Summer heat? No sweat.
If you’re more of a penguin spirit animal and lover of winter weather, then listen up. There are plenty of ways to beat the heat during your visit to French Lick Resort. Time to check in and chill out.
18 Hours of Pool Time
It goes without saying that the pool is where you want to be. Especially if you’re a morning person or night owl. The pools at West Baden Springs Hotel and French Lick Springs Hotel open at 6 a.m. and are available until midnight if you’re looking to avoid the daytime rush or afternoon heat.
At West Baden Springs Hotel, you can order a bite to eat or a drink without leaving your chair. At French Lick Springs Hotel, stop inside Spring No. 8 restaurant or the poolside Paradise Point bar for a Classic Mojito, Cucumber Bloody Mary, or try the frozen Dream Colada.
We All Scream
The most stressful part of the trip? It’s not packing beforehand, and it’s not getting the GPS figure out.
It’s choosing an ice cream flavor.
Our ice cream at French Lick Resort is made locally by Zax Creamery, including a couple custom-made flavors only sold here. Stop by Xanadu Coffee & Creamery at West Baden Springs Hotel for the Chocolate Dome ice cream, or try the Derby Pie flavor at French Lick Mercantile Co. just off the lobby at French Lick Springs Hotel.
And when in doubt? Make it a double (or triple) and enjoy a few flavors. Hey, it’s summer vacation after all.
Treat Yourself at French Licks
Speaking of ice cream, you’ll want to scoot over to French Licks ice cream shop (a short walk from French Lick Springs Hotel) for cool treats galore. They’ve got a dozen flavors of homemade ice cream, including the newly arrived cotton candy.
French Licks also iced coffees, Lotus energy drinks, milkshakes, sundaes, frappes, frozen lemonades, teas, bobas and floats in addition to tasty pizzas and lunch items.
An Alfresco Atmosphere, Indoors
If you like the idea of dining outdoors but aren’t a fan of the sun and bugs that go along with it, then Ballard’s in the Atrium is a terrific compromise.
This restaurant is tucked in the corner of the West Baden Springs Hotel atrium, giving outdoor vibes from sunlight peering through the dome skylights. But don’t worry, the AC is cranked up to keep you comfy and cool. Ballard’s Chicken Salad Plate, Salmon Caesar Salad or Maine Lobster Roll — paired with a Hendrick’s Cup — hits the spot on a hot day.
Cold Drinks, Sunrise to Sunset
Morning: start the day with an iced coffee and a relaxing rock on the veranda. Quiet summer mornings here are one of life’s little pleasures.
Later, take a resort shuttle up to Hagen’s Club House Restaurant for a round of cocktails and mocktails: maybe a Pink Whitney for mom, a Kentucky Bourbon Mule for dad, and a Merry Cherry (our version of a Shirley Temple) for the little ones.
Don’t forget about the late-afternoon happy hour specials, then end the day at 1875: The Steakhouse with a Lemon Drop Martini or refreshing Classic Cosmopolitan.
Cool Options Indoors
Did you know you can take an air-conditioned tour outdoors?
Board the bus for a Historical Trolley Tour, which takes you for spin around town to learn about the rich history of our local communities of French Lick and West Baden Springs. The summer season also features a number of unique historical tours inside our historic hotels.
Looking for something a bit more active? Don’t forget you can go bowling and play arcade games without stepping foot outside French Lick Springs Hotel. Hit up Pluto’s Alley on the lower level for all the fun.
Cryo Leg Revive
The coolest treatment at The Spa at West Baden. This cryotherapy ritual incorporates an herbal cooling wrap and hydrating milk to moisturize, plus a lymphatic dry brush and gentle scrub. For those with stressed and tired legs and feet (i.e. anyone, pretty much) this is a great pick-me-up during summertime.
Marengo Cave
A 40-minute drive from French Lick Resort. And 52 degrees year-round.
Just what the doctor ordered when the heat index is pushing 100.
Marengo Cave is Indiana’s most-visited natural attraction with a pair of tours that offer two totally different experiences. The Crystal Palace Tour is 40 minutes and takes you through formation-filled rooms and huge flowstone deposits, while the 60-minute Dripstone Trail Tour showcases delicate soda straws and totem pole stalagmites. Take your pick or do a combo tour of both.
Make a Big Splash
Can’t go wrong with a day trip to the water park. Big Splash Adventure is just minutes from the resort with 40,000 square feet of wet and wild fun. This is a place where the kids can splash and romp for hours on end … and sleep well later. Grab a day pass and dive in.
