Salute and Stay this Veterans Day in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Online, October 22, 2009 (Newswire.com) - The Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offers travelers a new 'Salute and Stay' Military Attraction Itinerary as a reason to consider Bowling Green, Ky. for a Veteran's Day trip or their next getaway.
Designed to offer visitors a variety of unique experiences that both educate and entertain all ages, 'Salute and Stay' includes stops at some familiar Bowling Green landmarks like the National Corvette Museum and Lost River Cave as well as new sites including the Aviation Heritage Park, recently featured on CBS Evening News.
These attractions offer engaging and interactive explorations into US military history. Bowling Green's role in the Civil War is highlighted as well as the sacrifices made by soldiers in the Korean War, the Vietnam War and World Wars I and II. Visitors can tailor their stops to include any or all of these sites.
Aviation Heritage Park, an outdoor plaza, features a fully restored F-4D Phantom airplane flown by Bowling Green native General Dan Cherry who was recently joined by Nguyen Hong My, the Vietnamese pilot whom he shot down while flying the Phantom in April of 1969. Their amazing story of reconciliation is told via radio broadcast that visitors can tune in to while touring the park, or guests in Bowling Green November 7 can hear the amazing story in person at the National Corvette Museum's Vets 'n Vettes event. For more info, visit http://www.aviationheritagepark.com.
Lost River Cave is the first stop on Bowling Green's Civil War Discovery Trail and tours include entertaining stories of how Lost River Cave and Valley played host to Civil War soldiers. Visitors can explore the valley's beautiful hiking trails and take Kentucky's only underground boat tour. For more information, visit http://www.lostrivercave.com.
The Kentucky Library & Museum, located on the campus of Western Kentucky University, features artifacts including John Hunt Morgan's saddle, a simulated Civil War campsite, slave cabin, Victorian photo studio and more. Nearby Ft. Lytle features remnants of the original fortification among embankments and trenches. For more information, visit http://www.wku.edu/library/kylm.
The National Corvette Museum, a 115,000 square foot tribute to America's sports car, welcomes visitors with a military-themed scale model Corvette. On permanent display is one of Chuck Jeager's pace cars, driven by the retired USAF General who was the first pilot to break the speed of sound. For more information, visit http://www.corvettemuseum.com.
Other sites on the itinerary include the Historic Railpark and Train Museum, which currently hosts a Civil War Medal of Honor. The Warren County Courthouse in Bowling Green's historic downtown features a bronze memorial that pays tribute to each military branch. The 125-foot Guthrie Bell Tower on Western Kentucky University's campus honors all who lost their lives in the line of duty. In addition, a Veteran's Memorial Plaza and a Confederate Monument in Fairview Cemetery remember local fallen soldiers.
Visitors honoring Veterans Day weekend with a 'Salute and Stay' in Bowling Green will enjoy several special events and military discounts. The National Corvette Museum hosts Vets 'n Vettes November 5-7 with three days of activities celebrating the freedoms gained by American soldiers. Participants can take a scenic drive to nearby Fort Knox and the Patton Museum on Friday (Corvette not required) before taking part in the downtown Bowling Green Veteran's Day Parade Saturday morning.
Several local hotels and attractions offer special rates and discounts to active and retired military personnel. The entire month of November is Military Appreciation at the Corvette Museum, with free admission for military and their families. Lost River Cave & Valley is offering free boat tours November 6-8 for retired military, and nearby Mammoth Cave National Park offers free selected tours on Veterans Day, November 11, for all military members and their families. For a complete list of area military discounts, visit http://www.visitbgky.com/military.
According to Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Vicki Fitch, the new itinerary showcases the area's diverse attractions. "There aren't too many places where you can experience military history interpreted in so many ways. We've got planes, trains and automobiles as well as caves. Our attractions offer fascinating tributes to American soldiers and unique perspectives of Bowling Green's role in the various conflicts," she commented.
Less than one hour north of Nashville, TN, off I-65, Bowling Green rolls out a red carpet experience for anyone in search of an opportunity to sample the Southern hospitality of a unique town on the move. For more information about planning a trip to Bowling Green, visit http://www.visitbgky.com.
Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is the destination marketing organization for Bowling Green/ Warren County, Kentucky and its surrounding area. For more information or trip planning assistance, please contact us at 800-326-7465.