Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to Indiana! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Indiana.
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There was a point where I considered Indiana a "pass-through state", meaning somewhere you drove through as quickly as possible to find something more interesting in another state. I've since learned a lot more about Indiana, and I can now confidently say that there are many fantastic attractions and experiences to be had in this state. To start, Indiana is one of the very best U.S. states for museums. There are dozens of top-rated museums in the state, including the #1 children's museums in the country (the Indianapolis Children's Museum). Indiana also has one of the U.S.'s newest national parks (Indiana Dunes National Park) and the top-rated Holiday World & Splashin' Safari amusement park. Southern Indiana offers much natural beauty and features several excellent show caves where guided tours are offered.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN INDIANA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Indiana? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Indiana, in no particular order:
✮ See the sand dunes and enjoy the beaches of Indiana Dunes National Park
✮ Peek into dozens of classic motor-homes at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart
✮ Take the kids to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, widely considered the best children's museum in the country
✮ Catch a NASCAR event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
✮ Ride the rollercoasters at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus
✮ Cycle one of Indiana's great rail trails (e.g. Monon Trail, Cardinal Greenway, etc.)
✮ Watch a college football game at Notre Dame
✮ See the beautiful waterfalls within Clifty Falls State Park
✮ Explore one of Southern Indiana's underground show caves (e.g. Marengo Cave, Indiana Caverns, etc.)
✮ Mail a letter from the Santa Claus Post Office in Santa Claus
If I could select only one place to visit in Indiana, I would choose either Indianapolis for its museums and other attractions, or southern Indiana for its natural beauty.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN INDIANA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Indiana. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Indiana bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Auburn - auto museum with over 100 classic and antique vehicles
✮ Basilica of the Sacred Heart, South Bend - considered the mother church of the Congregation of Holy Cross in the U.S.
✮ Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewanna - small but charming performance venue with musicals and concerts
✮ Casinos in northwestern Indiana - there is a cluster of casinos near Chicago (e.g. Ameristar, Caesars, Hard Rock, and Horseshoe)
✮ Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park, Shipshewanna - petting zoo and drive-through animal park
✮ Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Fort Wayne - one of the top 25 zoos in the U.S.
✮ Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum, Elkhart - the #1 comic book / superhero museum in the country
✮ Indiana Dunes National Park - 15-miles of beautiful beaches and sand dunes on Lake Michigan; excellent hiking trails
✮ Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton - three miles of beautiful beaches & tall sand dunes
✮ Menno-Hof Mennonite, Shipshewanna - learn about Amish and Mennonite cultures
✮ Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend - one of the premier football stadiums in the U.S.
✮ Parkview Field, Fort Wayne - one of the best minor league baseball parks in the U.S.
✮ Pokagon State Park, Angola - beautiful state park that is perhaps most famous for its winter toboggan run and CCC architecture
✮ RV/MH Hall of Fame, Elkhart - see dozens of historic and modern motor-homes (you can enter many of them)
✮ Shipshewanna Flea Market, Shipshewanna - the largest flea-market in the Midwest; open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from May through Sept
✮ Studebaker National Museum, South Bend - museum with lots of autos, wagons, carriages, & military vehicles
✮ University of Notre Dame, South Bend - one of the most attractive universities in the U.S.
✮ Washington Park, Michigan City - Lake Michigan shoreline park with 2 miles of beach, a lighthouse, zoo, and more
✮ Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Elkhart - 20 themed botanical gardens on 36 acres
Central Indiana (including Bloomington and Nashville; see below for Indianapolis)
✮ Bridgeton Covered Bridge, Rockville - 267-foot long red-painted covered bridge
✮ Brown County State Park, Nashville - scenic vistas from rugged hills and ridges; great hiking, mtn biking & horseback trails; rustic lodge
✮ Cardinal Greenway - this fully paved 62-mile trail has two distinct sections; this trail is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Cataract Falls State Recreation Area, Jennings Township - two of Indiana's best waterfalls (Lower and Upper Falls)
✮ Conner Prairie, Fishers - recreates Indiana-life in the 19th century
✮ Exit 76 Antique Mall, Edinburgh - one of the largest antique malls in the Midwest
✮ eXplore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat, Nashville - nature center with zip-lining, paint-ball, and ATV/ORV tours
✮ Grannie's Cookie Jars & Ice Cream Parlor, Metamora - famous ice cream shop surrounded by the largest collection of cookie jars in the world
✮ Indiana Zipline Tours, Crawfordsville - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, Madison - the best of Madison's historic homes; Greek Revival architecture
✮ Model T Ford Museum, Richmond - roughly a dozen Ford Model T vehicles plus other historic vehicles and exhibits
✮ Monon Trail - continuous, fully paved rail that travels for 27 miles from Indianapolis to Sheridan; one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Turkey Run State Park, Marshall - widely considered one of Indiana's best state parks; interesting geology, great hiking trails, and more
✮ WonderLab Science Museum, Bloomington - two floor hands-on science center
Indianapolis
✮ Central Canal - attractive urban walking trails along a water canal; swan boat rides
✮ Children's Museum of Indianapolis - arguably the #1 children's museum in the U.S.
✮ Col. E. Lilly Civil War Museum / Monument Circle - impressive 284-foot tall monument that offers good views
✮ Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art - great Native American museum full of art and other exhibits
✮ Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park - excellent zip-lining and aerial adventure park
✮ Indiana Medical History Museum - one of the best psychiatric medical research museums in the country
✮ Indiana State Museum - exhibits focused on the science, art, culture, and history of Indiana
✮ Indianapolis 500 (event) - famous NASCAR event that is typically held in late May
✮ Indianapolis Motor Speedway - one of the most famous NASCAR tracks in the U.S.
✮ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum - car racing museum on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
✮ Indianapolis Museum of Art @ Newfields - one of the top 25 art museums in the U.S.
✮ Indianapolis Zoo - the second best zoo in Indiana
✮ Lucas Oil Stadium - home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL football team
✮ Tibbs Drive-in Theatre - surviving drive-in movie theater
✮ Victory Field - one of the best minor league baseball parks in the U.S.
✮ Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park @ Newfields - sculpture park and green space with hiking and biking trails
✮ White River State Park - urban green space in downtown Indianapolis with walking trails, zoo, theater, and other attractions
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ Bluespring Caverns, Bedford - underground boat tours through the longest known subterranean river in the U.S.
✮ Boat tours in Madison - e.g. jet boat tours and riverboat tours on the Ohio River
✮ Clifty Falls State Park, Madison - features several waterfalls, rugged canyons, and sheer cliffs
✮ Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus - Indiana's best amusement park; many great rollercoasters and a large water park
✮ Indiana Caverns, Corydon - excellent underground cave tours, including a kayaking option; zip-lining is also offered above the cave
✮ Lark Valley Ziplines, Shoals - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln City - preserved farm site where Abraham Lincoln lived for 14 years
✮ Marengo Cave, Marengo - excellent guided cave tours through a privately owned cave
✮ Santa Claus - a small Xmas-loving town that includes several Santa-themed attractions plus the Holiday World Theme Park & Splashin' Safari
✮ Santa Claus Post Office, Santa Claus - mail a letter and get it stamped with a Santa Claus postmark; a large Santa statue is out front
✮ Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell - take a guided boat tour through a cave; the state park also has a historic pioneer village and hiking trails
✮ U.S.S. LST Ship Memorial, Evansville - visit a decommissioned World War II U.S. Navy landing ship tank
✮ West Baden Springs Hotel, West Baden Springs - a massive historic hotel with a spa, championship golf course, fine dining, and more
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Indiana? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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KY |
MI |
OH
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN INDIANA
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These towns and cities in Indiana are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Angola - a small city featuring Civil War history and many historic buildings; close to Pokagon State Park
✮ French Lick/West Baden Springs - a small town famous for its mineral springs and hotels (e.g. French Lick Springs); close to Spring Mill SP
✮ Indianapolis - the largest city in Indiana is famous for its many excellent museums and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
✮ Madison - a small city with a large historic district filled with many shops and local restaurants
✮ Nashville - a small town with an attractive historic district that includes many boutique shops and art galleries; close to Brown County SP
✮ Santa Claus - a small Xmas-loving town that includes several Santa-themed attractions plus the Holiday World Theme Park & Splashin' Safari
✮ Shipshewanna - a small town with Dutch/Amish cultural attractions; includes the Midwest's Largest Flea Market and the Blue Gate Theatre
My favorite city in Indiana is Indianapolis - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2 nights here
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS INDIANA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Indiana is famous or well-known for:
✮ agricultural industries (e.g. corn)
✮ automotive industry
✮ covered bridges
✮ farms
✮ museums
✮ NASCAR events
✮ nature preserves (there are nearly 300 of them in the state)
✮ sand dunes
✮ show caves
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIANA
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There is currently one national park in Indiana, plus a few other federally-managed parks and properties, including:
National Parks
✮ Indiana Dunes National Park - 15-miles of beautiful beaches and sand dunes on Lake Michigan; excellent hiking trails
National Forests
✮ Hoosier National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
✮ Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
For more information on Indiana's national parks, visit the Indiana page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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Indiana has more than 20 state parks. Many would agree that these represent Indiana's finest state parks:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton - three miles of beautiful beaches & tall sand dunes
✮ Pokagon State Park, Angola - beautiful state park that is perhaps most famous for its winter toboggan run and CCC architecture
Central Indiana (including Bloomington and Nashville; see below for Indianapolis)
✮ Brown County State Park, Nashville - scenic vistas from rugged hills and ridges; great hiking, mtn biking & horseback trails; rustic lodge
✮ Turkey Run State Park, Marshall - widely considered one of Indiana's best state parks; interesting geology, great hiking trails, and more
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ Clifty Falls State Park, Madison - features several waterfalls, rugged canyons, and sheer cliffs
✮ Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell - take a guided boat tour through a cave; the state park also has a historic pioneer village and hiking trails
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN INDIANA
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Indiana has more than 100 natural waterfalls, although most of them are considered seasonal. Here are some of the best waterfalls in Indiana:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ France Park Falls
Central Indiana (including Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Nashville)
✮ Thistlethwaite Falls
✮ Upper & Lower Cataract Falls
✮ Williamsport Falls
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ Clifty Falls State Park waterfalls (e.g. Clifty Falls, Fremont Falls, Hoffman Falls, Little Clifty Falls, Tunnel Falls)
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Indiana, visit the World Waterfall Database.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN INDIANA
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Indiana:
✮ Brown County State Park roads
Other than the roads of Brown County State Park, I'm not personally aware of any scenic roads in Indiana that are notable on a national scale.
The Ohio River Scenic Byway may offer some scenic sections, but I haven't driven it yet.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN INDIANA
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Indiana has several great rail trails in the northern and central portions of the state. Here is a list of many of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in the state:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Erie Lackawanna Trail
✮ Oak Savannah Trail
✮ Panhandle Pathway
✮ Prairie Duneland Trail
✮ Pumpkinvine Nature Trail
✮ Rivergreenway
Central Indiana (including Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Nashville)
✮ Cardinal Greenway - this fully paved 62-mile trail has two distinct sections; this trail is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Monon Trail - this 100% continuous and fully paved trail travels for 27 miles from Indianapolis to Sheridan; this trail is often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Nickel Plate Trail
✮ Vandalia Trail
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Indiana, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN INDIANA
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There are a few notable amusement parks in Indiana:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Deep River Waterpark, Crown Point
✮ Indiana Beach Boardwalk Resort, Monticello
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is considered one of the very best amusement parks in the country. It includes many excellent rollercoasters and a large water park.
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Indiana has a staggering number of excellent museums, including some quirky ones. I would consider Indiana among the top 10 states for museums in the U.S. The best museums in Indiana include:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Auburn
✮ Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne
✮ Griss Air Museum, Peru
✮ Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum, Elkhart
✮ Mascot Hall of Fame, Whiting
✮ Menno-Hof Mennonite, Shipshewanna
✮ Mid-America Windmill Museum, Kendallville
✮ RV/MH Hall of Fame, Elkhart
✮ Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame
✮ Studebaker National Museum, South Bend
✮ World of Motorcycles Museum, Winamac
Central Indiana (including Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Nashville)
✮ Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis
✮ Conner Prairie, Fishers
✮ Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis
✮ Indiana Medical History Museum, Indianapolis
✮ Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis
✮ Indiana War Memorial & Museum, Indianapolis
✮ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Indianapolis
✮ Indianapolis Museum of Art @ Newfields, Indianapolis
✮ Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, Madison
✮ Miller House and Garden, Columbus
✮ Model T Ford Museum, Richmond
✮ NCAA Hall of Champions,
Indianapolis
✮ Rotary Jail Museum, Crawfordsville
✮ WonderLab Science Museum, Bloomington
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ U.S.S. LST Ship Memorial, Evansville
✮ Indiana Military Museum, Vincennes
Indianapolis is one of the very best U.S. cities for museums. For example, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is widely considered the best children's museum in the country. I took my daughter there when she was five and she absolutely loved it.
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BEST DAY HIKES IN INDIANA
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Indiana offers several great hiking trails/areas, including:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Cowles Bog Trail, Indiana Dunes National Park
✮ Dune Succession Trail, Indiana Dunes National Park
✮ Indiana Dunes State Park trails
✮ Paul H. Douglas Trail, Indiana Dunes National Park
Central Indiana (including Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Nashville)
✮ McCormick's Creek State Park trails - e.g. Falls Canyon Trail
✮ Ogle Lake Loop, Brown County State Park
✮ Turkey Run State Park trails - including the suspension bridge and the Ladders Trail (aka Trail #3)
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ Cave River Valley Natural Area trails
✮ Charlestown State Park trails
✮ Clifty Falls State Park trails, Madison (e.g. Trail 2)
✮ Hemlock Cliffs National Scenic Trail, Hoosier National Forest
✮ Spring Mill State Park trails (e.g. Trail 4)
✮ Two Lakes Loop, Hoosier National Forest
The highpoint of Indiana is Hoosier Hill (1,257), located in central-east Indiana only a few miles from the Ohio border. A short hike is required to reach the top.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN INDIANA
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Indiana offers several good backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Indiana include:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Bloodroot Trail, Salamonie Lake State Park
Central Indiana (including Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Nashville)
✮ Adena Trace Loop, Brookville Lake
✮ Low Gap Trail, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
✮ Tecumseh Trail, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
✮ Three Lakes Trail, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ Adventure Hiking Trail, Harrison-Crawford State Forest & O'Bannon Woods State Park
✮ Charles C. Deam Wilderness, Hoosier National Forest
✮ Hoosier National Forest - several backpacking options exist in this national forest
✮ Knobstone Trail, Jackson-Washington and Clark State Forests
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN INDIANA
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Indiana offers many outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking the Knobstone Trail
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Blue River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Flatrock River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on Sugar Creek
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Tippecanoe River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the West Fork of the White River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on Wildcat Creek
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Whitewater River
✮ Cycling the Cardinal Greenway
✮ Cycling the Monon Trail
✮ Kayaking the East Race Waterway
✮ Mountain biking in Brown County State Park
✮ Mountain biking in Griffin Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking in Town Run Trail Park
✮ Rock climbing in Muscatatuck Park, North Vernon
✮ Skydiving in Michigan City
✮ Tobogganing in Pokagon State Park
✮ Tubing on Sugar Creek
✮ Tubing the Tippecanoe River
✮ Tubing the West Fork of the White River
✮ Tubing the Whitewater River
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There are currently two ski areas in Indiana (Paoli Peaks and Perfect North Slopes). Both of these ski areas are very small in comparison to major ski areas found in other states.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN INDIANA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Indiana:
✮ perch
✮ persimmon pudding
✮ popcorn
✮ pork tenderloin sandwich
✮ sugar cream pie
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Indiana (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Indiana (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY INDIANA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Indiana:
State Capital:
Indianapolis
Major Airports:
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Largest Cities:
Indianapolis (901,082), Fort Wayne (265,926), Evansville (117,272), South Bend (103,909), Carmel (103,871), Bloomington (78,920)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-64, I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74, I-80, I-90, I-94
State Highpoint:
Hoosier Hill (1,257); a short hike is required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
NBA: Indiana Pacers
NFL: Indianapolis Colts
WNBA:
Indiana Fever
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Bacon, Floyds Knobs, French Lick, Gnaw Bone, Popcorn, Santa Claus, and Toad Hop
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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the RV Hall of Fame & Museum in Elkhart, Indiana
Indianapolis Children's Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana
Giant Great Dane statue in Brazil, Indiana
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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