story by GLENDA WINDERS
Chances are if someone asked you where you’d like to go in the French Lick/West Baden area the first thing you’d say would be either the French Lick Springs Hotel or the West Baden Springs Hotel, historic resorts where you can relax in luxurious accommodations, play at one of America’s top golf destinations, and try your luck in the casino, with hundreds of new classic slots and table games.
It’s here that you take in the breathtaking artistry of the West Baden Springs Hotel dome, which is the perfect setting for an evening of cocktails and good conversation. Schedule a manicure or pedicure at the world-class spas located in each hotel.
For an experience unique to the area, soak in a famous Pluto or Sprudel bath. These baths use the same mineral water that made these hotels nationally famous as early as the 1800s. If your itinerary doesn’t include a spa day, both hotels have indoor/outdoor pools and hot tubs.
Looking for adventure? Rent a surrey cart, which is sure to provide some laughs for everyone as you explore some of the resort’s 3,200 acres together. Or take the complimentary shuttle to French Lick Winery’s prominent tasting room where guests are lead through an expansive list of over 30 different wines, ranging from dry to sweet, fortified and sparkling. Sample slushies, order wine flights, or sip a delicious craft cocktail, all while enjoying the outdoor patio or a full-service dining experience prepared by Drift Coastal Italian.
Visiting French Lick/West Baden is a dream destination for whatever you have in mind, but did you know there are lots more places to go and things to do in this southern Indiana getaway spot? “French Lick and West Baden provide a multitude of offerings for anyone in your group,” said Brandy Ream, executive director of Visit French Lick/West Baden. “From wine tastings to giraffe encounters, scenic wildlife boat rides to indoor go-kart racing, we have something for all ages.”
Shopping is another pastime in which to indulge while you’re here. You’ll find everything you can imagine to brighten up your living space at Celebrate the Home, whether you’re changing your color palette or getting ready for a special gathering. Regardless of your design style you’ll find china, table linens, garden décor and more to enhance your surroundings. Hosting a Cinco de Mayo, Fourth of July or Halloween party? Clever and festive supplies are right here.
For more housewares, clothing and offbeat gifts, plan to spend some time browsing at Hen Pecked Primitives. This is the place for hats, scarves, funny T-shirts, handbags, unusual soaps, dishes and on and on. If time allows, register for a painting class where you’ll create an item to take back and use in your home.
Bear Hollow Wood Carvers is another must-stop. Their offerings include chainsaw-carved foxes, eagles, bears and other outdoor critters as well as hand-carved miniature giraffes, elephants, butterflies and roosters. And that’s not all. You’ll also discover apparel, jewelry, games and custom items ranging from picture frames and baby blocks to game boards and outdoor signs that celebrate your family.
Great boutique shopping awaits in nearby Orleans, beginning with Feminine Mystique, where you’ll find collectible glassware, jewelry and accessories from the Victorian era. At Freestyle Salon and Boutique you can shop for dresses, shirts, jeans, accessories and gift items while you also have your hair styled or get a manicure. If antiques are more your thing, stroll back through history at Orleans Antiques and Olde Tyme Antiques.
Ready for a break? Then head on over to the Patoka Lake Winery, where you can taste a variety of wines that range from dry to sweet or opt instead for a wine slushie. Another option is to buy a bottle of wine that you enjoy with some of the meats and cheeses on offer at a table either outdoors or inside. They can also put you up for the night in their luxurious round silo suites.
Finish off your day at lively Speakeasy Pizza, also in Orleans, where you can start with an adult beverage and move on to what some say is the best pizza they have ever eaten. To make the meal even more fun, the pizzas here are named for gangsters such as Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson and Machine Gun Kelly. Then wrap up your evening with a sweet treat named for Elliot Ness or J. Edgar Hoover.
For more information visit: www.visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com
