7 Indiana Small Towns With Unmatched Friendliness
Living at the "Crossroads of America," the Hoosiers are friendly and hospitable. These small towns warmly welcome visitors to experience Indiana's bounty, rich nature, thriving arts and agriculture, and architecture. The state's diverse heritage spans centuries and lives on through museums and cultural festivals like Vevay's Riverfront Swiss Wine Festival or Pierogi Fest in Whiting.
The summertime events are perfect to enjoy alongside a family-friendly beach in the first town and the last. Local enthusiasm has never been so infectious to get caught up in discoveries and treated with unmatched friendliness. See the futuristic, for their time, architectural marvels in the first town, at the doorstep of the windswept dunes, shaped and shifted over a millennia against Lake Michigan.
Whiting
This small, friendly city nudges against Lake Michigan's south shore at the border with Illinois. Just 18 miles from Downtown Chicago, the historic 119th Street is the beating heart of Whiting, with shops, a historic cinema, and a wide range of cuisine. From Grindhouse Cafe to a Caribbean-inspired dinner over cocktails, browse for gifts and souvenirs, home decor, and local handmade treasures. Then relax at a plaza against the strip's vintage look and feel, all within walking distance from the shore and the beloved Whihala Beach.
The sprawling Lake Michigan beachscape is adjacent to Whiting Lakefront Park Gazebo, with trails and its own waterpark. In addition, Wolf Lake is the city's other spectacular lake at the backdoor, spanning the two states. There's lakefront nightlife through bars, a rustic microbrewery, and a taproom. Dig into Pierogi Fest at the end of July, which draws from its European roots and draws over 300,000 nationwide attendees to the small town. Wickedly Whiting is a Halloween-themed festival in the first days of October.
Beverly Shores
Across Lake Michigan from the Great Lakes State, Beverly Shores is home to five Century of Progress Homes. Originally displayed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, four traveled aboard a barge across the lake to Beverly Shores. Going by Cypress Log, Florida Tropical, Armco-Ferro, Wieboldt-Rostone, plus House of Tomorrow, all are on the National Register and on a lease, undergoing restoration to reopen once again for the annual Century of Progress Tour. Meanwhile, admire the architecture by driving along the Lake Front Drive between the town of Kemil Beach and the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Beyond the beachfront fun, take the nearby Indiana Dunes National Park Great Marsh Trail into Indiana Dunes State Park for hiking, swimming, fishing, cross-country skiing, and birding, plus campsites. After the 3 Dune Challenge, you'll be starving to try Goblin & The Grocer's popular Summer Pasta, Bloody Mary's, and Key Lime Pie. For more adventures, Brincka Crossgardens is a dog-friendly ecological park, while Indiana Dunes National Park Heron Rookery features a crystal-clear cascade. The Little Bluestem Bluegrass Festival takes place July 5-6 at Lituanica Park.
Greencastle
Greencastle, home to DePauw University, is like a ball of energy during the school year. Becoming quieter in the summer, visitors can browse its lively arts scene and a galore of historic sites. Many enjoy the peaceful atmosphere along the scenic wildlife trails through DePauw Nature Park or a sunny afternoon at the kid- and dog-friendly Robe Ann Park with a splash pad in the heart of town. Richard E. Peeler Art Center is great for viewing and buying art, while Dairy Castle is a must for a cold treat on a hot summer day.
Alongside the Putnam County Museum for History, find a red Historic Dunbar Covered Bridge just northwest. The Putnam Inn hosts a warm vibe to dine deliciously on a budget. Catch a performance at the DePauw University Performing Arts Center, or drop by the cool McKim Observatory to spot planets in the Milky Way. The town's fairgrounds will host the 2025 Putnam County Fair Parade late in July, with bookable campsites for the fair. The 2025 Greencastle Music Fest promises to be electric on August 22 and 23.
Madison
Boasting one of the nation’s largest National Historic Landmark Districts, Madison is a favorite stop along the famous Ohio River Scenic Byway. Staging its 133 blocks of outstanding historic architecture are lush parks and rolling hills. From eight open house museums to the 19th-century saddletree factory and a buggy horse doctor's office, the Greek Revival Lanier Mansion crowns the district along with its formal gardens. The backdrop sets the tone for browsing the eminently walkable Downtown. The charming Village Lights Bookstore hosts cats named after literal figures.
From pies and microbrews at the Red Pepperoni to the all-inclusive feel at MAD LOVE eat + drink, save room for dessert through a handful of ice cream parlors. The Historic Broadway Hotel & Tavern is great for a nightcap at the state's oldest, circa 1834, before a restorative sleep. Visit this summer for Riverfront Wine, Stein & Barrel, and stick around for Madison Regatta. As the sun goes down over the Ohio River, the whole scene exudes warm ambience. On a hot evening, nothing tastes better than Lanthier's wine- and vodka-infused slushies. Pop into its Loft Gallery and another one outside.
Monticello
Monticello feels peaceful, embracing both sides of the fishable Tippecanoe River. Enjoy access to the popular Indiana Beach Boardwalk Resort just north in Norway, without the resort crowds at the town's own Norway Campground on the eastern shore. Its welcoming array of businesses is sure to power your explorations through the area. Drop by an Udder Sensation for a sweet cone to take on a stroll to Indiana Carvings, a sweet outdoor attraction to the west. Altherr Nature Park features a small outdoor amphitheater, while Lake Freeman Sandbar is perfect for working on your summer tan.
Esmeralda's Pancake House serves tasty stacks plus a buffet option. Drop by Tornado Memorial and the classic drive-in movie theater, circa 1949. Madam Carroll is a live music bar inside a docked ship with access to mingle on the top deck, while Whyte Horse Winery is top-rated for atmosphere, pizza, and flights in a scenic spot south of downtown. Train fans of all ages love the Whistle Stop Depot, an old railroad station just 20 minutes away in Monon, with a climbable caboose, a diorama, and a cafe. Monticello City Parks & Rec hosts the Spirit of Monticello Festival at the City Park Loop in June.
Nashville
Nashville is the northern entrance into the 16,000-acre Brown County State Park. The state's largest offers steep hills, narrow ridges, and gaping ravines for scenic hiking, with biking trails and guided horseback tours. Brown County/Nashville KOA Holiday is top-rated among outdoorsy couples and families, just a hop from a slew of discoveries downtown. Founded in 1806, the rustic town complements its bronze fall foliage. Featuring a variety of galleries, studios, and shops for handmade crafts and local art, the Harmony Valley Music Festival is in early September.
Some 20 miles of tree-lined roads offer brilliant foliage drives, with scenic vistas overlooking the rolling forests below. There's also the nationally recognized mountain bike terrain, a nature center, and two lakes. For a unique stay, Treetop Retreat, LLC is popular up the highway next to the historic Bean Blossom Covered Bridge, built by Captain Joseph Balsey in 1880; you can walk through and across Bean Blossom Creek. From Brozinni Pizzeria to the Artists Colony Inn, its restaurant features early colonial digs to dine beneath beamed ceilings by a large stone fireplace.
Vevay
Vevay extends its European-flavored welcome along the Ohio River's northern shore, some 40 minutes east of Madison. Its warm blend of natural beauty, wine, and Swiss heritage is like honey to the soul. The dog-friendly hilltop Paul Ogle Riverfront Park offers an RV site to park and play with a kids' area and picnic shelters overlooking Kentucky on the opposite shore. Backed by the lush banks, start on a riverfront stroll. There's plenty to discover under friendly summertime skies, like the intimate Black Tulip Field, a local landmark by Kat Von D.
Imbibe cultural heritage at the Switzerland County Historical Society Museum, with a genealogy room, the history of steamboats on the Ohio River, and the first Swiss settlement in the US. Just inland, Musee De Venoge is one of the last French colonial homes in the Ohio River Valley. The Riverfront Swiss Wine Festival hosts a wide array of vendors, crafts, and local entertainment celebrating the town’s roots. It is traditionally admission-free on the first day. Taste over 1,000 Swiss wines from 80 winemakers through the six Swiss wine-producing regions in late August.
There are so many exciting places to see and experience in Indiana, including its small towns. Bounding the Great Lake to the north and the Ohio River southeast, with the capital at the heart, this Midwest state is ripe for a summertime road trip to its friendliest towns. These seven treat visitors like long-lost friends, promising a cornucopia of memories on a getaway that feels catered to you. So from the historic streets of Madison to the foliage-wrapped Nashville and the intellectual allure in Greencastle, share the good vibes and fortunes bestowed upon the Hoosiers.
