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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 a casino at the nearby French Lick Springs Hotel, in 2006.
There's plenty to do, even when the weather wasn't cooperating. We watched Friday's U of L game at the Bird-themed 33 Brick Street, a bar near the French Lick Hotel. At West Baden, we tried our hand at billiards, jumped in the pool and later enjoyed drinks at the bar. Late Saturday, there was Live Jazz late night in the elegant library.
We took the shuttle to the other hotel Saturday to try out the Casino. It's not my thing, gambling, but we dropped a small amount of cash there and went exploring. We found a bowling alley and pizza joint, then a nice sports bar for a mid-day drink (hey, it's vacation).
Thus, we missed out on some other options, like Horseback riding and a bike trail. I had wanted to go on a history tour, conducted daily at both hotels, but couldn't squeeze it in. There was a cooking demonstration we didn't get to, as well as a magic show.
Paula likes to collect items from trips, so she spent some time shopping, picking up some jewelry at a French Lick shop. And she slept so well she had to buy pillows...
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