If you’re looking to pull off spring break without breaking
the bank, start with these budget-friendly things in and around the resort.
There’s plenty more ideas at Visit French Lick West Baden and Discover Southern Indiana. And speaking of free: don’t forget about French Lick Resort’s
Experience Design Team, who can customize your visit at no extra cost.
From face painting to chalk walk to bingo and weekend movies,
several of the safari-themed
offerings during the spring break season (March 10 to April 19) are
complimentary. Another free attraction to put on your spring break radar: Silly
Safari Animals performances (March 18 and April 1) where you can see wild
animals up close including armadillo, tortoise, owl, hedgehog, kinkajou and
coatimundi. Oh, and don't forget the lawn games outside the Activities Center which are free and set up ready to play.
It doesn’t cost a penny to explore the trail
system at the resort, which includes everything from 1-½ mile easy/moderate
trails to hillier, challenging treks. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The Hoosier National Forest that spreads across our part of southern Indiana is
a hiking wonderland. It’s worth making the 30-minute drive to Hemlock Cliffs, a
secluded and serene box canyon with views you won’t find anywhere else in
Indiana.
Ride the Rail Trolley
If your little ones are in the “obsessed with trains”
phase — everyone has this at some point, right? — good news. Rides are always free on
our rail trolley that makes regular runs throughout the day between hotels.
Ask your driver to share some of the history about the rail trolley. There’s
quite a bit, since the trolley first started running in 1903.
Got a party of 5? It’s the perfect number for a round of
bowling at Pluto’s
Alley. Lane rentals are $40 an hour for up to five people, shoe rental
included. For 8 bucks a person per hour, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better
bang for your entertainment buck.
Speaking of getting max value for a family-friendly
activity, FootGolf
aces the test. Just $15 (for all ages) gets you unlimited play all day, soccer
ball included.
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Free Golf for Juniors
Sticking on the golf course … did you know children age 12
and younger can play free on any resort course,
and ages 13 to 18 can play for half price? (Both when playing with paying
adults.) If the kids are beginners to the game, Valley Links is the perfect
starting point with six sets of tee markers with youth-friendly yardage.
A day at French Lick’s indoor water park: it’s every
pool-loving kid’s dream, and it’s pretty easy on mom and dad, too. Water park day passes
range from $20-$25 for a single day, or $35-$40 for two-day admission.
Indiana’s most-visited natural attraction is just a hop,
skip and a jump away from French Lick Resort, and you can ooh and ahh
at this wonder of Mother Nature at the right price. Kids age 4-12 can try their
Crystal Palace
Tour or Dripstone Trail Tour for under $15, or a combo tour of both for
just $18.95. Ages 3 and under are admitted free.
Whether it’s on the water or the airspace above, there’s so
much to take in at Patoka Lake, which is within 30 minutes of the resort. Rent a kayak at Gilligan’s Boats and
head out on the water – take advantage of their 2023 Early Bird Bonus through
the end of February. Patoka Lake
Marina has plenty more ways to enjoy some springtime lake life. And whether
it’s afternoon on the Frisbee golf course or bald eagle spotting at the Nature
Center, Patoka has so many outdoor discoveries that don’t cost a thing.