Spring is officially here, which means more outdoor activities and day trips. If you’re already itching to get outside and enjoy the beauty of our fair state, here are 12 places you definitely want to visit in Indiana this spring.
- Shades State Park - Waveland
Kelly F./TripAdvisor This gorgeous state park is easily one of Indiana’s best kept secrets. This park is full of gorgeous hiking trails, incredible ridges, and even has a nature preserve within the park full of deep gorges and creeks. Learn more here.
- Swiss Heritage Village - Berne
Swiss Heritage Village and Museum/Facebook This fantastic village is really an interactive museum and offers visitors a glimpse into Swiss culture. Explore traditional Swiss structures like homes and schools, learn essential skills like chair weaving, and cut loose with fun activities like a ride on the Swiss rope swing. Discover all of the adventure here,
- White Rock Park - St. Paul
White Rock Park/Facebook If you’re a water lover, you have to visit the swimming hole quarry at White Rock Park in St. Paul. This stunning sapphire blue watering hole is a great place to relax, fish, swim, zip line, cliff dive, scuba, and much more. The park generally opens late spring. Read more here.
- Middlebury
Terrence Faircloth/Flickr Take a day trip to a town you’ve never visited in Indiana, like the lovely town of Middlebury. This quirky town offers carriage rides unique German-Amish dining options, interesting architecture, a whimsical park, local shopping and much more. Get the full scoop here.
- Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course - Indianapolis
Kendall H./Yelp Get in touch with your inner adventurer and check out Indiana from new heights. Engage in exciting canopy walks, zip lines, tarzan swings, climbing walls, and much more at this amazing adventure park. Find out more here.
- Ainsley’s Cafe - Liberty
Aunzie/TripAdvisor If you’re looking for new places to eat, combine sightseeing and dining into one experience at Ainsley’s cafe. This nautical, slightly retro restauant is huge, with traditional indoor dining, porch dining, and a seasonal deck area with an incredible view of Brookville Lake. Get full details here.
- Nashville
Raine0975/Flickr A day trip to Nashville, Indiana is always a great time. Come explore this artsy village and enjoy local shops, eateries, and attractions like theaters and the Story Inn. Of course, no trip is complete without checking out the beautiful Brown County State Park, or at least driving through to check out the Bean Blossom Covered Bridge. Learn more here.
- Lavendar Lane - Rome City
The Lavendar Lane/Facebook If you think you’ve visited every notable place in Indiana, think again. We bet you’ve never checked out this unique and soothing lavendar farm before. Lavendar Lane offers fresh lavendar varieties as well as lavendar products like soap, honey, tea, and even lavendar peppercorn. Check it out here.
- Monastery Immaculate Conception - Ferdinand
texasrunningchick/TripAdvisor If you thought palaces only existed in Europe, think again. This incredible monastery is enchanting to behold in person. It’s a National Historic landmark (and for good reason) and is often referred to as the castle on the hill. Come uncover the wonders of this breathtaking palace and check out the brewery the sisters opened on the monastery campus. Learn more here.
- Exotic Feline Rescue Center - Center Point
Exotic Feline Rescure Center/Facebook If you love animals, especially exotic breeds, you’ll feel right at home in this exotic rescue center. This animal sanctuary rescues big cats, like lions, tigers, pumas, leopards, cougars, ocelots, and much more. Learn more about this extraordinary place here.
- Culver
Chris Huffman/Flickr Do you love fishing? If so, you should defintiely check out this quiet fishing town along Lake Maxinkukee, the state’s second largest natural lake. Enjoy a day full of fishing, seafood dining, and local charm in Culver. Find out more here.
- The Quilt Gardens - Elkhart County
Quilt Gardens Nappannee Welcome Center/Facebook The Quilt Gardens nature display is an incredible annual event that takes places all across Elkhart County. Exhibitors create thematic quilted flower designs for visitors to behold. This year’s event opens in May and is the 10th annual celebration, so you can be sure you don’t want to miss it. Find out more here.
Which of the places are you most excited to visit this spring? For more amazing places to explore, check out our 2017 bucket list.
Kelly F./TripAdvisor
This gorgeous state park is easily one of Indiana’s best kept secrets. This park is full of gorgeous hiking trails, incredible ridges, and even has a nature preserve within the park full of deep gorges and creeks. Learn more here.
Swiss Heritage Village and Museum/Facebook
This fantastic village is really an interactive museum and offers visitors a glimpse into Swiss culture. Explore traditional Swiss structures like homes and schools, learn essential skills like chair weaving, and cut loose with fun activities like a ride on the Swiss rope swing. Discover all of the adventure here,
White Rock Park/Facebook
If you’re a water lover, you have to visit the swimming hole quarry at White Rock Park in St. Paul. This stunning sapphire blue watering hole is a great place to relax, fish, swim, zip line, cliff dive, scuba, and much more. The park generally opens late spring. Read more here.
Terrence Faircloth/Flickr
Take a day trip to a town you’ve never visited in Indiana, like the lovely town of Middlebury. This quirky town offers carriage rides unique German-Amish dining options, interesting architecture, a whimsical park, local shopping and much more. Get the full scoop here.
Kendall H./Yelp
Get in touch with your inner adventurer and check out Indiana from new heights. Engage in exciting canopy walks, zip lines, tarzan swings, climbing walls, and much more at this amazing adventure park. Find out more here.
Aunzie/TripAdvisor
If you’re looking for new places to eat, combine sightseeing and dining into one experience at Ainsley’s cafe. This nautical, slightly retro restauant is huge, with traditional indoor dining, porch dining, and a seasonal deck area with an incredible view of Brookville Lake. Get full details here.
Raine0975/Flickr
A day trip to Nashville, Indiana is always a great time. Come explore this artsy village and enjoy local shops, eateries, and attractions like theaters and the Story Inn. Of course, no trip is complete without checking out the beautiful Brown County State Park, or at least driving through to check out the Bean Blossom Covered Bridge. Learn more here.
The Lavendar Lane/Facebook
If you think you’ve visited every notable place in Indiana, think again. We bet you’ve never checked out this unique and soothing lavendar farm before. Lavendar Lane offers fresh lavendar varieties as well as lavendar products like soap, honey, tea, and even lavendar peppercorn. Check it out here.
texasrunningchick/TripAdvisor
If you thought palaces only existed in Europe, think again. This incredible monastery is enchanting to behold in person. It’s a National Historic landmark (and for good reason) and is often referred to as the castle on the hill. Come uncover the wonders of this breathtaking palace and check out the brewery the sisters opened on the monastery campus. Learn more here.
Exotic Feline Rescure Center/Facebook
If you love animals, especially exotic breeds, you’ll feel right at home in this exotic rescue center. This animal sanctuary rescues big cats, like lions, tigers, pumas, leopards, cougars, ocelots, and much more. Learn more about this extraordinary place here.
Chris Huffman/Flickr
Do you love fishing? If so, you should defintiely check out this quiet fishing town along Lake Maxinkukee, the state’s second largest natural lake. Enjoy a day full of fishing, seafood dining, and local charm in Culver. Find out more here.
Quilt Gardens Nappannee Welcome Center/Facebook
The Quilt Gardens nature display is an incredible annual event that takes places all across Elkhart County. Exhibitors create thematic quilted flower designs for visitors to behold. This year’s event opens in May and is the 10th annual celebration, so you can be sure you don’t want to miss it. Find out more here.
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