Top Ten Places to Visit in Indiana - The Best Indiana Vacation Spots
94Indianapolis Skyline
Vacationing in Indiana - Just What Exactly Is There To Do In Indiana?
Traditional wisdom tells us that Indiana's just full of corn, farmers, and more corn. Maybe even a little soybeans every now and then! But there is another side to Indiana! From quaint Amish villages, to adrenaline rushing rollercoasters, to the world-famous Indy 500, Indiana has plenty of tourist attractions for any type of vacation! Here is my list, as a Hoosier, of the top ten vacation spots in Indiana, in no particular order...
1. Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Fieldhouse
Lucas Oil Stadium
The Lucas Oil Stadium replaces the now demolished RCA Dome as the home of the Indiapolis Colts NFL team. Located in the heart of Indianapolis, here you can come watch the Colts play in their home arena. When the Colts aren't in town, the stadium is host to a variety of events.
Conseco Fieldhouse
The Conseco Fieldhouse, also located in downtown Indianapolis, is the home of the Indianapolis Pacers NBA team. Aside from basketball, the stadium hosts big-ticket concerts (such as Metallica), trade shows, ice shows, and much much more!
These two stadiums are great vacation destinations not only for the sports fan in your family, but for an assortment of other interests as well.
Indy Car
2. Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the world-famous Indy 500 and Brickyard races, as well as the occasional Formula One Grand Prix. The Motor Speedway attracts many international vactioners to Indiana, and it's a top Indiana vacation spot due the the historical nature of the race.
As testament to the history of the Indy 500, there is a racing museum located onsite filled with a slew of race cars to please the speed demon in your family.
3. Holiday World and Splashin' Safari
Santa Claus, Indiana is home to one of the greatest vacation spots in Indiana - Holiday World amusement park and Splashin' Safari waterpark. Holiday World is fun for the whole family! At this holiday themed amusement park you can meet Santa year round, ride thrilling roller coasters such as The Voyage, and ride a variety of other attractions!
Adjoined to Holiday World is Splashin' Safari, one of Indiana's top waterparks. Along with some intense water slides, you can take a lazy cruise along the Bahari River, or experience some tubular waves in the wave pool!
4. Amish Acres and Shipshewana
Located in Nappanee, Indiana, Amish Acres is a quaint Amish community. Amish Acres is one of my top Indiana vacation spots due to its historical and educational nature. The Amish live a simple lifestyle, void of electricity and many modern conveniences. At Amish Acres you can witness this way of life first hand, tour a round barn, and purchase many fine Amish products.
Nearby Amish Acres is Shipshewana, Indiana. Shipshewana is home to the Trading Place of America, the Midwest's largest fleamarket. You can also shop at over 100 stores, many of which carry fine Amish products. Shipshewana shops are open year round, 6 days a week.
5. Indiana Beach Amusement Resort
Northern Indiana's Monticello is home to Indiana Beach Amusement Resort. Indiana Beach has been a top vacation spot for Indiana residents since 1927. Here you can boat around Lake Shafer, ride one of the six roller coasters and scores of other attractions, and watch the fantastic Fourth of July fireworks!
Indiana Beach has a nice waterpark with slides that cater to every audience, as well as a man-made beach along the lake! Indiana Beach is a great vacation spot, and with its close proximity to the Chicago area it is extremely popular. Read this article for more information on Indiana Beach.
6. Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore
The Indiana Dunes State Park (located in Chesteron, Indiana) and National Lakeshore is located along the Indiana coast of Lake Michigan in Porter, Lake, and LaPorte Counties. The Dunes are a top vacation spot due to the natural beauty of the area and the close proximity to Lake Michigan. Here you can take a boat ride, wade in the fresh waters, build a sand castle on the beach, and hike the dunes.
7. Nashville, Indiana and Brown County State Park
Number seven in my list of the ten best vacation spots in Indiana is Nashville, Indiana. Known as "the artist colony of the Midwest," Nashville is home to dozens of stores of knickknacks and art. It's beautiful in the fall and a great place to visit.
Right next door is Brown County State Park. Brown County is Indiana's largest state park, featuring numerous trails for people of all hiking ability, beautiful fall colors, and historic covered bridges. These make Brown County and Nashville top vacation destinations for the naturalist and artist in you.
8. Bloomington, Indiana and Indiana University
Named by National Geographic as on of the top 50 adventure towns in the United States, Bloomington, Indiana is a beautiful college town housing the renowned Indiana University. Bloomington has a variety of shops that are found nowhere else in Indiana, including herbal stores and a plethora of bike shops. Home of the Little 500 bicycle race and the setting for the movie Breaking Away, Bloomington is an Indiana vacation spot to hit for sure. There is always something to do in this town, with bands visiting nearly every weekend and a host of festivals.
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9. Hoosier National Forest
The Hoosier National Forest covers a good portion of the southern tip of Indiana. The national forest is a must for hunters, equestrians, fishers, and hikers vacationing in Indiana. It has some of the best horse trails in the state, as well as open hunting and fishing. Come camp in the Hoosier National Forest on your next Indiana vacation!
10. Indianapolis Children's Museum
Last, but not least in my list of the top Indiana vacation spots is the Indianapolis Children's Museum. The children's museum is repeatedly chosen as one of the best children's museums in the country, and has a variety of educational and fun activities for your children. They also have a large IMAX theater that shows both feature films and educational documentaries.
Discover Indiana's Natural Beauty
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I hope my top ten greatest vacation spots in Indiana helped give you an idea of places to visit and exciting things to do in this great state. Have a good time on your Indiana Vacation!
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Glad you liked it!
I've spent many a weekend at Holiday World...you can't beat free drinks and sunscreen :D
Cool hub....I'm originally from Indiana....good choices! :)
cool photos and definetly would like to visit this place!
Thanks guys! And the free Pespsi at Holiday World is great lol
Wow -- I'm from Indiana and this is right on! Great Hub!!
Thanks man, Indiana the shizzle
Born in Alaska, raised in Northern MI, very similar to southern Indiana, just no glacial remnents, I love the Bloomy area, nice folks, all genuine people, nothing fake about them, just like back home, I could move there and feel comfortable.
Thanks meo Mio, glad you like B-town!
Great Hub!! I lived in Spencer bout 45min west of Bloomington..Makes me miss Indiana & all the great people!!!
MzJme, can't say I've ever been to Spencer, but I'm happy you liked the hub!
Actually, while making my newest hub I've just realized I have been to Spencer if that's where McCormick's creek is at!
My sister visited Indianna a few years back now ,loved the people and the state. Sounds a fantastic place with variety and beauty. I wrote a hub today on my home country ( which would be about the same size as Colorado ) lol...http://hubpages.com/hub/My-Home--New-Zealand-Aotea
This is an official announcement: Your hub has been chosen to be one of the 15 Hubnugget Wannabes for this week! Yay…congratulations!!!
This link http://hubpages.com/hub/hubnuggets-your-vote-count will take you to the hub where you can see all the juicy details about Hubnuggets, the other nominees and of course, where you can vote!!! The top 5 hubs with the most votes will get the chance to be part of the Hubpages newsletter. So click the link now and join the Hubnugget fun!
I'll be living in Indianapolis in July, so I'm glad I discovered this to help me discover a bit more of the state! Thanks!
@Ripplemaker, sweet thanks about the hubnugget wannabe stuff, bro
@jami420, that's awesome that you'll be living in Indy, it's a great town!
Great places, but like any top ten list you out of necessity have to leave out a few: Cypress swamps in the Evansville area, Ponderosa Sun Club, Shades State Park, Bonge Tavern in Perkinsville....maybe it needs to be a top 100 list.
great hub... I have not been to Indianapolis yet. i like to write top 10 hubs too... check them out when you get a chance.
I want to go to Santa Claus. Then when people ask where I am going on vacation, I can tell them to visit Santa Claus. LOL!
Indiana looks beautiful! I never knew there was so much to do. Thanks for all the information!
If you go, be sure to send a bunch of Christmas cards from town to get the coveted Santa Claus postmark.
Congratulations on your hub nugget nomination!
this is really awsome
this helped me plan my vacation it was great !!!!
-katherin langenburtsky ???
Folks, I'm really glad you guys like this. I'm surprised at the response it's been getting.
@travelerhubs
yeah you sure do, you've got some nice hubs! :)
@ k@ri
Haha it's such a weird name for a town.
@Ron Montgomery
!!!!!! I've never thought of that lol!!!!
@Red Elf
Thanks! :)
Sounds like a great destination - thanks for sharing and for an interesting, informative Hub.
I live about 20 minutes from bloomington and I have been all over the state! :D and I'm not even that old yet. I live in a really rural part of indiana and I used to think it was soo boring but I wouldn't really want to live anywhere else!
I enjoy visiting Indianapolis for a weekend. The zoo has an incredible dolphin, yes-dolphin, show! Feeding the giraffe is also a highlight. The last time I was there, I stayed at the Crowne Plaza downtown in a real train car. We walked to Palomino for dinner- great food! The children's museum is incredible, the best one I have been to. I spend many summers in Madison with family and went to many regattas. Clifty Park is very nice, also. I spend a year at Franklin College and regret not exploring the area more! I love, love, love Indiana!
I am from Indiana and you certainly hit the very best parts. Great hub.
The most wonderful state to be in this time of year...I would recommend Corydon and Madison Indiana also
indiana stinks i live here and wish i could move
The Indianapolis Children's Museum is the best kids' science museum I have been to out of the 20 or so I have visited.
Indianapolis, the capital city of the state of Indiana is also known as The Circle City, the Racing Capital of the World and Naptown. Founded in the year 1821, the city has some mind-blowing attractions to explore. The city has total 368.2 square miles of area, out of which 361.5 square miles is of land and only 6.7 square miles of area are covered by water.
This website sucks
NO it doesn't suck! It rocks! I have found loads of AWESOME places to go!
I had to do a report on Indiana and this website helped me so much
Please contact me about adding this hub to the new Hubtrail!
Nice hub. I've been to all of these places...but then I live in Indiana so I guess that's just natural.
I live across the river from Clark and Harrison counties and have visited Indiana many times.I remember staying in Corydon where my childhood friend parents had a farm. I have a lot of fond memories from many visits to southern Indiana.
I've spent many a weekend at Holiday World...you can't beat free drinks and sunscreen.
What about jelly stone park it is fun so many things to do
loved this post! great job!
Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to be the biggest attraction.
I would definitely visit the Indiana Dunes State Park.
I was born and raised here in Indiana. I enjoy Shipshewana and attending Pacers games. I look forward to attending a colts game soon. The Passion of basketball in this state, is like no other! :-) Been to Shipshewana couple times and want to go back, taking a cooler with me and bringing back home alot of Amish food! I live in Muncie, Indiana, city of Ball State University.
Love, love, love, Indiana. Especially Centerville, the antique capital, along with the beautiful towns of Cambridge City, and Hagerstown. Cope Environmental Center shouldn't be missed in Centerville.
Muncie Rocks!!!!!!!!!!
I love Santa Claus, IN! I went on vacation there and loved all the fun things to see and do. I recommened it to everybody.Holiday World is great and so is Lake Rudolf, a camp site. I also love the museum there. If you go to Holiday World, be sure to watch the dance and singing shows there because they are amazing! Those singers should be famous. Really!
I love Santa Claus, IN! I went on vacation there and loved all the fun things to see and do. I recommened it to everybody.Holiday World is great and so is Lake Rudolf, a camp site. I also love the museum there. If you go to Holiday World, be sure to watch the dance and singing shows there because they are amazing! Those singers should be famous. Really!
Love this website so much! It helped me plan the perfect vacation to Santa Claus, IN. My family loved it! We stayed for about 5 days and everyone thought it was the best vacation we had ever been on!!!!
Wow i love you blog its awesome nice colors you must have did hard work on your blog. Keep up the good work. Thanks
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Great hub, I would really love to visit Indiana and you have given me a good reason to do just that
Cheers
I live in indiana and just love holiday world . i have a season pass.(i live 3 min away in gentryville) nice hub. you hit all the important stuff. Go Harvard!
Well....Bloomington???? Other than that, your picks are ok. The racing stuff is blah...not everyone likes that type of thing. After that, well, it shows Indiana is a very blah state, not much to do.
I agree, Bloomington..must me an IU grad/fan. Nashville and Shipshewana are both about the same...small shops with a lot of junk. Amish Acres is a joke.
Can't believe you left out Notre Dame in South Bend. It is a world class ever growing campus. More tradition here than in Bloomington's existence.
Well if your coming North Indiana don't miss out on the Ft.Wayne Childrens Zoo, and Science Central and if you go just a little West you can go to Paiges' Crossing a.k.a. Fun Spot. All of these places are great just for adualt or adulys and kids..
Indiana is ok if you are just visiting but living here does get old.. Holiday world is great. but since i live here i dont go as often cus it does get old.. santa claus is a small town. holiday world, a gas station, and a few little store behind the gas station is about it when it comes to that town.. ohh i cant forget the hotel.
just visited indiana to get away from NYC for a while wat there for 2.5 months stayed in JW marriott and i cant believe it but indianapolis is wayyyyyyy better than i thought i was only supposed to be there for 2 weeks but i didnt want to leave the people actually act with sense, people work hard not all about play and games, the hotel cost was a quarter of the cost in NYC and half the cost of CHI which i was in CHI last month and had to rebuid my bank account and was only there in that arrogant hell for a week and a half ...i read up on indianapolois before i came just to see what there is to do so i wouldnt be bored out my mind it was up and down and down and up comments (for the most part it was good) i like the fact they dont baby you there you get out and do something couse fun isnt going to come knocking ...the only downfall for me which was made easy by the exttttreeeemly affordable cab rides was the transportation...WILL DEFFINATELY BE GOING BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS VERY SOON
Nice hub. I see one of the people who left a comment mention a Hubtrail. What is a Hubtrail?
Three Floyd's Brewpub in Munster, Indiana!!!
I went to indiana traveling to see the eagles game. It was a great city. Sometime you just get sick of living in a city of over a million people like philadelphia. Very nice people in indiana. And a very affordable trip thanks to this site i use for bookings http://www.employee-vacation-benefits.com/
nice hub i enjoyed it very much thanks jack:)
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Everyone go on a trip to Arizona or California.
Don't forget to visit the beautiful Marengo Caves and also Squire Boone caverns in Corydon area. Corydon has a very beautiful downtown historical area also. First State capitol. Patoka lake in southern Indiana. Beautiful Spring Mill State Park in Bedford. I could go on and on. Love my state!!!
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Did you ever visit indiana city?
yes i did went indiana city so SHUT UP STUPID!
calm your self down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I actually live in indiana and it has a bunch of neat places. Even though I haven't went to half of them.Yeah, Squire Boone is a really neat place. Did you know Squire's
I hate when my computer does that. I was trying to say, did you know squire 's brother is daniel boone?
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I grew up in Wisconsin and live in Michigan now and I love Indiana! Shipshewana is one of my favorite places to go. Nice hub, thanks.
Anne