9 Must-Visit Small Towns in Indiana
Just like its motto states, "The Crossroads of America," Indiana is truly America’s crossroad as it is bordered by Lake Michigan and the state of Michigan to the North, the state of Kentucky to the South, the state of Ohio to the east, and the state of Illinois to the west. People from Indiana are often referred to as Hoosiers. The state is the smallest west of the Appalachian Mountains and is a hub of tourist attractions, from the rolling Indiana Dunes in the North to the Indiana Caverns in the South. Indiana is also famous for its role in sports activities, like basketball and motorsports.
Indiana is filled with big metropolitan cities. However, hidden in the corners of the state are must-visit towns to make the best of your visit to Indiana. From Brownsburg, a popular motorsport town, to Santa Claus, the town with the only post office named after a Christmas figure, you are in for a wonderful time.
Plainfield
This town is a great tourist stop if you want to explore Indiana. Plainfield lies in the Central Till Plains region of the United States, surrounded by medium-sized hills, deciduous forests, and prairie. It is 15 minutes by car from Indiana International Airport.
The 205-acre Hummel Park in the town has a 300-foot wooden bridge that crosses over the White Lick Creek. The park has other activities like hiking trails, fishing lakes, and an amphitheater. Other attractions in Plainfield are the Shops at Perry Crossing. This area offers a unique shopping experience for both young and old, from the boutiques and a world-class movie theater, to fine dining at Stone Creek Dining.
You can also visit the Sodalis Nature Park 210-acre nature preserve named after the endangered bat species found in the park. The hiking trails around the park provide you with a breathtaking view of nature and wildlife.
Santa Claus
How the town of Santa Claus came to be named after a prominent personality associated with Christmas is unknown. All that is known is that the proposed name for the town’s post office, “Santa Fe,” (which used to be the town’s original name), was rejected by the Post Office Department as there was already a Santa Fe. During the Christmas festivities, the post office of this town receives thousands of mails from across the world addressed to Santa. Since 1914, a group of volunteers in the town have come together to ensure every child receives a reply from “Santa Claus.”
The town is home to Christmas monuments such as the Santa Candy Castle, which opens from May to December, and the Christmas Lake Golf Course. Visit the Santa Claus Museum to explore the town’s history, and don’t leave without going to see the 22-foot-tall America’s first Santa Statue.
Zionsville
Located in Eagles Creek Valley, Southeast of Boone County, is Zionsville, a must-visit small town in Indiana. The town was named after William Zion, an Indiana businessman who neither lived nor owned a property there. Abraham Lincoln made a whistle-stop speech in the town, and after his death, the train carrying his body passed through this town.
Once known as "the Dahlia City" for the success of growing the Dahlia flower in two nurseries, Zionsville has become one of the best places to live in Indiana. About 15 miles from the metropolitan city of Indianapolis, this town is a great place to let out some steam.
Bordering Eagle Creek is the Creekside Nature Park. The park is a kayak and canoe launching point. The park has trails that are ideal for hiking, romantic strolls, and biking. You can also see tourists fishing at the lakeside or just enjoying the beauty of nature.
Brownsburg
Brownsburg has been recognized three times by CNN Money Magazine as one of the "Best places to live" in the nation. The town was first settled in 1824 by James B. Brown. Since then, Brownsburg has developed to become a motorsport mecca.
Arbuckle Acres Park, in collaboration with the Brownsburg Public Library, provides visitors of all ages with self-guided reading hikes all year round. Visitors can enjoy a beautiful walk along the paved trail in the park while reading the picture book of the season.
Along the B&O trail is the Ronald Reagan Parkway Tunnel, which runs under the parkway and beautifully exhibits several murals on its walls. Learn about the racing legends Larry Rice and Robbie Stanley on a guided tour along the Brownsburg Racing Memorial Trail.
Munster
Munster is located at a point on the Calumet Shoreline of Lake Michigan. The shoreline, now called the Ridge Road, is responsible for the town’s nickname, “Town on the Ridge.” The Ridge runs East and West through the North of the town.
Edward P. Robinson Community Veterans Memorial is a 6.5-acre park dedicated to honor the heroes who fought during the wars that shaped the 20th century, from World War I to the Vietnam War. It is a major site in Munster, as it features life-sized monuments erected to honor the memories of the Veterans who fought in these wars and educate the new generation about the wars.
The town is home to Clayhole Lake, Centennial Park Golf Course, an 11-mile bike path, and parks such as Heritage Park and Centennial Park, which host popular events, like the annual Grape Escape Festival in July.
Clarksville
Directly across the Ohio River from Louisville is the oldest American town in the Northwest Territory. Clarksville was founded in 1783 by George Rogers Clark. Due to the role George played during the American Revolution, he was granted a tract of 150,000 acres. From this land, he cut out a portion to establish the town of Clarksville.
The Falls of the Ohio State Park is a tourist’s favorite in Clarksville. The park has the largest exposed fossil bed from the Devonian period. These fossils date as far back as 386 million years. The park also has an Interpretive Center that brings to life what the area looked like in the past and the future of the area.
The town is home to the Colgate Clock, one of the largest clocks in the world.” The clock can be seen from Downtown Louisville, Kentucky, from across the Ohio River. Watch local artists perform at the Clarksville Little Theatre, one of the country's oldest and continuously running theaters.
St. John
St. John is a notable town in Northwest Indiana. Within 30 miles of the metropolitan city of Chicago, this town is an ideal place for a relaxing and quiet vacation. It was named after the St. John Church, founded by the earlier settlers, John and Johanna Hack.
You can explore the Shrine of Christ’s Passion, a half-mile pathway filled with sculptures that bring the Passion of Christ to life like never before. The town is filled with parks that offer a plethora of activities to visitors, from hiking to nature watching. One of them is Homestead Acres Park.
Goshen
Located along the Elkhart River is Goshen, a renowned town in Indiana. It was plotted in 1831 and named after the biblical Land of Goshen. Downtown Goshen is a sight to behold, from carefully restored 19th-century buildings and the nice array of retail shops, to the exceptional First Fridays Festivals.
The Elkhart County Fairgrounds is host to one of the largest 4-H county fairs in the United States, which is held in Goshen. Every year, the Goshen Municipal Airport hosts the Goshen Air Show. Enjoy hiking through the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail along the former Pumpkin Vine Railroad.
Michigan City
Michigan City, situated at the southern end of Lake Michigan, is a perfect getaway location in Indiana. The town is just a few miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. It is known for lighthouses such as Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse. Michigan City is home to the only lighthouse in the state of Indiana.
Hike along the Bismarck Hiking Trail. The trail consists of three restored dunes and two matured trails that transverse the site next to the Washington Park Zoo, giving you a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan.
Indiana is a beautiful state located in the Midwestern United States. The state is one out of the eight states that make up the Great Lakes Region. These nine must-visit small towns in Indiana are sure to make your vacation an adventurous one. Park your bags and hop on the first flight to Indiana.
