Bowling Green, Kentucky

Part of savoring travel is working in more sightseeing on the way to, or from, the main destination.  Last year's trip to Hannibal, MO was a perfect example of that.  Last week on the way to Florida for the family spring break vacation, we decided to stop and stay in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Originally the stop was going to be in Louisville to investigate a new indoor mountain-biking course - inside a cave!  But since the cave wouldn't have rental bikes until later this spring, we put that on hold and instead saw a different kind of cave.  Cave-in, that is, at the Corvette museum. I can't say enough about Trip Advisor for finding something you would like to do, see, or visit in pretty much any place.

Trip Advisor also steered me to Hotel Sync. I don't think I have ever seen a better set of reviews for any other hotel: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g39214-d3691946-Reviews-The_Hotel_SYNC-Bowling_Green_Kentucky.html 

The building is unassuming, however on the inside it is modern, stylish, and a lot of fun.  I almost waited too long to book a stay and had to call in person to snag the very last room.  Aside from a few quirks like the giant microwave taking up most of the kitchenette counter space, it was funky cool, had green amenities like big jars of shampoo, lotion, etc. in the bathroom (no guilt about using just part of a mini bottle), and concrete floors.  All are 2-room suites, all have kitchens.  The decor and colors are lively and eye-catching: 




Plus french press coffee in the morning:


All for a price the same as a Hampton Inn, where we usually stay.

After checking in on a Saturday afternoon...(note the artwork by VSA of Kentucky)


...We watched the Badgers win their way into the Final Four - so exciting, then we went out for a later dinner all wearing our Badger shirts (John was scared to wear it but we said to wear Bucky with pride). The bistro I had wanted to try out closed by 8 p.m., so we tried to get into a sports bar, but since it was Kentucky's turn everyone was seated for the game and they weren't going anywhere.  We ended up using Yelp to find the Mellow Mushroom, where people were just mellow enough about the game that they had it on the TV but no sound because there was a live cover band.  The decor was appropriately mellow/awesome/rock-n-roll, the pizzas were good, and my favorite moment had to be when the band did a cover of Prince's Purple Rain as the game entered its last 5 minutes - and the teams were tied.  Somehow...it worked!

(John and Jeff in their Badger apparel later that week - safe in the condo:)



Here is a note I saw on the counter lobby as we checked out in the morning:


Next post:  fast cars and sinkholes.

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