What to do and see in Indiana, United States: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do

October 2, 2021 Kaleigh Reichenbach

With beaches, boating, and salmon fishing in Michigan City and Gary bordering Lake Michigan, there is more to Indiana than might appear at first glance. The agricultural heartland even has cross country skiing and snowmobiling to go with the Cornball Express. Southwest Indiana near Evansville is renowned for the well-preserved Native American Angel Mounds State Historic Site. The largest city and state capital is famous worldwide for its Indianapolis 500 race. Even locals living in the suburbs often overlook the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Eiteljorg Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, the old Union Station museum cluster, and downtown Canal Walk, to name but a few landmarks. South Bend is synonymous with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Forested Nashville’s art colony fame dates to the early 1900s when Impressionist Theodore Clement Steele overwintered in The House of the Singing Winds. It is now the T.C. Steele State Historic Site. View paintings and sculpture at the I.M. Pei-designed Indiana University Museum of Art. Attend an IU sports event or an opera, ballet, concert, or theater performance. Treat the family to The Little Nashville Opry or The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Park. For healing mineral springs, head south to Orange County, Indiana’s spa resort center.

Enjoy golf, fishing, boating, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice skating in the nation’s agricultural heartland. Monticello and Rensselaer are west of Logansport and north of Lafayette. Take the family on the Cornball Express and Hoosier Hurricane at the Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello. Play boardwalk carnival games, or let the kids loose on the go-carts. Pile the family into their vehicles for an old-fashioned movie experience at Monticello’s Lake Shore Drive-In. Indulge in a weekend dinner boat cruise to hot band sounds as the Madam Carroll plies Lake Freeman.


Restaurants in Indiana

1. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

1600 Wayne St, Auburn, IN 46706-3509 +1 260-925-1444 [email protected] http://www.automobilemuseum.org/
Excellent
90%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 582 reviews

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum - where the world's finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life

Reviewed By hockeychief - Canton, United States

If you love cars, or even just like cars, this is one unbelievable museum. The cars on display, (over 120), are some of the most exquisite cars ever made and from a time period long forgotten. See Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs which were some of the most beautiful ever made. Actors, gangsters, and anyone who wanted to show the world that they had arrived, had to own one of these. The building in which they are housed was the old Cord corporate office and showroom. The building itself is a wonderful art deco design and is in excellent shape.

2. Samara House

1301 Woodland Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906-2371 +1 765-409-5522 [email protected] http://www.samara-house.org
Excellent
89%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 75 reviews

Samara House

Our management team deemed it prudent to cancel our tours and events indefinitely due to the virus. We are continuing to monitor the situation. We do not have regular tour times, so they are not posted anywhere. The best way to get the tour information and schedule is to email us and the information will be sent to you. The house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the John Christian family in 1954 and is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. It is one of the most complete of Wright's designs and represents a pristine example of his Usonian architecture. SAMARA is strictly maintained to the exacting standards set by Mr. Wright. SAMARA contains refinements of over forty innovations by this world-famous architect, yet is unique in that it was specifically designed for Dr. Christian and his wife, Catherine, and their daughter, Linda. Adults $10, college students $3, children under 17 are free. Tours last about 1.5 hours.

Reviewed By hjr9 - Indianapolis, United States

this FLW home is very different from any other you will visit. you are allowed to sit on furniture AND to take photos! i was shocked to walk in and be told to have a seat. But it is also very different because all the furniture, china, trees, etc were designed/selected by FLW. the most complete home you will see. it's beautiful and the docent was wonderful. it is well worth visiting. it is located directly across the road from the Purdue football stadium so be aware if you plan to go in the fall. this is street parking only and there is no parking available on home football days. i didn't ask but they probably don't have tours on those Saturdays.

3. The Miller House and Garden

506 5th St, Columbus, IN 47201-6225 http://columbus.in.us/miller-house-and-garden-tour/
Excellent
87%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 189 reviews

The Miller House and Garden

The Miller House and Garden is accessible by guided tour only. Tours are scheduled March - December. The property is closed January - February for conversation work. The 1957 Miller House and Garden showcases the work of leading 20th-century architects and designers Eero Saarinen, Alexander Girard, and Dan Kiley. In 2000, the Miller House and Garden was awarded National Historic Landmark status. The Miller House is only accessible on guided tours because it is located in a private residential neighborhood. Tours begin and end at The Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 Fifth Street (not at the house). The tour is oriented to adults and children over 10 – please note only children over 10 are allowed on the tour and all guests must purchase a ticket.

Reviewed By StaunchCharacter

The Miller House is a gem and must-see for anyone who appreciates mid-century modern and/or the perfect artistic expression of wholistic architectural design - where the house design, siting and interior design elements all perfectly achieve the client's personality and needs. The home is one of the best examples of this type of architecture. It had the perfect marriage of client and architects and now its stewards are doing a great job keeping it in tip-top shape and relevant. The tour operations are smooth. At check-in we were greeted with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable top-level employee and then presented with a helpful and insightful video introduction. A short and comfortable bus ride to the property was followed by a relatively leisurely and immersive house tour experience. The group size was just right and we were given ample opportunity to photograph to our heart's content in certain spaces. A very enjoyable experience that I recommend whole-heartedly.

4. Red Wolf Sanctuary

3027 State Route 262, Rising Sun, IN 47040-9157 +1 812-438-2306 http://www.redwolf.org
Excellent
91%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 23 reviews

Red Wolf Sanctuary

Awesome animal santcuary, open to public, free tours. They have White Red Wolves, Raptors, black bears, foxes, and coyotes. Licensed and safe.

Reviewed By BirderHerper - Chicago, United States

This immense private property run by a retired Zoo Keeper and manned by volunteers who are up-and-coming zoologists proves what a wildlife sanctuary should look like. Massive open expanses for all the animals Cared for with such Passion I wish I could see this in every facility like this. You get private tours by the owner who is basically a comedian and keeps you laughing the whole time all while teaching you amazing biology and ecology and getting to see these animals like you've never seen them before. I highly recommend if you're in the Cincinnati area or even just passing through this area give him a call set up an appointment and go through and do a tour you will not be disappointed and you will have the time of your life.

5. Indiana Military Museum

715 S 6th Street Rd, Vincennes, IN 47591-9246 +1 812-882-1941 http://indymilitary.com/
Excellent
87%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 135 reviews

Indiana Military Museum

Reviewed By inspire53 - Vincennes, United States

Very big a outstanding display .The walk outside is beyond words to any History buff. Then the inside is another world of museum pieces highly recommend.

6. Rotary Jail Museum and Tannenbaum Cultural Center

225 N Washington St, Crawfordsville, IN 47933-1737 +1 765-362-5222 http://www.rotaryjailmuseum.org/
Excellent
82%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 62 reviews

Rotary Jail Museum and Tannenbaum Cultural Center

Reviewed By sarahbW4106SM - Chicago, United States

During covid, we visited this rotary jail. What an awesome place. Only $5 (call for a reservation) and got an amazing tour. We saw the sheriffs house and then went inside the prison. We even saw it rotate. Super great history! It was the first rotary jail built and the only one still around.

7. Wolf creek habitat and rescue

14099 Wolf Creek Rd, Brookville, IN 47012-8939 +1 513-312-9143 http://www.wolfcreekhabitat.org
Excellent
85%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 71 reviews

Wolf creek habitat and rescue

Reviewed By RoxieC21

If you are curious about wolves and want to see them up close and personal, this is the place to be! You can just look at the animals and/or take pictures for free, or you can go see and pet the wolves for a small fee. We didn't want to leave. These are creatures that most people will never see in their lives that are at the rescue for various reasons, and you can get closer than you've ever dreamed. The staff is very knowledgeable and it's a fun way to spend a little time in awe!

8. Bear Wallow Distillery

4484 Old State Road 46, Nashville, IN 47448-8128 +1 812-657-4923 [email protected] http://www.bearwallowdistillery.com
Excellent
82%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 110 reviews

Bear Wallow Distillery

We make handcrafted artisan spirits using 100% Indiana grains. Come take our "Farm-to-Fifth" Tour (starting at the top of each hour), sample our spirits, try a Moonshine Shake-up Cocktail and shop our Indiana Made Gift Shop for unique gift items. Open seven day a week 10 months of the year - weekends only in January and February.

Reviewed By JudyBFeher - Fort Wayne, United States

Fabulous! Great offerings in moonshine and bourbon whiskey for the experienced and not so experienced! Great tasting flavored for mixing drinks! Did the 6 flights and enjoyed talking with one of the owners giving us some interesting background on their startup. Nice atmosphere and outdoor seating area. Definitely worth a visit!

9. Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes

114 Coleman Morse Ctr University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN 46556-4617 +1 574-631-5000 http://tour.nd.edu/locations/grotto/
Excellent
85%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 330 reviews

Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes

Reviewed By 196donaldz - South Bend, United States

Lit a candle here yesterday while my dad was undergoing surgery. Have loved this place more than any other since I was a student there many years ago. Will always hold a special place in my heart, weather in the peaceful calm of summer, or the quiet of a snowy winter evening.

10. At The Barn Winery

4152 N Dearborn Rd, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025-8783 +1 513-519-8745 [email protected] http://www.atthebarnwinery.com
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 21 reviews

At The Barn Winery

Open Friday at 4, Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. Free tastings. Award winning wines. Farm to table. Family friendly. Handcrafted-boutique winery locally owned and operated. From our farm to your table. All wine is fermented and bottled on the premises. Enjoy a glass or a bottle on the deck or patio. We have your new favorite. Carpe Vinum!

Reviewed By Ralph_Rhonda_Wright - Savannah, United States

Clean, friendly, great tasting wine, and great prices! 3 for free tastings! Try the Dragon Kiss! The peach Chardonnay was our second favorite.

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.