jacquieandryan This winter we had one of our most memorable staycation in French Lick Indiana, located in southern Indiana. This hidden gem of a town is approximately 5 hours from Chicago and is worth every minute. We had an incredible stay at French Lick Resort which is perfectly situated among wineries, restaurants, ice-cream shops, and horseback riding stables!
We didn’t need to leave French Lick Resort, however, because they have their own world class spas, award winning golf courses, pools, restaurants on site, daily tea time, Surry carts, foot golf, a bowling alley, casino and so much more! French Lick Resort consists of 3 hotels (French Lick Springs Hotel, West Baden Springs Hotel & Valley Tower) within 1.5 miles of one another with a trolly that will take you from one to the other. Its also worth noting that their Trolleys will take you just about anywhere in the French Lick strip. Want to go to the Winery for a wine tasting? No problem, the Trolley will drop you off and all you have to do is call when you’re read for pickup!
We stayed at West Baden Springs Hotel for two nights and two full days. And trust us, we didn’t want to leave! This particular hotel with its luxurious dome was once described as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and was built at the turn of the 20th century. It’s gorgeous! We had a true resort experience and we couldn’t get enough of the atrium views every evening. Bonus! It’s pet friendly and we were able to bring our pup along!
Our 2 Night Itinerary at French Lick Resort
Our itinerary was bursting at the seams with amazing eats, relaxation and unique experiences. And while we do wish we had more time, we are going to share how we got to experience a bit of everything for the two nights that we stayed there. Follow our itinerary below for the most romantic two night staycation in French Lick!
Day 1 – Check-in & Dinner
Check in & Free Time
We drove 5 hours from Chicagoland to French Lick so we when we arrived we wanted time to check in, relax and soak in the atrium views. They are breath taking!
During your free time you can enjoy any of the many amenities available at French Lick Resort; indoor pools, hot tubs, a beautiful garden, rent a surrey cart, play a round of foot golf, browse the shops and so much more. But we suggest, getting checked in, freshen up for dinner and then enjoy a drink in the beautiful atrium. There is a full service bar that stays open until 11pm.
Dinner in Town
We wanted to explore a bit of the town so we opted for dinner at a local favorite, 33 Brick Street. This is a full service sports themed restaurant and bar featuring a one of a kind showcase of personal awards owned by basketball legend, Larry Bird. Here you can enjoy specialty menu items such as their mushroom chips (don’t skip these) and amazing burgers.
There’s also some really awesome memorabilia for photo ops if you ask nicely!
After enjoying our dinner and craft beer we walked across the road to French Licks Ice Cream & Coffee Bar for dessert. Then we headed back to the resort to relax and enjoy live music in the atrium. Again, the atrium is so gorgeous. Plus we needed to save our energy for a big day two.
Day 2 – Horseback Riding, French Lick Winery, Afternoon Tea, Spa, & Dinner
Horseback Riding at the Stables
Day 2 was packed but since we rested up and had a mid day massage on the schedule we were ready to take on the day! Our first excursion was a morning horseback ride and tour of the stables. The Stables at the French Lick Resort is nestled behind West Baden Springs Hotel. The stables are open daily 9am – 4pm and are home to 27 horses who have each been carefully selected and trained for a minimum of two years by the stables manager.
We loved our ride and our guide was personable and friendly. We were lucky to get to ride during a beautiful fluffy snowfall but we imagine its even more beautiful in the spring and summer! They offer daily rides at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, & 3pm and are $65 per person for a 45 min ride.
Lunch & Wine Tasting at French Lick Winery
After our ride, we headed out for an early lunch and wine tastings at French Lick Winery and The Vintage Cafe. The Vintage Café features fresh, homemade Italian cuisine in the relaxed atmosphere of the French Lick Winery tasting room. When we say this place was good we mean it with our whole hearts! Our meal was delicious and the service was great too. We do suggest making a reservation here because they were bustling and we understand why. We ordered a variety of food from their menu to share so that we could taste more. We had heard through the grapevine that the food here was top notch and it is true.
Now on to the wine – It is equally incredible! Their 8 acre Heaven’s View Vineyard was planted in 1998 just 20 miles west of the winery. And you can enjoy tastings in the French Lick Winery tasting room, enjoy a glass on their patio, or take a chilled bottle to go! We highly recommend starting with a tasting and then choosing your glass to enjoy. You can sample 10 wines for $8 (incl. tax), so why not? The last time we visited they even had wine slushies and they were so good!
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is 2:00pm – 4:00pm, so if your day is going super smoothly and you need to work off some of that food and wine before tea time, consider renting a surrey cart to explore the grounds a bit.
Then, of course, get cozy for some Afternoon Tea. Tea Time in the West Baden Atrium is what dreams are made of.
Spa – Schedule a Spa Service
You won’t want to miss out on the spas at French Lick Resort. The hallway alone, let’s you know you’re in for a real treat. We enjoyed massages and were so relaxed when we left that we were practically in a blissful trance.
Pool & Hot Tub
Time permitting, this could be a great time to take a dip in the pool or hot tub (located just below the spa). You do not want to pass on the chance to relax in the pool area. Its bright and absolutely beautiful. Both resorts have an indoor pool, but we stayed at West Baden Springs so this is where we took our dip. Its open 6am – Midnight and they offer a Pool Menu 7am-11pm.
Dinner – 1875 – The Steakhouse
We ended our evening with a delicious meal at 1875. It’s a bit of a splurge and totally worth every penny. Get a bottle, order the Porterhouse (it’s shareable), and enjoy the delicious family style sides. Our favorites sides included the garlic mash and the corn ragout. Since you’ll be so close, you can end the night at the casino! Or head back to West Baden Springs for a nightcap at Ballard’s in the Atrium.
Day 3 – Breakfast or Coffee
Before you leave the next day, enjoy a cup of coffee from Xandu Coffee & Creamery. They serve fresh baked goods and breakfast items, deli sandwiches, freshly made waffle cones, and Starbucks Coffee. Or you may opt for in room dining or a full breakfast at Cafe Sinclair’s. Cafe Sinclair’s features a freshly made menu ranging from a simple bowl of fresh fruit to classic eggs Benedict (located just off the atrium behind the fireplace).
Other Noteworthy Mentions – Amenities
French Lick Resort is massive and they offer so many things that it was impossible for us to do everything in one short weekend. But we want to share things that you might love to include in your weekend itinerary. Here is a list of some of what we left off, but this isn’t everything the resort has to offer.
- Shopping (souvenir shops, Jewelry shop, anything you might have forgotten)
- Golf Courses
- Tours
- Fitness Center
- Pluto’s Bowling & Arcade (they have great pizza)
- Several Restaurant Options from fine dining to casual and family friendly
- Bike Rentals
- Sporting Clays
- FootGolf
