gives it a warm speakeasy feel that's equally at home for a lunch with colleagues or date night. Locals pack in on weekends, so expect a wait if you don't arrive early.
Anna's Greek Restaurant
Set inside a beautifully restored 1905 building complete with a dome ceiling and stained glass windows, Anna's serves genuine Greek and Mediterranean food in a space that feels like Bowling Green's most unique dining room. From spanakopita to lamb dishes, the menu is approachable yet authentic. It doubles as an event venue, so call ahead to confirm regular dining service on your visit.
Trails & outdoors
Lost River Cave Valley Trail
An easy 1.3-mile loop through the wooded valley surrounding Lost River Cave, passing the electric-blue spring pools called blue holes and limestone bluffs draped in fern. The trail surface is natural and gentle enough for most fitness levels, and the scenery is genuinely striking for something so close to downtown. You'll share the path with wildlife and wildflowers depending on the season.
Shanty Hollow Lake Trail
A rustic, lightly-used loop in northern Warren County that circles a scenic lake and passes a small waterfall — one of the best half-day escapes in the Bowling Green area that most visitors never find. The trail is natural surface and moderately varied without being strenuous. The payoff is the quiet lake views and the waterfall tucked into the woods.
Things to do
Beech Bend Amusement Park & Splash Lagoon
A classic regional amusement park on the Barren River that has anchored summer fun in Bowling Green since 1898, with roller coasters, rides for all ages, and the Splash Lagoon water park with a massive wave pool. It draws families and thrill-seekers from across the region, and the historic Barren River setting adds character you don't find at corporate parks. The adjacent drag strip races on summer weekends.
Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC)
Beyond its role as a landmark, SKyPAC is a genuinely active performance calendar — Orchestra Kentucky, touring Broadway productions, country and rock concerts, and the intimate Studio Theater all share a building that punches well above its weight for a city this size. The lobby art galleries are open free on weekday afternoons. It's the cultural anchor of downtown Bowling Green.
Landmarks & sights
National Corvette Museum
The only museum in the world dedicated to the Corvette, this is more than just a car collection — it's a genuine slice of American engineering obsession. Over 70 Corvettes span prototype racers, one-of-a-kind customs, and production classics, housed in a striking building just off I-65. The Corvette Cave-In exhibit documenting the 2014 sinkhole that swallowed eight cars is the must-see highlight.
Lost River Cave
A cave system just minutes from downtown that hides Kentucky's only underground boat tour, gliding you through a river passage lined with limestone formations and natural history from Native American use to Civil War hideouts. Above ground, a network of easy nature trails winds through a wooded valley past the famous blue holes — natural spring-fed pools with surreal aqua color.