Small Town Beauty Indiana

The town of New Harmony has a history of utopian societies establishing it. The Harmonists, a group of German religious separatists who aspired to communal perfection, were the first group. They sold the land to entrepreneur Robert Owen, who himself sought to establish an early socialist utopia based on the principles of equality and education. The heirs of these utopians maintain a great deal of their optimism today through designed gardens and unique buildings.

The serene Roofless Church

The Harmonist Labyrinth

The Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary has gardens, fountains, and sculptures.

Enjoy Harmonie State Park with a stroll along the Wabash River.

Although Marshall is a small town, it lies next to a large state park.

The Turkey Run State Park has sandstone canyons and ravines. Both seasoned hikers and leisurely strollers can enjoy a wide range of activities. Visitors enjoy taking the 5-Mile Hiking Challenge, where hikers cross a suspension bridge and several canyons.

Visit the historic Colonel Richard Lieber home, a pioneer home built in 1848 and named for the father of the Indiana park system. (pictured above)

The town of Nashville is surrounded by the rolling hills of the Brown County State Park. It has a quaint downtown area with multiple boutiques and specialty shops.

The Brown County State Park offers visitors outdoor adventures like hiking and horseback riding.

You can go fishing at Strahl Lake.

See the historic 90-foot fire tower.

Another park you can visit nearby is the Yellowwood State Forest. It was named after the endangered yellowwood tree.

The town of Porter is surrounded by the beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park. The area was formerly part of Lake Michigan, but when the water receded, several marshes, sand dune hills, and other habitats were left behind.

Specifically, the Indiana Dunes National Park is situated adjacent to the town of Porter, which serves as a gateway to the park's attractions.

You can enjoy Porter Beach directly adjacent to the shores of Lake Michigan.

Legend has it that a town meeting was held at the local church when kids started yelling that they heard Santa’s sleigh bells outside the church, so the locals named the town Santa Claus.

You can see the historic church at the Santa Claus Museum & Village. The village has a vintage post office with a special box for kids to mail letters to St. Nick. Visitors enjoy the Santa Claus Christmas Store.

The Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari theme park.

One thing that is not Santa-themed is you can see the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, where Abe Lincoln spent his early years when the family relocated from Kentucky.

Vincennes is the oldest town in Indiana. It was established by the French in 1732.

It is home to the 1801 Vincennes University, Indiana’s first university.

Visit the Red House, also referred to as the Indiana Territorial Capitol, in operation from 1805 to 1813, when Indiana became a state.

The George Rogers Clark National Historic Park is nearby, bearing the name of the American Revolutionary War general, and is home to the biggest monument west of Washington, D.C.

Visit the Red Skeleton Museum of American Comedy, which honors the memories of the 20th century's iconic comic.

You might visit the charming Winona Lake community, where it's simple to take a boat out on the water to experience the town’s waterways to the lake by the same name.

Enjoy the Winona Lake Trails hiking through the woods.

See the beautiful sculptures inspired by the Biblical Beatitudes.

Visit the Billy Sunday Home of the evangelist who spoke across the US in the early 20th century.