Owensboro, KY Road Trips

1 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, 311 W 2nd St, ☏ +1 270-926-7891. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Interactive exhibits on bluegrass music and the instruments behind it. Concerts are offered by a number of renowned bluegrass artists in the attached theater, but usually, separate tickets are required. $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 students (ages 6-18). (updated Jul 2019) 2 Owensboro Museum of Science and History, 122 E 2nd St, ☏ +1 270-687-2732. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Various items related to science and history, like Model Ts and giant anthills. (updated Dec 2021) 3 Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, 901 Frederica St, ☏ +1 270-685-3181. Tu-F noon-5PM, Sa Su 1-4PM. Collections that span European, Asian, and Appalachian art, along with temporary exhibitions. Free. (updated Dec 2021) 4 Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, 25 Carter Rd, ☏ +1 270-993-1234. M-F 9AM-3PM. Some gardens here surrounding a house from the 1890s. (updated Dec 2021) 5 Green River Whiskey Distillery, 10 Distillery Road (From downtown Owensboro, travel west on 2nd Avenue until you see the signs pointing to the Green River Distillery entrance.), ☏ +1 270-691 9001. M-F 9AM-4:30PM, Sa 9AM-3:30PM. One of the country's first Kentucky Bourbon distilleries, it underwent a fairly recent reconstruction of its facilities and grounds after being abandoned for a number of years. They offer distillery tours at several times every day, except Sunday. Tours cost $20/person, which includes sample tasting of 3 of their whiskies and a Green River shot glass. They also have a gift shop and cocktail lounge.

1 The River Park Center, 101 Daviess St, ☏ +1 270 687-2787. The arts and cultural center for the Owensboro-Daviess County Region. Featuring plays and operas, as well as concerts by the local symphony orchestra and regional, national, and international musical artists. 2 Smothers Park, 199 W Veterans Blvd, ☏ +1 270-687-8333. Daily 7AM-10PM. This centralized park with its fountains and playplaces and promenade along the Ohio River looks pretty avant garde next to its surroundings and the river bottom terrain. Besides being a drawing point for aesthetics, it hosts a lot of events. (updated Dec 2021) 3 Escape Today, 820 West 2nd Street, ☏ +1 270-240 4216, [email protected]. Escape Today offers three different escape room scenarios, six axe throwing lanes, and 35 arcade machines that you play by the hour, instead of per game. Hours vary by the day of the week, so it is highly advisable to book your visit online to be sure that you have use of the specific facility offerings when you want them. (updated Dec 2023) Owensboro is known as 'The City of Festivals', serving host to many local and international festivals and fairs. Some of the more popular, recurring events include: Friday After 5, offering multiple venues of live entertainment along the beautiful riverfront every Friday starting around Memorial Day and running through Labor Day. The International Bar-B-Q Festival, second weekend of May The River of Music Party (ROMP), a 4-day bluegrass music festival held at Owensboro's Yellow Creek Park.

While Owensboro is best known regionally for two dishes, barbecue and burgoo (a traditional stew made with mutton, chicken, beef and vegetables), its restaurant scene has broadened to include a number of fine and unique dining establishments. Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, 2840 W Parrish Av, ☏ +1 270-684-8143. M-Th 9AM-8:30PM, F Sa 9AM-9:30PM, Su 9AM-3PM. Best known for its barbecue mutton, it also offers barbecue chicken, beef, and pork, either as plates or sandwiches. Other menu offerings include breaded shrimp, chicken, and catfish, for those who prefer something other than barbecue. It also has a lunch and dinner buffet for those with bigger appetites. Its barbecue meats have won numerous awards and accolades, including being voted best in Kentucky by readers of Kentucky Monthly and Kentucky Living. Ole South Bar-B-Q, 3523 Hwy 54 East, ☏ +1 270-926 6464. M-F 6AM-8PM, F Sa 6AM-9PM, Su 6AM-2PM. Offers a very wide variety of barbecued meats, including barbecue chicken, turkey, pork, brisket, ribs, and mutton, as well as traditional burgoo for lunch and dinner. Also offers traditional breakfast fare, or for those with larger appetites, a daily breakfast buffet. (updated Dec 2023) Old Hickory Bar-B-Que, 338 Washington Avenue, ☏ +1 270-205 4229. Su-Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-10PM. Family-owned restaurant, founded in 1918, offering pit-smoked barbecue mutton, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, ham, and ribs, as well as burgoo, in dine-in, carry-out, or drive-thru options. (updated Dec 2023) Windy Hollow Biscuit House, 630 Emory Drive, ☏ +1 270 231 7222. Tu-Su 7AM-2PM, closed M.

The Brew Bridge, 800 West 2nd Street, ☏ +1 270-215 7742, [email protected]. Tu-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 11AM-8PM, closed M. A microbrewery named, tongue-in-cheek, after Owensboro's iconic Glover Bridge, affectionately known by locals as the Blue Bridge because of its distinctive color. Offers several of its own beers for consumption, along with a full bar. It also has a restaurant offering typical brew pub fare, such as hamburgers and chicken fingers. It has live local music performances most weekends. A covered patio is also available for those who prefer to do their drinking and dining outside when the weather permits. (updated Dec 2023) Goodwood Brewing and Spirits, 101 Frederica Street (across from Smothers Park in downtown Owensboro), ☏ +1 270-215 5000, [email protected]. Su-W 11AM-9PM, Th 11AM-11PM, F 10AM-11PM, Sa 10AM-9PM. Spot for burgers, brunch and brews. It offers a traditional, southern menu with favorites such as Buffalo Cauliflower, Chicken and Waffles and Fried Green Tomatoes. It also features sixteen beer taps and over thirty bourbons. Both indoor and outdoor patio dining options are available. (updated Dec 2023)

1 Holiday Inn-Owensboro Riverfront, 701 West 1st Street (right next to the Owensboro Convention Center), ☏ +1 270-683-1111, toll-free: +1 888 HOLIDAY (4654329). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A full-service hotel fronting the Ohio River. It offers several amenities including: free Wifi, business center, 24-hour fitness center, heated indoor saltwater pool, in-house guest laundry and onsite restaurant (Burger Theory). It is a short walk away from Smothers Park, and local cultural attractions such as the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum and the Owensboro Museum of Science & History,. 2 Hampton Inn & Suites-Downtown Owensboro/Waterfront, 401 West 2nd Street (right next to the Owensboro Convention Center), ☏ +1 270-685 2005, toll-free: +1 800 HILTONS (4458667). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Fronting the Ohio River. Lure, the hotel's seafood restaurant located on the first floor, is also an option for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. Pet-friendly rooms are available, as well as an indoor pool and fitness center. Free parking, free wifi, and a free hot breakfast are all standard. (updated Dec 2023) 3 Marriott TownePlace Suites-Owensboro, 3365 Hayden Road, ☏ +1 270-231 8222, toll-free: +1 888 236 2427. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Each suite comes with a fully equipped kitchen and a work area with high-speed Internet access. It also has a state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor saltwater pool, Weber gas grills, complimentary breakfast, 24-hour sundries market, and an on-site laundry. Pets are also welcome (up to 40 lb). (updated Dec 2023)

1 Owensboro–Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB IATA). Allegiant Air from Orlando/Sanford, Cape Air from St. Louis (updated Jul 2019) The Owensboro aka Glover Bridge connects Owensboro with Indiana, whereas I-165 connects it with Bowling Green to the south and US Route 60 with Henderson to the west.

Downtown Owensboro Trolley. The Owensboro Trolley provides FREE transportation on both weekdays and weekends in downtown Owensboro. You can catch a ride on the trolley at tons different areas across downtown Owensboro, with stop times around every 20 minutes: The great thing about the Trolley is that both visitors and locals can experience everything downtown Owensboro has to offer, without ever having to move their car. You can simply hop on the trolley from your hotel and be taken to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum if you’d like. From there, you can hop back on the trolley and be taken to one of our local bars or restaurants for a fun night out. Or to our riverfront walk. Or to our historic shopping district. And then, once you’re done exploring, catching a show–whatever it is you’ve made plans for–you can catch a ride on the trolley back to your hotel. The trolley schedule changes with the seasons, but from April-October, you can catch free rides Monday-Thursday from 11AM-3PM AND from 4-8PM. On Friday and Saturday, the trolley’s hours are extended to 11AM-3PM and 4-10PM. From November-March, the downtown trolley runs Tuesday-Thursday from 11AM- 2PM and Friday and Saturday from 11AM-6PM. (updated Dec 2023) Owensboro City Buses, 101 East 4th Street, ☏ +1 270-687 8570. 6AM-7:35PM, M-F; 7:45AM-4:15PM, Sa; No service on Su. For travel outside of downtown, Owensboro city buses travel numerous routes that can take you to shopping centers, medical facilities, schools and universities, public parks, and other points of interest.