8 Serene Indiana Towns For A Weekend Retreat

Pace is a big part of Indiana. Harness racing pacers, pace cars, and Pacers basketball keep things speedy in this Midwestern state. But, as we all know, pace can also be slow. And nowhere is this more evident than in small towns, where high-powered entertainment is replaced with tobogganing, painting, fishing, flower peeping, and covered bridge viewing. If you like that change of pace, head to one or more of these eight serene Hoosier State towns that are perfect for a weekend retreat.

Angola

Like the African country of the same name, Angola, Indiana, is an unsung oasis. Stuck in the state's northeast corner, this small city houses 9,000-odd people and neighbors thousands of acres of lakes, chief of which is 1,200ish-acre Lake James. Filling James's banks is Pokagon State Park, which contains the Potawatomi Nature Preserve, Pokagon State Park Nature Center, Potawatomi Inn & Conference Center, and Pokagon Toboggan Run. The run is closed for the season, but that should not stop you from running to the park while its famous redbuds are still in bloom. Catch those colorful flowers in Pokagon before heading back to Angola for bites at Jed's Barbecue & Brew. Then catch some zzzzs at the Wingate by Wyndham Angola.

Metamora

You might have a metamorphosis in Metamora, going from a clean-cut professional with a briefcase to a bearded sage with a walking stick. That can happen over a weekend in this rustic village, whose attractions include the Metamora Grist Mill, Historic Whitewater Canal, and Whitewater Valley Gateway Park. Trek a little farther to find the Wolf Creek Habitat & Rescue and the Mounds State Recreation Area. Sure, there are a few businesses in the area, but even those have names like Grannie's Cookie Jars & Ice Cream Parlor. Moreover, Metamora's one inn dates to circa 1857. You can stay in the Blacklidge Room, which honors the inn's builder William G. Blacklidge.

Nashville

Nashville is a watercolor painting come to life. That observation is not new because, since the early 1900s, artists have been flocking to Nashville. Early painters formed the Brown County Art Colony, which branched off into the Brown County Art Guild. The latter survives as both an organization and gallery that is open each day. Visit the Guild and Nashville's other main gallery, the Brown County Art Gallery, before trading representation for reality in the surrounding wilderness. While exploring the storybook-style Yellowwood State Forest, make sure to overnight at the Story Inn, which is considered Indiana’s oldest country inn. It certainly looks antiquated, but that just makes its kitchen — serving Chilean sea bass, spring lamb chops, goat cheese medallions, etc. — so much more dignified.

Porter

Few landforms evoke the serenity of Indiana's Dunes. These natural sand mountains jut over one hundred feet from the shores of Lake Michigan, providing whimsy for humans and habitat for plants and animals, including rare (for Indiana) cacti and racerunner lizards. The Dunes are preserved by Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park, which are accessible from a number of neighboring settlements. One of the quaintest is Porter. As a town of about 5,000, Porter is for weekenders wanting serene digs after digging serene dunes. If that describes you, sleep at the Spring House Inn, but only after sampling award-winning Wagner's Ribs.

Madison

Madison looks as tranquil as she sounds. Hugging the Ohio River, this undersized city soothes not just with water but water-adjacent architecture from centuries past. Many such buildings have active businesses like Hinkle's Sandwich Shop and the Lanthier Winery, so you can snack, swill, and sightsee at the same time. Fueled up and ready for real adventure, hop on over to Clifty Falls State Park, a waterfall oasis right next to town. Since Madison is larger than its serene small-town brethren, there are plenty of places to sleep after a tour of Clifty. They range from the rustic Clifty Inn to the elegant Chandler Hotel.

Warsaw

Warsaw takes "oasis" to a new level. This northern Indiana city has only 16,000ish people yet several lakes within its borders. Another lake, Winona Lake, seems like it should be part of Warsaw but actually centers its own namesake community. Further, the surrounding county claims more than 100 lakes in total.

Tourists can thus spend their weekend swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, pontooning, or stand-up paddleboarding. Those hoping to keep dry can take a scenic stroll through the Warsaw Biblical Gardens or Winona Lake Trails. In the evening, weekenders of all stripes would be wise to visit the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts before crashing at the Chateaux on Winona Lake.

Corydon

Located about 20 minutes from Louisville, Kentucky, Corydon is an out-of-state retreat for burned-out Louisvillians. But you need not be burned-out or from Louisville to visit Corydon, since it beckons to all with serene attractions. Among them are the Harrison-Crawford State Forest, O’Bannon Woods State Park, Corydon Capitol State Historic Site, and Ten Thousand Buddhas Summit Monastery, the last of which is mysteriously hidden in the wilderness. Claustrophiliacs can find true serenity in the state's longest cave, the Indiana Caverns. There are no accommodations at those caverns, but there are cabins at the Squire Boone Caverns several miles south.

Rockville

Perhaps the best combination of natural and artificial serenity is a covered bridge. Spanning a scenic river, stream, or brook, said structure is often cozy, colorful, and, thanks to limited — or nonexistent — vehicular traffic, quiet. At last count, 31 covered bridges fill Parke County, whose seat is the town of Rockville. Not only is Rockville called the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World," it hosts the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival on the second Friday of each October. Visit during that weekend to see Parke County's covered bridges, attend the Covered Bridge Festival, and explore Turkey Run State Park for good measure. Stay at the aptly named Parke Bridge Motel, whose quaint rooms complement the quaint attractions.

The home of the Pacers lets you go at any pace, but if you desire slow rather than fast, stick to small, rural towns. There you can enjoy serenity in many forms, from blooming redbuds near Angola to art galleries in Nashville to sand dunes near Porter to hidden Buddhas near Corydon to covered bridges in Rockville. Since you might not want to stay at that pace forever, simply choose an upcoming weekend to spend in serene Indiana.