24 Spring Things to Do IN Indiana

Springtime is the perfect time to make lasting family memories IN Indiana! Explore scenic outdoor trails, enjoy splash-worthy indoor fun, or check out the world's largest children's museum. With something for everyone, new experiences are in full bloom this season.

Indiana Caves

Explore the breathtaking world of caves and caverns in Indiana! Whether you're a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or just looking for a unique experience, these cave tours will leave you in awe. Discover the beauty beneath our feet with these four stunning cave systems:

• Bluespring Caverns - Take a boat ride along an underground river to see the cave in a whole new way.

• Indiana Caverns - Known for its bones from many different animals during the Ice Age, Indiana Caverns offers fun and education for all.

• Marengo Cave - The large "rooms" found here display an abundance of formations that will make you feel like you are in another world.

• Squire Boone Caverns - Get up close with unique formations and witness underground streams in this enchanting cave system.

Train Rides

• French Lick Scenic Railway – Enjoy over twenty-five miles of scenic track from French Lick to Jasper! The driving force behind the Railway is to provide guests with an experience harking back to a time when rail travel was the primary means of long-distance travel. Riding aboard the French Lick Scenic Railway, you will experience history – no matter if you choose to ride a Scenic Excursion, a French Lick to Jasper Train, a Dinner Train Special, or one of the several Tasting Trains, where a favorite cocktail is paired with a luxurious dessert.

• Nickel Plate Express – Through interactive historical experiences, Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad introduces new generations of Hoosiers to the rich history of rail travel. Sit back and enjoy the sites, sounds, and experience of a ride on the former Nickel Plate Road in our 1950s Santa Fe equipment.

• Spirit of Jasper – The beautifully restored Spirit of Jasper Passenger Train offers more than remarkable excursions. It also creates valuable memories and represents one of the best entertainment values you’ll ever experience. The area’s finest food, beer, wine, scenery, and service crew will make you so glad you came aboard.

Indiana Zoos

Spring has arrived in Indiana, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to get out and explore! A trip to one of our many incredible zoos is a great way to do exactly that. All the animals are becoming more active as they awaken from their winter slumber. It's a great time to observe some of Indiana's unique birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. From special spring festival events to discovering something new, plenty of family fun awaits at a zoo near you!

• Indianapolis Zoo | Indianapolis – 3/23-4/16

• Potawatomi Zoo | South Bend

• Fort Wayne Children's Zoo | Fort Wayne

• Mesker Park Zoo | Evansville

• Columbian Park Zoo | Lafayette

• Washington Park Zoo | Michigan City

Bison Viewing

• Kankakee Sands | Morocco – At one time, more than 50 million bison roamed North America, but by the year 1889, the population dwindled to less than 1,000. A herd of bison was added to the Restoration Area at Kankakee Sands in Morocco to help invigorate the natural prairie landscapes by eating grasses to increase plant diversity. There is a viewing area available to visitors to watch the bison and their calves in their natural state. More than 25,000 acres of land provide additional opportunities for wildlife and bird watching.

• Ouabache State Park | Bluffton – Pronounced “O-BAH-CHEE,” this state park features a 20-acre, fenced area with a small herd of bison. The bison roam in a natural setting within the fenced-off pasture, grazing and doing a fine job ignoring park visitors. While visiting the bison herd, a nearby fire tower can also be climbed for a spectacular view of the lake, woods, and distant bison.

• Broken Wagon Bison Ranch | Hobart – Looking for your very own rare encounter with North America’s largest native land mammal? Broken Wagon Bison gives you the unique opportunity to be literally “surrounded” by their bison herd – in the safety of their Bison Tour Wagon – and watch the newborn calves nurse and play. You’ll get a true sense of the awesome size, strength, and power of these remarkable animals as you watch the one-ton herd bull lumber by… if the herd should break into a run, they can hit speeds of 35 to 50 mph and literally make the ground shake!

Take A Hike

Cure your cabin fever with some fresh air IN Indiana! With plenty of healing hiking territory to check out across the state, it’s hard to choose where to start. Whether you’re more of a leisurely fair-weather ambler or a rugged outdoor adventurer, you’ll want to dust off your boots and set a course to these happy trails.

• Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park | Michigan City – This trail follows along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 Great Blue Heron nests – hence the name. After 60 years of nesting here, the herons have moved on to new nesting grounds. These woods remain alive with dozens of birds, including kingfishers, woodpeckers, and a wide variety of migrating and nesting warblers. In spring, before the trees leaf out, the woodlands along this trail are blanketed with the most extensive display of spring wildflowers in the national park. Trillium, spring beauties, and Dutchman’s breeches are just a few of the flowers you’ll see along this scenic trail.

• Bluebird Hills Trail at Pokagon State Park | Angola – The Bluebird Hills Trail (Number 7) bursts into gorgeous bloom in the springtime – especially the spectacular dogwood trees, rolling out a colorful backdrop of grasses and wildflowers for looping hikes through an open meadow and a wetlands restoration area. This trail begins below Hell’s Point off Trail 3 and ventures deep into the park confines, reconnecting to the start point after almost 2 miles. In addition to the bluebirds and other avian friends, you might also spy deer, rabbits, and other animals just waking up from their winter slumbers, which makes it the perfect location for a springtime hike.

• Trails 2 & 3 at Prophetstown State Park | West Lafayette – Located near Battle Ground where the Tippecanoe and Wabash rivers converge, Prophetstown was a Native American village established in 1808 by the mighty Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa, the legendary “Prophet” himself. This storied landscape teems with wildflowers and native plants each spring – a vibrant welcome mat for hikers of all skill levels. Trail 2 spurs off of the easily navigable Trail 1, traveling through tallgrass prairie, along the banks of Harrison Creek, past a fishing pond, and over a boardwalk into the fen. Keep the journey going by continuing onto Trail 3, a gravel path terrain that leads right up to the river’s edge. Grab a quick breather at the wildlife viewing area, and make sure to stop for a minute and appreciate the wetlands restoration and replacement tree plantings before hugging the Tippecanoe River back to the pond.

• Potato Creek State Park | North Liberty – As a popular park in the Indiana state park system, Potato Creek is the perfect spot to enjoy all of spring’s glory. Enjoy multiple hiking trails ranging from easy to hard. Head over to Trail 4 for over two miles of hiking and be ready to spot a warbler or passerine flying around or resting on a nearby branch. After taking in the wildlife, venture over to Trail 2, which takes you to the highest point in the park.

Indiana Museum and Historic Sites

The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is a statewide museum system with 12 locations. Whether interested in art or architecture, history or science, there’s something for everyone and every interest. The Indiana State Museum is located in White River State Park, in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, and offers a year-round schedule of changing exhibits, hands-on experiences, programs, and events. The 11 state historic sites are located throughout Indiana, stretching from Rome City in northeastern Indiana to Evansville in the southwest.

• Indiana State Museum | Indianapolis

• Angel Mounds State Historic Site | Evansville

• Corydon Capitol State Historic Site | Corydon

• Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site | New Albany

• Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site | Rome City

• Lanier Mansion State Historic Site | Madison

• Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site | Fountain City

• Limberlost State Historic Site | Geneva

• New Harmony State Historic Site | New Harmony

• T.C. Steele State Historic Site | Nashville

• Vincennes State Historic Site | Vincennes

• Whitewater Canal State Historic Site | Metamora

Children's Museums 

• Children's Museum of Evansville | Boasting over 20,000 square feet of galleries and exhibits, The Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe) is housed in a beautiful historic Art Deco building once home to the public library. Children (and their grownups) are encouraged to play hands-on with galleries and exhibits. Popular favorites include performing a play in the 5th Street Theater, splashing in the Wet Deck, climbing through Moe – the two-story duck, playing the laser harp, acting like a booger in a giant nose, and chatting with the talking Mark Twain bust. cMoe is located within walking distance of downtown restaurants and other attractions.

• Terre Haute Children's Museum | The Terre Haute Children's Museum is three stories of fun, laughter and exploration located in the heart of Terre Haute. Our museum is dedicated to exposing children and families to new ideas and experiences. We offer hands-on learning opportunities in a safe, caring environment. From climbing up the trunk of our Tree House, to splashing in the water table at Water Works, to building cars in Fiddling with Physics, we offer something for everyone at THCM! And, don't forget the Ropes Challenge Course. This permanent exhibit features 22 elements to conquer while suspended two or three stories off the ground. We are also proud members of the ASTC Passport program, giving our members access to more than 280 other museums across the nation.

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis | With over 130,000 artifacts housed on five floors of interactive fun and excitement, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the largest of its kind in the entire world! An abundance of exhibits, including Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience, Take Me There: Greece, American POP, Beyond Spaceship Earth, Dinosphere, and more, will provide entertainment for the whole family. The Riley Children's Health Sports Legend Experience is full of heart-pumping sports and physical fitness experiences. USA Today's 10 Best named it America's top children's museum!

Conner Prairie

Plan your outdoor adventure at Conner Prairie today! With over a thousand acres to explore, step into the story and connect with nature. Explore their hands-on educational activities in Treetop Outpost or wander over to Civil War Journey and Prairietown to fully understand Indiana history. With special spring programs and events, new discoveries, and experiences are always waiting for you.

Mascot Hall of Fame: 

Mascots are worldwide, but only Indiana has a museum dedicated to immortalizing these works of art and the humans inside them. The Mascot Hall of Fame sits inside a curiously designed building that houses a hall of fame and a hands-on museum dedicated to teaching children and adults about the craft of mascot building. With interactive stations where guests can shoot a t-shirt cannon, audition to be a mascot, build a giant mascot using parts from the “Limb Locker,” and work on their mascot skills using a giant glove simulator, everyone who visits will walk away with a new appreciation for mascots and mascot makers.

Fair Oaks Farms