I vividly remember my first trip to Indiana; how huge I thought Indianapolis was. I remember not understanding how the entire middle of the state was the “city” and the enormous amount of traffic flowing through and around it. Ah, the good old days.
I also remember how I thought the city stunk. I had never smelled city air before and it was very different from my home in the Tennessee valley. But one thing I never expected was for this state to grow on me. (I found out it smells great if you escape the city!)
What types of Adventure await in Indiana? Well, that will depend on your interest level in nature and history.
Historic Indiana Adventures
Admire Architecture
History means different things to different people. Downtown Indianapolis is rich with its developmental history. The city host beautifully colorful buildings of many sizes. There’s a revolving restaurant named Eagle’s Nest situated atop the Hyatt Regency Hotel that slowly rotates. From here you’ll observe breath-taking 360 degree panoramic views of the city. This place is pricey, but dubbed one of the most scenic & romantic places in the US.
Another attraction downtown is the oldest building in Indianapolis, Christ Church Cathedral located on the Monument Circle. It’s an English Gothic Revival style structure built 1857. Personally, this is one of my favorite buildings.
While you’re in Monument Circle, check out the awesome statue situated in the middle! At Christmas time, lights are strung from top to bottom to create a giant “Christmas tree”. Every winter I’ve been there, I’ve also seen large nut cracker statues and horse-drawn buggies in the streets.
Architecturally speaking, Indiana is home to almost 500 covered bridges in just a few counties (Parke & Putnam Counties out west of Indianapolis & Rush County is east of Indianapolis). Although these bridges are scattered through the state, the highest concentration are in the above mentioned counties. Southern Indiana has a vast amount of historically preserved metal bridges.
One of my favorite places is Oldenburg Indiana. It’s commonly know as the Village of Spires. There’s a massive number of German styled buildings with beautiful steeples or Spires on them. There’s a German festival held here annually. The street signs are written in English and German.
Musical History
Indiana is home to many famous musicians, artist, writers, producers and studios. From Jazz to Hard Rock, Indiana has a rich musical history.
Elvis’ last performance was in Market Square Arena in downtown Indianapolis on June 26th 1977.
John Cougar Mellencamp’s boyhood home town os Seymour, Indiana. It’s a mid-sized town south of Indianapolis. If you want a guided tour, you could pick up a copy of “The Roots of an American Rocker” on CD. Listen to it as your cruise through Seymour.
Another famous musician from Indiana is Michael Jackson! (This of course would include the entire Jackson clan.) The Jackson family began in Gary, Indiana. That’s far northwest in the state just south of Chicago. This is another drive-by and see from your car type visit. The town is mostly falling apart, but his boyhood home is immaculately kept and there’s a monument to admire.
On your way to the Jackson home, stop in and see Lafayette, Indiana. This was the home town of many punk rock & hard rock artist including Axel Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Rise Against, and many more. It’s located northwest of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago.
Southern Indiana is considered part of the Upland South. A term used by many to describe origins of country music.
American Indian Adventures
Mound State Park is located in Anderson, Indiana which is north od Indianapolis. If you’re looking for a more centrally located museum, The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is located in downtown Indianapolis on Washington Street.
The Indian Chief Tecumseh’s monument is located in Vincennes, IN (very southwest of Indianapolis by a few hours drive).
Battleground Indiana is a small town rich in Native American history. Read more here http://www.battleground.in.gov/history/
Prophetstown Indiana is another small town in Lafayette Indiana where the Prophetstown State Park is located. It’s named after Tenskwatawa.
These are just a few to explore. When you arrive in Indiana signs, pamphlets, and the Hometown folks will point you to additional sites. Indiana is also home to arrowhead hunting like many other states are. Arrowhead hunting is not actually hunting in the conventional sense. It’s basically just walking and looking down as you take each step. Many farmers in their youth found artifacts laying on top the ground after plowing their fields or stuck in the tread of their tractor tires. So, hunting is really just being observant.
Outdoor Adventures
Clifty Falls in Madison Indiana is a favorite for many hikers. It’s located to the extreme south-east of Indianapolis near the Ohio State line. The trails are moderately challenging and the scenery is beautiful. In the fall, the autumn colors paint a beautiful palate and in the spring the moss begins to spread a gorgeous soft bed atop many of the massive rocks.
Brown County Indiana is where the Brown County State Park is located due south of Indianapolis. The locals have dubbed the area “The little Smokey Mountains”. Personally, being from Knoxville and spending a lot of time in the real Smokey Mountains, I don’t see the resemblance. Brown County is also home to a small town Nashville Indiana. It’s been compared to Gatlinburg Tennessee, but again… It’s so tiny, I don’t see it.
There are many other Adventures waiting for you in Indiana, I haven’t experienced. Try out rafting pr canoeing in Tippecanoe, or exploring the Indiana Caverns in southern Indiana. If northern Indiana is more your thing, head out to Dunes State Park.
If you’ve found a special spot worth sharing that I haven’t mentioned, please let me know in the comments below!
I’ll be adding some more photos to this article soon 😉
Love,
Chrissy
It’s so cool that you found arrowheads! I remember going arrowhead “hunting” when I was in the Girl Scouts!
I didn’t know the Girl Scouts did that! 😎
I went Indiana a few years ago! I will be visiting soon as one of my friends stay there!
Well I hope you’re able to go out on an adventure while you visit your friend!
I’ve driven through Indianapolis once. I did’t have the time to stop and see any cool sights like this. I will have to back sometime so I can actually experience it.
Definitely. Happy adventuring!
Wow this is such a nice looking place, I have not even thought of Indiana as a travel place.
Shoot yeah! Check it out.
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.jsI’ve never actually visited Indiana before. I may have passed through it. The structure in downtown are very neat looking.
You should so stop in and explore when you can.
I love visiting travel destinations that are rich in culture and history. That means that you can connect to the past of that location.
Yes 😀 It’s a feeling like no other 💗
Reblogged this on Truth Troubles.
Thanks! 😀
Very good article ma’am. I am going to reblog this one for you.
Thank you! 💗
I have never been back east to Indiana to visit my friend. She usually comes out here. This is making me want to go back there and visit so I can catch some pretty cool things out there.
My husband would probably love to visit Village of Spires, as would I. His great grandparents immigrated from Germany. I’d love to visit at Christmas…It would be awesome to see the city at night. LOL, now I can’t get the song Gary Indiana out of my head!
Right?! I get it 😀
Thank you for this well written and very interesting read! I’d like to visit Indians soon now! 🙂
Thanks Cecilia
Nice post. I was born and raised in Indianapolis and now live in a much bigger city (Atlanta). It’s kind of funny hearing someone thinking of Indy as a “big” city, but we all have different perceptions. Anyway, it’s a lovely town and make sure to visit a couple times a year. You highlighted some of its gems for sure.
Thanks. Do you think I missed anything that should have been included?
I don’t think I’ve fully explored Inidiana! There’s definitely plenty of things to do there! Thanks for sharing all the awesome sights. The church is stunning!
No problem-O
Thanks for sharing! I’ve never been to Indiana but it looks like such an interesting and historically rich place. It would be fun to take a trip and explore!
Definately!
Indiana has so much to offer, unfortunately when I was travelling across USA I couldn`t make it to Indiana
Maybe you’ll get a chance to swing back through 😀
Regardless of the amount of times I’ve seen the jackson movie, I had no idea they’re from Indiana.
Yepper! Maybe you’ll get a chance to see it one day. It’s a run down neighborhood falling apart and then you see the humble small home immaculately kept in the middle of it.
I don’t know a whole lot about Indiana, but it sounds like there’s a lot to do. The Eagle’s Nest restaurant sounds really cool. I bet Monument Circle is really pretty at Christmas.
It is and colder than a well digger’s digger!
I’ve never been to Indiana before but I have a surprisingly large amount of friends who grew up and went to school there! I missed out on my chance to visit when one of my friends got married but hopefully I’ll get another opportunity to head over there and hopefully have some of the fun adventures you wrote about!
I hope you get to visit Amanda 😀
thanks for the facts on Indiana, don’t really hear much about the history of that place! I loved Michael Jackson (still play his music with the kids of course!) I’ll have to take a visit there soon, it shouldn’t be too hard to pull off as I don’t live too far from there (MN)
Hmmm… You ARE close by. Definitely take a trip to Indy.
I love your post. Indiana sounds really fun and has lots of things to do. Thanks for sharing.
That’s why I’m here…to show you that every day is an adventure!
I have never been to Indiana. I was suppose to go on a blog trip there last month but I sadly could not make it. My husband has visited.
Oh Amy…you’ve simply got to make a trip to Indy! You deserve an adventure!
We loved Indianapolis when we drove throug on a summer road trip earlier this year. Great children’s museum and good coffee shops. 🙂
Oh yes, great coffee shops! Someone could do an article on just coffee shops in the area. I love be the giant dinosaur on the children’s museum!
I have never been to Indiana, but I have a friend who is from there. She loves her city! It looks like a great place to explore.
It truly is and most folks that live there take for granite how awesome it can be 🙂
Wow Chrissy! I had no idea Indiana could be such a fun and amazing place to explore! I will need to add this to our list of places to see when we start exploring a bit more…
For real! And if you let me know before you go, I’ll tell you about even more to do there! 🙂
This looks like a nice city to be. I like architecture buildings so this is right up my alley. Adding this to my travel list. Thanks!
Groovy. I hope you have an adventure!
Thanks for sharing about Indiana, I’ve never been but it looks like there is lots to see and do. The buildings are really beautiful.
If you live anywhere near it, head on over and check it out.
I live in Ohio, just across the border from Fort Wayne – we spend a ton of time over there! It’s a great state…but man, I think Brown County is WAY overrated. Little Gatlinburg??? No way!!! LOL
Indiana overall is a great state though. Great post!
Right!!??!! My husband was so excited to show me the Little Smokeys and he got mad when I said, “Is this it?”
I’ve never been to Indiana before but i would love to go. There is so much to do there. Thanks for sharing.
Any time darlin’
Never thought of going to Indianapolis before but your review is changing my mind
If you like history in any capacity, you’ll be rock’n it!
I visited Indiana a few years ago and was also surprised by how much there was to see and do there! We really enjoyed Fort Wayne and Indianapolis!
Fort Wayne is historial too. I assumed military families would be familiar with it 😀