Looking for a fun and interesting way to explore the Hoosier State? This alphabetized list of suggestions covers all manner of distinctive things to see, do, eat and experience in every corner of Indiana:
A- Antique Alley
Loaded with retro treasures and vintage wares just waiting to be discovered, Antique Alley along U.S. 40 (a.k.a. the Old National Road) from Knightstown to Richmond is home to more than 1,200 shops and dealers to browse with a main hub that lies in the stretch between Cambridge City and Centerville in Wayne County.
B- Bob Ross Experience
Pay tribute to “The Joy of Painting” artist’s signature happy little trees and get a behind-the-scenes gander at the studio where he filmed his popular public television show from 1983 to 1994 at The Bob Ross Experience on Muncie’s expansive Minnetrista cultural campus. An upstairs gallery of pieces and a DIY painting workshop space complete the experience.
C- The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The world’s largest facility of its kind, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis houses five floors of hands-on activities, educational displays and rotating exhibits for visitors of all ages to enjoy. The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience ups the al fresco fun during the warm-weather months of the year, but the Carousel Wishes and Dreams operates indoors year-round on the 4th floor.
D- Indiana Dunes
Framed by 15 statuesque miles of Lake Michigan coastline, the Indiana Dunes lakeshore earned National Park status in 2019. More than 50 miles of hiking trails wind through wooded terrain that includes wetlands and a variety of bird habitats. Test your endurance by tackling the 3-Dune Challenge, a scramble up the three tallest sand dunes in the state park counterpart.
E- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis celebrates the diversity of Native American culture and history through art exhibits, festivals and events. The Fifth Third Bank Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure model train display is an annual holiday highlight.
F- Fort Wayne Zoo
Designed with the needs of little guests in mind, the top-rated Fort Wayne Zoo introduces visitors to a global wealth of wildlife with an Australian Adventure, an Asian Trek and an African Journey. Spring for some lettuce to feed the giraffes by hand.
G- George Rogers Clark Memorial
Sitting on the banks of the Wabash River in Vincennes at the Fort Sackville site where the British surrendered in 1779, the handsome George Rogers Clark Memorial is the largest national monument in the country outside of Washington D.C.
H- Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari Water Park
Indiana’s hometown amusement park, Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari Water Park in Santa Claus delivers summertime thrills for all ages with roller coasters, giant slides and rides, live musical entertainment, a lazy river and a wave pool.
I- Indiana State Fair
Corn dogs, funnel cakes and lemon shake-ups; midway rides; live concerts; tractor parades; adorable baby animals… the Indiana State Fair each August is a one-stop summer celebration. Look for the 2024 event to celebrate The Art & Nature of Fun, presented by Newfields.
J- James Dean Landmarks Trail
The James Dean Landmarks Trail in Fairmount immortalizes the Indiana native son-turned-Hollywood heartthrob with an itinerary of stops that includes the Fairmount Historical Museum, the actor’s birth site, his boyhood home and high school, and his final resting place in Park Cemetery.
K- Kokomo Opalescent Glass
Family-owned Kokomo Opalescent Glass has been in operation since 1888, making it the oldest art glass manufacturer in the United States. See how products are created during a public tour, browse a selection of colorful souvenirs in the gift shop, or sign up for a class to learn how to make your very own masterpiece.
L- Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site
Commonly considered the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad, the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site in Fountain City provided safe haven for more than 1,000 escaping slaves during their harrowing journeys north to freedom prior to the Civil War.
M- Marengo Cave
Discovered in 1883 by a couple of curious kids, Marengo Cave (a U.S. National Natural Landmark) is one of a handful of southern Indiana underground attractions available to tour. A choice of options leads guests either through the Crystal Palace or along the Dripstone Trail to admire unique rock formations; both include a short immersion into total darkness.
N- New Harmony
Two different groups attempted to establish New Harmony as their own interpretation of utopian society, albeit unsuccessfully. Today, the existing period buildings, innovative modern architecture, guided tours and two walking labyrinths reveal a fascinating and informative peek at the lore and legends that remain.
O- Oliver Winery
The oldest and largest winery in Indiana, Oliver Winery founded in 1972 just north of Bloomington on U.S. 37 maintains a spacious on-site tasting room, gorgeous gardens and idyllic picnic grounds.
P- Paoli Peaks
Snow bunnies, ski buffs and tubers alike road trip to Paoli Peaks in the south-central section of the state for fast-paced downhill winter recreation.
Q- Quilt Gardens
The Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail find a unique way to marry crafting and gardening. The result is a unique display of more than 1 million carefully tended blooms arranged into patterned displays in and around Elkhart, Bristol, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee and Wakarusa.
R- Rockin' Thunder
Traverse the Ohio River waters on a Rockin’ Thunder New Zealand-style jet boat. This Madison-based operation hosts scenic river tours, 75-mile midweek lunch excursions and a two-day Kentucky River adventure all the way down to Frankfort and back. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagle sightings along the way.
S- Studebaker Museum
South Bend’s Studebaker Museum honors the city’s proud automotive heritage with three floors and 55,000 square feet of space dedicated to displaying storied vehicles and the facility’s collection of automotive artifacts including the carriage that transported President Abraham Lincoln to Ford’s Theater the night he was assassinated.
T- Toboggan Run
Making a pilgrimage north to zip down the Pokagon State Park Toboggan Run’s quarter-mile refrigerated track at speeds up to 40 miles per hour has become an annual wintertime tradition for Hoosier families and visitors from beyond the greater northeastern Indiana tri-state region.
U- USS LST- 325
From its home dock on the Ohio River in Evansville, the USS LST-325 holds the title of last operational landing ship tank still in existence today. Tours led by knowledgeable crew members offer a look at the historic vessel and educate guests as to the valuable role it played in World War II.
V- Vera Bradley
Each spring, the Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale (this year, May 1 through 5) offers devoted fans an opportunity to stock up on their favorite quilted bags, patterned luggage and other lifestyle products from the Fort Wayne-based brand at deep discounts.
W- West Baden Springs Resort
Colloquially referred to as the “8th wonder of the world,” the soaring 200-foot dome that spans the West Baden Springs Resort atrium stuns from every angle. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, the hotel’s most notable architectural feature represents a jaw-dropping feat of engineering.
X- Triple XXX Family Restaurant
Indiana’s oldest drive-in, the beloved Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette’s Chauncey Village, is best known for frosty mugs of its house-made root beer and the Duane Purvis All-American burger, a quarter-pound beef patty slathered with peanut butter and garnished with all the traditional accouterment.
Y- Yellowwood State Forest
Brown County State Park often steals the limelight when it comes to fall hiking and outdoor adventures, but don’t sleep on nearby Yellowwood State Forest. The serene 25,000-acre site features much of the same stunning foliage and rolling terrain for hiking, camping, fishing and hunting, but with fewer crowds.
Z- Zaharako’s Ice Cream Parlor and Museum
Belly up to the bar at Zaharako’s Ice Cream Parlor and Museum in Columbus and treat yourself to an old-fashioned sundae, shake, soda or float topped with whipped cream and a cherry, of course. Stroll through the small on-site museum of nostalgia while you wait for your food and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to hear the 1908 Welte orchestrion in action.
