So here's the thing.
A couple of weeks ago during our BLT show, we posed this question: What places across the US have you visited that you think everyone else should visit too?
One of our callers said she and her husband were making a point to visit all 92 counties in the state of Indiana.
You see where this is going, don't you?
PEOPLE!!!
Can you even imagine? The chance to go to every single county in the state and find those hidden little treasures that hide within it? The little sights that scream "PHOTO OPP!!!!" The coffee shops that need to be tried. The trails that need to be walked. The amazingly cool buildings that need to be seen. {And by seen, of course, I mean photographed.}
I know...I know. It's Indiana. It doesn't typically land on a top ten destination list. But there's stuff in this state. {There HAS to be!}
I was so excited about this idea that I started researching right away. Turns out some counties are tougher than others when it comes to uncovering hidden "attractions." Case in point: I searched for attractions in Blackford County and near the top of the list was the WIC Office. Now it's true I've not seen the building that houses it. Maybe it's really cool. But my gut says the Blackford County WIC Office is probably not an attraction.
And so I come to you.
Because many of you live in our fine state and IN some of these counties. And if you don't live there, you might know someone who does.
Obviously we can't hit everything in every county. It's going to take us long enough to get to all 92 counties! But I'd love to find unique, unusual, photo-worthy things in each county.
Here are some of my starting points:
* Coffee shops. I'd love to visit one in every single county
* Outdoor attractions. Parks, nature trails, stuff like that.
* Interesting statues, buildings, bridges, etc. More photo opps and stuff with a story.
Anything else you think we NEED to see in a county.
Here are the first four counties I'm working on: Blackford, Jay, Wells, Adams.
{And if you need to know some towns in those counties...here they are: Hartford City, Montpelier, Bryant, Portland, Bluffton, Markle, Ossian, Decatur, Monroe, Berne, Geneva.}
So all of you who live there...or know someone who does - tell me what we should go see! Leave me a comment or email me at readingrebekah at yahoo dot com.
Can't wait!!
2 hours ago
10 comments:
Bekah!!
I knew you would want to do this when i heard that lady talk about it! Seriously, i knew. Really? really. :) ;) hehehe
soooo i have an idea for you! Go to Huntington (my home town) and there you can visit the sunken gardens at Memorial park (so pretty there!) and you can eat at Pizza Junction which is housed in an old train station and during your meal you quite possibly could have a train pass by and it almost shakes the whole place. The college is pretty too (HU) and it's always fun to walk around a college campus. Plus it's not far from Marion and you could visit Sheryl, who lives right next door to my parents.
hugs!!
oh and you probably already know about the Johnny Appleseed festival in Fort Wayne, right? Such YUMMY food and fun things to see and do. I totally think you and Ryan would have a ball. Just go hungry. promise!
XOXO
That's a fun challenge! There are only 14 counties in Massachusetts - still I wonder if I can set myself that challenge?!
In Montpelier is an old Indian statue that is pretty cool. It's been there for years. Plus Main Street has that reall small, old town feel. Kind of quaint. Probably no coffee houses. My grandparents live in Blackford County. If you visit their farm, they have a sign indicating that the farm has been in the family for over 100 years. And I bet you could get a picture with the owner by the sign. :) My Grandpa loves you! He would love to show off the farm. I'll have to research which road it is, but every fall the trees along both sides of the road turn a beautiful golden color. It's an archway of gold and it's gorgeous. Also my grandparents church is the kind of small country church that is completely charming. I'll have to think about other things in Blackford County.
You should go see the clock tower in Berne. It's huge, and you can't miss it! If you go at noon, 3:00pm or 6:00pm you can see the glockenspiel characters come out. As for coffee shops, try the Alpine Rose or The Gathering House (both on Main Street).
You need the book "Weird Indiana" by Mark Marimen. It has a TON of stuff in it.
Check out Roadside America's Indiana page: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/in/all. Not every attraction is a winner, but you may find some gems.
Bekah, google "museums in Indiana" and you'll find a list of the museums to visit in familiar and out of the way places...coffee places will surely be located close to them. Lois
Now I want to do this with Ontario! Off to do some research...
Polly - I did not know about these sunken gardens, so I will have to put those on my list!! And of course we'd see Sheryl!! :)
Tamar - Seriously? Only 14 counties??? Guess you'll have to trek through multiple times!! :)
Lynnette - The Indian statue is on my list. It was about the only thing I knew of in the whole county!! And country churches are great - I hadn't thought about that. :)
Anonymous - I knew about the clock tower but I did NOT know about characters coming out of it so thank you for that tip!!! I'll put the coffee shops on my list! :)
Anonymous - Thanks for the book tip! I tried to search for such things and that one did not come up. {one by Dick Wolfsie did...but not this one} I will check that one out!
Melissa - THANK YOU! I have not heard of that site so I'll look at it too!
Lois - Good googling tip. Hadn't thought of that one. {sometimes the obvious escapes me.} Hope you are healing well!
Natasha - sorry to bring up a new project while you're mid-move!! :)
Hey Becah!
The Clocktower in Berne is pretty neat!
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