9 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Indiana
Hoosiers are accustomed to their state being referred to as "the Crossroads of America", and they'll happily tell you about all the great places in Indiana to spend a long weekend. Here, one can explore a network of house museums, soar over the sand dunes, go on a toboggan ride, or send a letter to Santa Claus. These destinations range from a Great Lakes town to hilly nature escapes and small communities just outside of big cities. In all of these towns, you can find great bed and breakfast spots or inns to enjoy a long weekend. Need more proof? Read on about these nine perfect destinations for a long weekend in Indiana.
Shipshewana
Some of the best towns to stay in are the most unassuming such as Shipshewana. This quaint rural town has a large Amish community, which actively contributes to its rich culinary and commercial scene. You can ride in an authentic Amish buggy with Buggy Lane Tours, which can take you right up to the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery for homecooked Amish style meals and goodies.
Shipshewana is the best town in Indiana to go shopping for antiques or hidden treasures as it has what's touted as the largest flea market in the Midwest at Shipshewana Flea Market. If you'd prefer to see Amish life up close, go to the Menno Hof interpretive center, which has exhibits and artifacts of Mennonite life across America, or go hiking on the 17-mile, paved Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. There are multiple charming bed and breakfasts in Shipshewana to stay in such as the Meadows Inn Bed & Breakfast, located in a farmhouse.
Franklin
Franklin is a great escape outside of the capital of Indianapolis. At just 20 minutes south of Indianapolis, Franklin keeps the party hopping with many festivals, concerts, and other events throughout the year. No matter when you come to Franklin, you'll find a festival to attend, such as Death & Taxes Day on April 18 in nearby Bargersville with breweries, food trucks, and music, the Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival in June, or the Franklin Fall Festival in September.
Downtown Franklin has a wide variety of recreational trails and centers, such as Blue Heron Park, which connects to the 6.2-mile Historic Greenway Trail, and the Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, with programs, activities, walking tracks, a climbing wall, and more. You can stay at the beautifully maintained Ashley-Drake Historic Inn and Gardens for a great bed-and-breakfast experience.
Nashville
When Hoosiers talk about Nashville, they may just be referring to this hidden hilly gem in Brown County. Hoosiers travel from all around the state to hike up the "Hills o'Brown" at the Brown County State Park or go see yellowwood trees at the Yellowwood State Forest. From camping to fishing and swimming, Nashville is perfect for any outdoorsy folks, but it's also great for artsy ones too.
Downtown Nashville has a cute art colony with plenty of crafts and artwork on display from the Brown County Craft Gallery to the Brown County Art Guild, and individual galleries owned by local artists such as the Our Little World Studio. There are several hotels to stay at in or near Nashville — from the downtown Brown County Inn to the hidden Story Inn, the latter of which is located near the historic town of Story, just outside Brown County State Park. It's often nicknamed “the most inconvenient inn in the world” because of its secluded setting near a former ghost town. It's also allegedly haunted, which makes it for a great paranormal weekend getaway.
Angola
While many towns slow down during the winter, Angola speeds up, quite literally. It has the only refrigerated toboggan trail in Indiana at the Pokagon State Park. In this thrilling ride, you'll go up to 40 mph in an Olympic toboggan, which operates even when it's not slowing. The park itself sits on Lake James, with trails, fishing piers, and boat launches available.
Another “speedy” spot in Angola is the Angola Motorsport Speedway, which regularly hosts stock car racing events. Once you make it to downtown Angola, you can take in the views at its lovely town square, which is centered around the Steuben County Soldiers Monument, one of the top Civil War monuments in Indiana. There are also several great eateries around it, such as the Monument Pizza Pub and The Rooted Vegan. You can book your stay right on Lake James at the Potawatomi Inn & Conference Center.
Madison
The Ohio River town of Madison has the largest contiguous historic district in Indiana, which is often described as an outdoor walking museum. In reality, many of these houses are museums in their own right, and all are worth checking out. Enjoy the gardens of the 1844 Greek Revival Lanier Mansion State Historic Site or learn about antislavery movements in Indiana at the Eleutherian College, founded by Neil's Creek Antislavery Society. Beyond the historic downtown, you can go exploring the limestone river bluffs of Clifty Falls State Park. Its most notable landscapes are its four waterfalls, which can all be seen by hiking the 4 Falls Challenge, a rugged, four-mile journey. You can stay in style in downtown Madison at the Chandler Hotel.
Corydon
If you're looking for a historic and nature destination for your weekend getaway, then Corydon is up your alley. From 1816 to 1825, Corydon was the state capital of Indiana until it was moved further north to Indianapolis. Thanks to this history, Corydon is a time capsule of old Indiana state buildings, such as the brick Corydon Capitol State Historic Site and Governor Hendrick's Headquarters. You can even see the stump of the Constitutional Elm Tree where the first state constitution was signed, or the Battle of Corydon Park, the site of the only American Civil War battle fought in Indiana where Confederate troops overwhelmed the town militia.
Corydon sits in the midst of beautiful nature preserves such as the Hayswood Nature Preserve and a massive cave system within the Indiana Caverns. Here you can take guided cave tours, ride an underground boat, or go ziplining above the cave system at Indiana Caverns. The Kintner House Inn is a bed and breakfast located a few blocks away from the State Historic Site.
Rockville
This underrated town is one of the most welcoming towns in Indiana. It's so welcoming in fact, that the town might not let you leave, as one of its most popular hotels is an old jail. The Old Jail Inn lets you put on a prisoner uniform and sleep comfortably in a redesigned jail cell. After you check out of your inn, you can go exploring at one of the 31 covered bridges in wider Parke County.
Some of the best can be found at the historic Billie Creek Village including the 1895 Billie Creek Covered Bridge. The village itself has multiple restored structures from pioneer days including a church and old timey general store. If you visit Rockville in September, you can experience the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, with arts, crafts, food, and guided tours of the bridges.
Santa Claus
This town may have the most festive vibe of any community in the US. According to town legend, children picked the name Santa Claus when they excitedly heard the bells from Santa Claus' reindeer outside the town church. Santa Claus is still a great place for kids, as its historic Village & Museum maintains an 1856 Post Office where you can drop off letters to Santa Claus, while the Santa Claus Christmas Store sells ornaments, decorations, and holiday treats for young and old.
You can spend several days at the thrilling Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, a family owned amusement park with wooden roller coasters, water rides, and free soft drinks. You might also enjoy visiting the nearby Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, where Abraham Lincoln spent part of his childhood. For a festive long weekend, stay at Santa's Lodge or Santa's Cottages.
Porter
Indiana shares a small coastline with the Great Lakes, in particular Lake Michigan, and one of the best towns for a lakeside weekend getaway is Porter. While you can get right out on the lake at Porter Beach or Dunbar Beach, you won't want to miss a park right outside of the lake: the Indiana Dunes National Park and nearby Indiana Dunes State Park. These dunes were formed by Lake Michigan tens of thousands of years ago and today consist of massive sand dune ridges to hike up such as Calumet Dunes Trail or the 3 Dunes Challenge at the Indiana Dunes State Park.
Other than hiking, the Indiana Dunes National Park is the site of the quirky 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress Homes, consisting of multiple futuristic (for the time) homes, such as a bright pink coastal home, the Cypress Log House, and more. Enjoy your lake vacation at the Spring House Inn, which is just two miles away from the Indiana Dunes State Park.
Welcoming Towns and Attractions
All of these towns are welcoming places, especially during festivals like the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Rockville or the Fall Festival in Franklin. They also are home to all manner of quirky attractions from Christmas themed villages to an Amish buggy ride and futuristic vintage homes on the shores of Lake Michigan. These Indiana destinations have just the right number of attractions, great accommodations, and peaceful parks to make your long weekend getaway memorable.
