9 Indiana Towns That Locals Love

Looking to avoid tourist traps and visit places locals really love? If you're in Indiana, you've got great options. Locals here call themselves Hoosiers, and while the nickname’s exact origin is debated and still unknown, it has been used for Indiana residents since at least the 1830s. Just a few attractions you'll see here include a festive holiday village, an Amish trail, a refrigerated toboggan track, mansions, and a famed preacher's humble home. These are the nine Indiana towns that locals love.

Shipshewana

Locals love to stay in the lovely rural community of Shipshewana. This town has one of the largest Amish communities in the U.S., and it proudly celebrates this heritage through Amish-owned businesses and charming experiences. This includes delicious home-cooked Amish-style meals from the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery or taking a buggy around town with Buggy Lane Tours. You'll want to stick around in Shipshewana to enjoy one of its local events, including the Christmas Light Drive-Thru Experience, which lights up downtown with more than two million LED lights. During warmer months, you can take a hike through the beautiful Pumpkinvine Trail, which connects Shipshewana with Middlebury and Goshen. Lastly, if you're interested in learning about how Mennonites or the Amish live, you can visit the Menno-Hof interpretive center, which features an Amish kitchen, a replica of a 17th-century boat, and more within its red barn structure.

New Albany

New Albany, sitting north of Louisville, Kentucky, is on the Ohio River and is a lovely destination in its own right with something for everyone to enjoy. For instance, there's the historic Culbertson Mansion, a 1869 French Imperial-style home complete with 25 rooms, marble fireplaces, and painted walls, which is open for guided tours on Wednesdays through Sunday. Hikers and bikers can explore paved trails such as the Ohio River Greenway, which runs for 7.5 miles to Jeffersonville, or the wooded Silver Hills Trolley Trail, set atop a former trolley car line. Locals will tell you the best place to grab a pizza or beer is the New Albanian Brewing Company, located close to Indiana University Southeast. If you're looking for a fun event, New Albany hosts the Harvest Homecoming festival each October, a perfect time to sample rich foods and shop from local businesses.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a holiday destination that has been referred to as America's quirkiest little town, thanks to its festive name and fun-loving spirit. Children from around Indiana travel here to mail their letters to Santa at a historic post office within the Santa Claus Museum & Village. This village also contains a 22-foot-tall statue of St. Nick, built in 1935. Santa himself is known to send personalized replies to children in December. The biggest attraction here in Santa Claus is Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, an amusement park that serves free soft drinks and sunscreen for the summer months, but that's just one of many fun places to visit in Santa Claus. Another excellent nearby option is the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, which preserves Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home. Also in Spencer County is the Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum, which features 13 replica pioneer cabins and exhibits about Lincoln’s time in Indiana. During the Treemendous Christmas in the Village event, the village decorates historic-style cabins with traditional Christmas decorations, while visitors also enjoy carolers, music, and delicious holiday treats.

New Harmony

This community is a treasure trove of history and heritage. Many communities in Indiana were founded for business purposes, but New Harmony is different. It was established to be a shining light to the rest of the world as a utopian society. A group of German separatists called the Harmonists first came here in 1814 in hopes of creating the ideal Christian society before the end of the world. A little over ten years later, they sold the town to Robert Owen, who also tried to create an idyllic socialist paradise. Today in New Harmony, visitors and locals can experience that sense of peace their founders tried to create at places like the Roofless Church or the privet hedge maze of the Harmonist Labyrinth. Visitors can see how these communities lived and shared their food together at the Community House #4, or they can enjoy a gentle day in the woods at the Harmonie State Park. New Harmony hosts a variety of events, including the New Harmony Firefly Festival, which celebrates the state insect of Indiana, the Say's Firefly, with activities, walks, and illuminated displays.

Angola

If you're looking for a unique experience, Angola is the town to visit. It's home to one of Indiana's first state parks: Pokagon State Park. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed it during the Great Depression and features many beautiful landscapes, including wetland trails and a refrigerated toboggan track, making this a great park to visit in the winter. This isn't the only thrilling adventure in Angola; visitors can also enjoy a short-track stock-car race at the Angola Motorsport Speedway. If you visit during September, you can see a live reenactment from Civil War reenactors during Angola Civil War Days. If you're in the mood for something a little calmer, there's the Satek Winery or The Gallery, which houses work from more than 20 local artists.

Vincennes

There's nowhere in Indiana as historic as Vincennes. Founded in 1732 by French colonists, it is the oldest town in Indiana. The city was captured during the American Revolution by General George Rogers Clark, and it now features a significant national monument at the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. This park hosts an illustrious American Revolutionary War Reenactment during the Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous held in May. History isn't the only thing visitors can discover in Vincennes; you can also share in a good laugh at the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, established in honor of the 20th-century comic.

Nashville

Hoosier nature lovers will tell anyone that Nashville is a hidden gem. While much of the Midwest is flat, Nashville is noteworthy for its large rolling hills. The perfect place to traverse these hills is at the Brown County State Park, which features both strenuous and easy trails along with a historic 90-foot fire tower and two lakes. At nearby Yellowwood State Forest, you can see rare, state-threatened yellowwood trees, a species uncommon this far north. Nashville boasts a charming downtown area that hosts numerous significant events, including the Brown County Christkindl Market, a traditional European-style Christmas market, and the Hog Wild Vendor Fair, which features goods from over 60 local businesses.

Winona Lake

Winona Lake is a lake lover's paradise. Folks here take their boats out not only on the lake itself but also on the numerous creeks surrounding the lake. Locals love it here, not just for the beautiful water, but also for the spiritually enriching places such as the serene Heritage Trail. This trail features statues that represent both Winona Lake's history and community values, as well as biblical themes. Winona Lake inspired many people of faith, including the traveling preacher Billy Sunday, who lived there. You can learn about his life and mission at the Billy Sunday Home museum. For the best way to experience the lake itself, go to the Limitless Park and Splash Pad, which also contains a beach. At Winona Lake's shopping destination, The Village, there are numerous culturally rich events, including the Jazz Festival, which takes place in July.

Madison

Madison is a beautiful river town whose downtown is home to the Madison Historic District, widely regarded as the state’s largest contiguous National Historic Landmark district, often fondly referred to as an “outdoor museum.” This district sprang up due to its role as a steamboat town in the 1800s. Today, Madison keeps that boating tradition alive with the Madison Regatta event, where race boats dash across the Ohio River every year in July. There are numerous spots in Madison that locals love to frequent, including Clifty Falls State Park, renowned for its stunning limestone waterfalls, and the Lanier Mansion, a 1844 Greek Revival-style mansion. At Clifty Falls, the “4 Falls Challenge” hiking route can lead you to all four major waterfalls in the wetter seasons. For another hidden spot, go to nearby Hanover College to see the Point, a bluff where all the bends of the Ohio River are visible.

A Unique Indiana Experience

The reason locals love these communities is that they all offer a unique Indiana experience. Madison provides majestic waterfalls as a backdrop to a large Victorian-era district, while Nashville exudes a mountain-town vibe with its beautiful parks and artsy downtown area. If you're in the mood for a rural getaway, many of these towns are located far away from big population centers, while still offering plenty to do. By visiting these towns, you'll quickly see why Hoosiers love them.