While sports car enthusiasts race to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to experience this Corvette mecca, a friendly community surrounded by natural wonders entices visitors to explore at a leisurely pace.
Travelers are elated to stumble upon Bowling Green’s many treasures, which run the gamut from luxury accommodations and regional vistas to Civil War-era architecture. “A lot of times, people’s first introduction to us might be motorsports, and then when they get here, they find the great shopping and dining and outdoor activities,” says Beth Noffsinger, communications director of the Bowling Green Area visitors’ bureau.
There’s plenty in the way of art and entertainment in addition to Bowling Green’s outdoor allure, and a visit to the Baker Arboretum and Downing Museum combines both. Wander through the lush landscape and gardens that overlook Western Kentucky University, then browse the on-site art museum. The Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center hosts an impressive lineup of musical acts, comedy shows, and theatrical productions.
History buffs will swoon over Riverview at Hobson Grove. “Something that I hear a lot from our visitors is: ‘We were only planning to stay for a day or two, and we’re finding there’s so much more to do than we anticipated,’” says Brooke Westcott Peterson, Riverview’s executive director. The 1872 estate boasts an extensive collection of antiques and pieces passed down through the family of notable Bowling Green resident Atwood Hobson. Nestled on a luxuriant hilltop, the brick mansion reflects the lifestyle of Victorian-era social elites.
When it’s time to refuel and recharge, tantalizing options abound. Enjoy luxe accommodations at the Kentucky Grand Hotel and Spa. Each owned by locals and within walking distance of downtown’s Fountain Square Park, eateries like Spencer’s Coffee, 440 Main (above, left) and Little Fox Bakery offer a taste of Bowling Green—always served with a hearty dose of genuine hospitality.
Shops like Barbara Stewart Interiors (above, left) and Candle Makers on the Square (above, right), both housed in revitalized historic buildings, also foster the city’s bonhomie. “Bowling Green has such a charming feel to it,” says Brooke. “A lot of people are really pleasantly surprised that we’re a decent-size town, but we still have a small-town feel.”
Read the full “Breath of Fresh Air” feature in our May/June 2020 issue.
Photography by John O’Hagan
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