Experience the best of Bowling Green

Bowling Green lies on the Barren River in south-central Kentucky, in karst country of sinkholes, caves and underground streams. Western Kentucky University crowns a hill above the old town, and the Civil War left its mark: in the winter of 1861 it served as the Confederate capital of Kentucky. The Corvette sports car is built in the city, and the National Corvette Museum shows models from the 1950s onward.

Lost River Cave, with an underground boat ride through a cave mouth, lies on the edge of town, and Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest known cave system in the world, is a drive to the north-east. The Shaker village at South Union, with its plain brick buildings, lies to the west. The surrounding countryside has horse farms and rolling tobacco and corn fields.

Country ham with red-eye gravy, fried chicken and biscuits are staples, and bourbon from distilleries across the state is poured at local bars. Dogwoods bloom in spring, and the hardwood hills colour in October.