You Voted! Check Out Who Won!

We have winners in the Explore! Southern Indiana Winter Photo Contest. We also would like to thank everyone who entered.


All the photos can be seen at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292375067470014.73747.122743724433150&type=1


Drumbeat please!

The winners are:

First Place is Lincoln's Log Cabin at Lincoln National Boyhood Memorial in Spencer County.

Second Place is Hemlock Cliffs in the Hoosier National Forest in Crawford County.

And there was a tie for third place with two beautiful photos.

One of the rotunda at West Baden Springs Hotel in West Baden, Indiana and the other of the gazebo at night lit by holiday lights in front of the French Lick Resort just down the road in French Lick.

Meet you on the slopes

 

Did you know that January is learn to ski & snowboard month and Paoli Peaks. Ski. Ride Tube is celebrating with an amazing offer! 




This weekend would be a great time to pick up a healthy and fun family sport - give it a try, it is much easier than you think! 

Make it a getatway at Big Splash Adventure, Comfort Suites of French Lick, French Lick Resort, Patoka Lake Marina and Lodging. 

Cabin Fever Cures

For every parent who has ever had to endure the dreaded “I’m bored” and even experienced a little cabin fever themselves, French Lick Resort is loading up the winter with lots of boredom buster activities for the entire family. The Midwest’s premier resort destination, located within a day’s drive of major Midwestern cities, is offering a full schedule of everything from family fun fairs to an exclusive Wine, Art & Cars Festival at the West Baden Springs Hotel.

Cabin Fever specials, available January1 through February 29, start at $169 per night and include a $100 resort credit. Stay more nights and the offer gets even better.

Wynonna and The Big Noise will kick things off on January 14 with a rockin’ concert in the Windsor Ballroom. No One Else On Earth can sing country with the heartfelt soul and authenticity of Wynonna. Starting as half of one of the most successful country duos ever, Wynonna Judd’s equally successful solo career is still going strong with hits like Girls with Guitars, To Be Loved by You and Rock Bottom. Room and ticket packages start at $290.

Chinese New Year Celebration
Revel in Chinese New Year fun, January 21-26, at French Lick Resort. Traditional parties include family, food and fire. So wear the customary red, symbolizing fire, to drive away bad luck and bring your friends and family to welcome the Year of the Dragon to the Casino, West Baden Springs Hotel and everywhere in between. Celebrate with traditional feasts, an eighty foot dragon and pyrotechnics to breathe fire into the New Year!

West Baden Springs Hotel Chinese New Year Package
Package includes accommodations for one night, Chinese-themed dinner for two at Sinclair’s, Chinese dragon performance and Chinese jazz group in the Atrium. Hotel packages start at $286.

Chinese New Year in French Lick Casino
There will be plenty of surprises in the Casino that include red envelope “lucky money” giveaways, fortune cookies, food, a dragon and more! Diamond Jim’s Trattoria will be serving a Chinese feast in addition to its regular fare.

Chinese New Year Family Fun Fair
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Our popular family fun fair with Chinese flair from décor to games, entertainment and more! Bouncy houses, carnival games and fun in our warm indoor Valley Links Golf Learning Center provide hours of entertainment for the whole family all with a Year of the Dragon theme!

French Lick Resort’s 3rd Annual Scrapbook Workshop
January 27, 28 and 29, 2012
Start a new project or complete one that’s been hanging around for a while. Learn new techniques and styles from the professionals and pick up the latest supplies from workshop vendors. Marathons, breakout sessions, open scrapbooking, vendor demonstrations and more the weekend of January 27, 28 and 29. Packages start at $158.50 per night and are required for workshop participation. To book, call 888.936.9360 today and mention code "BOOKERS"!

Chocolate Lovers Festival
February 11, 2012
A chocolate lover’s dream come true, this deliciously fun event will give visitors the chance to satisfy their sweet tooth and celebrate with their special someone. An assortment of chocolate delights await during this yearly tradition.

 

Kenny Loggins
Saturday, February 25
Singer, songwriter, musician and performer, Kenny Loggins is known as much for his contributions to hit movie soundtracks like Caddy Shack, Footloose and Top Gun, as he is for other chart toppers like Whenever I Call You Friend, House at Pooh Corner and Don’t Fight It.

Room and ticket packages start at $258

Wine, Art and Car Festival
March 2-4
Celebrate the good life with this West Baden Springs Hotel signature event combining luxury cars, fine wine and premier art from throughout the region. A real feast for the senses, festival goers will be treated to live entertainment, artist demonstrations, wine tastings, food demos and more during this three day event.


Spring Break Festivities
March 11- April 14
French Lick Resort is your Spring Break destination…family activities, golf, spa, dining and more are available to make sure everyone has a good time.

Charlie Daniels Band
Friday, March 16
Doors open at 7pm
50 years of award winning honkytonk, western swing, folk, rock, country and bluegrass hits the stage when Charlie Daniels and his Band perform with instrumental dexterity and Charlie’s blistering fiddle at the fore. Enjoy favorites like Devil Went Down to Georgia, Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye and The Legend of the Wooley Swamp.

Room and ticket packages starting at $258

 About French Lick Resort

French Lick Resort is a $500 million historic restoration and casino development project that includes the West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel and the new French Lick Casino. This premier resort and casino destination in Southern Indiana features 689 guest rooms and suites; a 51,000-square-foot, single-level casino; 45 holes of golf, including the fully restored 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick and the new, 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick; two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms totaling 42,000 square feet; meeting and event space totaling 115,000 square feet and an array of dining and entertainment options. 

For more information or to book a stay, please visit www.frenchlick.com or call our reservation specialists at (888) 936-9360.

A Walk in the Park This Saturday

This Saturday, Jan 7, the Spring Mill State Park events are: 


10:30 am, Snakes in the Nook - meet two of the resident snakes; 3 pm, Pioneer Village Stroll - meet at the Weavers Cabin for a guided walk thru the village. 

Weather should be pretty nice! 

Celebrate “Main Street Dubois County and Little Pioneer Exhibit.”

The Dubois County Museum will hold its annual membership dinner on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Dubois County Museum, 2704 N. Newton Street, Jasper, IN. Fellowship begins at 6:00 pm with dinner served at 6:30 pm. 

The public is invited to attend. Cost of the meal is $15.00 per person. Those interested in attending may send their reservations and payment to Dubois County Museum, Inc., Attn: Peg Wagner, 2704 N. Newton Street, Suite A, Jasper, IN, 47546 by Thursday, January 19. 

The dinner will mark the Grand Opening for the “Main Street Dubois County and Little Pioneer Exhibit.”

A special presentation on the making of the exhibit will be given by Cheryl Sermersheim and Tom Kellams and will detail the many hours of volunteer work given to create this display.

 The Dubois County Museum is a local non-profit organization committed to the collection, preservation and interpretation of historical artifacts and information important to the citizens of the county. Museum operations are funded by annual memberships, donations and gifts from visitors, area residents and businesses. Admission is free, donations are accepted. The DCM staff consists entirely of volunteers. It is located in Jasper at 2704 N Newton Street (US 231). Phone 634-7733.  Museum hours are Tuesday thru Friday from 10:00 am—2:00 pm EDT, Saturday from 10-4pm and Sundays 1:00—4:00. It is closed on Mondays.  Please allow two hours to tour the exhibits. 

Visit the museum web site at www.duboiscountymuseum.org for museum information.

Time Travel: Gasthof Amish Village

Take a trip into the past with a visit to Gasthof Amish Village, open seven days a week.  Our favorites?  The bakery with its house made noodles, breads, cakes, pies, cookies, peanut butter, apple butter and more, all cooked by Amish women and the restaurant for such traditional meals as fried chicken and mashed potatoes and beef and noodles. Don't miss the salad bar and, of course, the Amish dessert bar with such great offerings as lemon meringue pie. The 92 acre village including a 25 acre lake, a hotel, a restaurant and antiques and craft shops. And don't miss their weekly auctions held at the 36,000-square foot Dinky’s Auction Center which begins at 6 p.m. CDT every Friday. 
 
812- 486-4900/http://gasthofamishvillage.com

Perfect for Procrastinators: Explore! NYE Events

Almost New Year's Eve and you haven't made plans yet?  Consider these Explore! Options!

Almost New Year's Eve and you haven't made plans yet?  Consider these Explore! Options!

Limited rooms are still available to bring in the New Year in beautiful French Lick and West Baden! With New Year’s Eve on a Saturday celebrate the weekend in French Lick by exploring our unique history, enjoying the many local dining options, browsing our small town markets, and ringing in 2012 with all the exciting entertainment. It happens here in French Lick. Call us for reservations at 812-936-5300 or www.comfortsuites.com

The countdown is on and French Lick Resort isn’t letting 2011 slip away without plenty of fanfare. Couples can ring in the New Year at the West Baden Spring Hotel’s Romantic Rendezvous, party-goers will find plenty of action at the French Lick Spring Hotel’s Planet New Year’s Eve party while the casino will be rocking with the Easy Street Band. Kids can join in on the fun with a choice of two pint-sized parties complimentary with the purchase of a hotel package.

Looking to celebrate 2012 with your family? Big Splash Adventure is the place. Check out the great New Year's Eve package! http://www.bigsplashadventure.com

A New Year’s Eve Romantic Rendezvous
West Baden Springs Hotel
Saturday, December 31 • 7:30 pm – 1:00 am

Escape with your special someone this New Year’s Eve to West Baden Springs Hotel. Enjoy a spectacular evening surrounded by the majesty and grandeur of the storied domed Atrium, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, an exquisite multi course meal with wine service followed by dancing the year away to the Stardusters Jazz Orchestra and a champagne toast at midnight.


 Packages starting at $589       
 Cocktails, dinner and dancing only $175 (per person). Please RSVP to 812-936-5924
 Banquet seating • Jacket required

Planet New Year's Eve
French Lick Springs Hotel
Saturday, December 30 • 9pm - 1am

Now boarding French Lick Resort Flight 1901, your direct flight to Planet New Year's Eve 2011! Tickets for this fantastic voyage to Paris, Rome, London, New York, Tokyo and Sydney include the music of Souled Out and the Hunt Butler Band. From 9pm to 1am, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a dessert buffet, cash bar, party favors and a champagne toast all in the Windsor Ballroom.

Overnight accommodations and access to all three parties – starting at $369
Planet New Year’s Eve Party only - $299 (single) • $350 (couple)
Party at Power Plant with Sarah Stivers Quartet - $10 (Non-Hotel Guest)
Party at Spring No. 8 with Disco DJ - $10 (Non-Hotel Guest)
 Schedule your flight to 2012 today by calling our Reservations Specialists at 888-936-9360.

Purchase a New Year’s Eve room package at either French Lick Resort hotel and receive vouchers for the complimentary New Year’s Eve KidsFest Bash! Vouchers for the complimentary KidsFest event will be distributed at check-in.

 KidsFest New Year’s Eve Movie Party: Ages 6-12
This pint-sized New Year’s Eve Bash is from 6pm to 2am and includes a bouncy house, an obstacle course, a jungle slide, movies, dinner, soft drinks, popcorn and cookies.

 KidsFest New Year’s Eve Bowling Party: Ages 13 and up
Pluto’s Alley bowling and dinner event includes two bowling sets, shoes, two slices of pizza and a soft drink.

Easy Street
French Lick Casino
Friday, December 30 • 9pm - 1am
Saturday, December 31 • 9pm - 2am

And for the day after:

Do you love to go dancing on New Year's Eve? Then dance to the City Lights band at the Eagles #654, 1312 J St, Bedford, Dec 31 from 9 pm-2 am. Members: $10/person or $15/couple; non-members: $15/person or $20/couple includes party favors, champagne & snacks, too. Details, 812-275-3773.

Ski. Ride Tube. For updates on their Operation Schedule, stay connected at Paoli Peaks Facebook page.

The Santa Claus Land of Lights Family Christmas Light Adventure in Santa Claus, Indiana, is open through New Year’s Day.  Day.

Located inside Lake Rudolph Campground & RVResort, this custom outdoor light show tells the Shining Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in bright, energy-efficient LED lights. The Santa Claus Land of Lights is one of the only light shows in North America that tells a story in lights and storyboards. At 1.2 miles long, it is also the largest campground holiday light show in North America.

 www.SantaClausLandofLights.com.

Activities for New Year's Day at Spring Mill St Pk are: Make a New Year's Resolution Penny Doll; Pioneer Village Stroll. Drop in crafting happens every day at the Nature Nook in the Inn. Yay!!