a hoosier spring break

SPRINGTIME IN THE

STATE GETTING AWAY CLOSE TO HOME

By Tessa Judge

The welcomed arrival of springtime in Indiana means donning lighter jackets, enjoying longer days and planning for spring break. While this postwinter getaway can sometimes feel like an intimidating week (or two) to plan for, whether in terms of finances or taking time off of work, living in the great state of Indiana certainly makes it easier. With multiple destinations within driving distance of home, creating springtime memories can be done with a day trip, long weekend or full week. Pick one of these three cities and add these spots to your travel itinerary for a trip to remember!

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CORYDON As Indiana’s original state capital, Corydon prides itself on maintaining its rich history while continuing to grow and modernize. Amanda Ramos, Marketing Manager at the Harrison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, says their recent rebrand is a big step in the right direction for locals and visitors. “We know who we are now and we’re excited to share it,” Amanda said. “We’ve seen a lot of grant money, state money and private investments coming in to revitalize historic buildings and bring new businesses into downtown.” Two of these new businesses are sister, locally-owned restaurants, 1816 Modern Kitchen & Drinks and Tavolo Italian Bistro. Both spots offer options for kids, ensuring that everyone who comes by for a meal leaves happy. “1816 is small and intimate and has a focused menu, with their twist on southern classics like fried green tomatoes. They also have a cocktail menu with a drink called the Old Capital Fashioned, an ode to Corydon being the first state capital, which I think is really cute,” Amanda shared. “Tavolo is a little bigger and contemporary. The menu is very pasta-forward and delicious.” As the weather warms up, you’ll want to lace up your walking shoes and enjoy some fresh air. Downtown Corydon is a very walkable area, with a four-mile urban trail that weaves through town and leads into a nature preserve.

“The trail is mostly paved, making it easy to navigate with a wheelchair or stroller,” Amanda said. “We’re trying hard to be better about accessibility tourism because we want everyone to be able to enjoy Corydon.”

For history junkies, the Corydon Capitol building and the Harrison County Discovery Center are fun and interactive stops. For art lovers, Zimmerman Art Glass hosts live glass blowing demonstrations. For cave lovers, guided tours of the numerous caves and caverns in the area are strongly encouraged. Just two and a half hours south of Indianapolis, Amanda likes to describe Corydon as the perfect place to, “Stay close to home and ditch your car for the day.” We have to agree. Learn more about all there is to do this spring in Corydon at thisisindiana.org.

FORT WAYNE Indiana’s second-largest city is growing more impressive by the minute. Home to three rivers, Fort Wayne plays host to many nationally celebrated cultural attractions and parks, including the newly opened Promenade Park. Jessa Campbell, Marketing and Communications Manager with Visit Fort Wayne, says this park should be a top priority when visiting. As part of the city’s efforts to revitalize its riverfront, Promenade Park promises fun for the whole family. Engage in a little friendly competition with their ping pong tables or cornhole sets. Grab a bite to eat at the Trubble Riverside Cafe. And when the weather’s right, splash around in the Doermer Kids’ Canal or with a paddleboard, canoe or kayak rental. When you’re ready to escape inside, Jessa recommends a visit to Science Central. “The museum has more than 120 exhibits and is very hands-on. Younger kids can play in the preschool area, while older kids can enjoy the interactive exhibits throughout the museum.”

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Jessa also suggests a factory tour of DeBrand Fine Chocolates, where visitors will learn about the company’s history and chocolate-making processes, and enjoy their fill of sweets along the way. Parkview Field (home of the TinCaps) is another spot insiders recommend for baseball lovers and families. “It’s a great downtown field, and visitors can walk around the entire facility, which you don’t usually get to do at a ballpark,” Jessa said. “There’s a playground with a splash pad when the weather is good, a rock wall, games and entertainment between innings.” A quick two-hour drive north of Indianapolis, Fort Wayne is bursting with activities and an easy road trip for all ages. Head to visitfortwayne.com for even more ideas!

CARMEL Consistently named one of the best places to live in the country, Carmel continually strives to outdo itself. Whether your family enjoys the arts, museums, games, eating out or being outside, Carmel’s got you covered. Melanie Brewer, Project Manager in the Community Relations & Economic 8.

Development department at the City of Carmel, gushes about Meet Me on Main, which takes place on the second Saturday of every month. And as the months get warmer, the popular event only gets better. “Formerly known as Second Saturday Gallery Walks, we have live music performances outside, face painting, caricature artists and shops stay open late,” Melanie said. “It’s a really fun day for families and people of all ages.” Adjacent to the Monon Trail is an area known as Midtown Carmel, designed to connect the Carmel Arts & Design District with the Carmel City Center. What was once an industrial part of Carmel is being transformed into a family-friendly public plaza. “It’s a really fun spot. It’s lined by a few restaurants, like Sun King and Fork and Ale House, both with outdoor seating,” Melanie shared. “When the weather’s nice, there are cool chairs around the plaza, ping pong and pool tables, and green space for running around and relaxing. There’s also a candle-making shop, among other retailers. We really wanted to create a family-friendly community space, one that everyone would enjoy.” 10.

When you’ve had your fill of shopping and eating, explore some of Carmel’s unique museums. The Museum of Miniature Houses is exactly that and definitely worth a visit. The Carmel Art Council’s World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery, officially designated by the Guinness Book of World Records, is a really fun spot to see budding local artists’ art on display. And just one block south of Main Street is the Carmel Clay Historical Society at the Monon Depot Museum, with rotating exhibits and seasonal programs for all ages. Making the drive immediately north of Indianapolis to explore Carmel is a great way to spend a few days as spring approaches. With more businesses and restaurants opening all the time, you can easily create a fun staycation. Find more at visithamiltoncounty.com.

1. Zimmerman Art Glass, Corydon 2. 1816 Modern Kitchen & Drinks, Corydon 3. Squire Boone Caverns, Corydon, 4. Historical Downtown Corydon, 5. Fort Wayne TinCaps 6. Harrison County Discovery Center, Corydon 7. Fort Wayne Zoo 8. Promenade Park, Fort Wayne 9. Meet me on Main, Carmel 10. Midtown, Carmel

skin secrets: TRY NEW OPTIONS: UPDATE YOUR COMPLEXION FOR A FRESH LOOK

As the long, gray Indiana winter starts to give way to brighter days, it’s pretty typical for many of us to want to metamorphose into a brighter version of ourselves, too. While drastic measures such as purging your closet of anything black, gray, navy or woolen can lead to dire consequences next fall, there are more and more options when it comes to updating your complexion.

Revanesse® Versa is one of the newer tools in our arsenal of dermal fillers. This hyaluronic acid injectable can last up to six months and is one of Master Injector Amanda Bouslog’s favorite treatments to create a fuller lip.

‘Versa is fabulous to give that soft, pouty lip that so many women want. It’s not as firm as other fillers and it actually pulls water from your body to help create volume. I love that the finished look is full, but not super taut; the look is really natural.’ – Amanda Bouslog, Master Injector for Eppley Plastic Surgery

While Versa is a great lip builder, Amanda finds that people tend to focus first on their eyes when they think of doing a ‘little something’, especially if they’ve never tried any injectable treatments. ‘Botox is my absolute go-to in terms of delivering results that the patient can see but are not as discernable to anyone else. If you feel like you look tired – a neuromodulator like Botox or Xeomin or Dysport is the answer. Eyes look lifted, brighter and wider after treatment. I also like to add a tiny bit to the tail of the eyebrow to give a lift there as well.’ With over a decade of experience, Amanda has learned how to assess each face individually to ensure her patients get the most out of their time with her. ‘So many of my patients have come to me for years, and over time I’ve modified their treatments based on how their faces age. That is the main reason I use so many different fillers and neuromodulators. There is no one perfect formula that works for every area of the face. Belotero, Restylane, Juvederm, just to name a few, are always available at our practice so that I can deliver. Lift, brighten, fill, sculpt – there are tons of possibilities.’

Master Injector Amanda Bouslog can be reached exclusively at Eppley Plastic Surgery at abouslog@EppleyPlasticSurgery. com or via phone at 317-706-4444.