7 Coolest Indiana Towns For A Summer Vacation In 2025
Located in America’s Midwest, Indiana is home to several easygoing, small towns that appeal to travelers seeking a “cool” summer vibe. Among the region’s friendliest places to visit, these seven destinations are known for their heritage architecture, top-notch attractions, as well as an abundance of outdoor fun.
From scenic Ohio River bluffs to stunning Great Lakes coastlines, and from the dune-rimmed northwest to the rolling uplands of the central and southern areas of the Hoosier State, these Indiana towns have plenty of appeal for those wanting to enjoy a cool summer vacation in 2025.
Madison
Located on the Ohio River mid-way between the cities of Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY, Madison lays claim to having one of America’s largest National Historic Landmark districts. Consisting of 133 river-town blocks chock-full of early-19th-century brick storefronts, it’s here you’ll find the elegant Greek-Revival Lanier Mansion State Historic Site. Built in 1844 at the height of the town’s boom time, guided tours are available.
For outdoor adventures, Clifty Falls State Park, with its scenic limestone canyon trails, is just five minutes’ drive away. It’s an especially nice place for a trek in the summer, as the canyons and their spectacular falls tend to remain cooler due to their depth. Visiting in July? For a truly memorable experience, book a Friday after-dark visit for a 45-minute hike that’s suitable for most ages and abilities.
Other cool things to do in Madison during the summer months include the Madison Ribberfest, an August celebration of BBQ & Blues music that takes place along the riverfront. Book a stay at Hillside Inn with its terrace overlooking the river, or the intimate Iron Gate Inn Bed and Breakfast on East Main for its romantic claw-foot tubs and farm-to-table breakfasts.
French Lick
Named for the area’s first settlers and salt deposits that attracted wildlife from far and wide, French Lick has many cool experiences to offer vacationers. Topping the list is the recently revitalized French Lick Springs Resort, a complex of three superb hotels set on 3,200 acres. Fun family activities include hiking its many trails, exploring the grounds on horseback, playing golf, and even bowling, to name but a few.
One of the hotels here, the West Baden Springs Hotel, was opened in 1902 and continues to wow guests with its vast 200-foot free-span dome, a cavernous atrium that’s perfect for a cocktail before the evening light show. The atrium is also the scene of the hotel’s popular Jazz Under the Dome Weekend in early July, featuring notable “big band” performers from across the country.
A cool adventure awaits train and whisky fans aboard the French Lick Scenic Railway. In addition to family-friendly excursions along its 20 miles of track, a special 90-minute-long adults-only Bourbon Tasting Train departs select Saturdays throughout the summer. Another summer 2025 highlight, Up, Up & Away is a tethered-balloon experience that’ll have you floating over the Pete Dye golf course in August.
Nashville
Though not as big a place as its namesake in Tennessee, Nashville, IN, is well-known in the Midwest as an arts hub. Artists and their fans have flocked to this hill-country town since Hoosier-Group painter Theodore C. Steele built his studio here in 1907. Now part of the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, you can spend time viewing original canvases from this iconic artist or even enroll in a fun art class.
Outdoor fun can be had at Brown County State Park with its more than 16,000 acres of scenery just waiting to be explored. It’s especially popular for mountain bikers, with 30 miles of single-track biking that’s part of the Midwest’s IMBA “Epic” trail system. Best of all, cool biking spots like Hobbs Hollow can easily be reached with just a few minutes of pedaling from downtown Nashville.
Other summer fun includes Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Festival, which this June celebrates its 60th year with four late-night jam stages. Plan to stay at the Story Inn, a cozy B&B that serves up romantic candle-lit dinners and, allegedly, occasional sightings of its resident Blue Lady ghost. The Brown County Inn is a great choice for those vacationing with families and has an indoor-outdoor pool and weekend live music.
Shipshewana
Set in Northern Indiana’s Amish heartland, Shipshewana is a must-visit even if you’re day-tripping from places like Fort Wayne or Chicago. If you can, visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday in summer for a chance to explore the Shipshewana Flea Market. With over 700 outdoor booths to browse, it’s an especially popular spot for its antiques and collectibles, and can literally take hours to wander. Afterwards, take in a dinner and show at the Blue Gate Theatre, a popular venue for artists as diverse as Rhonda Vincent and Jay Leno (check out their schedule for more cool performances in the summer of 2025).
The theater also offers unique accommodation packages, too, at the adjacent Blue Gate Garden Inn & Conference Center. A great spot to vacation for its large swimming pool, its ice-creamery, and spacious family suites with bunk-house alcoves, it does tend to book up early, so be sure to plan ahead.
Other fun things to do in Shipshewana include hitting the nearby Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, a 16-mile multi-use route that’s great for cycling. There’s also a strong tradition of quilting here, with enthusiasts converging in late June for the Shipshewana Quilt Expo, an umbrella event for several related activities, including sales and workshops.
Michigan City
Located just an hour east of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, Michigan City is a great spot to visit for those wanting a Great Lakes vacation. One of the coolest places to see here is Washington Park’s Old Lighthouse Museum, a wonderfully preserved structure built in 1858 that offers keeper-led tower climbs Wednesday to Sunday throughout the summer. And just a ten-minute drive west and you’ll find yourself in the Indiana Dunes National Park, a spectacular lakeside attraction with boardwalks and stairs leading to some of the state’s best swimming spots.
For those who enjoy fast boats, the summer of 2025 promises to be another great year for the Great Lakes Grand Prix. Taking place between July 28 to August 3, countless offshore powerboats moor along Washington Park’s seawall for pre- and post-race viewing, while nightly beach concerts add another fun dimension to the experience. As for vacation accommodations, the unique Brewery Lodge & Supper Club, set in a 1930s timber-framed country estate on 42 wooded acres, is undoubtedly one of the coolest places to stay in Michigan City (make sure you try one of their elk burgers).
Santa Claus
There’s no denying the fact that holiday cheer runs year-round in Santa Claus, IN. So-named after a request to register the town’s original name, Santa Fee, was denied (a town of that name already existed), Santa Claus is definitely a cool place to vacation. Top attractions include Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, a fun theme park with splash rides and family roller coasters. Coaster fans might want to time their trips for the early summer HoliWood Nights event when after-dark rides and drone shows light the sky.
Spend time visiting the Santa Claus Museum & Village with its restored heritage buildings and charming old-world setting. It’s also home to one of the coolest selfie spots in Indiana, a 22-foot-tall Santa statue built in 1935. You can also send your friends and family a postcard or letter stamped with the town’s famous postmark. Need somewhere nice to stay? Check out the park’s very own 23-acre lake-ringed Santa’s Cottages. Just two miles from the theme park’s front gate, added fun here includes pedal-boat rentals, hammocks, and a nightly lakeside sing-along.
Angola
Known as the gateway to Indiana’s scenic “lakes country” region, Angola is the place to go in Indiana for a vacation full of outdoor fun. Must-visits include Pokagon State Park, home to the 6,812-acre Lake James. With over 150 miles of lakeshore to explore, the lake is a paradise for kayaking, swimming, and hiking, with eight miles of shoreline trails that link to the 200-acre Trine State Recreation Area. The park just so happens to be celebrating its centennial on 26 July 2025, so book a sunset cruise or claim a spot on the shore for what promises to be a spectacular fireworks finale.
Mid-July promises a return of Angola Balloons Aloft, a cool event with competition flights, evening balloon glows, a kids’ fun-zone, as well as a classic-car cruise… all of it free. If you’re considering a few-night stay, check out the historic Potawatomi Inn. Located in Pokagon State Park, it features authentic log construction and comfy rooms and cabins.
The Final Word
The best of Indiana’s smaller towns prove you don’t need to stay in a big city or an overcrowded tourist spot to enjoy a memorable summer escape. Each of the seven communities here features fun festivals and events, authentic accommodations and dining experiences, as well as easy access to the kind of outdoor and cultural attractions vacationers want. Whatever you enjoy doing, Indiana’s coolest towns reward curious travelers with no end of fun things to do in the summer of 2025.
