Unforgettable Adventures Await: Family Fun in French Lick

The children are eager to visit a fun destination for spring break, but your schedule is tight and the budget doesn’t support an extended trip to popular locations like Florida or Colorado. Is it possible to give them the vacation they desire while remaining closer to home?

The answer is a definite yes—if you plan an excursion to French Lick. While the grand hotels have made the French Lick/West Baden area well known, there is an abundance of attractions that will allow you to fulfill all your desires for an enjoyable and peaceful getaway.

An attraction certain to delight the younger family members is a visit to the 40,000-square-foot Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park. If you choose to stay overnight at the adjacent hotel, your entry tickets will be free of charge.

The youngsters will adore Buccaneer Bay, a three-story structure featuring ten platforms and 50 interactive activities for their enjoyment. Following that, they can experience two fully enclosed body slides—Scallywag Scuttle and Pirate’s Plunder—or the more thrilling Silver Beard’s Revenge and Jolly Roger Jetty. Virtual reality adventures will transport them to the ocean’s depths or the vastness of outer space. Toddlers will relish the Splish Splash Pool, and the entire family will enjoy drifting down the Lost River. Additionally, there is indoor laser tag and mini-golf available, as well as the kid-friendly Boatyard restaurant, offering a diverse range of delicious items on the menu.

To keep the excitement alive, make sure to stop by French Lick West Baden Indoor Karting. Here, adults and older children can speed at up to 40 mph in safe, cutting-edge karts, while those aged 8 to 13 can navigate their own slower track. An arcade featuring 30 games and a large interactive bounce house is also available.

Rock N’ Bowl serves as a family entertainment venue that provides bowling, roller-skating, and tasty snacks since you will likely be there for a while. Another bowling option is Pluto Bowl at the French Lick Springs Hotel, which is open to non-guests as well.

At Escape French Lick, collaborate to determine how to escape from a locked room, or if your family prefers to compete, check out Planet Paintball and Airsoft. They provide a selection of games and are willing to assist anyone who hasn’t played before.

When it’s time to relax a little, the French Lick West Baden Museum is a worthwhile visit. Established in its current location in 2013, this museum narrates the vibrant histories of both towns, tracing back to the 1840s.

Among the exhibits is one focused on the casino that operated here starting in 1860 and another highlighting the artist brothers who settled here prior to achieving national recognition. You’ll discover the grand hotels where the foul-smelling water, which still attracts visitors seeking cures, was first identified and learn more about the “Pluto Water” itself.

The world’s largest circus diorama is also here, encompassing 150,000 pieces including numerous figures, animals, tents, trains, and much more. This is also the hometown of professional basketball player and coach Larry Bird, so one of the exhibits shares his story.

Eager to spend some time outdoors? Head over to Wilstem Wildlife Park to interact with creatures like giraffes, sloths, elephants, primates, and beyond. Exclusive encounters will allow your family to view the animals up close without the interference of other visitors. An educational interaction includes feeding the animals and capturing a photo with them.

Venture through the park at your own pace for a self-guided wildlife expedition where you’ll encounter around 40 animal species as well as a new animatronic dinosaur display. Alternatively, opt for a guided tour with the option to return in your vehicle later to explore more. While visiting, don’t miss the chance for horseback riding and zip-lining as well.

Accommodations are available here if you wish to make this your lodging destination. You can select from cozy cabins, carriage homes, bunkhouses, a barn loft, or the Ballard Lodge.

Additional excitement awaits at the French Lick Scenic Railway. You may choose the Scenic Train for a one-hour-and-45-minute ride through the Hoosier National Forest and the second-longest tunnel in the state, but the kids might be more interested in the Dinosaur Adventure Train. This 2.5-hour journey takes you to the Paleo Adventure Camp, where children can participate in activities like face-painting, bounce houses, and engaging dinosaur experiences. Feel free to return later to further explore the forest and utilize its more than 260 miles of hiking, biking, or mountain biking trails.

You can also savor the landscapes in this region with a Scenic Nature Cruise on Patoka Lake, recognized as the premier destination in Indiana for wildlife watching, where ospreys, herons, eagles, loons, beavers, and others call home.

And there you have it—a spring break everybody in the family will cherish, without needing to travel extensive distances or overspend to achieve it.

For further information, please visit: visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com.