Travel Writers Share Their Favorite Northern Indiana Finds
Northern Indiana is known for its sand dunes along the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s known for Amish Country, where visitors can experience the simple life the 20,000 some families live every day. Visitors flock to Northern Indiana to go to football games at Notre Dame, the blueberry festival in Plymouth, the casino in Michigan City and the lakes all over Warsaw.
But tucked away between all those big attractions are hidden gems that make a getaway to Northern Indiana worth the tank of gas, and a whole lot more. Here are some not-to-be missed places, according to travel writers who recently visited.
The President’s Carriage at the Studebaker National Museum
Seeing artifacts from the past brings history to life for visitors of all ages.
“Nothing touched me quite as much as seeing the carriage that took Abraham Lincoln to the theater on his last night. It meant more than all the books I’ve read on this incredible man,” said travel writer Linda Ryberg, a former editor at Midwest Living.
Lincoln: The Man You Didn’t Know is among the many exhibits at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend. On June 11, the Museum will host a reception for the opening of the exhibit that includes the 1865 Barouche carriage, which has been completely restored and is in the museum’s collection. The exhibit is part of a three-year celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
The Studebaker National Museum takes visitors back in time to see the popular modes of transportation. www.studebakermuseum.org
Secluded log cabins at Swan Lake
Log cottages tucked away in the woods and surrounded by wildlife offer an exclusive, nature-lovers getaway in Plymouth. It’s an unexpected find at the posh Swan Lake Resort. While the cottages look rustic from a distance, they are anything but. Visitors get plenty of amenities, and the spa is just a walk through the woods.
www.swanlakeresort.com
Notre Dame Bookstore
Don’t let the name “Book Store” fool you. The Hammes Book Store at Notre Dame University in South Bend offers plenty more than books, and even non-academics feel welcome here. You’ll find plenty books, of course, and campus spiritwear, but Ryberg’s favorite find: Beleek china. www.nd.edu
Ev & Jayne’s Irish Pub
“At the end of the day, what do I want the most?” the travel writer Ryberg asks rhetorically. “Pampering.”
And, to get it, she heads to Ev & Jayne’s Irish Inn in Plymouth. Cozy up to the fireplace or soak in the in-room whirlpool. “This room looks like it was picked up from Europe and set down again in Northern Indiana,” Ryberg says.
The Inn – restored to its turn-of-the-19th-century beginnings – is located on 10 wooded acres, where a stream meanders along a walking path. It’s no wonder this is a popular hangout for honeymooners, couples celebrating anniversaries and other special occasions. www.evandjaynesirishinn.com
Shipshewana
When the bell sounds Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. in Shipshewana, be ready to place your bid. You’ll find 10 auctioneers looking for the highest bids on everything from dishes to antique furniture. This is where you’ll find a real slice of American life, says travel writer Pamela Henderson, a freelance travel writer from Decatur, Ill. Tuesday and Wednesdays the quiet streets of Shipshewana are transformed into the Midwest’s largest outdoor flea market.
www.visitlagrangecounty.org
Village at Winona
Even those who proclaim they don’t like shopping are bound to find something at Village at Winona, a thriving arts community on the shores of Winona Lake near Warsaw. Artists work inside restored historic homes. There’s just something about buying artwork from the artist, Henderson says. Among the standouts – lovely paintings and hand-crafted woodworks. The Village at Winona also offers some of the finest dining in the area, including Ceruleans, an upscale sushi bar and restaurant. While there, you’ll learn about a bit about Billy Sunday’s ministry and see the former home of the young baseball-player-turned-evangelist. www.villageatwinona.com
Jas. Townsend & Son 18th Century Reproductions
Travel writers and visitors say the most amazing aspect of Northern Indiana is the vibrancy of its smaller communities, in part because there are surprises at every corner. In the tiny community of Pierceton, you’ll discover a treasure trove of antiques at Jas. Townsend & Son, which provided costumes and props for the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.
www.jastown.com
Bonneyville Mill
The Bonneyville Mill has been producing stone ground floor for more than 150 years. Interpreters lead visitors through the daily grind, while massive grist stones vibrate underfoot and water passes over the dam. The mill is located in picturesque Bonneyville Mill County Park in Elkhart County, and is open May through October.
www.amishcountry.org
Amish family dinners
You can expect lots of down home favorites in Indiana, especially in Amish Country and in Shipshewana, where family dining is a true experience. In fact, many Amish families throughout Elkhart and LaGrange counties welcome visitors (although often only in groups) into their homes for a true family-dining experience. Expect mounds of mouth-watering dishes and a front-row seat to see just how simple the Amish live.
www.amishbackroads.org
LaSalle Grill
Don’t assume to find fried chicken and biscuits on every menu. In fact, many visitors are surprised at the number of upscale eateries. Ryberg likes LaSalle Grill in South Bend for inventive fare, excellent service and ambience. “From the moment you step in the door, you’re treated both like royalty and an old friend,” she says.
www.LaSalleGrill.com
Wakarusa Dime Store
The Wakarusa Dime Store sells more than 40 tons of Wakarusa Jelly Beans every year, a tradition that dates back to 1969. The 2009 flavor of the year is frosty root beer. But, no worries, you also can buy the jumbo jelly beans in lots of flavors including cinnamon, chocolate-covered cherry, even licorice.
www.amishcountry.org
The Round Barn Theatre
Amish craftsmen resurrected this 1911-vintage round barn piece-by-piece, and since 1986, Plain and Fancy—a musical comedy about the Amish life—has filled the stage, but you can also catch Once Upon a Mattress, Oklahoma, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Barefoot in the Park, and an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to be announced later this year. www.amishacres.com
“What I loved most about this area was that it was down-to-earth and real,” Henderson said of her visits to Northern Indiana.
It’s a sentiment shared by travel writers and visitors, who discover plenty to see and do from the tips of the highest sand dune to the tiny roadside market. To learn more about what you’ll find in Northern Indiana, visit www.northernindianagetaways.com