How to plan the ultimate weekend getaway in French Lick

I just spent a long weekend in French Lick and it was a wild time.

From the golf, the casino, the eats and all around fun this is my new favorite weekend trip in the Hoosier state and I am going to share all my learnings with you.

I’m going to cover your guide to the hotels, the restaurants, and the activities that need to be on your list.

I curated this guide by going down and trying different things and also talking to the locals.

By the end of the video you will have everything you need to plan a getaway to French Lick.

I will be putting out more guides to my favorite things in Indiana on my YouTube channel so if you want to be sure you get my inside advice to the Hoosier state please go subscribe.

Whether it’s a bachelor or bachelorette party, anniversary or a golf trip there is something for you.

Where to Stay

There really are 2 options.West Baden and French Lick Springs Hotel.

They are both part of the French Lick Resort and there are shuttles that get you everywhere you need to go. So you can’t go wrong either way.

Pricing is similar but be aware anytime there is a major event space fills up fast and prices can creep up.

So get out ahead of booking.

We stayed at French Lick Springs.

The room was nice… I would say cozy. So if massive hotel rooms are your thing, you might need to shell out the money for a suite.

I was fine with the room because I didn’t plan on spending much time there.

I loved French Lick Springs because it was connected to everything. You didn’t have to go outside to go to the Casino, or 6 of the on property restaurants. (We will get into that next.)

West Baden is on the opposite side of the property. Kind of off by itself.

I will say the architecture is insane there.

The famous Dome was once the largest free spanning dome in the world and it feels like you are experiencing an awesome piece of history.

If you are trying to really impress someone with the visit I would stay at West Baden. If you are looking for the most efficient place. French Lick Springs is your place.

The Golf in French Lick

Currently there are 4 courses within the resort.

The Pete Dye Course, The Donald Ross Course, Valley Links and Sultan’s Run in Jasper.

In Spring of 2025 they will be opening up Sand Creek which will be a nice little 9 hole par 3 course.

Let’s start at the top.

The Pete Dye Course is insane.

It’s going to cost you $400 + your Forecaddy fee of $40.

This course is not for the faint of heart. They have hosted insane events like the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, Senior PGA championship, and several big name college golf events.

It is truly a picture perfect backdrop.

The rolling hills and foliage feel like they belong in a nature documentary.

If you are a golf fan this needs to be near the top of your list.

Next we head to the Donald Ross Course.

This is more affordable at $150 per regular round. And won’t eat 15 of your balls like pete dye would do to me.

Again you have just an incredible environment all around you as you play the #2 public course in Indiana.

In my opinion Valley Links is the chillest of all the courses.

If you and your friends are looking to swing the clubs and hang out this is for you.

It’s a totally walkable nine holes that is fun if you have a wide range of skill levels.

Weekend 18 is $60 or if you want to play 9 it’s $45

Then you have Sultan’s run over in Jasper. During peak season this is going to run you around $105 for the best Tee times.

Everyone raves about the 18th hole here. Saying it is Possibly the most dramatic signature hole in the state of Indiana.

You will end the round wanting to play again.

All in all the golf at French Lick is unmatched.

If you want to go deeper on the golf check out the videos from when Good Good Golf hosted their midwest open in French Lick and reviewed the course.

Activities in French Lick

Let me tell you there was no shortage of fun here.

For us it started in the casino.

There were enough tables that we didn’t have long wait times to play together and when we needed a minute we went over to the sports book to watch some games on the big screen. So even if you aren’t the biggest gambler there is fun to be had here.

Outside of the casino there were tons of other activities as well.

The have ranges where you can shoot sporting clays or practice archery. Which is awesome if you want a fun group activity.

For 100 target rounds its going to cost you $200 per person. That includes your own shotgun, shells, safety glasses and golf cart.

Archey will run you $60 per person if you rent a bow.

Those are the most expensive options so it goes down from there.

If that is not your thing no worries you can head over to the horse stable

Now you can tour the stables and check out their 27 horses. That is going to run you $5. (Help buy those ponies some hay.)

If you want to go riding it’s going to be $110 for 90 minutes.

You can explore 6 miles of trails through beautiful southern indiana on this guided tour.

If you bring your kids they also offer pony rides for $25.

You can use the shuttle to get over there.

We elected to rent a Surrey bike for a couple hours.

They have a 2, 4 and 6 seater. We brought our own blue tooth speaker and had fun putzing around the property.

I would say it was a mild workout. Luckily a lot of the sidewalks and trails we went on were relatively flat.

It was a fun way to explore the property.

They also have normal bikes and E-bikes you can check out.

Then we got in an hour or so of pickleball.

We forgot our paddles at home so it was $20 per hour to rent a set.

I strongly encourage you to bring your own and play for free.

The French Lick Springs pools situation was awesome.

They have 2 outdoor pools and one indoor. They also have a hot tub.

During the summer months there is a bar out in the area so i highly recommend a few beverages poolside if you go during the summer.

We also played our own round of 9 hole disc golf making our own holes as we go. It was totally free and a fun way to kill an hour messing around outside.

The final activity to check out is the bowling alley and arcade.

They have 6 lanes that you can reserve for $50. Hour.

This is another really fun group activity to mix things up.

Best Places to Eat In French Lick

Now I will give it to you straight.

The food on the resort was alright but it wasn’t my favorite.

We went to Power Plant, Ballards and the Valley Bar and Grill.

The sports bar at Valley Bar & Grill was my favorite. And the wings were my favorite thing we got there.

I have 3 recommendations for you off of resort property and a bonus to grab a drink.

First if you are looking for a really nice upscale dinner. Go to Moo Moos. This was a fire steakhouse with amazing cocktails.

We got the Foie Gras. I had never had it before and it was amazing.

I also got the filet and it did not disappoint.

Additionally in French Lick there are two amazing sports bars. Legendz and 33 Brick..

33 Brick was my favorite. It had amazing food and is a nice nod to the legend Larry Bird.

We got the Philly Chips which was basically a cheesesteak over housemade chips.

IT did not disappoint.

Finally we are talking breakfast.

You have to go to The Bagel Bistro across from west baden.

We walked there from our hotel and it was a little over a mile. (We took the path down the train tracks which is not the way you should go.)

The place was hopping and wait times were 20-30 mins but the bagel and the coffee were well worth the wait.

If you have a few too many drinks and are looking for a bigger volume breakfast the Grand Colonnade had a really good buffet for $21.

Fill up there and then go sweat it out on the pickleball court. Great recipe to bounce back.

Summary:

All in all French Lick was the ultimate weekend getaway. It truthfully has everything you need for an amazing weekend.

Once you get parked you honestly don’t have to drive the entire weekend. They have shuttles and everything else is super walkable.

Whether you like activities or just sitting by the pool relaxing you can find something for you at French Lick.

I am already planning my next trip back there with all of my college friends.

If you liked the info and want to see more of these guides please subscribe. If there is something i missed or you have questions let me know in the comments!

If you want even more inside Indiana intel. Listen to my podcast Get IN. where I interview the coolest Hoosiers and uncover stories of what makes Indiana amazing.