Quality family time. A quantity of options.
If you’re still hunting for spring break plans with the family, now you’ve got plans. With so much to do, see, taste, touch and experience in and around French Lick Resort, this is the ideal place to get away, whether it’s for a day or two or the whole week.
There’s something for everyone. Get competitive; get wet and wild; craft some memories; take a ride. It all happens here.
GET COMPETITIVE
Slam Dunk Spring Break: KidsFest will be coming alive with tons of spring break activities including daily free throw contests and scavenger hunts, and musical basketball chairs on Mondays and Wednesdays. It’s all complimentary for resort guests.
Bowling: The bigger your crew the better the bargain at our six-lane bowling alley inside French Lick Springs Hotel. Bowl for $40 an hour for unlimited people and shoe rental included. You can even book a lane weeks in advance by calling (812) 936-8080.
33 Brick Street: Speaking of basketball, no trip to French Lick is complete with digging into some of the heritage in Larry Bird’s hometown. Hop over to 33 Brick Street for lunch or dinner, and while you wait for your food, ask to see Bird’s original 1992 Olympic jacket — they’ll let you try it on. Owned by one of Bird’s childhood friends, the restaurant also features more Larry Legend memorabilia and trophies, including his 1985-86 NBA MVP trophy.
FootGolf: Maybe the most versatile spring break activity — do a short game (9 holes) or a long game (18 holes), and everyone from the little ones to the grandparents can get in on it.
Golf for all ages: At Valley Links Golf Course, kids 12 and under play for free, and juniors older than 12 can golf for half price. (And at our championship courses, The Donald Ross Course will open for the season in mid-March with The Pete Dye Course slated for a March 27 opening.
Solve the Escape Room: Just a short jaunt from French Lick Springs Hotel, Escape! French Lick features four escape rooms at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. When you make it out, .
Games & Sweet Treats at French Licks: After you make it out of the escape room, head down the street to French Licks with a scoop of ice cream to celebrate. They've got kid-friendly flavors ranging from PB&J to cake batter, plus craft sodas and other sweet treats (along with coffee for mom and dad). Come for the ice cream, stay for the games. They always have board games, coloring books and card games on hand, and during spring break they'll have cornhole, Giant Jenga and Giant Connect 4.
Laser Tag and Mini Golf: Play ‘em at the same venue at Shotz, located a short drive (or, a long walk on a nice day) from both French Lick Resort hotels.
WET AND WILD (OR MILD)
Dive in at our pools: The heated outdoor pools at both French Lick and West Baden Springs Hotel open the first week of March — weather permitting, of course. (Fingers crossed that Mother Nature follows up our mild winter with an early spring.)
Cosmic Swim Party: Another complimentary offering at KidsFest during spreak, spend Friday or Saturday night at the French Lick Springs Hotel indoor pool for music, games and a chance to win free prizes.
Bathe an Elephant: The elephant encounters at nearby Wilstem Wildlife Park resume March 7. New this spring, they are adding an Asian elephant — which is classified as endangered with fewer than 50,000 left in the world. Book an Elephant Spa Encounter and give them a bath and pedicure. As with all of Wilstem’s unique animal encounters, you’ll want to book this experience before you visit.
Big Splash Adventure: After the kids have been teasing all winter for some pool time, French Lick’s indoor water park is a place you can spend all day. Grab some day passes and take the plunge.
Slip into a Pluto or Sprudel Bath: Mom needs to take a soak, too. At the Spas at French Lick and West Baden, book one of the famed mineral baths that guests have been taking since the 1800s.
MEMORIES IN THE “MAKING”
Cookies & Canvas: The kids (5 and older) can craft their very own work of art to take home. (And, the cookies are about the size of your head.
Cupcake Decorating: If you’re spring breaking at the end of March, you and your little sous chef won’t want to miss this.
Family Tie Dye Frenzy: You gotta have a souvenir to wear home from spring break, and the kids can do a DIY bandana for 5 bucks at KidsFest.
Chalk Walk: Another spring break diversion that doesn’t cost a thing, KidsFest has chalk walks four days a week during spring break season for the little ones to change gears with some artistic chill time.
Basketball Cookie Decorating: For anyone whose kids beg for a snack every 42 seconds, Basketball Cookie Decorating is the answer. Complimentary and offered Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7-8pm throughout spring break in French Lick Springs Hotel’s Habig Room.
TAKE A RIDE
Horse and Pony Rides: Happy trails: The Stables at French Lick Resort offer guided trail rides ranging in length from 45 to 90 minutes for ages 8 and up, and pony rides for children under 8 years old.
Train Rides: All aboard the French Lick Scenic railway for a 1 hour 45 minute ride through the country—including the second-longest railroad tunnel in the state.
Bike and surrey cart rides: Maybe the best (and most economical) way to see the resort while spending quality time together. If you rented bikes here last year, note this year’s location change for bike rental at the KidsFest Lodge.
Ride the Rail Trolley: The train lover in your crew (there’s one in every family) might be content just doing this all day. And hey, it wouldn’t cost a thing—rides between hotels on our restored 1903 trolley are free.
Go Karts: Pretty much everyone in the family can take a spin at French Lick West Baden Indoor Karting. Kids’ carts (age 4-7) and junior karts (age 8-13) put younger racers in the set of wheels and the course best suited for them. For 14 and up, the grown-up karts go up to 40 mph to satisfy the need for speed. Stick around for the arcade and bounce houses.
Zip Lines and ATVs: Wilstem Wildlife Park is more than just wild animals. They also offer side-by-side, guide-led ATV tours and a 9-line canopy zipline tour. (Both weather permitting, naturally.)
Weekend zipline tours also start for the season March 21 at Squire Boone Caverns Zipline Adventures, an 80-minute drive from the resort.