Wanna Get Away? Try French Lick and West Baden Springs

The winter really got to me this year, and I was looking for any reason to get away from town. I kept threatening to turn the car south and keep going until it was 70 degrees. Since that wasn't realistic, I sought out get-aways within a few hours of Louisville. And that's how I found French Lick, Indiana.  Larry Bird's hometown features two of the most luxurious resort hotels in the region, plus a few world-class golf courses (home to the 2015 PGA Seniors Championship next month). Paula and I stayed at West Baden Springs, home of a massive atrium spanning 200 feet that was once called the "Eighth Wonder of the World." There was a model airplane competition going on Saturday, a wonderful use of the space.  The site has an amazing history, with original construction dating to 1855. A fire destroyed the original building in 1901. It was rebuilt in grand style, a symbol of luxury for guests flocking to enjoy the area's mineral springs. But when the stock market crash in 1929, so did the luxury hotel's run.  It eventually became a college, then fell into disrepair and closed. Eventually, a Bloomington investor, Bill Cook, restored it. It opened as a resort, with...Read more