In these days of economic recession, many people will consider going on a vacation budgetary counter-productive: you spend instead of earning, and money is too tight for such. But if you think you deserve a vacation and want one but the wallet is thin, then Indiana is the place to go.
Indiana offers a great variety of outdoor activities you can enjoy with a minimum of fuzz and expense. There are trails to follow and caves to explore; rivers to float, canoe, kayak and fish; museums to visit; scenes and scapes to view; festivals to participate in, and even see Abe Lincoln’s boyhood home. And of course there is the great dining and music to experience, and shops galore to find your heart’s (and wallet’s) delights.
Camping, Fishing, Boating
Campgrounds are plenty at the Spring Mill State Park. From there you can explore the pioneer village that includes a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, a distillery and tavern, to see how our pioneer forefathers lived. There are also numerous caves in the park you can explore, and a timber forest to go hiking or orienteering in.
For kayaking, canoeing and rafting enthusiasts, there is the Blue’s Canoe Livery in Columbus, Indiana. The Driftwood River where the livery is located runs through a wilderness park, so you will most probably see deer, beavers, herons, ospreys, turkeys and other wildlife as you drift along or fish for bass. Overnight camping is also available if you wish to sleep under the stars.
But if fishing is your love and passion, Indiana boasts of largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike and muskellunge fishing. Walleye, crappie, trout (rainbow, brook and brown, mostly), striped bass and bluegill are also fished in Indiana, although the state is not much noted for flyfishing. Guided fishing tours are available, and there are plenty of lakes to go to, some of which are Lake Tippecanoe/James Lake, Lake Webster, Lake Wawasee, Lake Monroe and the Geist, Brookesville and Morse Reservoirs. And then there is fishing Lake Michigan for huge salmon, and smaller rivers for catfish.
Museums of Vintage Cars
Vintage car buffs may, as an example, tour the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Auburn, and see the classic cars and the history of their development. The Duesenberg line was one of the famous cars in the early part of the century in terms of luxury and styling. The Raisbeck Engineering Hall of Technology, meanwhile, showcases the technologies still used in cars today, and the Cars of Indiana Gallery houses vintage cars, many not found anywhere else.
Other places of interest about cars are the Auburn Automobile Gallery, Special Interest Automobiles Gallery, Timothy Durham Gallery, Dean Kruse Gallery, and the Deusy Shop for mementos.
An Exciting Children’s Museum
If you are going on your vacation with your children, you will appreciate the Terre Haute Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. Conceptualized to get children excited about science and technology, they accomplished the objective by creating interesting exhibits and giving fun and enjoyable methods of learning. Thus, the museum gets an average 15,000 visitors a year.
So indoors or outdoors, Indiana has a place for you. There is no reason why you can’t go, recession or no. To cut on expenses, avoid the luxurious hotels and go to the field. You’ll be closer to nature, too.
I never associated Indiana with fishing. Cool!