French Lick

Bottled supposedly curative water has gone out of fashion, but visitors come for the astonishing architecture, along with shopping, a casino, pools, spas, golfing and family activities at French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs Hotels. French Lick Springs Hotel, where the casino is located, is tucked into the hillside within view and about two blocks from downtown. The town has a scattering of appealing places, such as the Fox Hollow Gallery and independent restaurants, such as 33 Brick or French Lick Winery, but it's still a work in progress with historic renovations continually underway. The area is growing as a family destination, with the hilltop Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park and Resort featuring one of the world's biggest retractable water park roofs and 154 rooms. A laser tag and go-cart place also has opened. Even if you're not the water park type, it's worth a drive up to Big Splash just to take in the view of the valley -- especially the West Baden Springs Hotel's pale yellow dome rising above the forest.