2024 Indiana Group Tour Planner

2024 GROUP

TO U R P L A N

NER

Here, Basketball is More Than Just a Sport

The 2024 Solar Eclipse The best places to see the astronomical phenomenon

Experience Hoosier Hysteria

SALUTING INDIANA HEROES AND HISTORY Marshal your troops to these patriotic places

Indiana 2024 Group Tour Planner 2024 GROUP

TOUR PLAN

NER

Contents

Learn more about Indiana’s group travel opportunities!

Editorial & Advertising Office Premier Travel Media 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 advertising@ptmgroups.com Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com

FEATURES

Chief Editor – Jason Paha jason@ptmgroups.com Senior Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com

6 Indiana Military Sites Salute Our

Director, Design & Production – Lisa Hede lisa@ptmgroups.com

Heroes and History

Marshal your troops to these patriotic places

Business Development Manager – Cheryl Rash , cheryl@ptmgroups.com

10 Head to Indiana for the 2024 Solar Eclipse

The best places throughout the state to see the astronomical phenomenon

14 To Indiana, Basketball is More

Production Coordinator – Kelsey Ledford kelsey@ptmgroups.com Content Development Specialist – Tyler Drag tyler@ptmgroups.com Published in Partnership with the Indiana Destination Development Corporation One North Capitol, Suite 600 Indianapolis, IN 46204 P 317.234.8860 VisitIn@VisitIndiana.com

Than Just a Sport

Experience the home of basketball through captivating attractions and become immersed in the hysteria of Hoosier hoops

SAMPLE ITINERARIES

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, slides or manuscripts.

17 North-to-South Indiana Itinerary Sampling the Best of Indiana From Top to Bottom

Indiana Group Tour Planner is published

by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations.

18 East-to-West Indiana Itinerary

Shopping, Baseball & Amish Experiences in Northern Indiana

All itineraries are samples and can be customized to fit your group’s needs.

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2024 GROUP

TOUR PLANN

Here, Basketball is More Than Just a Sport

ER

The 2024 Solar Eclipse The best places to see the astronomical phenomenon

Experience Hoosier Hysteria

SALUTING INDIANA HEROES AND HISTORY Marshal your troops to these patriotic places

ON THE COVER: FRENCH LICK

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

INDIANA FACTS Population:

Statewide: 6.8 million Indianapolis: 871,449 (also the state capital) Fort Wayne: 269,621 Evansville: 114,957 South Bend: 103,006 Carmel: 102,571 Fishers: 104,701

Getting Here by Air

Indianapolis International Airport (IND): Served by Air Canada, Alaska, Allegiant, American, Contour, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United South Bend International Airport (SBN): Served by Allegiant, American, Delta, United Evansville Regional Airport (EVV): Served by Allegiant, American, Delta, United Fort Wayne International Airport: (FWA): Served by Allegiant, American, Delta

Getting Here by Rail

Amtrak stations in Connersville (COI), Crawfordsville (CRF), Dyer (DYE), Elkhart (EKH), Hammond-Whiting (HMI), Indianapolis (IND), Lafayette (LAF), Michigan City (MCI), Rensselaer (REN), South Bend (SOB), Waterloo (WTI)

Average Temperatures

by Season: North – Spring 71, Summer 81, Fall 63, Winter 31 Central – Spring 73 Summer 84, Fall 65, Winter 36 South – Spring 77, Summer 88, Fall 70, Winter 41 Schwabenblitz/Bigstock.com

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

FAMILY FUN AWAITS

Let’s Make Memories

812-936-3418 | vflwb.com | #MyFrenchLick |

INDIANAPOLIS MEMORIAL TOUR Visit Indy

INDIANA MILITARY SITES SALUTE OUR

HEROES AND HISTORY

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Marshal your troops to these patriotic places

Indiana abounds with monuments and historical sites that honor the brave warriors who valiantly have served our country, from the American Revolution and 20th century world wars to Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Scattered throughout the state, military heritage attractions range from museums and memorials to battlefield parks, reconstructed forts

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

By Randy Mink

and even a well-preserved ship.

Indianapolis, the state capital, maintains more acreage dedicated to honoring veterans than any other U.S. city, and only Washington, D.C. has more monuments dedicated to those who fought in military conflicts.

In the heart of downtown Indianapolis, the Indiana War Memorial (IWM) Plaza Historic District includes

the free-admission Indiana War Memorial Museum, a magnificent neoclassical treasure house of military artifacts; three parks, four fountains; and 25 acres of monuments, statues and sculptures.

The district’s most prominent property is the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, the towering centerpiece of Monument Circle, a busy traffic

roundabout at the intersection of Market and Meridian streets and the very hub of downtown Indianapolis.

You can climb the 330 steps (or take the elevator) to the observation deck of the imposing structure completed in 1902 to honor Hoosiers who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Frontier Wars and Spanish-American War. The lower level’s museum spotlights Indiana’s involvement in the Civil War. On the five-block-long plaza two blocks north of Monument Circle, the American Legion Mall features the Indiana World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War memorials as well as the national headquarters of the American Legion, the largest wartime veterans’ organization in the world.

A few blocks away from the plaza, on the Central Canal in White River State Park, the USS Indianapolis CA 35 Memorial recognizes those who died on the last U.S. ship to sink in World War II. Created in the shape of the cruiser itself, the gray-and-black granite memorial has the story of the sinking etched on one side and, on the other, the names of all of those who served. Of the approximately 1,200 sailors on board, only 317 survived.

A fan favorite at the IWM museum is the USS Indianapolis Gallery, which features military firearms and uniforms, an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter and hundreds of other artifacts, photos and documents. Don’t miss the museum’s awe-inspiring, 110-foot-tall Shrine Room, which contains 24 beautiful stainedglass windows.

The one-acre Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, also on the canal, consists of 27 curved glass walls paying tribute to more than 3,400 Medal of Honor recipients representing 15 different conflicts. Every day at dusk, a sound system plays recorded stories of medal winners or the conflicts in which they fought.

The “Fort” in Fort Wayne, Indiana’s second-largest city, comes from the succession of frontier military forts that were constructed in the 18th and early 19th centuries at the spot where the St. Marys and St. Joseph rivers join to form the Maumee. Downtown, near the site of the last fort, stands the Old Fort, an impressive replica of the wooden post built in 1815-1816 and decommissioned soon after. The grounds are open to explore daily; living history demonstrations and reenactments are scheduled on select weekends.

A few blocks from the Old Fort, in Freimann Square, is another good photo op—an equestrian statue of General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, the Revolutionary War hero for whom the city is named. After Wayne’s 1794 victory at Fallen Timbers in the Northwest Indian

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL IN INDIANAPOLIS

War against Native Americans and their British allies, he established the first American fort at the three rivers, thus founding the settlement of Fort Wayne

HISTORIC OLD FORT IN FORT WAYNE

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the same year.

In West Lafayette, learn about a famous battle at the Tippecanoe Battlefield & Museum. It was on this site in 1811 that U. S. forces fought Chief Tecumseh’s Native American confederation and launched William Henry Harrison, then governor of the Indiana territory, to national fame and eventually the presidency. In the 1840 election in which Harrison teamed up with running mate John Tyler, the slogan “Tippecanoe & Tyler Too” became one of the most famous electioneering catch-phrases in American history.

Saluting the brave men and women who have served in America’s wars, the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes boasts one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of U.S. military memorabilia.

In the main building, some members in

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

TIPPECANOE BATTLEFIELD IN BATTLE GROUND

your group may gravitate to the Civil War, while others will want to focus on World War I or II. Among the oldest artifacts are muskets dating back to the period between the American Revolution and War of 1812. The succession of glassed-

in exhibits progresses chronologically, ending up with the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Besides glass cases crammed with memorabilia—from weapons, helmets and gas masks to medals, newspaper clippings and magazine covers—there are tanks, jeeps, bicycles, motorcycles and other vehicles in the middle of the room. Vintage patriotic, recruiting and War Bonds posters, along with flags foreign and domestic, festoon the walls.

World War II buffs are impressed with the uniforms belonging to Generals Patton and Eisenhower. Ike’s uniform, tailor-made in London, was worn during the week of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Other reminders of D-Day include a paratrooper’s jacket and bits and pieces found in the sands of Omaha Beach, including shrapnel, spent ammunition and a fighting knife.

Another heroic stand, the Battle of Iwo Jima, is remembered with a captured Japanese rifle and tray of sand from the island. Also see goggles used by pilots who dropped atomic bombs on Nagasaki and items from Nazi Germany such as a formal napkin and bit of the fireplace from Hitler’s Berchtesgaden retreat.

The “Women at War” exhibit recognizes pilots, nurses and those employed in factories on the home front during World War II. Displayed are the coveralls, goggles, shoes, drill, lunch box and clip-on ID badge of one of the many female workers who helped build the Navy’s LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) at the Evansville (Indiana) Shipyard. Inside the case is a “Rosie the Riveter” poster. The domestic scene is also highlighted in a display of WWII-era toys—tanks, boats, planes—that had to be made of wood or cardboard because metal was needed for the war effort.

A newer building showcases large vehicles in a series of dioramas, from World War II to the present day. Outdoors, visitors can get a taste of trench warfare, often used as a symbol of World War I, by walking through a set of replica trenches from the period. Also displayed outdoors are military aircraft, tanks and artillery.

George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, another Vincennes attraction, honors an American military hero on the site of a British fort captured during a crucial struggle against Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, a campaign that wrested the western territories from British control. The visitor center offers exhibits and a dramatic 30-minute film on Clark (a Virginian) and his citizen militia, while a granite memorial (the largest Greek Revival building outside of Washington. D.C.) boasts an impressive rotunda with a bronze statue of the general and murals depicting events that changed the course of history. Situated on the banks of the Wabash River, the shrine is one

INDIANA MILITARY MUSEUM IN VINCENNES

of only three National Park Service sites in Indiana.

The historic southern Indiana town of Corydon, the first capital of Indiana, saw the only Civil War battle fought in Indiana. Battle of Corydon Memorial Park recalls the July 9, 1863 battle in which the locally mustered Harrison County Home Guard of about 450 men faced more than 2,400 Confederate regulars under the command of Gen. John Hunt Morgan. After winning the battle, Morgan received word of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s defeat a few days earlier at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. A cabin on the grounds illustrates life at the time. A battle re-enactment takes places each July.

Also in Corydon, Harrison County Discovery Center has a 360-degree multimedia presentation that puts you right in the middle of the Civil War battle, one of only two fought north of the Mason-Dixon Line (the other being Gettysburg).

Moored in the Ohio River city of Evansville, the USS LST-325 Ship Memorial serves as a museum and shrine to those men who served on

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK IN VINCENNES

LST (Landing Ship, Tank) amphibious vessels, which were used during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars to transport battle-ready personnel, supplies and vehicles, particularly tanks, to enemy shores. The last full operational landing ship tank in existence, it participated in the 1944 invasion of Normandy and went on to serve in the Pacific theater and Korean War. For more information, check out visitindiana.com/military

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INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK Adam Asar

HEAD TO INDIANA FOR THE

2024 SOLAR ECLIPSE

T

The best places throughout the state to see the astronomical phenomenon

The Hoosier state of Indiana is anticipating an influx of millions of visitors on April 8, 2024, the date of the total eclipse of the sun. This rare, yet fascinating occurrence will be an unforgettable experience in history.

The path of totality will run from Texas to Maine, making Indiana a perfect state to witness the 2024

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

By Sophia Divagno solar eclipse. The central and southern locations listed below fall under the path of totality, where complete darkness will occur for several minutes, compared to the northern locations that will be able to witness a partial eclipse but won’t have 100 percent visibility.

The partial eclipse is calculated to be visible beginning at 1:30 p.m. and

3 p.m. for the full eclipse. Here are some destinations across the state where visitors can best enjoy the eclipse.

NORTHERN INDIANA

Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes covers 15,000 acres of land adjacent to Lake Michigan and

offers a variety of recreational activities like hiking, camping and swimming.

The park is famous for its massive sand dunes caused by thousands of years of wind and water erosion, making it a unique site to view the eclipse.

Berne

Named after the capital of Switzerland, this cute town located 35 miles south of Fort Wayne, was established in 1852 by Swiss Immigrants. The Swiss Heritage Village and Museum, a massive Clock Tower, and the beautiful Mennonite church are just a few of the noticeable spotlights the small rural town is home to. Not only does Berne make a great day trip, but it also serves as a picturesque location to witness the solar eclipse.

DeKalb

Indianapolis

The capital city of Indiana is perfect for the 2024 solar eclipse as it sits within the path of totality and provides visitors with a tremendous number of things to do. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be one of the three locations working closely with NASA and will have expert employees onsite to respond to questions. More lively events celebrating this rare occurrence include food trucks at White River State Park, live performances at Conner Prairie, and seeing how the animals react at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Morgan County

Lying between Indianapolis and Bloomington, Morgan County’s combination of hills and flat lands is the result of being the stoppage point

for glaciers during the ice age. Morgan County Fairgrounds, nearby parks, and more locations to come will serve as prime spots to observe the upcoming solar eclipse. While there, enjoy the outdoors at Hunter’s Honey Farm, eat and drink at Cedar Creek Winery, and check out an antique store in the area.

SOUTHERN INDIANA

Vincennes & Knox County

The counties of Vincennes & Knox will be hosting an official countdown event as they are expected to be home to the lengthiest and darkest viewing experience within the state of Indiana for the 2024 solar eclipse.

Complete darkness is expected to occur for a long four minutes and five seconds. The event will offer the

Sitting in the upper right corner of the state, DeKalb County gets a heap of visitors for its yearly classic car showcases and several riveting auto museums. Fine wineries, festivals, and shopping also make it a perfect place to stop, relax, and watch the eclipse.

CENTRAL INDIANA

Muncie

The BSU Charles W Brown Planetarium is collaborating with the city of Muncie to coordinate a handful of prime viewing sites throughout the city. Although the plan is still being developed, Muncie is expected to be an exceptional location to view the astronomical event. Currently, the city is working to build a website that will provide a great amount of information about the eclipse and related activities.

While there, make sure to check out the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University or walk around the beautiful Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.

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opportunity to gather alongside local businesses, community groups, and more. Inside this small city, you may also find the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Indiana Military Museum.

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY Visit Indy

Evansville

Looking to go somewhere loaded with pre-planned activities surrounding the event? The city is planning on collaborating with a prominent artist/astronomer and also ordering a mass amount of eclipse glasses for attendees. The city features recreational parks alongside the river, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, and exceptional shopping and dining options. Or walk around the Evansville Museum and learn more about the solar system in their planetarium.

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

Bloomington

Situated among rolling hills, green forests, and calm lakes, Bloomington is also home to Indiana University, one of the oldest and largest public universities in the US. Visitors can take a stroll around the grand campus or

partake in outdoor activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating. Or visit the dainty yet lively town full of boutiques and restaurants. Located in the dead center of the path of totality, Bloomington is a superior place to be for this moment in history.

Indiana Dunes National Park

Albanese Candy Factory ChicagoLand Popcorn • World’s best gummies • Gold Label chocolates • Premium roasted nuts

• More than 250 unique and classic flavors • Free tastings

Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Fair Oaks Farms

• 20+ breweries • 10+ wineries • Four distilleries • Samples and facility tours

• Barn-inspired hotel • 3D/4D movie • Birthing barn • Interactive and educational • Robotic dairy • Pig adventure • Farmhouse Restaurant • Crop Adventure Center

Bison Viewing Area

• More than 90 bison • Prairie of Kankakee Sands

Museum at Lassen’s Resort

• Historical, imaginative exhibits • Steamboat rides on Cedar Lake

Shrine of Christ’s Passion • Our Lady of Guadalupe Plaza • 40 life-size bronze sculptures • Large gift shoppe • Handicap accessible - golf carts available

Plan your itinerary

To learn more about these attractions... call Candace Nowak at 219-301-7753 cnowak@southshorecva.com

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COOK HALL ON THE CAMPUS OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY

TO INDIANA, BASKETBALL IS

MORE THAN JUST A SPORT Experience the home of basketball through captivating attractions and become immersed in Hoosier Hysteria

T

The history of basketball is deeply engrained in the culture of Indiana.

The state’s affection for the sport began in the early 1900s when a young man observed a version of basketball and introduced it to a YMCA in Crawfordsville, where it became quite popular.

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

By Sophia Divagno Indiana’s passion for basketball is often referred to as Hoosier Hysteria, a term that connotes an environment full of excitement surrounding the game. The love for the sport is reflected by dedicated fan bases behind high school, college, and professional basketball teams. Even Dr. James

Naismith, the inventor of basketball, noted the state’s affinity for the sport after checking it out for himself.

Indiana has demonstrated that there’s just as much passion in high school basketball as professional basketball.

The state’s competitive high school basketball tournament commenced in

1911. It holds a significant place within Indiana’s sporting culture, especially for smaller, rural schools, as it only requires a minimum of five players to form a team, meaning these schools can compete against bigger city and suburban ones.

High school student-athletes have gotten the opportunity to play in front of over 40,000 spectators as the final games typically sell out Gainbridge Fieldhouse Stadium in Indianapolis. Today, Indiana is home to some of the largest high school basketball gymnasiums in the country and sends an incredible number of young players to the National Basketball Association (NBA) in comparison to other states its size.

Numerous renowned basketball players have emerged from Indiana, including the Boston Celtics’ small forward and NBA legend Larry Bird. Bird grew up in French Lick, where he steered his high school to the state sectional championship before playing for Indiana State University and Indiana University Bloomington. Oscar Robertson, nicknamed “Big O,” who played outside of Indianapolis, is another Indiana icon.

The point guard secured multiple awards during his time in the NBA. Attractions surrounding basketball culture are widespread throughout the state, from rural towns to the capital city of Indianapolis.

The Indiana Pacers, the state’s beloved professional basketball team, competes in the Eastern League of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Fans, spectators and visitors cheer them on at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Grab a fresh-made pretzel, watch the halftime show and enjoy the game!

Located in Knightstown, Indiana, Hoosier Gym is featured in Hoosiers, the 1986 film inspired by the true story of the Milan High School basketball team that won the state championship in 1954. Still in use, the gym was the home court of the movie’s Hickory Huskers.

HINKLE FIELDHOUSE, HOME TO BUTLER BASKETBALL

Constructed in 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler University in Indianapolis was named after the school’s legendary coach and athletic director, Paul “Tony” Hinkle. Like the Hoosier Gym, Hinkle Fieldhouse gained fame from Hoosier. It is home to the Butler Bulldogs men and women’s basketball teams. Preservation efforts have kept it in its original condition.

A place of significance to Indiana’s basketball enthusiasts, it is one of the oldest arenas in the country.

NCAA Hall of Champions, a museum and shrine, showcases the best collegiate athletes in various sports and the values they embody—teamwork, discipline, and academic and athletic excellence. The museum is conveniently located in downtown Indianapolis’ White River State Park, near the city’s zoo and Indiana State Museum.

The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, also in the White River State Park Cultural District, currently has two exhibitions surrounding basketball. The Chuck Taylor All Star exhibit takes you through the life of a lesser known basketball star and loyal Hoosier whose name is

THE MILAN ‘54 MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS THE 1954 MILAN BASKETBALL TEAM THAT SHOCKED THE STATE AND WON THE TITLE.

on the iconic Converse All Star athletic shoe. The exhibit continues through January 27, 2025. The other, Going Pro, Basketball Origins in Indiana, consists of momentous photographs that tell the story of historic games, players and teams. Visitors have until the end of February 2024 to check it out.

In Terre Haute, you can’t miss the 15foot statue of Larry Bird on the corner of 8th and Cherry streets. The bronze sculpture depicts Bird, in his No. 33 jersey, shooting from afar. It’s a great photo opportunity.

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BEST PUBLIC GARDEN & OUTDOOR EXHIBIT BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER BEST GIFT BOUTIQUE

NEW

TAKE THE JOURNEY

Our half-mile interactive prayer trail.

MOSES & MOUNT SINAI

Witness Moses deliver the 10 Commandments.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PLAZA Put yourself in Juan Diego’s shoes.

THE GIFT SHOPPE

A 12,000 sq. ft Gift Shoppe featuring gifts for all ocassions.

OUR LADY OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM A 33’ tall, serene, stainless steel monument.

THE FAMILY PLAZA

A beautiful new outdoor plaza and gift shop.

THE SANCTITY OF LIFE SHRINE

In loving memory of the innocent victims of abortion.

THE SUMMIT ROOM

Perfect for any banquet or conference room needs.

NORTH-TO-SOUTH

INDIANA ITINERARY

Sampling the Best of Indiana From Top to Bottom

DAY ONE ▸Begin your tour at Fair Oaks

Farms, a popular agritourism stop just off I-65. The sprawling complex includes themed barns like Dairy Adventure (where guests can witness a live cow birth) and Pig Adventure (see newborn piglets up close). For lunch, enjoy the COWfé’s famous grilled cheese sandwich with Fair Oaks chocolate milk or dine at the Farmhouse Restaurant.

Continue south on I-65 to Lafayette/West Lafayette, home to Purdue University and Tippecanoe Battlefield & Museum. The famous 1811 battle saw William Henry Harrison’s U.S. forces emerge victorious over Chief Tecumseh’s Native American confederation.

Conclude your day with a visit to Samara, an exceptionally preserved Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home.

DAY TWO ▸Your first stop in Indiana’s capital

city is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum for a look at one of the world’s best collections of race cars and antique vehicles.

Explore the speedway’s grounds (home to the Indianapolis 500) on a narrated bus ride around the famed 2.5-mile track, visiting the media center, Pagoda, victory platform and Gasoline Alley Suite.

Spend the afternoon touring the boutiques and galleries of Massachusetts Avenue, a cultural

BEEF AND BOARDS DINNER THEATRE IN INDIANAPOLIS

district with easy pedestrian accessibility and a rich arts history. Or schedule a visit to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indiana State Museum or Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Another option is Conner Prairie in Fishers, a recreated 19th century pioneer village.

Spend your evening at Indianapolis’ Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, a group favorite that offers Broadwaycaliber shows and a buffet featuring its signature beef. Upcoming musicals include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The King and I, The Wizard of Oz and Million Dollar Quartet.

DAY THREE ▸Travel south to Columbus, a

paradise for fans of architecture

and design. Tours from the visitor center focus on homes, churches and other buildings designed by some of the world’s most celebrated architects. Columbus also takes pride in its public murals. And don’t miss Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum, a beautifully restored relic of yesteryear, complete with melodious sounds emanating from the 1908 self-playing organ.

Head to French Lick and the French Lick West Baden Museum, which tells the area’s resort, circus and baseball history. Then tour the West Baden Springs Hotel. Called the Eighth Wonder of the World when it opened in 1902, it sports a cavernous circular atrium. Or view some 35 types of exotic animals on a drive-thru safari at nearby Wilstem Wildlife Park.

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EAST-TO-WEST

INDIANA ITINERARY

Shopping, Baseball & Amish Experiences in Northern Indiana

DAY ONE ▸Begin your adventure in Fort

Wayne, Indiana’s second-largest city. Devote your morning to Sweetwater, one of the world’s largest purveyors of music and audio gear. Its campus includes an instrument store, recording studios and performance spaces.

For lunch, choices abound at Union Street Market, the new food hall at Electric Works, an ambitious redevelopment of the former GE factory.

In the afternoon, visit the nationally acclaimed Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, a treat for all ages. Then explore the indoor and outdoor gardens at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, a horticultural oasis FOUR WINDS FIELD IN SOUTH BEND

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2024 INDIANA TOUR PLANNER

in the heart of downtown.

If the team is in town, spend the evening at Parkview Field (adjacent to the conservatory), where minor league baseball’s Fort Wayne TinCaps play from April to September.

DAY TWO ▸Head northwest to Amish

Country for bargain-hunting at the Shipshewana Flea Market.

Packed with hundreds of vendors, it’s the largest such outdoor market in the Midwest. Next to the flea market are two prime shopping destinations—Yoder’s Meat & Cheese Co. and a two-level indoor mall, Yoder’s Red Barn Shoppes.

In the afternoon, browse the specialty shops in downtown

Shipshewana and then peruse exhibits spotlighting the Amish people’s history in America at the Menno-Hof Amish-Mennonite Information Center.

Tonight in Shipshewana features the Amish-style buffet at Blue Gate Restaurant & Theatre, followed by a play with Amish or Mennonite themes.

DAY THREE ▸Your day in South Bend begins

with a visit to the Studebaker National Museum and its priceless collection of antique vehicles.

Connected to the Studebaker repository is The History Museum, a treasure house of local history.

The campus also includes the 1896 Oliver Mansion, perhaps the most opulent Gilded Age home in Indiana.

In the afternoon, go behind the scenes and sample the goodies during a factory tour at South Bend Chocolate Company. Next, a guided tour of the University of Notre Dame includes the beautiful Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a church famed for its 19th century French stained-glass windows.

The university bookstore has every kind of Notre Dame logo gear imaginable.

This evening, tempt your luck at South Bend’s Four Winds Casino or, in season, catch a South Bend Cubs minor league baseball game at Four Winds Field.

Shipshewana VISIT TOUR SHOP EAT STAY

Indiana Amish Country Christmas

AMISH HOME-STYLE COOKING

UNIQUE SHOPPING

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

ENDLESS STOCKING STUFFERS

Contact Judy McConnell for Group Holiday Fun! Judy@lagrangecountycvb.org 260-768-4008 w w w.V i s i t S h i p s h ew a n a . o r g /g r o u p s