Exploring Indiana

Prophetstown State Park at the confluence of the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers features many different hiking trails for hikers of all abilities.

Within the park, you’ll find the 125-acre Farm at Prophetstown, a living history museum with a 1920s motif and hands-on experience with homesteading, gardening, and livestock feeding. It highlights the history of homesteading and native cultures from the area.

The Prophetstown State Park Aquatic Center offers a zero-depth entry pool, a lazy river, and a 30-foot waterslide.

The Tippecanoe Battlefield Park adjacent to Prophetstown State Park memorializes the clash between native inhabitants and new settlers in 1811. This National Historic Landmark includes an 85-foot marble obelisk built in 1908. The onsite museum features exhibits and displays that relate to the battle. There are hiking trails and picnic areas. Interpretive information can be found all through the park.

The Wabash Heritage Trail is a 13-mile pedestrian trail that begins at the battlefield park and ends at Fort Ouiatenon.

Along the way, you can see the Davis Ferry Bridge, McAllister Park, and Happy Hollow Park. It is a lovely river path with scenic nature all around.

Indiana Dunes overlook the shores of Lake Michigan near the border with the state of Illinois. This area offers an unusual landscape that cannot be found in any other place in the state.

At the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, you can find a variety of outdoor activities, and in the adjacent state park bearing the same name you can go hiking, biking or just relax at the beach. Fishing and boating are available and you can go camping and stay at the Dunewood Campground. During the wintertime, the best activities are cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

The Lanier Mansion in Madison was built for James Franklin Doughty Lanier who was a prominent businessman in Indiana around the mid-1800s. Built in the Greek Revival style the house can be found in the National Historic Landmark District. Inside you’ll find some original furnishings and an impressive three-story spiral staircase. Outside are beautiful formal gardens with plants and landscaping styles of the late 19th century. Guided tours are available. Throughout the year some events and programs are offered among them holiday candlelight tours, early childhood programs, and adults-only 1940s Dance Hall celebrations.

The RV/MV Hall of Fame in Elkhart is the place for RV lovers. You can see all kinds of recreational vehicles from various decades. It is a fascinating place where you can see the classic vehicles that Americans have been driving and vacationing in for the past 90 years. Among the popular displays are Mae West’s 1931 Chevrolet Housecar, a “Road Back in Time” walking tour, and a Tennessee Traveler Motorhome, It is all located in a huge showroom displaying trailers, motor homes, photos, and memorabilia that dates back to the 1920s.

The First Christian Church in Columbus has a non-traditional look, with rectangular shapes, and a rectangular tower standing 160 feet high. This is one of the first churches in the U.S. that was built in a contemporary style.

Cataract State Park has the largest waterfall in Indiana. Cataract Falls drops down 86 feet. You can take a hike to the falls with the best time to visit being between December and May. The falls are made up of a long series of cascades and many trails in the state park offer sights of the lovely falling water.

Brown County State Park is the largest state park in Indiana. It was named after the Commanding General of the U.S. Army, General Jacob Brown. The park has been nicknamed Little Smokies due to its likeness to the Great Smoky Mountains. There are horse riding trails, hiking trails, and mountain biking trails. On Trail 5 you can see one of the highlights here the rare Yellowwoodtree.

Kissing Bridges are among the main tourist attractions in Indiana and can be found all over Brown County, Some of the 21 covered bridges are still in use today. These covered bridges are referred to as kissing bridges and were among the few places courting couples could find some privacy hundreds of years ago. October is the month when an annual festival is dedicated to these bridges and held in Parke County.

Turkey Run State Park is located in Parke County. Here you’ll find 14 miles of challenging trails with picturesque views. Here is also the Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve. If you need accommodations you can stay at the Turkey Run Inn.

Clifty Falls State Park is home to some of the most popular events in Indiana like the July Regatta hydroplane boat race and the Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art in late September. The park has lovely nature trails and the highlight here is the Clifty Creek Canyon that runs through the heart of the park, There is another deep canyon where the sun can only be seen at midday and the lovely McCormick’s Creek.

Bean Blossom is one of the most beautiful places in Indiana and is home to one of the many covered bridges in Parke County. It is home to the Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park and Campground hosting an annual bluegrass festival known as the Bean.

East Pierhead Lighthouse at Michigan City is by Lake Michigan which is a popular tourist attraction and the only one of the Great Lakes that is located totally within the boundaries of the U.S. There are many beaches to explore. You can camp on the banks of the river either in Indiana Dunes State Park or the Indiana National Lakeshore. Here you can also find the Bailly Homestead and the Chelberg Framstead Trails and learn more about Indiana’s history.