Long drive or fly to Kentucky from MA, point of interests near my route?

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The BEF Junior Nationals are in Kentucky this year in June, at the same place the BCA trade show is in. The drive is about 14 hours, but if there is anything worth stopping to see along the way, I may talk to my son about doing that instead of flying.

This is the route https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mil...282071fd32!2m2!1d-85.7584557!2d38.2526647!3e0
Or this one https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mil...71fd32!2m2!1d-85.7584557!2d38.2526647!3e0!5i2

I do not want to head though NY as I've driven though there many times already.

Pool room is considered a point of interest by the way, if it's a good one :thumbup:

I think 30 minutes drive off the main road is doable for a detour to visit someplace, I doubt I'd want to drive off course much more than that.

If we drive I'll cut it into a two day drive, 6-7 hrs of driving a day.
 
Last edited:
Ya know, the last time I took a long road trip, I kept seeing signs that said, Clean Rest Rooms Ahead.

I just about didn't get to my destination. I must have cleaned at least 100 rest Rooms.
 
You could go through Lexington, might be some horse racing going on. Stan Shuffett is about 1 1/2 hours South of Louisville, perhaps a bit less. John Brumback is between Cincinnati and Louisville. You could get lessons from either. If you diverted through Indianapolis, you could take him to see the Indy 500 Race Track which also is quite close to Brickyard Billiards.

Good luck and have a safe trip.
 
nope.

you've missed the cheesecake & bagels @ NY.
the cheesesteaks/hoagies @ Philly.
and even the A-Treat soda @ Allentown.

but you might catch some black bears @ NW PA!

yáll be safe.
 
nobcitypool said:
You could go through Lexington, might be some horse racing going on. Stan Shuffett is about 1 1/2 hours South of Louisville, perhaps a bit less. John Brumback is between Cincinnati and Louisville. You could get lessons from either. If you diverted through Indianapolis, you could take him to see the Indy 500 Race Track which also is quite close to Brickyard Billiards.

Good luck and have a safe trip.
Click to expand...

Maybe Stan or John will be at the BCA show, I'd probably book something for my son if they are. I won't take an extra day to travel though to stay too long for sights, maybe 3-4 hours.

My son got a sponsorship that is paying for our trip fully so we will have some extra money for lessons and a bit of visiting.

Neither of us is into car racing, pool is really the only sport he's into. He does not watch any sports on TV and only plays pool and a bit of basketball. He did just start track after his gym teacher said he finished a course faster than some of the good track people hehe.
 
Dear Hang-the-Nine,

I travel your route in reverse every August during a trip to New Hampshire, but I use the upstate New York route. However, I do take your diagonal across Ohio.

Cleveland offers the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland is quite close to Akron, which is right on your route.

You are apparently taking the I-265 beltway around Cincinnati. If you take the northern loop rather than the southern, you will pass within just a couple of miles of Michael's in Fairfield, Ohio, which is really just a suburb of Cincinnati. Michael's is a superb room with an excellent player/owner. Some of Shannon Daulton's tournaments are held there. You want to take the northern bend of I-265, take the exit to Fairfield after you begin the road to Indianapolis. You can just get back on I-265, or right onto I-75, and get back on your southern route for Louisville. The whole thing would be no more than a 30 minute diversion. Be careful on I-75 in Cincinnati. It's a narrow, windy piece of interstate, one of the most difficult stretches in the country, and heavily traveled.

If you take the southern route of I-275, you can take in the art museum in Cincinnati or the restored old train terminal downtown, which is well worth seeing. You can fill your son and yourself up with good food at the Greyhound Tavern on Dixie Highway, easy to reach by I-75 and hardly any diversion from your route at all. Right in the neighborhood, Turfway Park racetrack may be running horses at that time of year. (I haven't checked on whether Turfway or Churchill is running just then.) It's time your son got interested in horse racing.

Another person who wrote in said that you might think about going to Lexington for the racetrack. The horses won't be running at that time at Keeneland (the name of the track), but the track is like nothing else in the world of horseracing. It puts Churchill Downs and Longchamps and everything else to shame. Also, think about a tour of the horse country. (Say hello to my old friend Zanjero who stands at stud in that bluegrass country.) There are organized tours. You say your son is not interested in horse racing, but lots of non-horse people enjoy these tours.

Bardstown, KY, would not be far away, and is a charming small town from two centuries ago with great antique shops and restaurants. Gethsemane monastery is in the neighborhood.

In Louisville, try the Speed Art Museum. There is a pool room downtown called The Bank Shot. I think it is Truman Hogue's home room. I've never been. Churchill Downs may be running at that time. Your son should at least see the place where the Kentucky Derby is run. Try the small diner nearby, called, I think, Hanson's, where all the track people eat for a good meal.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the info! I'll print this thread out in a few weeks and stick it in my case.
I may end up not driving but if I do I'll check on this stuff. I'll probably skip any horse tracks, if I can take longer to get there it would be worth it though.

Tobermory said:
Dear Hang-the-Nine,

I travel your route in reverse every August during a trip to New Hampshire, but I use the upstate New York route. However, I do take your diagonal across Ohio.

Cleveland offers the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland is quite close to Akron, which is right on your route.

You are apparently taking the I-265 beltway around Cincinnati. If you take the northern loop rather than the southern, you will pass within just a couple of miles of Michael's in Fairfield, Ohio, which is really just a suburb of Cincinnati. Michael's is a superb room with an excellent player/owner. Some of Shannon Daulton's tournaments are held there. You want to take the northern bend of I-265, take the exit to Fairfield after you begin the road to Indianapolis. You can just get back on I-265, or right onto I-75, and get back on your southern route for Louisville. The whole thing would be no more than a 30 minute diversion. Be careful on I-75 in Cincinnati. It's a narrow, windy piece of interstate, one of the most difficult stretches in the country, and heavily traveled.

If you take the southern route of I-275, you can take in the art museum in Cincinnati or the restored old train terminal downtown, which is well worth seeing. You can fill your son and yourself up with good food at the Greyhound Tavern on Dixie Highway, easy to reach by I-75 and hardly any diversion from your route at all. Right in the neighborhood, Turfway Park racetrack may be running horses at that time of year. (I haven't checked on whether Turfway or Churchill is running just then.) It's time your son got interested in horse racing.

Another person who wrote in said that you might think about going to Lexington for the racetrack. The horses won't be running at that time at Keeneland (the name of the track), but the track is like nothing else in the world of horseracing. It puts Churchill Downs and Longchamps and everything else to shame. Also, think about a tour of the horse country. (Say hello to my old friend Zanjero who stands at stud in that bluegrass country.) There are organized tours. You say your son is not interested in horse racing, but lots of non-horse people enjoy these tours.

Bardstown, KY, would not be far away, and is a charming small town from two centuries ago with great antique shops and restaurants. Gethsemane monastery is in the neighborhood.

In Louisville, try the Speed Art Museum. There is a pool room downtown called The Bank Shot. I think it is Truman Hogue's home room. I've never been. Churchill Downs may be running at that time. Your son should at least see the place where the Kentucky Derby is run. Try the small diner nearby, called, I think, Hanson's, where all the track people eat for a good meal.
Click to expand...
 
Dear Hang-the-Nine,

One thing I can tell you: that diagonal drive across Ohio is murder. I try to get from Southern Indiana to Fredonia, NY, just past Erie, PA, in one day, and I am not good for much that night. You've got two full days of driving ahead of you even if you don't take any detours.
 
We plan on driving again. It's 14 hours for us also (just coming from the opposite direction). It was 13 hours to Vegas last year and we drove back in a day. This year, on the way up we are stopping in Springfield, Mo. It seemed like a pretty cool place when we stopped there on our way to Milwaukee. On the way home, depending on time, we will probably head home through Memphis (Graceland) and pick up I40 through Oklahoma.
 
Local kid is going. The family is driving from CA to the event. Guess they are making a vacation out of it.
 
Gotta do the Bourbon Trail!

Also check out Bank Shot Billiards when you are there. Really cool room.

Also second the motion to visit Stan or JB!

And check out Keeneland if you are in the bluegrass in April.

Also dining in the bluegrass is second to none, so you will be well fed for sure.
 
You will literally be driving right by my house in Southington, CT and you will be able to see http://www.originalctshooters.com/ right from the highway as you drive by. It is right off and back on interstate 84. Maybe a little over an hour into your drive and just about the time for a coffee/beer break??? :D
 
JBB2388 said:
You will literally be driving right by my house in Southington, CT and you will be able to see http://www.originalctshooters.com/ right from the highway as you drive by. It is right off and back on interstate 84. Maybe a little over an hour into your drive and just about the time for a coffee/beer break??? :D
Click to expand...

Hey, if we drive, I'll send you a PM to get contact info, no issues with a 1hr stop to say Hi!

You're not too far from me either way, I'll keep an eye out for tournaments in that room and will try to head over with my son before summer.
 
Last edited:
About 90 miles south of Louisville is Mammoth Cave National Park. Quite a cave to see (amongst other things), if you have a day to do something else with the family. Check their website for tours, etc. One of the greatest caves in the U.S.
 
Manoman2444 said:
About 90 miles south of Louisville is Mammoth Cave National Park. Quite a cave to see (amongst other things), if you have a day to do something else with the family. Check their website for tours, etc. One of the greatest caves in the U.S.
Click to expand...

That would be a thing I'd head to, but I doubt we'll have the energy for a 3 hr round trip drive and taking the time to walk around there, unless he gets knocked out early and we have a day to do nothing in.
 
I don't have any answers to your original question, I just wanted to pop in and say good luck to you and your son. :)
 
Cdryden said:
I don't have any answers to your original question, I just wanted to pop in and say good luck to you and your son. :)
Click to expand...

It's still months away, but thank you :smile:
I have split feelings about this, if he ends up winning a spot to play at the world junior tournament, my wife already called dibs on going with him. Which means I'll be home babysitting an 8yr old while they are in some exotic country hehe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top