We’ve already weathered a couple snowfalls, the shortest day
of the year is almost upon us, and there’s still all of January and February to
go after all the holiday cheer is soon in the rearview mirror.
Fortunately, life in and around French Lick Resort is still buzzing during the thick of winter.
We’re in an area that’s packed with plenty of great things
to do indoors. Especially active things to do indoors — perfect for families
with younger kids who have some cabin fever to burn off. Here’s a handful of
options for your winter trip.
Bowling
It makes you feel like a kid again, it’s got a bit of an
old-school aura, and there’s also a pizzeria right there connected to it. What’s
not to love about Pluto's Alley at French Lick Springs Hotel?
It’s been a part of the hotel since the early days nearly a
century ago, and our six-lane bowling alley still maintains a bit of a
throwback feel as you keep score by hand. If you’re planning a weekend trip,
the bowling alley is usually a little less busy on Fridays compared to
Saturdays and Sundays.
The lanes can be booked for parties, and they also take
advance reservations — so if you know you’ll be visiting in January or February
and want to bowl while you’re here, you can book lanes weeks or months in
advance by calling (812) 936-8080. The bigger your crew, the better the bargain
as you can bowl for $40 an hour for unlimited people and shoe rental included.
Of course, there are tons more things to do
indoors through the resort. Take a tour (and get your steps in for the
day), plan a spa day, or escape to the casino whenever the mood strikes, day or
night.
Big Splash Adventure
No winter blahs to be found here. It’s always sunny and 75
inside Big Splash Adventure
indoor water park in French Lick, just minutes from both hotels. Bring a little
slice of summer to the wintertime with a 40-foot plunge down the Slider Tower
or spin down Big Splash’s famous “toilet bowl” at Pirate’s Plunder.
With 40,000 square feet of wet and wild adventures, this is
a place where the kids can amuse themselves for hours on end (and sleep well
later). A day pass
is the way to go if you’re staying at one of the resort hotels, and Big Splash
is open on Christmas and New Year’s Day as well.
Shotz Lazer Tag and
Mini Golf
Right down the hill from Big Splash, Shotz is another hot spot for the
kids that’s open on both Christmas and New Year’s. Family-friendly, as well as
wallet-friendly. Play Lazer Tag for $7.50 a person, the 9-hole cosmic jungle
mini golf course for $5.50-$6.50 per person, or channel your inner Matrix and
navigate the Lazer Maze for $4 per person. (Group rates also available.)
French Lick West
Baden Indoor Karting
Completing the holy trinity of family-friendly entertainment
that’s available without leaving the towns of French Lick and West Baden, indoor go-karting is the next
stop for a little adrenaline rush. And French Lick West Baden Indoor Karting
answers the riddle of where kids and grown-ups can be equally entertained.
Junior karts (age 8-13) and kids’ karts (age 4-7) allow the
younger racers to take a spin in the set of wheels and the course suited for
them, and the Family Fun Center with an arcade and pair of bounce houses makes
this more of an experience compared to most other go-kart venues where the
track is the sole attraction. The grown-up rides are a bigger rush: these rides
go as high as 40 mph, and circuits around the quarter-mile Grand Prix style
track last about 8 minutes — a lot lengthier than it sounds. You’ll be just as
revved up about the value — rates here are among the lowest you’ll find at any
go-kart facility, and this one can be enjoyed 12 months a year.
Wilstem Wildlife Park
Just a 10-minute drive from French Lick Resort, Wilstem Wildlife Park was recently
recognized as one
of the 10 best places in the U.S. to get up close and personal with unique
wildlife. And you can still get some of those experiences during the winter
months.
Wilstem’s Giraffe Encounter is indoors, as is their popular
Roos & Crew Experience where you can meet and learn about a variety of
animals ranging from kangaroos to iguanas, tortoises, porcupines and parakeets.
Even if you’ve been to Wilstem before, it’s worth another trip for their new Lemur
Educational Encounter where you can get up close and personal with
ring-tailed lemurs and even feed them a snack.
If you’re itching to get outside, you can still do the
outdoor Grizzly Bear Encounter if you’re willing to brave the winter elements.
Call ahead or look online to learn about the grizzlies. From now through
February 29, you can also book with a promo code
and get $5 off any Wilstem animal encounter.
Marengo Cave
OK, so it’s not technically
indoors. But seeing as how Marengo Cave
is 52 degrees year-round, that’ll feel like a balmy breeze whenever the next
Polar Vortex makes an unwelcome arrival in Indiana.
Marengo Cave (a 40-minute drive from the resort) is open
this winter every day except for Christmas, and since crowds are thinner during
the winter, it’s a great time to visit for a more individualized tour of
Indiana’s most-visited natural attraction. Their two tours are two totally
different experiences — the Crystal Palace Tour is 40 minutes and takes you
through formation-filled rooms and huge flowstone deposits, while the 60-minute
Dripstone Trail Tour showcases delicate soda straws and totem pole stalagmites.
Take your pick, or do a combo tour of both. Right now, you can also cash in on a special offer of
getting a Crystal Palace Tour for free when purchasing a Dripstone Trail Tour.
Plus, gemstone mining is an indoor option perfect for winter
— you can buy individual mining experiences for the kids, or get a family
package for everyone to do together.