Travel Indiana Spring Issue 2021 by travelindiana.com

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traveliN Spring 2021

a Indian

traveliN Spring 2021

Vol. 11 No. 2

Spring 2021 Telling the Stories of Authentic Indiana

Indiana’s Travel and Lifestyle Magazine

See past issues and plan your weekend getaway at

travelindiana.com

President

Jeff Brown

features

Publisher + Editor

Stephanie Nicol op er at i ons + d i g i ta l m a n ag er

Andrea Pearce A s soc i at e Publisher

Jan Hoffman

Indiana’s Great Outdoors

Historic Landmarks

Indiana’s Picture-Perfect Waterfalls

A s soc i at e Publisher

Amy DeLong design + production c o n s u lta n t s

Mediaworks

highlights

Special Sections

41 Carmel Weekend Getaways

destination

culinary

30 Indiana’s Historic Landmarks

83 Grapes & Grain A Tradition of Progress

Salem Speedway

Hiking at Indiana State Parks

French Lick Winery’s 25th Anniversary

MyersCroxton Group

48 Bringing Family Fun Back to

74 83

design + marketing c o n s u lta n t s

52 Peru’s Fabulous Festivals 58 Getaway to French Lick Resort outdoor 70 Carmel Staycation - On Two Wheels

74 Getting the Most Out of Your

arts 92 Fort Wayne Museum of Art 100th Anniversary

95 Minnetrista Glass Workshops 96 Indiana Glass Trail

Hiking Experience

80 Indiana’s Waterfalls

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

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make payments to: Travel Indiana LLC PO BOX 1472 Columbus, IN 47202

(812) 955-0613

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BONUS IN THIS ISSUE! Be sure to pull out the Indiana Foodways Alliance guide between pages 82 and 83 to help you navigate your way around Indiana’s food trails!

Published by Travel Indiana LLC

f e at u r e d c o m m u n iti e s

Bloomington .. .................... 62

Harrison Count y .. ............. 68

apearce@ travelindiana.com

muncie .......................... 26, 4 4

shelby count y.. .................. 50

Carmel . . .................... 37, 41, 70

jasper count y. . .................. 32

Noble count y. . .................... 25

Steuben count y................. 72

Carroll count y................. 35

kokomo ............................... 16

Parke count y...................... 98

Valpar aiso.......................... 77

Columbus............................ 64

Kosciusko Count y .. ...... 29, 4 3

Perry count y...................... 24

vincennes . . .......................... 33

Dubois CO. .......................... 51

L ake count y . . ............... 20, 23

Peru..................................... 52

Washington CO. ................. 48

fort wayne . . ................. 45, 92

Marshall count y................ 3

pul aski count y.................. 27

White count y . . .................... 21

French Lick.............. 54, 58, 83

Montgomery count y.. ........ 19

Richmond............................ 13

Fulton Count y .. ................. 18

Morgan count y.................. 66

Scot t count y............... 46, 56

Spring 2021

Publisher’s Letter

Telling the Stories of Authentic Indiana

In our story about Indiana’s historic sites and landmarks, you’ll learn about some of the people and places that had a significant impact on not just our state, but also the world.

Thank you Mother Nature for unlocking the door to Indiana’s Great Outdoors—the focus of this issue’s cover story, and a place we can all go to reenergize our minds and bodies. Indiana’s outdoor offerings are almost limitless—hiking and biking trails, on-thewater adventures, ecological exploration, and good old-fashioned outdoor fun—and we’ve included loads of ideas to inspire you to plan your next outdoor adventure. Also in this issue, you’ll read about Indiana’s most beautiful waterfalls, a product of the glaciers that formed the state’s landscape, and a marvel to explore. Many offer fantastic hiking trails along rugged hills and deep ravines. In our story about Indiana’s historic sites and landmarks, you’ll learn about some of the people and places that had a significant impact on not just our state, but also the world. And speaking of history, be sure and check out our feature on the Fort Wayne Museum of Art’s 100th anniversary celebration, which includes a glimpse into each decade of the museum’s collecting history. And in our culinary section, read about the French Lick Winery’s 25th anniversary, and their roots that date back to their 133-year-old family farm. As a special treat in this issue, we have a 16-page pullout featuring the Indiana Foodways Alliance food trails. This handy guide will help you plan your next culinary adventure. And as always, be sure and check out our website, www.travelindiana.com for even more trip ideas. Happy and safe travels!

on the cover

3 Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park PHOTO: Christine Livingston, Indiana Dunes Tourism

Stephanie Nicol, Publisher + Editor

cover story

story by Elizabeth Granger

Spring is calling and Mother Nature unites with a myriad of opportunities that offer oh-so-satisfying adventures. 8

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t was Scouting that led Mark Arenz of Indianapolis to the great outdoors. First, as a pre-schooler with an older brother who was a Boy Scout, and a dad who was a Boy Scout leader. Now, decades later, Arenz himself has his own personal history as a Boy Scout who earned the rank of Eagle and as a Boy Scout leader himself. The outdoors continues its pull on him. Always will, he says. And he continues to encourage others, from greenhorns to skilled naturalists, to play outside. The possibilities are endless, from short nature walks through a park to day-long paddles on the water to multiple nights in a forest tent. Each offers distinct delights.

CLOCKWISE: Canoeing at Chain O’Lakes State Park. PHOTO: Indiana DNR Walking paths at Mounds State Park in Madison County. PHOTO: Anderson/Madison County Visitors Bureau Cope Environmental Center in Richmond. PHOTO: Richmond-Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau Fort Wayne’s Freimann Square. PHOTO: Visit Fort Wayne

... The possibilities are endless, from short nature walks through a park to day-long paddles on the water to multiple nights in a forest tent. Each offers distinct delights.

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Winter had Arenz pining for warm weather and hammock camping. “There’s nothing better in the summer,” he asserts. But first, spring, with its reawakening sights, sounds, smells, …. A short stroll around the neighborhood can lead to walking trails in city, county and state parks as well as on everexpanding rails-to-trails paths. Indiana offers more than 4,200 miles of trails open to the public. Some are especially well-suited for backpacking, biking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, even canoeing and kayaking. The Indiana State Nature Passport program, launched in February, adds further encouragement. “The great outdoors has never been more popular,” says Amy Howell,

ABOVE: At Fort Wayne’s Promenade Park, visitors can take to the water via riverboat cruise or kayak rental. PHOTO: Visit Fort Wayne BELOW: Carmel’s 159-acre Central Park has multiple outdoor attractions including a popular splash pad. PHOTO: City of Carmel

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“The great outdoors has never been more popular. This was evident during the pandemic when regular, as well as first-time users, flooded the parks, campgrounds, forests, rivers, and other natural resource assets. You don’t have to go far to feel far away.” – Amy Howell Director of Communications and Media Relations at the Indiana Destination Development Corporation

director of communications and media relations at the Indiana Destination Development Corporation. “This was evident during the pandemic when regular, as well as first-time users, flooded the parks, campgrounds, forests, rivers, and other natural resource assets. You don’t have to go far to feel far away.” Arenz’s recommendations include many of the sites in the passport program. And more. He suggests checking out the not-so-well-known as well as those wildly popular sites. Brown County, Spring Mill and Fort Harrison state parks, to be

ABOVE: Edge Adventures at Koteewi Aerial Park in Noblesville. PHOTO: Visit Hamilton County BELOW: Patoka Lake in southern Indiana is the second largest reservoir in the U.S. PHOTO: Visit French Lick-West Baden

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sure. Whitewater Memorial State Park near Liberty has become a favorite in recent years. “The coolest thing about it is a full waterfront area on the lake that has both swimming and boating areas, with canoe rentals,” he says. “Fantastic for little kids. Lots of times it’s hard to get a beachy area. The whole time I was there I kept wondering why I hadn’t known about it earlier.” He also likes Falls of the Ohio State Park on the banks of the Ohio River, especially the small caves along the shore when the water is low. “Kids eat this stuff up,” he says. “Dogs love it, too.” There’s also an element of history here. George Rogers Clark established a post on an island at the Falls of the Ohio during the American Revolutionary War. In 1803 Meriwether Lewis stopped there to pick up his friend, William Clark,

ABOVE: Salomon Farm Park is 170 acres that provides green space and a glimpse of life on the farm. PHOTO: Visit Fort Wayne right: Falls of the Ohio State Park. PHOTO: Indiana DNR

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ABOVE: Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Spencer County. RIGHT: Hell’s Point Challenge at Pokagon State Park. PHOTO: Steuben County Tourism

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TOP and left: Winona Lake Limitless Park is a universally-accessible playground complete with splash pad. PHOTOS: Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau

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Fort Harrison State Park in Marion County. PHOTO: Indiana Destination Development Corporation

as they set off on their journey westward – you know, the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Today, the Clark Historic Homesite is within that state park. History looms large at Lincoln State Park in Spencer County, too, where it’s “like taking a step back

into time when the land was wild and Abe Lincoln was a boy.” Across the road is the Lincoln Boyhood National Site. Fort Wayne is situated on three rivers that converge in downtown Fort Wayne offering eight miles of riverfront. Most of the riverfront traveliN Spring 2021

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is kept natural for kayakers, paddle boarders, canoers and boat cruisers to explore. However, the new Promenade Park is a one-of-a-kind park that joins their natural rivers to their vibrant urban center with features like a tree canopy trail, water features for kids to play in, and many modern amenities. In Hammond, you’ll find an abundance of outdoor activities, clustered around

ABOVE and left: White Rock Recreation in Wabash makes kayak and canoe trips easy for beginners. PHOTO: Visit Wabash County

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Wolf Lake Aquatic Play Center. PHOTOS: Hammond Port Authority

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Mark Arenz appreciates the logistics that canoe and kayak liveries provide. PHOTO: Mark Arenz

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three lakes within just two square miles. Wolf Lake Memorial Park is home to boating, kayaking, fishing, windsurfing and a full host of outdoor recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy the Pavilion at Wolf Lake and the Wolf Lake Aquatic Play Center, which are linked to the Hammond Marina and area amenities by way of a pedestrian trail. There’s also the Observatory Pier at George Lake, which allows public access for fishing and bird watching. Another outdoor gem in northern Indiana is Valparaiso, where their city parks encompass more than 700 acres of parkland with of 23 miles of linear pathway, 14 children’s playgrounds, 27 athletic fields and two golf courses. Central Park Plaza,

Wilstem Wildlife Park in Paoli offers ATV Adventure Tours. PHOTO: Visit French Lick-West Baden

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in downtown Valparaiso, features the Northwest Health Amphitheater, William E. Urschel Pavilion, Indiana Beverage Activity Center, splash-pad play area, and so much more. With two prominent lakes, an amusement park, and a drive-in movie theater, White County is a destination that will keep you busy with outdoor fun. There are boat rentals available on Lake Shafer, including pontoons and waverunners. At Indiana Beach Boardwalk Resort you’ll enjoy rides, games, waterpark, camping, and more. When you’re in the area, take in a double feature at the Lake Shore DriveIn Theatre, a classic drive-in that’s been around since 1949. Arenz is hooked on forests, too, Squire Boone Caverns in Harrison County. PHOTO: Squire Boone Caverns

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Newly-constructed deck at Rotary Cove, a lower lake access point from Monticello City Park in White County. PHOTO: Cindy Beck

primarily the Hoosier National Forest and Morgan-Monroe State Forest near Bloomington and Martinsville. He’s particularly fond of the Low Gap Trail for backpacking. Last year Indiana designated Ravinia Woods, a section of Morgan-Monroe State Forest, as a state forest in its own right. Visitor amenities are in the works, but it’s already good for back country hiking. Southern Indiana’s cave system offers a variety of activities that range from walking tours to downright wet and dirty cave crawls. “You get wet, and you may get stuck,” Arenz says. In Harrison County, Squire Boone Caverns has cavern tours that feature amazing cave formations, rushing streams, and waterfalls.

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Instead of sloshing through water, however, he is more likely to stay on the water in a canoe or kayak. He loves the logistics help that canoe liveries provide, driving canoeists to the start of their run and then picking them – and their canoes – up at the end of the run. Noblesville’s White River Canoe Company gets a definite nod. “They really run a good operation,” Arenz says. In Wabash county, White Rock Recreation offers “white glove” treatment, which means they do all the hard work. Their full-shuttle service transports you, the boats, and equipment upstream to your selected drop site to paddle or float back to your car. No heavy lifting, just easy paddling. Their location also

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Sugar Creek Nature Park in Montgomery County. PHOTOS: Visit Montgomery County

Foster Park in Fort Wayne. PHOTO: Visit Fort Wayne

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The Cardinal Greenway is a 62-mile trail that crosses through five counties in east central Indiana.

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has trails, fitness court, outdoor ping pong, ice cream, and woodfired pizzas. Near French Lick, Patoka Lake is the second largest reservoir in Indiana, and the Patoka Lake Marina offers a variety of cabin rentals, boat rentals, boat tours, winery, event space, and a full service marina. Zip lining and ropes courses get people up off the ground. Options include Koteewi Park near Noblesville, Go Ape in Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis and Indiana Zipline Tours in Crawfordsville. Biking trails are everywhere. In Carmel, many of their roadways are interconnected to make an accessible bicycle network including the popular Monon Greenway, the Hagan-Burke Trail, Greyhound

Kokomo’s Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence is just one of the area’s many trails. PHOTO: Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau

Trail, and White River Greenway. There’s also Cardinal Greenway in eastern Indiana (with free bike rental at Cycling and Fitness Warehouse in Richmond), Rivergreenway Trail in downtown Fort Wayne, Monon Trail in Indianapolis, Erie and Lackawanna Trail in Lake County, B-Line in Bloomington, and Nickel Plate in Miami and Howard counties. Outdoor fitness can also be enjoyed on the dunes along Lake Michigan. Indiana Dunes State Park has the popular 3 Dune Challenge, and Indiana Dunes National Park has a new sister challenge – the Diana of the Dunes Dare. Opportunities for those with disabilities are growing with improved accessibility to trails throughout the

state, some with help from volunteer groups that include Friends of the Mounds at Mounds State Park in Anderson. Winona Lake Limitless Park in Kosciusko County is a universally accessible playground where everyone can be included in the play. In practical terms to be “accessible” means the playground will have a surface that is solid (like poured in place rubber or turf) and ramps which helps include anyone with mobility or balance concerns. It also includes features that encourage sensory play such as musical boards and balance beams. At the Marquette Park Lagoon in Gary, there’s a handicapped-accessible launch for canoes and kayaks.

Nationally and internationally known artisans, the Hinshaw family has been creating beautiful jewelry and decorator pieces since 1961. Unique jewelry designed and created by silversmith, Merrill Hinshaw. Named by Lapidary Journal as one of the top ten stone polishers in the nation, the Hinshaws cut and polish stones by hand to create a work of art.

DAILY, 11-5:30 AND BY APPT. 1232 S. COUNTY ROAD 650 W. FRENCH LICK, IN 47432

812-936-7255 HinshawRockNGems.com For visitor info: 812-936-3418 or VisitFrenchLickWestBaden.com

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More ways to enjoy Indiana’s Great Outdoors • Old Town Waverly Park near Martinsville – with a 2-mile river walk trail, historic bank building, traditional arts demonstration areas, mural walls and a new game area. • Lemon Lake County Park in Crown Point – with five disc golf courses. • Holiday Drive-In in Rockport – old-time family fun with affordable nightly double features on six movie screens. • Avon Gardens in Hendricks County – 10 acres of flowering gardens, pond, ravine. • Sugar Creek Nature Park in Montgomery County –covers nearly 64 acres with trails along the creek and boasts outdoor classroom work stations.

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• Crown Haven Center near Kokomo – an equestrian’s heaven with horseback riding, pony rides, more • Cope Environmental Center in Richmond – oodles of outdoor activities. • Outdoor Art Experiences and Art Scavenger Hunt in Kokomo – walk or bike local trails (rental bikes available) and take on the scavenger hunt. • Carmel Parks - The city of Carmel manages and maintains more than 550 park acres including 15 parks and four greenways. • Pokagon State Park in Steuben County - Well-known for its winter toboggan run, this park features two lakes that offer boating, swimming, and fishing during warm months.

• Wilstem Wildlife Park in Paoli - 1,100-acre attraction for animal encounters, ziplining, ATV tours, and horseback riding. • Salomon Farm Park in Fort Wayne - working farm with wetlands, historic buildings, and 1.8-mile walking trail.

Editor’s Note: With the Covid pandemic not yet over, readers are strongly encouraged to check sites’ websites before venturing out. Also check tourism offices for outdoor adventure packages.

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For Even More Information

Avon Gardens www.visithendrickscounty.com

Indiana State Nature Passport Program www.visitindiana.com

Sugar Creek Nature Park www.visitmoco.com

Carmel City Parks www.carmelclayparks.com

Indiana State Parks https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/

White Rock Recreation www.whiterock.eco

Cope Environmental Center www.copeenvironmental.org

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial www.nps.gov/libo/

Wilstem Wildlife Park www.wilstem.com

Fort Wayne Promenade Park www.visitfortwayne.com

Patoka Lake www.patokalakemarina.com

Winona Lake Limitless Park www.visitkosciuskocounty.org

Indiana Beach www.indianabeach.com

Squire Boone Caverns www.squireboonecaverns.com

Wolf Lake Memorial Park www.hammondportauthority.com

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The Whittaker Inn

Searching for that quaint, small inn experience with all of the modern amenities of a big city hotel? Look no further than the peaceful oasis of The Whittaker Inn in West Lafayette. A seven-year journey to build their dream inn found Andrew and Elizabeth Whittaker embarking on an exhaustive search for the perfect property. A 25acre wooded plat in West Lafayette offered everything they could possibly wish for: “What’s not to love about this site? You’re so secluded from everything, but so close to the university and downtown,” said Andrew Whittaker, executive chef and director of their onsite restaurant, The Whittaker Kitchen. The custom-built inn—completed in 2019—features a farmhouse exterior, revealing a modern, open and dramatic interior with vaulted ceilings, two fireplaces and vast windows to highlight the wooded grounds.

Guests enjoying breakfast in the Norway Standard King Room

Their journey came full-circle by bringing them back to their roots in the lodging industry, Purdue’s HTM program, where they first met: “We really wanted to give back to the university and the community where we got our start,” said Elizabeth Whittaker, who handles front-ofhouse duties at the Inn. Fifteen spacious guest rooms and suites follow an international theme, with subtle design cues taken from locations around

the globe. Custom artwork—mainly created by Indiana artists—augments the room designs. The Whittaker Kitchen has quickly developed a reputation as an exciting culinary destination by elevating traditional American dishes with an international flair. Made-to-order breakfast is always included for overnight guests. Fully-stocked night kitchens on each floor offer beverages and snacks 24/7. Al fresco dining on the patio is available, weather permitting. Golf enthusiasts will love the location, with some of the finest courses in the Midwest just a short drive—or long three wood—away! Tippecanoe Battlefield and numerous other historic landmarks, state and local parks are nearby as well. The Whittaker is ADA accessible, smoke free, and has on-site parking. Contact-free check-in available.

thewhittakerinn.com 765-441-2010

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Spend a weekend or an entire season enjoying northern Indiana’s lakes from your very own campsite.

Hoffman Lake Campground 7638 W 300 N, Warsaw, IN • 574-268-8997 hoffmanlakecamp1964.com

Crowl Homestead Resort

Seasonal Lakefront Trailer /RV Sites 3424 E Defreese Rd, Syracuse, IN 574-214-7047 • crowlresort.com

Seasonal lakefront sites on beautiful 551 acre all sports Dewart Lake. Full hook-ups. Pier space for private dock included. Most sites are lakefront with gorgeous views. This park is part of the original Crowl Homestead farm owned by the same family since 1837. A private boat ramp is available. Seasonal Rates are $2,300 – $2,900 per season, making lakefront affordable to working and retired families. All sites are rented by the season.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Campgrounds 1916 N 850 E, Pierceton, IN 574-594-2124 • piercetonjellystone.com

Hoffman Lake Campground is under NEW OWNERSHIP! Family owned and operated for 56 years. Hoffman Lake is a quiet campground perfectly placed on a 180+ acre fishing lake. We offer fishing, boat rentals, bait, planned activities, general store, beach, swimming pool, spray park, playground, lakefront cabin rentals, modern bathhouse, laundry, pavilion, arcades, weekend, weekly, monthly, and seasonal camping.

Kosciusko County Community Fairgrounds

America’s largest Yogi resort. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts are a chain of over 75 family campgrounds throughout the United States and Canada. Large spacious sites w/picnic table & fire ring, Yogi Bear™ Comfort Cabins, and two heated pools. Located on 136-acre Ridinger Lake, the resort also has bait shop, boat and pontoon rental, paddle boats, sparkling restrooms, laundries, mini golf, and tennis courts.and more.

1400 E Smith St, Warsaw, IN 574-269-1823 • kcfair.com Located on Winona Lake, Kosciusko County Fairgrounds camping provides water sports like swimming, fishing, and boating…including kayaking. There’s also a boat ramp and playground. There are 40 RV sites and 40 tent sites in a relaxing, park-like setting. Shopping can be found within three miles of the campground.

destination

Take a Trip

Back in Time story by Glenda Winders

ABOVE: The Shrewsbury-Windle House. BELOW: The Potter-Haan House. PHOTOS: Indiana Landmarks

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Now that spring is here and the pandemic is on the wane, you’re probably itching to get out and see the world. Not ready to get on an airplane just yet? Then it’s the perfect time for a road trip to some of the places that played a significant part in Indiana’s history. “Indiana is full of incredible sites and state parks related to people who have made an impact locally, on the state and on the world,” said Cathy Ferree, president and CEO of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. “There’s an incredible wealth of history and people who made legacies that are still relevant.” The T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Brown County, is where the noted artist made his home with his second wife, Selma. The guided tour of the home they named “House of the Singing Winds” and his barnlike studio allows you to experience the places where he loved to paint landscapes and Selma’s restored gardens, which are spectacular in the spring. Trails through the forest allow you tramp through the 92-acre property as Steele might have. At Angel Mounds State Historic Site on the banks of the Ohio River near Evansville, discover the remains of a 1,000-year-old settlement

ABOVE AND BELOW: Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site. PHOTOS: Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

constructed by the Middle Mississippian culture long before European explorers arrived. The 12 earthen mounds that give the site its name were built for ceremonial and residential purposes throughout the 600-acre property. Hike the four-mile Angel Mounds Loop Trail and visit the interpretive center, where you’ll learn about the settlement and Indiana archaeologist Glenn Black, who worked here with a team of 277 people during the WPA program in the 1930s. Anyone who has read Gene Stratton-Porter’s books and stories

will want to make a pilgrimage to the author’s homes. Also an environmentalist, photographer, illustrator and filmmaker, Porter lived for 18 years in a Queen Anne rustic cottage in the Limberlost swampland near Geneva. Now you can tour the house and her greenhouse, explore the grounds on your own or take a tour with an onsite naturalist. When the swamp was drained, Porter and her family moved to a cabin she designed on the banks of Sylvan Lake near Rome City. Many of her belongings are still in the home, and you can also walk through the wild landscape that inspired her. The sites are 1.5 hours apart, so visiting both in a day is possible. In Vincennes, the Indiana Territory’s

first capital, tour several significant buildings and spend time outdoors in between. Visit the “Red House,” the oldest government building in the Midwest, where the territory’s first legislature convened; the “French House,” once the home of a fur trader; and the Jefferson Academy, the first school of higher learning in the state and the precursor to today’s Vincennes University. Elihu Stout’s print shop still stands where he came to work when Gov. William Henry Harrison commissioned him to print the territorial laws and later those governing the Louisiana Purchase. When you’re finished here, head to Corydon, the state’s first capital, to see the original capitol building and the “Constitution Elm” where the first delegates gathered to write the state constitution. In Carroll County, the Delphi Opera House is located in the former “City Hall” built in 1864, and was the center for entertainment in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Opera House hosted theatre troupes, minstrel shows, local drama, concerts & lectures and had at least six performances on stage from traveliN Spring 2021

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Whitewater Canal State Park in Metamora. PHOTO: Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

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James Whitcomb Riley. The building underwent a tremendous restoration and reopened as a performing arts and events venue in 2015. The venue is set to reopen to the public for performances beginning Fall 2021 but is available now to book for weddings, celebrations, and events. For a different kind of adventure, Whitewater Canal State Park at Metamora celebrates Indiana’s efforts toward canal-building as a means of improving transportation in the mid1800s. Or visit New Harmony, where two separate utopian societies attempted to take root, and many of the buildings are still intact. In Remington, Fountain Park Chautauqua has continued to promote the concepts and values of the early Chautauqua movement, while offering more than just a religious experience through its arts programs. It was started

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in 1893, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. In 1898 a summer hotel was constructed and is still in use today. There are now seventy three cottages, campsites, a 600-seat tabernacle, double art buildings for adult and youth art classes, museum, recreational hall, shelter, food stand, gazebo, playground equipment and basketball court. If your plans take you to sites that require you to be inside — the Levi and Catherine Coffin house that recalls and honors the courageous couple who made their home an important stop on the Underground Railroad; the Lanier Mansion in Madison or the Culbertson Mansion in New Albany— Ferree said all pandemic protocols will be in place to keep visitors safe. Be sure and

T.C. Steele State Historic Site. PHOTO: Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

RENDEZVOUS

SPIRIT OF VINCENNES

MAY 29-30

Plan to attend one of our living history events. Tour our showcase of historic sites including the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. Visit the Indiana Military Museum, Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy and more.

Visitors and Tourism Bureau VisitVincennes.org • 800.886.6443 Red Skelton Museum

George Rogers Clark NHP

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also check out the historic Seiberling Mansion in Kokomo, where visitors are free to enjoy the museum and mansion at their own pace; or can take a guided tour led by a museum docent. Ferree says an unexpected benefit of visiting historic places is that “you can be together around a place that The French House in Vincennes was once the home of a fur trader. PHOTO: Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites stimulates creativity and allows you to relax and in 1904. William Potter bought the be together.” Colonial-Revival-style home and had An excellent way to understand a place’s culture is to tour its historic homes. it reconstructed in Lafayette. In 1984 it was purchased by art collectors Indiana offers one president’s humble Bob and Ellie Haan as their home and boyhood home, another’s gubernatorial gallery. Look especially for the double mansion and everything in between. staircase, arches and columns. “Sites like these offer fascinating At the other end of the spectrum is stories and contribute to a community’s the rustic 1828 cabin of abolitionist unique character,” said Mindi Woolman, director of marketing and communications George Boxley, located in Sheridan. Jailed in Virginia for inciting a slave at Indiana Landmarks. rebellion, he escaped with the help of One of the grandest is the Potterhis wife, Hannah, who smuggled a Haan house, a 10,900-square-foot saw into his cell. After running from dwelling that served as the Connecticut bounty hunters for several years pavilion at the St. Louis World’s Fair

Tours on the hour Tuesday Saturday 10am - 3pm & Sunday

Angel Mounds State Historic Site. PHOTO: Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. 34

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the couple became the first settlers of Sheridan. Today costumed interpreters tell their story. In 1849 Charles Shrewsbury built a Greek Revival home overlooking the Ohio River in Madison, and in 1948 Ann and John Windle purchased and lovingly restored the structure as their home and antique business. The most dramatic feature of the Shrewsbury-Windle house remains its freestanding spiral staircase. Louis and Anne Kunz Hartman built the Queen Anne-style Kunz-Hartman house in New Albany in 1898-99. Hartman was a German immigrant who became a prominent businessman and is best remembered for his help to African Americans during Reconstruction. The Bailly Homestead at Indiana Dunes National Park was built by Honore

Gratien Joseph Bailly de Messein in 1822. One of the earliest Indiana settlers, Bailly played a role in the development of the Calumet region because of the fur-trading post where he provided a meeting place for Native Americans and European settlers. In Elkhart, the Ruthmere Mansion is Bailly Homestead. PHOTO: Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. known as “the Jewel of Indiana,” and was built in 1910 in the Beaux Arts style. founded in 1929. Their food, root beer, History can also be found in and history grabbed the attention of unexpected places. In West Lafayette, celebrity chef Guy Fieri who featured the Triple XXX Family Restaurant is them on an episode of Diners, DriveIndiana’s first and oldest drive-in, Ins, and Dives.

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*Loans currently financed at IU Credit Union are not eligible for this offer. Offer excludes commercial vehicles. Minimum loan amount for this offer is $10,000. Cash Back Bonus will be credited to the Membership Savings of the Primary Borrower within 7-14 days of the loan closing date. Bonus is considered dividends and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. Offer subject to change without notice. ¹ APR or annual percentage rate is accurate as of March 18, 2021, and is subject to change at any time. Rate stated is based on a 66-month loan in the amount of $30,000; a vehicle model year of 2019 or newer, and a $25 VSI fee. Payment would be $16.72 per thousand borrowed. Rates, terms and conditions vary based on creditworthiness, qualifications and collateral conditions. Check other available rates and terms online at iucu.org or give us a call. All loans subject to approval.

www.iucu.org

We started a credit union and created a community. 812-855-7823 • iucu.org 36

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SIDE SEE MORE IN

Carmel.IN.go

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WE LOVE OUR OUTDOOR TRAILS… Carmel is home to some of the most unique parks in the nation, offering more than 1,000 acres of green space for all ages to enjoy and nearly 220 miles of bikeable and walkable trails. Whether you are a casual bicycle enthusiast or a die-hard racer, Carmel is the place to explore on two wheels or two feet. The City’s districts have been designed for connectivity; start at Clay Terrace and head south on the Monon Greenway to the Arts & Design District, Midtown and Carmel City Center without having to set foot in your car. For a list of paths and trails in Carmel, visit BikeCarmel.com. But we love our indoor trails, too...

BREWS & BARRELS TRAIL Whether it’s a cold craft brew, a nice Merlot or a shot of rum over ice, you will enjoy Carmel’s Brews & Barrels Trail. Launched in 2020 to celebrate our growing family of breweries, wineries and distilleries, the trail features 12 stops throughout the city from 96th Street and Michigan Road’s Deviate Brewing to Bier Brewery on Carmel’s north side. For a complete list of locations visit CarmelBrewsAndBarrels.com.

CAFFEINE TRAIL For the java and tea lover, the Caffeine Trail offers numerous hot (and cold) brew spots throughout the city. For a sophisticated Italian espresso try Caffé Buondi’s espresso bar paired with a savory frittata or grab your laptop and head to the Village of West Clay for a hot tea at Zing! Café. With 19 locations on our trail, there is always a place to grab a cup to-go before you start your day or to stop in and relax with a good book or a great friend. You can find a list of locations at CarmelCaffeineTrail.com.

WORLD OF FLAVORS In addition to traditional pubs, pizza and burger places, the City’s growing list of restaurants includes an array of choices from around the globe. The Arts & Design District’s Main Street is home to Thai, Egyptian, Mediterranean, Italian and southern coastal cuisine all within just a few city blocks. From Italian and Mexican on Carmel’s west side to Jamaican off the Monon Greenway, there truly is a world of flavors to explore in Carmel. Visit CarmelWorldOfFlavors.com for a list of restaurants. 38

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MEET ME ON MAIN Second Saturday of each month; 5 – 9 p.m. Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelArtsAndDesign.com

CARMEL ON CANVAS Sept. 17 – 19 Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelArtsAndDesign.com

BIKE CARMEL Big Weekend Ride: Sept. 25 BikeCarmel.com

PORCHFEST Sept. 19; Noon – 6 p.m. Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelPorchFest.org

CARMEL FARMERS MARKET Saturdays, May – Sept.; 8 – 11:30 a.m. Carter Green CarmelFarmersMarket.com MOVIES AT MIDTOWN Mondays, May – Oct. Saturdays, Nov. – Dec. Noon, 2:30, 5 & 7:30 p.m. Midtown Plaza MidtownPlazaCarmel.com

OKTOBERFEST Oct. 1; 6 – 10 p.m. Carmel City Center Plaza Level Carmel.IN.gov

LATE NIGHT ON MAIN June 12, Sept. 17 & Oct. 2 Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelArtsAndDesign.com

HOLIDAY AT CARTER GREEN Nov. 20; 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. Carter Green HolidaysInCarmel.com

CARMEL GAZEBO CONCERT SERIES Wednesdays, June 2 – Sept. 22, 7 p.m. Carmel City Hall Gazebo CarmelGazeboConcerts.org

CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT Nov. 20 – Dec. 24 Closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day Carter Green CarmelChristkindlmarkt.com

CARMELFEST July 4 – 5 CarmelFest.net

THE ICE AT CARTER GREEN Nov. 20, 2021 – Feb. 28, 2022 Carter Green TheIceAtCarterGreen.com

ART OF WINE July 17; 5 – 10 p.m. Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelArtsAndDesign.com CHINESE MOONCAKE FESTIVAL Aug. 21; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Carter Green Carmel.IN.gov

HOLIDAY IN THE ARTS DISTRICT Dec. 4; 2 – 5 p.m. Carmel Arts & Design District HolidaysInCarmel.com

ART OF THE DOG Sept. 11; Noon – 4 p.m. Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelArtsAndDesign.com

Carmel.IN.gov (317) 571-2400 traveliN Spring 2021

HOLIDAY TROLLEY Nov. 26 – Dec. 18 Fridays 5 – 9 p.m. & Saturdays 2 – 9 p.m. Carmel Arts & Design District, Carmel City Center & Carter Green HolidaysInCarmel.com SANTA SATURDAYS Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18 Carmel Arts & Design District HolidaysInCarmel.com

ARTOMOBILIA Aug. 28; Noon – 5 p.m. Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelArtomobilia.com

CARMEL INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL Sept. 25 – 26 Carmel Arts & Design District CarmelArtsFestival.org

*At this time, our upcoming events will take place as planned but are subject to change based on guidance from local health departments and the Center for Disease Control. For up to date information about events, please visit the related websites. For a complete listing of City of Carmel events go to the Calendar at Carmel.IN.gov.

For road construction, detours and updates, visit CarmelLink.com or download the CarmelLink app.

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story by Kate Lustig

Hello, Spring! As we waved goodbye to one of the iciest Hoosier winters we’ve had in the past 10 years and as we emerge from a challenging 2020, it is exciting to know that spring is here. If you are not quite beach and airplaneready but looking for a slight change in scenery, a weekend getaway in Carmel may have just what you need.

ABOVE: Enjoy shuffleboard and ping pong on the Monon. BELOW: Climbing fun along the Monon at Midtown.

While Carmel’s familiar Main Street area, the Arts & Design District, has much to offer in the way of dining, shopping and gallery-crawling, its neighboring Carmel City Center is a unique destination spot of its own. Located at the intersection of Range Line Road and City Center Drive (126th Street), Carmel’s City Center is distinguishable with its Old World European architectural aesthetic, narrow streets and walkable space.

There are 16 retails stores in City Center including kid favorite Kits & Kaboodle toy store, J. Benzal Menswear for the sartorially gifted man in your life and modern goods mercantile, Nine + Roxy. If it’s selfcare that you’re looking for, there are numerous spas and fitness-based businesses from which to choose to get pampered from top to toe. In August of 2020, the Hotel Carmichael opened its doors in City traveliN Spring 2021

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The recently completed Monon Expansion, just south of the Midtown Plaza area, features bocce ball, ping pong tables, water features, a climbing structure for the kids and plenty of outdoor seating. Center, as the first Marriott Autograph Collection property in Indiana. After a four-star slumber in one of the hotel’s 122 rooms, guests can enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at Vivante French Eatery where, just outside the restaurant windows, they are treated to a view of The Center for the Performing Arts, home to the highly acclaimed Palladium and beautiful Carter Green just right off of the Monon Greenway. If it’s outdoor activities that are next on your weekend list, the Monon Greenway is the perfect place to hop on your bike, take a long walk with the family or put on your favorite music and run a few miles. The recently completed Monon Expansion, just south of the Midtown Plaza area, features bocce ball, ping pong tables, water features, a climbing structure for the kids and plenty of outdoor seating. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself spending an entire day at the award-winning Midtown Plaza. It is not unusual to see every bike rack and outdoor gathering space filled as visitors and locals alike bike, walk, roller blade and drive to this popular part of the city. Sip locally crafted beers and spirits from Sun King Distillery atop one of the best rooftops in the state or try a cold brew from Java House if that is more your style. If you happen to be out with the girls or it’s date night, the gorgeous Penn & Beech Candle Co. is a picture-perfect place to spend some time. 42

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Penn & Beech Candle Co. in Midtown.

Shopping at City Center

Cocktails and charcuterie at Hotel Carmichael.

OUTDOOR

ROAD TRIP TIME!

Plan your waves to shores exploration to Northern Indiana’s Kosciusko County today! Experience Kosciusko County by water and land with over 100 natural lakes, miles of trails and bike routes, 14 nature preserves, three tour boats, kayak and paddleboard rentals, beaches, an accessible splash pad, and more. Stay in one of our many lake vacation rentals, guest houses, or name-brand hotels for the perfect road trip get-away. While you are here, tag us @VisitKosciuskoCounty and use our hashtag #VisitKCounty in your social media and we will reach out if we can feature your experiences in our social communities.

@VisitKosciuskoCounty #VisitKCounty

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Top Events and Exhibits at Minnetrista

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Elisabeth “Betty” Ball who lived in Oakhurst home. She discovered faeries living among the trees and the flowers. Wearing her own faerie attire, Betty played games, danced, and skipped through the grass with her magical friends. As a tribute to Betty and her unshakable belief in faeries, thousands of faeries fly into Oakhurst Gardens every July for the enchanted Faeries, Sprites, & Lights at Minnetrista. During this multi-day event, children are encouraged to come

dressed in their best magical faerie attire as they imagine and play in a magical faerie wonderland. Families can enjoy games, crafts, a theater show, live music and dancing, a bubble garden, and much more. Kids and families are also encouraged to interact with the live characters and to participate in the Faerie House Workshop, enjoy some Faerie Tea, and relax at the Faerie Spa. Check website for exact date. Another popular event is returning to Minnetrista this spring. Discover beautiful plants, landscaping tools, and crafts that will strengthen your summer gardening projects at the annual Garden Fair June 5 and 6. Meet vendors, get tips from horticulture experts, and spend

time with friends and family at this fun community event. Farmers Market will also be open during the Garden Fair June 5 from 8 a.m. to noon. Also check out an off-shoot of the Bob Ross Experience. “Bob Ross at Home” is a special exhibit that brings together paintings, memories, and rare historic photographs from Bob’s friends and the Minnetrista Heritage Collection. Twentynine paintings are featured, including 21 original Ross paintings--many of which have never been on public display. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that shares a deeper look at Bob’s life and work during his many years in Muncie. You don’t want to miss it. Runs through August 15. www.minnetrista.net

Tickets on sale! Explore the life, philosophy, and art of the iconic American painter inside the historic home where The Joy of Painting was filmed. The immersive exhibit in Muncie, Indiana features original paintings and artifacts, inspiring visitors with Bob’s message of fearless creativity.

Find more information and tickets at minnetrista.net.

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Step into Spring in Fort Wayne, Indiana This spring savor the season in Fort Wayne, Indiana with a one-tank trip that’s easy on the wallet, convenient, and offers the perfect mix of urban and outdoor adventures. Learn why Fort Wayne makes the perfect weekend escape, and build your getaway with our seasonal favorites.

Headwaters Park in Downtown Fort Wayne. PHOTO: Visit Fort Wayne

• From 120 miles of trails, riverfront fun in Promenade Park, and a public art trail – you can take it slow or make it an adventure in our great outdoors. • Warm up at indoor laser tag arenas, bowling and arcade centers, and indoor trampoline park. • You’ll also love attractions including Science Central - Indiana’s only hands-on science center, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, and

the Botanical Conservatory’s tranquil gardens under glass. • You’ll want to check out the Midwest’s newest dining destination - The Landing - a walkable block of dining experiences! • And later this April and May, family fun springs to life with the first pitch at TinCaps Baseball and the opening day of the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo! • And be sure to access the NEW Fort Wayne Savings Pass - sign up to save more than $200 on your adventure!

In Fort Wayne, you will find affordable attractions and activities, alongside packages to help you create a Spring adventure! Start planning at VisitFortWayne. com/SpringBreak

Spring Adventures Await in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Plan an affordable trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana that features the perfect mix of urban and outdoor adventures. Get away to Fort Wayne together this Spring!

Find getaway ideas, overnight packages, & deals:

VisitFortWayne.com • (260) 424-3700 VFW_Spring21_TravelIN_7.5x4.75.indd 1

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Bringing Family Fun Back to

Salem Speedway story by Stephanie Nicol

Salem Speedway is one of the most historic racetracks in the country. PHOTO: Salem Speedway

It takes a lot of guts—and passion— to take over a world-famous racetrack with absolutely no experience in running one. But that’s exactly what Washington County resident Bill Kniesly did in September 2020 when he purchased Salem Speedway. And it’s been thriving ever since. Bill says he wants to bring back the “old-fashioned family-fun racing experience” which is evident throughout the property. He’s improved the campground area and lowered ticket prices to make it more affordable for families. Kids under 12 get in free, and on drag racing nights tickets are only $5 for adults. “Where else can a family get five hours of great fun for only ten dollars?” Bill quips. He’s also brought in a food truck serving barbecue dinners 48

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from Top Notch Barbecue, based out of Pekin. One of the most historic tracks in the country, Salem Speedway was built in 1947 as a dirt track but quickly transitioned into asphalt. Some of the biggest names in motorsports have raced here—Mario Andretti, A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon, just to name a few. And what makes this track so appealing? “It’s the high banks,” explains Bill. “The banks are 33-1/2 degrees, which makes the track very

steep, and very fast.” Last year on a national broadcast, Jeff Gordon talked about Salem Speedway and commented on just how tough a racetrack it is. This year’s lineup includes 15 events that run April through the end of October. April 10 kicks off the season with a mud drag at the campground; April 25 is the first race on the track. In October, the Halloween 200 is the largest and most prestigious street stock race in the country. “We’re giving $10,000 to the winner of the 200,” Bill says, “and it’s the

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Historic downtown Salem. PHOTO: City of Salem

largest street stock purse in the nation.” Born in Lafayette, Bill has lived in Salem most of his life. He’s passionate about his community and is eager to do his part in supporting local businesses by drawing spectators in from all over Indiana and neighboring states.

“I don’t plan on ever leaving Washington County,” says Bill. “My childhood memories of the area are what still make Washington County so special today. Playing outside in the woods, and everyone knows each other. It’s a very rural community feel.”

Outside the track, Washington County’s 326-acre Delaney Creek Park is a draw for outdoor enthusiasts with an 88-acre lake as its centerpiece. For history buffs, there’s the John Hay Center, a complex dedicated to preserving the area’s history; and Beck’s Mill, a historic grist mill built in 1864. Overnight lodging options include the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, Knights Inn, and The Destination B&B. “I travel several times throughout the year,” Bill says, “but the best part of every trip is crossing that county line— knowing I’m home again.” For more information, go to www. salemspeedway.com or www. washingtoncountychamber.org

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Fabulous Festivals story by Elizabeth Granger

Peru’s most famous events – its summer Cole Porter and Circus festivals – are returning this year with full line-ups. Cole Porter’s back in Peru. Make that Jason Gornto, impersonating Porter, for the annual Cole Porter Festival. Like many other events, the annual festival was cancelled last year, but festival planners are promising a rousing time for this June, even including a Plan B if health concerns get ramped up again. Festival dates: June 10-13. “It means a lot to have the festival back,” says event director Karl Rosenow. “It has everybody pretty ecstatic. Having been through a pandemic, the community is once again able to enjoy one of the best times this town has every year.” Co-planners Vicki Draper and Ellen Mock say many of the traditional events will return. New ones have been added. Word has been leaking out; the town’s already buzzing. “Cole Porter is our most famous son,” Draper says. Peru celebrates him. Gotta’-go events include the progressive dinner called Cole’s Culinary Courses as well as Cocktails & Cole and Celebrating Cole. Among the new items are a song-writing workshop, a cover tunes contest with a $1,000 prize, and Cole’s Roaring 20s costume party. Bus tours, which always sell out quickly, are returning. “We’ve worked hard to include all ages,” Mock says. Music will span more generations than it has in the past. There’s also an expanded base of sponsorship that includes not only businesses but also individuals. Volunteerism is up. It’s a reflection of 52

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TOP: Cole Porter memorabilia is prominent at the Miami County Museum. PHOTO: Fred Granger LEFT: Around 200 local youngsters, amateurs who have been practicing since late winter, will put on ten performances during the Circus City Festival. PHOTO: Circus City Festival

recent growth in Peru, spearheaded by Rediscover Downtown Peru. It’s like that with the Circus City Festival, set for July 17-24. Since 1960, July in Peru has been all about the circus. The all-youth circus performance at the Circus City Center teams up with a parade, rides, food booths and more. The center tells the story of Peru’s circus history since the late 1800s when circuses over-wintered near there. The highlight of the year is the festival, when about 200 county youngsters, amateurs who have been practicing since late winter, put on ten performances during an eight-day festival. Several of those kids have gone on to perform with professional circus venues. As with many annual events, 2020 was a no-go for the circus festival. Jenny Cole, who handles publicity for the event, says the absence of last year’s festival caused the town to realize how special it is. Plans are for a typical show, but there’s also a Covid plan if need be. Cole herself was one of those kid

performers; her parents were trainers. “I have never not known the circus, so now I enjoy watching the show through a new person’s eyes,” she says. Two years ago she talked with someone from Lafayette who attended for the first time. “A week later he was still talking about it.” She says that while Covid was hard on a lot of organizations, it ended up being a blessing “because our community has really stepped up in support of the circus.” Also, The Show Must Go On fundraiser, which connected Peru with former performers, raised more than $85,000. “The alumni have been coming out of the woodwork and saying, ‘I never would have been able to do X, Y or Z,’ or ‘I never would have had the confidence to pursue my dream if it weren’t for the circus.’ When you push yourself hard and see the results of that hard work, it changes you.“ Cole and her husband went to China in 2011 to perform in a professional circus. “We took our two kids and shot them out of a cannon,” she says. Those kids are the only fourth generation performers in this year’s Peru’s circus. www.perucircus.com

Rediscover Peru! Rich in history and beaming with revitalization, come see why Peru is your must-discover destination!

Mouthwatering pulled pork and baby back ribs smoked daily. Tenderloins, burgers, drink specials, outdoor dining and pizza that is a local favorite make this a place you cannot miss!

115 S. Broadway • 765-473-3010

The Cole Porter Inn, Peru, Indiana, features four lovely suites done in eclectic décor from Cole Porter’s era. Set up for extended stays or weekend getaways, each 5 room suite has a full kitchen, high speed internet, and private bathroom.

To experience the magic of Miami County, visit enjoymiamicounty.com for more terrific events and activities, or call (765) 472-1923.

Reservations and photos available at www.coleporterinn.com, or call (765) 469-1917.

Second Saturdays Miami County Artisan Gallery, an awesome art arena, features a huge selection of quality local and national artists’ and artisans’ works. Classes, events, educational seminars, workshops, and consignments.

Second Saturdays take place all over downtown Peru each month from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Second Saturdays feature local businesses and a host of events ranging from food specials, art, music, crafts, and more!

Located Downtown • 5th & Broadway miamicountyartisangallery.com

(765) 244-3242

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Getaway to

French Lick Resort

Itching to pack your bags after weathering winter’s dark, chilly monotony? We hear you. First time traveling in this post-COVID world? We feel you. Having a trip to look forward to is one of life’s little pleasures that resonates with us now more than ever. And French Lick Resort checks all the boxes for the type of getaway you may be needing right about now. Somewhere unique and memorable that still keeps guest health and safety top of mind: Check. Somewhere that feels like a getaway while conveniently situated in the Hoosier State: Check. Somewhere you can enjoy no matter who’s along for the ride — significant other; family; or you and your girlfriends. Check, check and check. So what can a French Lick escape look like for you?

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Coming with the Whole Family Go bowling, chow down on pizza and play arcade games at Pluto’s Alley inside French Lick Springs Hotel. Of the resort’s three hotels, French Lick is the best family-friendly choice with everything a kid would want: three pools, a cafeteria-style breakfast buffet, fire pits for s’mores on the weekend, even a jumbo video game board. And don’t leave without completing a round of FootGolf, a perfect activity for the whole family to do together. Saddle up for a horse or pony ride up at The Stables at French Lick Resort. They’re perfect for any kid taking a first ride, as The Stables staff matches each guest a horse that is the best for them. Horse rides are for age 8 and up; pony rides are for younger than 8. Get out and enjoy nature on more than 10 miles of wooded trails winding through the Hoosier National Forest. Watch for birds, owls, deer and other Hoosier wildlife on four different wooded trails varying in length and challenge. Board the historic rail trolley, which pings back and forth between French Lick and West Baden Springs Hotels throughout the day. A ride on this restored rail trolley will be the highlight of the trip for any train-obsessed kid. Mom and dad will love it, too, because all rides on this trolley are free. Venture out and experience endless adventures all within a 10-minute drive of the resort. Give an elephant a bath or see grizzly bears up close at Wilstem Wildlife Park. Play all day at Big Splash Adventure indoor water park. And with go-karts, mini golf, laser tag and escape room also nearby, the kids will be surprised that vacationing in Indiana is this much fun.

Planning a Romantic Escape Savor the view from your own private balcony at West Baden Springs Hotel. It’s a truly breathtaking experience the first time you open the French doors from your guestroom and step out to the balcony for a bird’s-eye view overlooking the sprawling hotel atrium. Take room service out to the balcony in the morning; hear the live jazz music wafting up to your balcony in the evening. The two of you will both fall in love with this view. Make reservations for two at the resort’s pair of fine dining restaurants: Sinclair’s Restaurant (in West Baden Springs Hotel) and 1875: The Steakhouse (in French Lick Springs Hotel). If you’re celebrating an anniversary, mention it when you book and you might get treated to a sweet surprise to top off dinner. This is a classy date night done right. Slow down and take a stroll together on the Ferguson Trail, a onemile paved path connecting French Lick and West Baden hotels. These hotels both originated more than 100 years ago

as retreats where guests could relax and rejuvenate. And some things are best left unchanged, as a nice morning or evening walk remains a favorite way for couples to enjoy themselves. Stop for a drink (or maybe a couple drinks) at French Lick Winery and Sprits of French Lick Distillery, located together traveliN Spring 2021

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Get pampered with a manicure or pedicure at the world-class spas located at both French Lick and West Baden Springs Hotels. For an experience unique to the area, soak in a famous Pluto or Sprudel bath. in the same building not far from the hotels. Try a wine tasting featuring their Traminette wine (highlighting Indiana’s state grape), or sip on the Lee W. Sinclair Bottled in Bond Bourbon on the rocks — bourbon authority Fred Minnick named it his Best Non-Kentucky

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Bourbon of 2020. Take home some of your favorites, as they also sell their wine and spirits by the bottle. Try something new at one of West Baden Springs Hotel’s signature wine and culinary events, offered on select Fridays. Sip and savor a fivecourse menu at Wine Pairings, or satisfy your sweet tooth at Wine & Dessert Soirée featuring three decadent house-made desserts.

Celebrating a Girlfriends’ Getaway Do a night out at French Lick Casino, featuring hundreds of new and classic slots, progressive jackpots, table games and sportsbook. And once the fun and games are done for the night,

you never have far to go. The casino is adjacent to both French Lick Springs Hotel and Valley Tower for walkable access, and 24/7 shuttle service is available to West Baden Springs Hotel. Sit under the majestic West Baden Springs Hotel dome for an evening of cocktails and good conversation. You can spend hours here, simply soaking in the ambiance while you catch up. This kind of view will have you wondering, “are we really still in the Midwest? ” Get pampered with a manicure or pedicure at the world-class spas located at both French Lick and West Baden Springs Hotels. For an experience unique to the area, soak in a famous Pluto or Sprudel bath. These baths use the same mineral water that made these hotels nationally famous as early as the 1800s. If your itinerary doesn’t include a spa day, both hotels have indoor/outdoor pools and hot tubs that hit the spot for relaxation. Rent a surrey cart, which is sure to provide some laughs for everyone as you explore some of the resort’s 3,200 acres together. Paved paths and sidewalks make for easy riding. Raise those pinkies at Afternoon Tea, and live out your childhood tea parties as grown-ups. Tea is offered every Saturday (along with Wednesday in conjunction with a tour of the hotel) as you’re treated to your choice of gourmet tea served alongside a tower of sweet and savory treats. With live harp music providing the soundtrack and the West Baden Springs Hotel atrium as the stunning backdrop, this is a royal treatment like none other. Ready to book a getaway that’s just your speed? Visit frenchlick.com and start exploring everything French Lick and West Baden have to offer.

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South Central Indiana, Bloomington

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Bloomington, known for Indiana University, also has the largest manmade reservoir, Lake Monroe, with 10,750 acres of water spread over Monroe, Brown, and Jackson counties. The lake boasts nine boat launch sites, more than 200 camp sites, a nature center, volleyball courts, three distinct state recreational areas—Fairfax, Hardin Ridge and Paynetown—beaches, boat rentals, and a full-service marina. The Hoosier National Forest, on the southeast side of Bloomington,

provides a wide mix of opportunities and resources for people to enjoy. Rolling hills, back-country trails, and rural crossroad communities make this small but beautiful Forest a favorite! A favorite portion is Deam Wilderness, Indiana’s only wilderness. During a beautiful hike through you can see a ridge top view of Lake Monroe, take in an amazing sunset while camping on the shores of Lake Monroe and the Peninsula Trail. Then do some fishing, collect geodes, and even have the opportunity to explore Patton Cave.

The area features karst topography, with its flat-topped ridges, geode-laden streambeds, and over 12,000 acres. Hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders are also drawn to the wilderness and its 39 miles of trails. Most of the trails follow old roadbeds, and a bit of exploration off the main trails will bring visitors past other shadows of the past, including house foundations, domestic plants, old fences, and the occasional cemetery (five cemeteries exist within the wilderness boundary). If you go don’t miss the amazing views from

It’s so easy to call Bloomington home.

EST. 1973

Trish Sterling Owner/Broker

509 East Hillside Drive #101 • Bloomington, IN 47401 • (812) 333-1966 • SterlingBloomington.com

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ABOVE: Lake Monroe PHOTO: Shanay Payne LEFT: Take in an amazing sunset while camping on the shores of Lake Monroe.

the 110 foot Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower, once a sentinel built to protect a fledgling forest from wildfire. Today, it is the last lookout tower remaining on the Hoosier National Forest and boasts wonderful views. Bloomington offers a variety of trails for all levels of cyclists, hikers and those who simply want to take a relaxing stroll. From easy, paved trails to more rugged natural hiking, Bloomington’s more than 200 miles of trails provide a fun outdoor experience for all ages and skill levels. Additional hiking trails can be found at properties listed in the parks and recreation section of the website. See more at: visitbloomington.com

AN AMERICAN GEM Rescued from demolition. Restored beyond it’s original beauty. Centered between downtown Bloomington and Indiana University. Lock in the lowest rates of the year by making your reservation today!

Come stay for the experience. 1.800.328.4350 • grantstinn.com 310 N. Grant Street • Bloomington, IN

RATED ONE OF INDIANA’S “BEST UNIQUE SLEEPS” BY VISIT INDIANA Learn more about our COVID-19 policies and how we’re reducing risks by visiting grantstinn.com.

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Columbus

Columbus is located within the Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati triangle, right on your way if you are heading just about anywhere in the upper Midwest. It is a great getaway for enjoying architecture, public art, green spaces, and a first-rate park system.

shop / dine / stay / play / live / work

Camera-Worthy Architectural Sites in Columbus • The Commons Building 300 Washington Street Architect: Koetter Kim • AT&T Switching Center

Seventh & Franklin Streets Architect: Paul Kenon

• The Republic Building 333 Second Street Architect: Myron Goldsmith • North Christian Church 850 Tipton Lane Architect: Euro Saarinen • Inn at Irwin Gardens 608 Fifth Street Architect: Henry A. Phillips 64

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Gramz Bakery and Coffee Bar The place to go for a great cup of coffee and sweet treats in downtown Columbus, serving espresso drinks, pour-overs, and an extensive coffee brew bar and fresh baked goods. 409 Washington St. Columbus, IN 47201 812-378-3046 Info@gramzbakery.Com

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Morgan County

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Just southwest of Indy, you’ll discover Morgan County, a place that’s full of friendly small towns, scenic backroads and secluded forest trails. With unexpected experiences, family-friendly festivals and the state’s only winery that’s also home to a brewery and distillery, Morgan County is more than you expect, and exactly what you need! As the weather warms, outdoor activities abound with two state forests, outstanding county and municipal parks, horseback riding opportunities and more. Don’t miss an impressive number of outdoor live music performances, beginning in May. Performance venues include Martinsville’s downtown district, Mooresville’s Pioneer Park, the Morgan County Fairgrounds and of course, Cedar Creek Winery, Brewery and Distillery, where they’ll host nearly 20 live music events this year as part of the Drink at The Creek Concert Series. Warmer weather and outdoor activities mean a return to outdoor dining as well. Several eateries around the county offer otudoor dining, including Black Dog Brewing Company in Mooresville, which regularly hosts informal live music and food trucks on their patio. Also notable, downtown Martinsville visitors can enjoy streetside patio dining right on the courthouse square at both Gather Around BBQ and Greek’s Pizza. Extend your visit with a stay at the brand new Brickhouse Loft, an all-suite boutique lodging option just steps from the courthouse square. Visit a family farm to see how they produce honey, lavender, or even wine! Enjoy shopping independent boutiques in a picturesque Main Street setting, featuring hand-picked styles and works from local artisans. Indulge in your choice of chef-inspired flavors or old fashioned home cooking, and don’t forget to visit the 100-yearold candy and ice cream shop! You can do it all in Morgan County. Find additional information about things to do, places to eat, upcoming events and more to discover in Morgan County at visitmorgancountyin.com.

destination

Hunter’s Honey Farm A family-owned and operated farm featuring honey, beeswax, bee pollen, candles, honey soap, moisturizing cream, lip balm, gourmet food and much more. Tours available year round (reservations required).

Berries & Ivy Locally owned, this fun store features beautiful home decor items and local artwork in a historic downtown setting. Find home décor and accessories, jewelry, antiques and more.

28 N. Main St. Martinsville, IN 46151 765-342-7722 Facebook.com/ berries&ivycountrystore Mon & Fri 10-5, tues-thurs 11-5 and sat 10-4

6501 W. Honey Ln. Martinsville, IN 46151 765-537-9430 HunterHoneyFarm.com Mon-Sat. 9-6

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Come for the history— leave with memories to last a lifetime. Visit www.thisisindiana.org for more information.

shop / dine / stay / play

SENIIOR AND Group rates

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Discovery Center Fun family destination! High-tech experience featuring five interactive galleries highlighting early Indiana. 360° theater presentation recreates the Battle of Corydon. More than just a museum!

Harrison County Arts! Inc. The Artisan Center Find exceptional art for your collection, at all price points. See rotating art exhibits by local and regional artists, and find more items in our gift shop.

233 N. Capitol Ave. Corydon, IN 47112 812-734-0030 discoverycenterexperience.com

121 E. Chestnut St. Corydon, IN 47112 812-738-2123 Facebook.com/ theartisancentercorydon

Wed-thurs 12-4, fri 11-7, sat 10-2

Check out these

Indiana Destinations & Attractions Lofts on Main

Wayne County Historical Museum

Located in Cambridge City • theloftsonmain.com 765-969-4824 or 937-609-8451 Located on the National Road in east central Indiana, Lofts on Main are the two secondfloor lofts in an 1890s building, providing overnight accommodations with solitude and privacy. Both are open and bright with full kitchens, modern baths, and spacious sitting areas. Often referred to as “hip and urban,” these lofts are infused with their own unique charm and elegance, and provide the perfect location in Cambridge City’s walkable downtown.

1150 North A Street Richmond 765-962-5756 Office@wchmuseum.org • www.wchmuseum.org Famously known for their Tower Tree (yes, there’s a tree growing out of the courthouse tower), the city of Greensburg is so much more than that. Small-town charm, local vintage shops and boutiques, and an incredible line-up of locally-owned restaurants. Festivals and events throughout the year bring even more visitors to the area.

Cambridge City Located in Wayne County • cambridgecityindiana.org Historic Cambridge City is located on the National Road in the heart of Antique Alley. This vibrant and historic town is the home to more than 12 quality antique shops and malls, beautifully restored homes, Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery, cozy local eateries, and downtown quality lodging. With both a rich historical heritage and quality, well-planned growth, Cambridge City combines the best of the past, present, and future.

4 5 The Shrine of Christ’s Passion

Hammond’s Festival of the Lakes July 14-18 2021

10630 Wicker Ave. (U.S. 41) St. John 219-365-5236 shrineofchristspassion.org

2324 Calumet Avenue, Hammond 219-853-6378 • festivalofthelakes.com

The Shrine is an interactive, multimedia, “Prayer Trail” that depicts the last days of Jesus Christ’s life on earth. Forty life size bronze sculptures, each an exquisite work of art, line the winding half mile path. The Gift Shoppe is over 12,000 square feet and stocks thousands of beautiful items and has become a shopping destination for people throughout the Midwest!

Five days of summer fun with something for everyone! Free concerts each evening featuring nationally-known music talent, huge carnival, beer garden, golf scramble, 5K Roadie Run, Custom Car and Motorcycle Show, Polka Party, Senior Day, Special Persons Day, Kids Day at the Aquatic Play Center, delicious food vendors and more! Parking is $25 per car and there are daily specials on carnival wristbands.

Whiting whitingindiana.com Experience the City of Whiting, a beautiful corridor to Lake Michigan. With its lovely new and redesigned streetscape, 119th Street in Downtown Whiting is flourishing with quaint shops, a historic movie theatre, a microbrewery, a wide variety of cuisine, and family attractions all within walking distance. A stroll along the boardwalk in Whiting Lakefront Park is the perfect way to end the day.

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Spring Break

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Carmel Staycation – on two wheels Spring break has historically been a time to pack up our vehicles and head to sunny beaches or snowy mountains, but this year many are thinking a “staycation” might be a better idea. Carmel, Indiana may just be the place to spend your break, exploring the city’s trails from the seat of a bicycle. With nearly 220 miles of paths and trails, you can explore our thriving City Center and Arts & District or ride under a canopy of trees. Many of Carmel’s roadways are interconnected to make an accessible bicycle network including the popular Monon Greenway, the Hagan-Burke Trail, Greyhound Trail and White River Greenway. You can get almost anywhere in Carmel by way of this extensive network of trails, side paths and low- traffic streets. That is one of the reasons why the League of American Bicyclists and Places for Bikes nationally recognized Carmel in 2019 as a bicycle-friendly community. In addition to the on and off-road

The Monon Greenway in Midtown treats visitors to public art and places to shop, dine and play. 70

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amenities, shops and restaurants. Be sure not to miss the Midtown area, which features an outdoor bocce ball court, pool table, ping pong tables, a giant screen TV and climbing structures, water features and flexible seating and swings. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Carmel’s three main districts as well as galleries and retail shops to enjoy on your exploration. If you need a bicycle but don’t have one, several bicycle shops in town offer rentals and watch for news of our bike share program coming this spring. Whatever your plans for Spring Break, time spent pedaling around Carmel and getting to know this delightful, bicyclefriendly city, is time well spent. bicycle trails in Carmel, the City was designed with many low-traffic streets that are extremely bicycle friendly. With these roadways in mind, the Carmel Access Bikeway (CAB) Routes were designed to help bicycle riders explore the City and neighborhoods that make up Carmel. For example, if you are interested in exploring the dynamic central core of the city, use the City Center Loop. If you want to experience a more serene ride, surrounded by nature, try the White River Loop. All five routes are geared primarily to casual riders and vary in distance from about six miles to more than 13. For more information and route maps, see Bike Carmel’s page on the City of Carmel’s website, carmel.in.gov. Want to make a day of it? Try the 26mile Monon Greenway, which connects Carmel to downtown Indianapolis or our neighbors to the north. The Monon Greenway in Carmel takes you through the rapidly growing City Center, Midtown Plaza and Arts & Design District, where the traditional bike path has been expanded to accommodate separated bike and pedestrian trails, added

Five CAB loop routes are marked with color-coded signage and pavement markings like these.

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Getting the Most Out of Your Hiking Experience story by Scott roberts photos by Indiana DNR

Indiana has more than 3,500 miles of public land trails waiting for hikers to explore. These pathways bring the rocks, hills, ravines, flowers, trees, and animals that dot the Hoosier landscape to those who put in the effort.

Morgan Monroe State Forest. 74

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Getting out on the trail involves more than just tying your shoes and choosing a location. Douglas Wagoner, an Indiana ambassador with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, says a little preparation and consideration can help make a hike the best experience, not only for you, but for everyone else in your group — and anyone who comes after you. Check weather conditions and dress appropriately. Research the area you’ll be hiking and bring a map — make sure it’s a paper one if cellphone reception might be spotty. Wagoner also suggests calling the property or visiting its website for any

rules or special conditions management has in effect so you can make sure to follow them. He mentioned burn bans and trail closures as specifics to be aware of before setting out. Allen Hurst, trails coordinator with DNR, said it’s important to know your limits before attempting a trail. Not all trails are created equal. If you’re just beginning your hiking regimen, start with trails rated easy or moderate before working your way up to difficult or rugged trails. Shelbyville resident Charity Shepperd Elliott says staying at her own pace was the most important factor when she started walking trails. She found that

when she was hiking near the front of a group, she would go too fast because she was trying to set the pace and would tire too quickly. Now, she usually stays near the back of the pack and lets other hikers pass. That strategy has worked. It’s allowed her to tackle parts of the nationally known Appalachian Trail, as well as multiple rugged portions of the Adventure Trail in Indiana. “Be flexible,” Shepperd Elliott said. “Some days you feel like you can do more than others. It’s OK, just be comfortable with what you’re doing.” Carrying a small pack with a first aid kit and snacks is also smart. And if you’re hiking alone, tell someone

Shades State Park in Montgomery County.

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Turkey Run State Park has more than 14 miles of trails.

where you’re going and when you plan to be back. On the trail, carry an extra bag or receptacle for trash. Shepperd Elliott uses her empty water bottle to stick trash in she sees along the trail, and sometimes she brings extra bottles for that purpose. Occasionally, the bottles get filled to the point of overflowing. “My friends always tease me about it,” she said. “Maybe I should bring a bigger one, but I think it’s just something hikers should do.” Stay on the trail unless it’s necessary to get off to let other hikers pass or to take a break. Hurst says most trails are designed to limit their environmental impact and to make the routes as safe as possible for users. This is done by choosing a location that disturbs the least amount of plant and animal life, but also by designing around water. Because water can erode trails and make them uneven and unsafe, 76

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designing gradients and ways for the water to drain is essential. When hikers go off trail, they can disturb this delicate balance. If enough hikers use the same off-trail area, the result may be a rogue trail. Rogues can alter the planned water flow by changing the contours of the land, making a previously safe trail unsafe. Off-trail users can also disturb wildlife and animal habitat. If you must step off trail, watch where you step — Wagoner says to look for areas of rock or with little vegetation, places where your impact will be minimal. He says sometimes trail users may not realize that so many things outdoors are alive, and that they all have an ecological purpose. “If an area looks like it’s sensitive to fragile plant life, walk around it,” Wagoner said. “If it’s a riparian area around marsh and lakes and streams, find another place — rock and sand

are good surfaces to step on if you can find them.” While in a group, walking in single file helps minimize impact on the trail and allows room for other hikers to pass. When encountering hikers on a hill, always yield to uphill hikers. Do this because hikers going uphill can see less than downhill hikers. Also, uphill hikers could be in a hiking rhythm and may not want to break their pace. Uphill hikers often will let downhill hikers pass while they take a break, but it’s up to the uphill hiker to decide that. If you’re hiking with dogs, make sure you know their limitations, too, says Elizabeth Lamport, a registered veterinary technician from the Lawrence area of Indianapolis. Take a dog first aid kit that includes vet wrap and leukotape to mend any wounds they might sustain, because their fur is different from human skin. Keeping dogs on a 6-foot leash is required on DNR properties, and Lamport says that has saved her two dogs, both Belgian Malinois, from danger on multiple occasions. One instance was when she encountered

Knobstone Trail

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a snake on a trail, and the leashes allowed her to keep them away. Keeping dogs on a leash is also helpful when encountering other dogs. Some species may not like other species, and by preparing and pulling in your dogs in before you pass, you can prevent your pets from lunging at other dogs. Finally, always bring a bag and pick up after your dogs. The most important thing is to get out and enjoy, and, in the process, help create a welcoming environment so others can do the same. Whether you are by yourself or with a group of friends of the two-legged or fourlegged variety, Indiana has plenty to explore. For more information on responsible hiking, see www.dnr. IN.gov. At Turkey Run, many trails consist of deep canyons nestled within sandstone cliffs.

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Indiana’s Picture-Perfect Waterfalls story by Glenda Winders

One of the lessons of the pandemic year has been how much beauty and diversity can be found out of doors and close to home. Thanks to the glaciers that shaped Indiana’s landscape, the state has more opportunities than many others to explore Mother Nature’s creations. Rivers and lakes beckon, and so do the dramatic waterfalls that punctuate them. Spring is one of the best times to visit Clifty Falls when their waterfalls can range from roaring plunges to delicate bridal-veil mists. PHOTO: Indiana DNR 80

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Cataract Falls is the largest waterfall by volume in Indiana. PHOTO: Indiana DNR

“The waterfalls you can enjoy at Indiana state parks, state forests and nature preserves are good reasons to be reminded that Indiana is more than a ‘fly-over’ or ‘drive-through’ state,” said Ginger Murphy, deputy director at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks. “These cascades are a reminder of the geological processes that framed (and are still framing) the Hoosier landscape.” Clifty Falls State Park near Madison was named for its most spectacular features – roaring Clifty Falls, Little Clifty Falls, Hoffman Falls and Tunnel Falls. Hike through a rugged landscape on the park’s 10 miles of trails to discover them and other smaller ones, as well. As with all waterfalls, the activity at these falls depends on the amount of rainfall in the area. And their personalities change, depending on the time of your visit. Spring will find them cascading at full force while in winter they become a frozen spectacle. Upper and Lower Cataract Falls are the largest in the state by volume.

Salamonie State Forest PHOTO: Indiana DNR

A part of Mill Creek, which feeds the 1,400-acre Cagles Mill Lake in the Cataract Falls State Recreation Area near Cloverdale, they were formed because of pre-glacial bedrock ridges buried beneath ancient lake sediments. Also here are volleyball courts, a swimming pool and a playground as well as lots of tables for lunch while you watch the activity around you. Be sure to pack a picnic!

Not far away near Spencer is McCormick’s Creek State Park, the first in the state. Here the namesake creek flows through a limestone canyon to form the scenic waterfall, and nature-lovers will find lots more to do, too. Miles of hiking trails lead through trees and native wildflowers, and you can also climb a vintage fire tower and cross the stone-arch bridge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It’s a good place for bird-watching, too. Turkey Run State Park near Marshall and Shades State Park near Waveland are 15 miles apart, but Sugar Creek runs through both of them. On the north side of the creek in Turkey Run is Rocky Hollow Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, and in Shades lies the Pine Hills Nature Preserve. These parks are best known for their great hiking through deep sandstone ravines, and along the way you’ll discover Silver Cascades and other smaller waterfalls. Charlestown State Park was once part of the land around an Army ammunition plant, but today it offers traveliN Spring 2021

Turkey Run State Park. PHOTO: Indiana DNR

fantastic hiking along rugged hills and deep ravines. You’ll discover a substantial waterfall at Charlestown Landing, and as you move along the trails you’ll come upon several other smaller ones as streams flow down to Fourteenmile Creek and the Ohio River. Nearby is Nine Penny Branch Nature Preserve, a stand-alone dedicated nature preserve with terrain similar to the park’s. Nine Penny Run wends through it, leaving limestone slabs, waterfalls, pools and riffles in its wake. Spring Mill State Park near Mitchell was an industrial village in the early 1800s. Settlers came here because of cave springs that provided a constant source of water to operate a sawmill, a wool mill and a distillery with a gristmill at the center of it all. While you explore the restored Pioneer Village look for the sign just past the leather shop that guides you to Hamer Cave. A short walk in that 82

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direction will take you to a magnificent waterfall and the flume that carried water to keep the mill running. While you’re here check out the memorial to Gus Grissom, the astronaut whose home was in this area. Salamonie River State Forest near Lagro in Wabash County also has a rich history and is named for a Native American word meaning “yellow paint.” It was created as a demonstration of how land on river bluffs that had largely eroded away could be reclaimed, with much of the work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Hiking and horseback-riding trails abound, and below the Salamonie Dam is a waterfall in a ravine that flows into the Salamonie River. Anderson Falls Nature Preserve in Bartholomew County is a 44-acre county park through which flows a half-mile stretch of the Fall Fork of Clifty Creek. Geologists know this park

for the fossils of Silurian Age animals captured in the Waldron Shale layer here, and where the Louisville limestone area overlaps that layer is where you’ll find the 14-feet-high waterfall that gives the site its name. In Richmond, Thistlethwaite Falls was voted one of the top waterfalls in Indiana. It was created in the early 1800s when Timothy Thistlethwaite blasted a new channel in the West Fork of the Whitewater River to provide more waterpower to his nearby sawmill. It’s located just south of Waterfall Road near Springwood Park. Other photo-worthy waterfalls include Muscatatuck Falls in Jennings County and Deadman Falls in Jefferson County. “All of these waterfalls are accompanied by great displays of wildflowers in the spring; the reds, yellows and oranges of forested slopes in fall; and unique ice formations in winter,” Murphy said. “They are each worth visiting to enjoy in any season.”

Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run has vertical cliffs as high as 75 feet. PHOTO: Indiana DNR

culinary

Grapes & Grain A Tradition of Progress

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the French Lick Winery looks not only to the future but also to their South Indiana roots where history and heritage are interwoven into the fabric of everyday life.

For Kim Doty, who with her husband John, started the winery in 1995, it all goes back to the farm, now designated as a Hoosier Homestead Farm, founded by her great, great grandfather 133 years ago. For over a century the family raised soybeans, cattle, and hogs on the farm which is located in Martin County. That changed when John suggested they grow grapes to sell to other wineries. “Dave Schrodt from Brown County Winery told us

Owner & Head Winemaker Nicholas Doty and Assistant Winemaker Wayne Harless.

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With their deep roots in the soil, they planted eight acres of grapes including one of the first Norton grapes planted in the state on one of the highest points in the county. Hoosier Homestead Farm Owners, 5th Generation.

Voted Indy’s best for over 20 years, featuring fresh made doughs, over 50 toppings, and a great selection of local craft beers and wines. Beautiful dining rooms, outdoor deck and rooftop seating!

Downtown Indy 329 Mass. Ave. 317-636-7662

Carmel 111 W. Main St. 317-848-4488

Broad Ripple 811 E. Westfield Blvd. 317-255-5711 www.Bazbeaux.com

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if you’re going to grow grapes you might as well open a winery,” says Kim, who earned a degree in horticulture from Purdue University. Doty laughs when she says this, noting how outlandish that sounds looking back given they were working fulltime. They also were parents of two young sons, Aaron and Nick and she didn’t know anything about making wine. Luckily, John, a Purdue grad with a degree in Agricultural Economics – Farm and Business Management had wine making skills that went much further back to around age 12 when he fermented Concord grapes (think Welch’s Grape Juice) and blackberries in a crock. “We didn’t even use a press,” Doty says. “After they fermented, we drained them through cheesecloth.”

He also made wine in the home’s basement. With their deep roots in the soil, they planted eight acres of grapes including one of the first Norton grapes planted in the state on one of the highest points in the county. Down below, the lushly beautiful east fork of the White River inspired the name Heaven’s View Vineyard. Seven years later they opened the French Lick Winery inside the historic Beechwood Mansion in West Baden Springs, a small hamlet practically right across the street from French Lick.

Working Round the Clock. “We were making 400 gallons of wine, which we bottled in the basement and then carried case by case upstairs to the tasting room,” says Kim, noting that

culinary

at first, they didn’t quit their day jobs, so they often were working late into the night. “Now we have 6000-gallon tanks, there are 100 wineries, and we have 30 types of wine.” In 2004, needing more room, the winery moved into a sprawling former piano factory. “I was thinking, when we moved into the Kimball building about serving simple cold sandwiches, a soup of the day, and charcuterie,” says Kim. It didn’t happen that way. Like everything about the winery, it grew into something bigger. Now, the Vintage Café is a full-service restaurant serving freshly made Italian food.

Artisan Spirits Several years ago, the family decided to take the business one step forward or should we say back into the past by

Cookies for Every Occasion

260-471-6678 CookieCottage.com 620 W Washington Center Rd • Fort Wayne, IN 46825 traveliN Spring 2021

culinary

Their artisan spirits are so exceptional that bestselling author and bourbon curator Fred Minnick, who has 2 million podcast followers and is described by the New York Times as one of the “Top Whiskey Writers” in the country, named the Spirits Of French Lick Lee Sinclair 4-Grain Bourbon as his top pick for Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon of 2020. opening Spirits of French Lick, a distillery that creates pre-Prohibition style bourbons, botanicals spirits, brandy, and American whiskey in the largest pot-still distillery in the state. Under Master Distiller Alan Bishop, their distillation methods are consistent with its historical counterparts.

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Indiana’s Black Forest In an interesting but little know fact aspect of Indiana’s distilling history, many of the Germans who settled here came from the Black Forest area of Germany where small family distillers made spirits from the fruit they grew. Bringing this tradition with them, distilling in the region most likely dates back to before 1806 and continued to grow through the decades. Farmers, planting 150,000

Huber’s

Orchard, Winery & Vineyards

Starlight, Indiana

19816 Huber Road Borden, IN 47106 812.923.9463 www.huberwinery.com traveliN Spring 2021

apple trees in each of a six-county area known as Indiana’s Black Forest, harvested the fruit to make apple brandy. Bishop’s research shows there were more than 155 documented legal distilleries in the Black Forest, as well as illegal ones too. In all they produced not only the most apple brandy in the world at the time but also the best. Spirits of French Lick honors the heritage of Indiana’s Black Forest in their single-pass Calvados-style Old Clifty Apple Brandy.

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Always Family: The Next Generation It was a family business from the beginning. Starting at a very young age, Aaron and his younger brother Nick worked along with their parents in every step of the process from vine to wine. They were taught how to plant, nurture, trim, and harvest grapes as well as bottle and cork wines by hand. They hand wrote the labels that went on the bottles. They were an integral part of decision making and so in 2020, Nick and Aaron were ready to step up to run the business after John and Kim took a step back towards retirement. Under their stewardship, Aaron and Nick have expanded distribution into three new states and are currently introducing a new set of wines called

The Winemaker’s Cut. Semi-Dry fruit wines, made the way Nick enjoys them. Joining the team and the family is Nick’s wife, Laurelin Doty, the winery’s Director of Operations. “It’s very gratifying and rewarding knowing that they’re running things.” says Kim. Nick and Aaron represent the sixth generation of family to run the farm. If any or all of Nick and Laurelin’s three young daughters follow the family tradition, one day there will be a seventh.

Owners, Nicholas & Laurelin Doty.

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Check out these

Indiana Culinary Destinations

Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards 19816 Huber Rd., Borden 812-923-9463 • huberwinery.com

This family owned and operated farm is seven generations in the making. Known as much for hospitality as they are for award-winning wine and spirits, Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards offers visitors a true farm-tobottle experience. Wander almost 700 acres of farmland, savor a wines and spirits tasting, then stay for lunch at the Starlight Café.

Tin Plate Restaurant 2233 S. J St., Elwood • 765-557-8231 Popular for pork tenderloin sandwiches, ribbon fries (loaded with pulled pork BBQ as an option), and their special recipe roast beef manhattans. For more than five years, this local favorite has been drawing crowds from all over the state. Varied menu for all tastes, and full-bar available.

Minnetrista Culinary Events 1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy, Muncie 765-282-4848 • www.minnetrista.net Minnetrista’s culinary team shines through with a variety of offerings. Indulge in a true interactive food experience at their “Chef Demonstration and Wine Pairing” dinners, where you’ll enjoy exquisite food prepared by their executive chef, along with a wine pairing. Also popular are their food presentation workshops, where you’ll learn about jams, hard cider, and more. There’s also monthly brunch offerings, and special kids’ culinary camps.

5 4 Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum 329 Washington St., Columbus 812-378-1900 zaharakos.com Beautifully restored 1900s ice cream parlor, restaurant, and museum unlike any other in the nation. Delight your tastebuds with ice cream creations, hand pulled sodas, and a full menu. Listen to the sounds of mechanical musical instruments, linger over the icons of the soda fountain era, and shop the country store. Open Wednesday-Sunday.

6 King’s Café and Bakery Harris Sugar Bush 999 E County Rd. 325 N, Greencastle o 765-653-5108 c 765-301-0016 harrissugarbush.com Signature, all-natural maple syrup produced on-site is packaged locally in unique gift jars. Also carrying maple cream, candy and delicious nut toppings, Indiana produced honey, BBQ sauce, jams, jellies and sorghum. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but call first to ensure we are in the shop.

109 W Main Street • Cambridge City 765-478-6500 • kingscafeandbakery.com King’s Café & Bakery serves up a wide array of coffee drinks, homemade baked goods, fresh, made-to-order food, and hand-dipped ice cream. They also make custom cakes, pies, cookies, and nearly any kind of baked good upon request. Guests can make themselves at home, surrounded by the rich history of charming Cambridge City. They take pride in shopping local and supporting other Indiana businesses. Be sure and check out their weekly lunch specials! Closed Mondays. traveliN Spring 2021

arts

A century of beauty

Fort Wayne Museum of Art celebrates its 100th anniversary story by Julie Campbell

Counterclockwise: Fort Wayne Art Institute figure drawing class, 1920s Theodore F. Thieme, 1926 Alice Neel visit, 1979 Fort Wayne Art School students, 1970s

A lot can happen in 100 years. Babies born. Leaders buried. Wars and rumors of wars. Economic booms and banes. Inventions. Advances in science. Art. Life. In the last century, Fort Wayne Museum of Art (FWMoA) has seen it all. Shortly before its opening in 1921, the world had just recovered from the Spanish 92

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Flu pandemic. Now, during its 100-year celebration, society is in the middle of another pandemic. But that hasn’t stopped the museum from celebrating, both virtually and safely in person. For 18 of the past 100 years, Charles Shepard III has served as president and CEO of the FWMoA. An artist himself,

Shepard grew up in Maine, where many artists would spend the summer to get away from city life. “I didn’t grow up in an artistic family. As a kid, I would mow lawns for artists in the summer,” he recalls. “And one of them asked me, ‘Do you know how to stretch a canvas?’” From that moment on, Shepard was hooked. “Once I got into art, it was a real driving thing for me,” he says, recalling how he would put art shows together and display them in coffee houses. “I realized if you could show someone art that delights them, you could win them over.” That philosophy is what drives Shepard as he leads the museum through the next century. “We’re curating with that person in mind who thinks they don’t like art,” he explains with evident excitement and passion in his voice. “You don’t have to dress up and know anything special. Just come in and see if you like it!” Originally starting out as an art school, the function of museum was added to the school when a collection of ten paintings was donated by Theodor Thieme, a prominent Fort Wayne citizen. Although times have changed since Thieme’s donation, the basic principles on which the museum was founded remain the same. “The museum exists to collect, preserve, educate, and exhibit,” says Shepard. “Those principles have been challenged over the years, but when you

get right down to it, that’s what it’s about. We’re still faithful to those four principles.” A special exhibit entitled “A Century of Making Meaning: 100 Years of Collecting,” gives visitors a glimpse into each decade of the museum’s collecting history by presenting objects acquired by decade on a rotating basis. Another one of the unique ways the museum is celebrating its 100th year is by giving gifts of art to 100 other museums around the country. “David Shapiro was an artist-inresidence at Fort Wayne Museum of Art in the 80s,” Shepard says. “After his death, his widow donated 840 works— the largest collection of his work in the country—to us. And now we’re sharing it with other museums.” In the next century, Shepard said the museum also plans to expand its already extensive collection of glass, which includes pieces by world famous glass artist Dale Chihuly. “Glass is going to be even bigger,” he explains. “The goal is to have a collection that will make us a center for contemporary glass—we really want to be known for glass.” According to Amy Schreiber, the museum’s director of executive initiatives, a special outdoor public sculpture by Indiana-based sculptor Dale Enochs, is being commissioned to celebrate the anniversary. “We are expecting to unveil the sculpture in August,” she says. “It will speak to the role of the three major rivers (today called the St. Joseph, St. Mary’s, and Maumee) in our city’s development, and also honor the rivers as they were originally named and used by the Miami people of this area.” Other 100th anniversary events are membership giveaways, virtual exhibition tours, virtual events by staff featuring items from the collection and a special

Eleanor Brockenbrough, Drying the Nets, ca. 1900, oil on board. Purchase, 1925.05. William Forsyth, Fairy Ring, ca. 1900, gouache, watercolor, and graphite on paper board. Gift of Eleanor A. Golden, 2002.07. Robert Reid, Defiant Autumn, ca. 1900, oil on canvas. Gift of John Herron Art School, 1958.03.

installation by Vincennes-based artist Fernando Lozano for the annual Dia de los Muertos event, and the 100th Celebration Finale on March 4, 2022. “What I find most rewarding is being a part of an organization with such deep historical roots to the local community,” said Schreiber. “Fort Wayne is a community who values arts and culture, and we see that it plays a vital role in the very bright future of Fort Wayne— exciting things are on the horizon for this community and the arts will certainly be included. Fort Wayne is the little city that could, and we are proving that with each passing day.”

If you go… Fort Wayne Museum of Art 311 E. Main Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana Gallery hours are: Sunday, 12-5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Galleries are closed Mondays and major holidays. Masks and social distancing required. General admission: Free to members $8, adults $6, students (preK through college) $6, seniors (ages 65 and up) $20, families Free admission every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

For more information, visit fwmoa.org.

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Glass Workshops at Minnetrista in Muncie Learn new glass techniques in a welcoming and instructive environment as you create unique art pieces during a glass workshop at Minnetrista in Muncie. Participants have access to a wide variety of glass colors and textures, tools, kilns, torches, and safety gear, and you don’t have to have previous experience to join in the fun. On May 4, the glass pendant workshop features a “torchwork” class where you’ll learn new skills and create your very own glass pendant to be enjoyed for years to come. On June 24, the “Torchworking Beads” workshop will have you creating unique glass beads in a guided open flame class. Each class is three hours, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. All tools, supplies, and safety gear will be provided. These workshops welcome both beginners and

intermediate level glass workers. Glass Workshops are 13 & up unless otherwise noted. For those glassworkers who’ve already attended a Minnetrista flameworking class in the past, the center offers glass working space and materials. As you seek to continue honing your skills, Minnetrista will provide an open environment where you can experiment creatively and learn adventurously. During these sessions, attendees D i sc o v er

brown county

Brown County Art Gallery Brown County’s original art gallery, established in 1926, featuring many of Indiana’s finest contemporary and early art colony masters.

3 blocks East of Courthouse, Main St. & Artist Dr. Nashville, IN 47448 812-988-4609 • browncountyartgallery.org Mon-sat 10-5, sun 12-5

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Hinshaw Rock’N Gems Nationally and internationally know artisans, the Hinshaw family has been creating beautiful jewelry and decorator pieces since 1961. Unique jewelry designed and created by silversmith, Merrill Hinshaw. Named by Lapidary journal as one of the top ten stone polishers in the nation, the Hinshaws cut and polish stones by hand to create a work of art. 1232 S. County Road 650 W. French Lick, IN 47432 812-936-7255 • hinshawrockngems.com daily 11-5:30 and by appt. For visitor info 812-936-3418 or visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com

may continue practicing projects and techniques previously learned in guided workshop classes. For fees, reservations, and more information, go to www.minnetrista.net

north vernon

Classic Stained Glass & Gift Gallery, Inc. 250 E. Hoosier St. North Vernon, IN 47265

812-346-4527 888-484-5277

classicstainedglassshop.com

Discover the beauty and craftsmanship of our custom stained glass creations for your home decor or anyone on your gift list. We also restore beautiful stained glass windows to enhance the beauty of your church, home or business. IU fans? We’re licensed to make customized IU stained glass. Classes and glass supplies are available for any DIY crafter. Tues-fri 9-5, Sat 9-2, sun-mon closed traveliN Spring 2021

MELT INTO INDIANA GLASS CULTURE Artists and craftsmen have created work for more than a century to establish Indiana as home to remarkable, functional, and decorative glass. Connecting a trail of 5 counties, the Indiana Glass Trail links today’s artists and glass-related venues throughout Eastern Indiana, bringing together the tradition and beauty of glass art so you can experience it first-hand. From artist studios and blown glass demonstrations, to glass-focused festivals and glass museums and classes, to the oldest glassworks in the U.S., this familyfriendly trail highlights it all. Glass lovers have plenty to see and do in Indiana, and the trail brings it all together!

www.IndianaGlassTrail.com

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ARTISTS

GALLERIES

SHOPS

CLASSES

TOURS

FESTIVALS

MUNCIE/DELAWARE COUNTY

WARSAW/KOSCIUSKO COUNTY

Muncie has a rich history of glass, starting with the Ball Brothers whose “Ball Canning Jars” became a household name. Minnetrista has historical Ball Jars in their Heritage Collection. The Glick Center for Glass at Ball State offers glass curriculum for students, 3 glass furnaces, glass blowing, cold shop, and studios. Albany Glass Museum opened in 2018, housing pressed glass patterns from 1893-1903.

In 1911 Chicago’s Johnson-Carlson Cut Glass Company came to Warsaw because their factory could not keep up with demand. What started out with 55 glass cutters 110 years ago has dwindled down to one. The original line-shaft, leather belts, and stone wheels are still operational! Visit one of the last American facilities practicing the art of cutting glass. Shop in-store and online.

VisitMuncie.org/what-to-do/arts-and-culture/Indiana-Glass-Trail

VisitKosciuskoCounty.org

KOKOMO/HOWARD COUNTY

DUNKIRK/JAY COUNTY

Take a fascinating factory tour at Kokomo Opalescent Glass, America’s oldest art glass company, in operation since 1888. Experience art glass that is hand-ladled and rolled from a 2,500-degree furnace and watch artists make stunning blown glass creations. See over 2,000 pieces of glass on display at the Greentown Glass Museum and beautiful stained glass windows at the historic Seiberling Mansion.

The Glass Museum in Dunkirk has over 8,000 pieces of glassware from 110 factories around the world. Explore a variety of artifacts including pieces from the Sistine Chapel, leaded glass windows, hanging lamps, hundreds of handblown and hand-pressed glass creations, and a leaded glass mural. You will not want to miss the pink chandelier that Carole Lombard had in her home!

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MADISON COUNTY

DELAWARE COUNTY

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Glass, in its most basic, everyday form, is utilitarian, a commodity. However, when guided by skilled hands it becomes art, rare and beautiful. Whether a spiral lifting skyward, a treasure commemorating a loved one, or a dome of color, Madison County boasts some amazing examples at Carol’s Legacy Crystal, Anderson Museum of Art, Anderson University, and the annual Elwood Glass Festival.

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Travel Indiana Spring Issue 2021

Articles inside

fort wayne museum of art 100th anniversary

indiana’s waterfalls

minnetrista glass workshops

peru’s fabulous festivals

getting the most out of your hiking experience

Bringing family fun Back to salem speedway