For those not traveling out of state to visit family, winter break is a great time for families to take a day trip and make a few more holiday memories. Below is a list of trips and activities all located within two hours of Owensboro. Round up the crew, hop in the car and enjoy the end of the year with some nearby fun and adventure.
LIGHTS UNDER LOUISVILLE
1841 Taylor Ave Louisville, KY
Each year the Louisville Mega Cavern is transformed into an underground holiday light spectacular for the Christmas season. This 30-minute ride goes through 17 miles of underground passageways. Featuring more than 850 lit characters with more than 3,000,000 points of light.
Lights Under Louisville will be open nightly through the end of the year from 6 – 10 p.m. Monday – Friday and 5 – 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lights Under Louisville allows the public to drive their own vehicle through the cavern for the only underground holiday light show in the world. This year includes never-seen-before light displays and two separate light attractions.
GAYLORD OPRYLAND NASHVILLE
2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN
More than 3 million holiday lights and acres of magnificent decorations, plus spectacular holiday activities
and events that are sure to get you in the spirit of the season and create lasting family memories.
ICE! is back with an all new theme featuring the 1957 Dr. Seuss classic ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas.’ Watch how the Grinch tries to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville through interactive ice sculptures and displays. Experience movie scenes in hand-carved sculptures made from more than 2 million pounds of ice.
ICE features:
A walk-through holiday attraction kept at a chilly 9°F
2 million pounds of colorful ice sculptures
Sculptures that are hand-carved by 40 artisans from Harbin, China.
Four two-story tall ice slides
Full Nativity scene in stunning, crystal clear ice
PAOLI PEAKS
2798 W County Rd 25 S, Paoli, IN
Located only an hour and a half north of Owensboro, Paoli Peaks is great for locals to experience the excitement of skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. Fun for the whole family, Paoli Peaks is open seven days a week from mid-December to mid-March.
The ski and snowboard facility is a 45,000 square foot day lodge equipped with everything you need to enjoy a day on the slopes.
Natural hill with a 300-foot vertical drop
Terrain: 25 percent beginner, 55 percent intermediate and 20 percent advanced
15 trails and eight lifts
2 Terrain Parks – beginner and advanced
The snow tubing facility is a 2,400 square foot day lodge equipped with a concession area, restrooms, lockers, indoor/outdoor viewing area and seating. There are 10 lanes for snow tubing, each 700 feet long, specially constructed inner-tubes, and a 400-foot surface-carpet that brings you back up the hill. Snow and tubes are provided.
