Indiana is located in the central part of the United States and is known for being home to the Indianapolis 500 , Indiana University basketball, and being home to the 2012 Super Bowl, but there are more than sports in Indiana. Indiana has a population of over 6 million people and has been the home of several rather well-known people as well as home to many great historical and family-oriented places for travelers to plan as their next vacation site.
If all goes well with the NFL talks and negotiations, millions of people will ascend upon Indianapolis, Indiana in February 2012 for the Super Bowl that will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. Guests should spend some time within the state seeing some of the magnificent sights that Indiana has to offer. Did you know that Indiana has the largest children’s museum in the world? The Indianapolis Children’s Museum is located in the heart of Indianapolis and offers many galleries, exhibits, and a Dino sphere where children can learn through interactive displays about the history of the dinosaurs that roamed the earth at one time in history.
Another fun fact is that Indiana has the second largest population of Amish in the United States. Many Amish communities are located within the state, but northern Indiana is most well known. The town of Shipshewana is known for being home to several Amish businesses and homes. The Trading Place Flea Market is one of the largest venues of its kind and many people make a trip to shop here each year. People are still fascinated by the Amish lifestyle as it is still simple and plain today as in earlier years. Stepping into an Amish community allows visitors to see that people can live a healthy and happy lifestyle without all of the modern conveniences that we have became so accustomed too.
Indiana artists have learned to appreciate the beauty that Nashville, Indiana located in beautiful Brown County has to offer as well as to take advantage of the many covered bridges located within the state. Nashville, Indiana is home to one award winning artist, T.C. Steele. Steele is known to be the one who discovered the rolling hills of the state that many of today’s’ artists still paint. The T.C. Steele Historical Site is located in Nashville and is a nice place for visitors to see how the artist lived and worked.
Going farther northwest in the state, visitors will find Parke County, home to over 30 covered bridges. This is possibly the largest amount of covered bridges located within one area in the entire nation. Parke County offers visitors a chance to step back into time as they enter the bridges. There is a festival each year to bring attention to the bridges and their historical value to the state, The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. Many artists within the state have found covered bridges make a unique work of art both in abstract work and paintings and crafts.
Several well-known people have called Indiana home. People such as legendary actor James Dean and Garfield creator Jim Davis. President Abraham Lincoln although not originally born in Indiana grew up here and considered it home. Also, popcorn king, Orville Redenbacher was from Brazil, Indiana. Being that Indiana soil is fabulous for growing corn, could be a surprise that more than 254,000,000 pounds of popcorn is produced in the state each year?
Indiana has one natural resource that many may not realize has built some of the most important buildings in the United States. Indiana limestone has been used in the Pentagon, New York City’s Empire State Building, and even the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Due to the beauty of it and the accessibility of Indiana limestone it is known for being a very high end product for construction companies. Much of the limestone found in Indiana is found in the local areas around Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Indiana is not usually thought of as a state where beaches abound, but there are 24 miles of beaches in Indiana. With Indiana bordering Lake Michigan, there are many places that beach lovers can find sand and water to play in. Visitors should take advantage of the Indiana shoreline in the spring and summer months along the Indiana Dunes National Shoreline. Covering more than 15,000 acres, this national shoreline is protected by the government due to the uniqueness of this park.
Also, Indiana has more miles of interstate highways per square mile than any other state in the United States. Traveling these miles of interstate and visiting all of the nearby visitors attractions and historical sites within the state could make a perfect summer vacation for anyone traveling within the state. Indiana has a lot more than corn and sports to offer guests.
Source: personal knowledge
