100 Things to Do in Indiana Before You Die

by Jamie Ward

Overview

Indiana offers life as fast as the Indy 500, as slow as watching bison on a prairie, and everything in between. 100 Things to Do in Indiana Before You Die will guide you to all the best spots in the state with itineraries, tips, and ideas for the whole family. Catch hoops hysteria at the Hoosier Gym, devour your way through the Indiana Culinary Trails, and challenge yourself to the trails at Turkey Run State Park. Get your groove on at the largest music store, or take that much-needed break at the luxurious and historic French Lick Resort.
Explore amazing agriculture with the entire family at Fair Oaks Farms. Taste the original tenderloin sandwich for yourself at Nick's Kitchen. Stroll through history at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, and preserved neighborhoods and main streets.
Local author Jamie Ward shows you the Hoosier state as you've never seen it before. She guides you through all of the best places with tips only a native to Indiana would know. With this guidebook, Hoosiers will discover new adventures in their own state, and visitors will be equipped for an epic Indiana experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681063867
Publisher:	Reedy press, LLC.
Publication date:	09/01/2022
Series:	100 Things to Do Before You Die
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Hoosier author Jamie Ward was born and raised in Indiana. Having lived in and traveled throughout the entire state gives her a special point of view. Jamie enjoys road-tripping with her family, photography, being outdoors, and writing about travel and food on her blog, Cornfields & High Heels. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Tiktok at @fieldsandheels, or check out her latest publications and travel stories at fieldsandheels.com.

Table of Contents

Preface xii

Acknowledgments xiv

Food and Drink

1 Sink Your Sweet Tooth into a Slice of Sweetness at Wick's Pies 2

2 Drink a Green River from a 1900s Soda Shop and Ice Cream Parlor at Zaharakos 4

3 Eat Inside an Amish Buggy at Das Dutchman Essenhaus 6

4 Choose from 100 Different Shakes and Sundaes at Ivanhoe's 7

5 Bite into a Burger at the Historic Oasis Diner 8

6 Get Saucy at the Firehouse BBQ & Blues 9

7 Indulge in Candy Nostalgia at Schimpff's Confectionery 10

8 Brunch and Lunch at Creighton's Crazy Egg Cafe & Coffee Bar 12

9 Taste the Original Tenderloin at Nick's Kitchen 13

10 Savor the Finest Beef at Joseph Decuis 14

11 Try the "World's Spiciest Food" at St. Elmo Steak House 16

12 Experience Farm-to-Fork Dining at Fair Oaks Farms 18

13 Sip, Chew, and Tour at Hard Truth Distilling Company 19

14 Enjoy Fine Dining in an Unusual Location at Bonge's Tavern 20

15 Celebrate with Charcuterie at Golfo di Napoli 22

16 Have a Meal by Candlelight at the Story Inn 24

17 Graze and Gaze among Legends at 33 Brick Street 25

18 Ascend the Grand Staircase of Tippecanoe Place 26

19 Nourish Yourself All Day at Farm Bloomington 28

20 Grab a (Coffee) Flight in an Airport Terminal at Corsair Café 29

21 Throw Back a Frosty Root Beer at the Triple XXX Family Restaurant 32

22 Devour Dessert in a Quiet Oasis at Batar 34

23 Fancy Some Fish and Chips at Payne's Restaurant 36

Music and Entertainment

24 Pick and Grin inside the Country's Largest Music Store at Sweetwater 40

25 Watch a Classic Film at the Historic Artcraft Theatre 41

26 Heighten Your Senses at the Indiana State Fair 42

27 Get Artsy at the Bob Ross Experience 43

28 Be All Ears for a Classic with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra 44

29 Tune In to Some Live Music at the Rathskeller 45

30 Ride the French Lick Scenic Railway 46

31 Drive through Indiana's Largest Festival in Parke County 48

32 Feed Your Inner Foodie at the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival 49

33 Dance in Delight at the Elkhart Jazz Festival 50

Sports and Recreation

34 Kiss the Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 54

35 Shoot Hoops on the Court of the Hickory Huskers in the Hoosier Gym 56

36 Watch the Indianapolis Colts in Action at Lucas Oil Stadium 58

37 Dare to Do the 3 Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes National Park 59

38 Admire Indiana's Largest Waterfall at Cataract Falls 60

39 Howl with the Wolves at Wolf Park 62

40 Race down the Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park 63

41 Take Yourself Out to a Ball Game at Parkview Field 64

42 Scout Out Some Bison at Kankakee Sands 66

43 Float down the Tippecanoe River 68

44 Explore the Underground World of Marengo Cave 70

45 Journey Around the World at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo 72

46 Trot the Trails at Turkey Run State Park 74

47 Pour and Tour at the Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum 75

48 Dive, Swim, Fish, and Camp at White Rock Park 76

49 Rent and Ride a 19th-century Carousel at Riverside Park 78

50 Interact with the Pigs at Oinking Acres Farm Rescue & Sanctuary 80

51 Play like a Champ at the University of Notre Dame 97

52 Hang Out with the Dinos at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis 98

53 Conquer Indiana's Longest Hiking Trail on the Knobstone Trail 99

54 Ride the Coasters and Waves at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari 100

55 Retreat to a Rain Forest at Garfield Park Conservatory and Gardens 102

Culture and History

56 Observe the City Skyline from the Top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument 106

57 Escape to Luxury at the Historic French Lick Resort 108

58 Honor Eva's Story at CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center 109

59 Commemorate Hoosier Heritage at the Indiana State Museum 110

60 Grow Up with Abe at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial 111

61 Report for Duty at the Indiana Military Museum 112

62 Get a History Lesson at the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site 113

63 Go Back to the Future with a Tour of the Century of Progress Homes 114

64 Discover the Secret Hiding Spots in the Levi & Catharine Coffin House 115

65 Cruise the Canal on the Delphi 116

66 Reflect at the Shrine of Christ's Passion 117

67 Marvel in an Author's Wonderland at Limberlost 118

68 Join a Ranger for a Tour of the Clark Memorial 120

69 Wander through the Abandoned Rose Island Amusement Park 121

70 Spot a National Treasure at the Studebaker National Museum 122

71 Step Foot on Sacred Ground at Crown Hill Cemetery 124

72 Tour the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Factory 126

73 Come Aboard the USS LST-325 127

74 Encounter the Life of a Hollywood Legend at the James Dean Gallery 128

75 See the Earthen Mounds at Angel Mounds State Historic Site 130

76 Relax, Reflect, or Pray at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 132

77 Visit a Living History Museum at Conner Prairie 134

78 Sightsee on the Indiana Limestone Heritage Trail 135

79 View a Mummy at the Wayne County Historical Museum 136

80 Walk through the Underground Ruins of the Catacombs 137

Shopping and Fashion

81 Stroll through the Quaint Village of Nashville 140

82 Find Your Favorite Fragrance at the Warm Glow Candle Store 141

83 Dillydally around Davis Mercantile 142

84 Browse through the Historic Coppes Commons 143

85 Hunt for Treasures and Trinkets in Antique Alley 144

86 Shop and Sip at Urban Farmchic 145

87 Snag a Deal at the Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale 146

88 Look for Bargains at the Indiana Premium Outlets 147

89 Travel through Time at Who North America 148

90 Buy Jumbo Jelly Beans at the Wakarusa Dime Store 149

Main Streets and Neighborhoods

91 Admire the Homes in the Madison Historic District 152

92 Linger a Little Longer in the Village at Winona 153

93 Pose with Public Art in the Carmel Arts & Design District 154

94 Check Out Where Fort Wayne Began at the Landing 155

95 Cut a Rug with Ann Dancing on Massachusetts Avenue 156

96 Preserve the Past in the Irvington Historic District 158

97 Trek Back in Time to the Historic Village of Metamora 159

98 Slip Away to a Utopian Community in New Harmony 160

99 Spend a Day in Downtown Bloomington 161

100 Head to the Architecture Destination of the Midwest in Downtown Columbus 162

Activities by Season 164

Suggested Itineraries 166

Index 171