10 Apple Orchards in Indiana

Happy Fall everyone! Now that it is officially fall, let’s start thinking apple orchards! Apple season is in full swing, but picking becomes most popular in the next month or so. Indiana is ripe (cringy pun intended) with great apple orchards that are worth a visit.

1.  Hainlen Orchard (Converse)

Hainlen Orchard is one of the few area orchards that can boast that they’ve been around for over 100 years. They’re most known for their award-winning apple cider. People aren’t allowed to actually go out and pick apples here, but they have a massive selection of apples inside of their store. That store contains apples, cider, baked goods, and a host of other jams and jellies. One interesting product they sell is cherry cider. Once Halloween gets closer, Hainlen Orchard also gets a stock of pumpkins and gourds. They’re open from 9am-5pm from Mon-Sat and from noon-5pm on Sunday.  

2. Phil’s U-Pick Orchard

Phil’s is an orchard started back in the 70’s by a teacher who was tired of being inside all of the time. Home to over 10,000 apple trees, Phil’s grows all kinds of apples, including some interesting hybrids that are pretty new to market, such as Evercrisp and Sun Crisp. Apart from apples, you can also buy apple cider made in Denver, IN, maple syrup from Huntington, concord grapes and plums from northern Indiana, corn stalks, decorative corn, pumpkins, gourds, and other miscellaneous items. There is no indoor area to Phil’s, as all items sold are under a large tent on the property. Phil’s is open 7 days a week right now from 11am-6pm. 

3. Apple of His Eye Orchard (Anderson)

This orchard is part of the ministry of the couple who owns it. They opened their orchard in the early 2000’s and have been producing their own apple butter, apple sauce, and apple pie filling. Their apple cinnamon doughnuts are also a treat because they are made with apple butter and were made with in conjunction with Pillsbury. As far as apples go, they have over 800 trees that produce 27 types of apples. Throughout the year, they also get other products like peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and tomatoes. They are open Monday-Saturday from 10-6. 

4. Tuttle Orchard (Greenfield)

While the first few on this list have been smaller, orchard-focused locations, Tuttle Orchards has a whole operation that brings people in. They have a corn maze (4 acres), pumpkin patch (20 acres), tractor rides, kiddie play area, and the orchard (8,000 trees). Across the street, you will find a grill area where they make food on Saturdays, a café and sweet shop open all week, a farm store that is open year-round, and a bee hive observation. The farm store sells over 200 Indiana products and all kinds of fruits, veggies, baked goods, and products for your home. Tuttle Orchards is open from 9am-7pm Mon-Sat and the grill is open Saturdays until Oct. 28^th from 10:30am-5:30pm. 

5. McClure’s Orchard (Peru)

This 20-year-old orchard/winery currently is selling pears, pumpkins, squash, and 15 different types of apples. Some of the apples there are in-store only, while others are allowed to be picked by guests. They offer an extensive list of wines and hard ciders to taste, with flights, howlers, and growlers available. The first two samples are free! McClure’s also does horse rides, trolley rides, and live music (Saturdays only). The orchard, gift shops, and restaurants are open 7 days a week from 10am-6pm. 

6. Jacobs’ Family Orchard (New Castle)

The farm at Jacobs’ Family Orchard has been around for 80 years, but the orchard itself wasn’t added until 2002. The farm not only contains the 35-acre orchard, but also contains a 20-acre pumpkin patch, an 8-acre sweet corn field, and 4 acres where other produce is grown. Apart from a kiddie play area, the farm contains a corn maze and a sunflower maze. There are around 30 different types of apples grown here. There is a store on the premises to sell all sorts of goodies, but the two most popular items are the apple cinnamon donuts and the apple cider slushies. They are open 8am-6pm Mon-Sat and 1pm-6pm on Sundays.

7. Stuckey Farms (Sheridan)

Stuckey Farms offers 27 varieties of apples and 4,000 trees available for picking. The farm sits on 40 acres, 25 of which are devoted to just apple trees. The store on-site also offers peaches, sweet corn, tomatoes, baked goods (including doughnuts), cider, and more! The farm prides itself on being a place that families can come to and enjoy, so on weekends from Sept. 15-Oct. 21 they offer a Harvest Festival that involves hay rides, a corn maze, a play area, pig races, and apple cannons. Admission for the festival is $12.50. Stuckey Farms is open Mon-Thu from 9am-6pm, Fri+Sat from 9am-8pm, and Sundays from 1pm-5pm.

8. Appleworks (Trafalgar)

Appleworks does a great job of sustainability, making a conscious effort to not be wasteful in watering (with several retention ponds), with soil, and with the trees themselves. They pride themselves in having over 50 varieties of apples, which is almost double what many other orchards have. However, this is not a u-pick for apples (it is for pumpkins, though). Apart from apples, they have plenty of other fruits and veggies that they grow on the premises. Their store contains many of the usual items that orchard stores have: jams/jellies, baked goods, salsas, baking mixes, etc. Apart from orchards, Appleworks also has a kid play area, farm animal exhibit, bamboo maze, picnic area w/waterfall, live music, and greenhouses. The hours are 7 days a week from 9am-7pm. 

9. Huber’s Orchard (Starlight)

This is another orchard that also contains a winery. It is over 150 years old and is a total of 600 acres. Like Appleworks, Huber’s makes an effort to practice sustainable agriculture for everything grown on the property, which is quite a lot. They offer about a dozen varieties of apples on site, which are available to pick in the orchard. Their store offers all kinds of fruits and vegetables of their own, and they even have a bakery and a cheese shop. There is also a large play area for kids and a hall for weddings/receptions/meetings. Huber’s is open Sun-Fri from 9am-6pm and 9am-8pm on Saturday.

10. County Line Orchard (Hobart)

This orchard boasts an impressive red barn-type building that stores its many wonderful products. They do u-pick for apples( over 30 varieties), pumpkins, and sunflowers. Other activities on the property is the kid’s area, bee area, outdoor music area, and corn maze. A lot of activities here do have a small cost, even the u-pick, so be aware of that. Come hungry and take advantage of the bakery, sweet shop, and restaurant. They are well known for the apple cinnamon and pumpkin donuts The hours are 8am-6pm daily, though many of the attractions don’t open until 9am. The grill (weekends) and restaurant (daily) hours are 11am-5pm.

10 Incredible State Parks in Indiana

Even though it isn’t as scenic as some states, Indiana has a lot to offer in its state parks. There are 26 parks in total, and they are spread throughout the state. The following list showcases the ten best ones to visit.

1. Turkey Run (Marshall)

Turkey Run State Park has my vote as the best state park in Indiana. There are many other people who agree with me as well based on reviews I’ve seen online and what friends have said. Turkey Run features some of the most rugged trails in any of the state parks, with certain trails winding through a creek bed and others that contain a portion where you are going downhill while walking on rocks. There is also a trail that has two ladders on it that go up/down a rock wall. Apart from these adventurous trails, there are also trails that lead to a covered bridge and an old cave that was used for mining many years ago. Another defining feature is the large suspension bridge that crosses over Sugar Creek. It truly has everything you could want for a good day’s hike.

2.  Shades (Waveland)

Shades State Park is just 15 minutes from Turkey Run and contains many of the same types of fun, challenging trails, but for some reason isn’t anywhere near as popular. If you’re looking for trails that cause you to hike through creek beds, lead to fun waterfalls, and contain decent elevation changes (for Indiana), consider going to Shades. It’s much quieter than Turkey Run because of the lighter amount of foot traffic, which honestly helps you appreciate nature better. Shades is actually larger than Turkey Run, but the trails in Shades are much shorter (though just as many are marked Rugged).

 

3. Mounds (Anderson)

Mounds State Park contains a lot of history in it. One of the oldest houses in the area are on its grounds and open for visitation, and there are many replica artifacts to see inside the house. The park gets its name from the large mounds that were created by the Native Americans that once lived in the area. These are not burial mounds; rather, they were made to view different ceremonies that the tribe would perform. This state park also has a fun trail that goes down to the White River and follows it for a time. It’s fun to see people canoeing or kayaking by as you hike feet from the river’s edge. Mounds doesn’t necessarily have any challenging trails like the first two parks in this entry, but it does have two connector trails that involve some boardwalks and quite a bit of stairs. This park is also a lot smaller than Shades and Turkey Run, but it still contains 6 miles of trails.

4.  Ouabache (Bluffton)

One distinguishing characteristic of this state park is the bison exhibit. There are around 8-10 of these creatures in a habitat near the old fire tower, and there is even a bison baby that is less than a year old. This park offers a nice lake for swimming and fishing too. Even though the park is barely over 1,000 acres, the park still has over 13 miles of trails (plus one 2.5-mile bike trail). However, these trails are mostly flat and don’t offer as much excitement as some of the others parks on this list. It does offer one of the longest trails, with a 6-mile trail that skirts around the lake, bison exhibit, and campground. It’s a nice place to come for a relaxing hike.

 

5. Fort Harrison (Lawrence)

This park offers a mix of fun hiking and history because it is directly next to an area that used to be a functioning U.S. Army base. Fort Harrison is located just outside of the bustling city of Indianapolis, but once you’re in the park you don’t even get the hint of a big city. Apart from traditional hiking trails, this state park contains a large sledding hill, dog park, warfare museum, horse trails, bike trails, golf course, and fishing. While not as rugged as Turkey Run or Shades, Fort Harrison offers elevation changes that are similar to Mounds. The Fall Creek Trail, while only 1 mile long, offers some great views of the river nearby and goes by a tranquil duck pond. The most difficult trails to hike are the bike trails, which are technically labeled “multi-use trails”.

6. Pokagon (Angola)

Pokagon has within its park limits a toboggan hill that I’ve been wanting to try out for years. People traveling on one of the two tracks can get up to 35-40 mph in the right conditions! While I can’t speak much more about that, but I can offer info about the hiking trails in the park. There are just as many miles of trails as the last 2 parks on the list, but most of Pokagon’s trails are rated “moderate” or higher, which is not something Ouabache or Fort Harrison can claim. Several trails mosey through forests and out into wetland areas, the best of which is trail 9. Apart from hiking, this park also offers swimming, fishing, horse trails, a biking trail, and camping. Adjacent to the state park is Beechwood Nature Preserve, which offers another 1.7 miles of trail.

 

7. Clifty Falls (Madison)

Visitors tend to come here to take in the four scenic waterfalls or to hike the challenging trails. Eight of the park’s ten trails are marked as “Rugged” or higher, as many trails go up and down the canyons around the river/its waterfalls. Many of the trails are short, however, with only three of the ten going farther than a mile. With all of the elevation involved in traversing these trails, that may end up being a good thing. I speak from experience when I say the park is beautiful, but a day here will wear you out! Highly recommended!

8. Brown County (Nashville)

Brown County is the most talked about state park in Indiana, and after having visited, I can understand why. It is the largest state park in Indiana (15,000+ acres) and boasts 1.3 million visitors per year. Most of this foot traffic is to catch the amazing views that the park offers. Being in southern Indiana, the park contains many rolling hills and views of these hills are said to remind people of the Smoky Mountains. Despite its size, Brown County only has 14-15 miles of hiking trails, though it also contains 25 miles of bike trails and nearly 70 miles of horse trails. Also offered here are fishing, swimming, and camping, but much of the focus is on the scenery here. People come here from all over the United States to view this place in the fall, and the views are said to be absolutely incredible. If heights don’t bother you, consider going up the 90 foot fire tower for a great view of the surrounding hills.

 

9.  Chain O’Lakes (Albion)

A state park like this one is best enjoyed if you have a canoe, kayak, or small fishing boat. Chain O’Lakes, as the name suggests, contains 9 connected lakes that are ideal for a day of exploring or fishing. There are also 3 more lakes in the park, though they are smaller and more for scenic hiking than anything else. There are more than 23 miles of hiking trails here, and many of them come across one of the lakes at some point. Two trails here are rated “rugged”, though the hiking itself is not tough. The trails are rated that way mainly due to stairs and changes on elevation. A few of the trails go by a schoolhouse that was built back in 1915 and serves as a cool way to step back in time and see what school was like then. Chain O’Lakes is also one of the better parks to camp at because of the size of the campground and the availability of family cabins that are on a hillside overlooking one of the lakes.

10.Indiana Dunes (Chesterton)

This state park is probably the most unique one in Indiana because of the sandy dunes that take up many miles of the hiking trails. The miles of Lake Michigan beaches can be walked in the park, and some of the dunes get as high as 200 feet! One of the main attractions here is the beach, where people flock in the summer to enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan. Hiking the 16+miles of trails here is something much different than your average trail due to the frequent changes in elevation and all of the sand you need to be wary of getting in your shoes. If you’re up for a challenge, go for trail 8, which is a 1.5-mile trail that takes you up and down the 3 tallest dunes in the park. The scenery here is extra special because of the great lake views available on multiple trails.

Honorable Mention: McCormick’s Creek (Spencer)

This park almost made the list due to its waterfall, cave, quarry, fire tower, and 10+ miles of trails. It's also Indiana's oldest state park!

15 Summer Activities in Indiana

Summer in Indiana is here and in full swing! Summer provides plenty of opportunities for people to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. As a result, this blog entry exclusively contains outdoor activities for Hoosiers to do this season.

1. Minor League Baseball Games (Fort Wayne and Indianapolis)

A great, cheap activity for summer evenings is either a Fort Wayne Tincaps game or an Indianapolis Indians game. Both ballparks offer quality seating for under $20, even going under $10 for outfield seating in the grass. Even though the ballparks aren’t as grand as MLB ballparks, they are both kept clean and offer a lot of food and drink options. The Tincaps’ stadium even boasts “best ballpark experience” for the past 4 years for Stadium Journey magazine’s evaluation of 160 minor league ballparks. Because minor league experiences are more family friendly, there are plenty of events going on between innings that have audience participation, such as relay races or drawings. Other times, outside acts get brought in to perform throughout the game. Another fun plus is how often the ballparks have themed nights, such as “Star Wars” or “80’s”.

2. Pine Lake Waterpark (Berne)

Pine Lake is the first of several waterparks on this list that stand out from your average public pool. Pine Lake has waterslides, log crossings, diving platforms, a kiddie waterpark, and multiple water activities in the lake itself. If you’d rather just lay out or swim in the lake, there is plenty of space to do that as well. They do not allow food or drinks to be brought in, but concessions are available at a reasonable price. The waterpark is open from 10am-8pm Mon-Sat and Noon-8pm on Sundays until Labor Day. Pricing is $7 for ages 10 and up, $6 for ages 4-9, and free for those under the age of 4. Be aware that since this is an actual lake, you will have fish swimming around you at times.

3. Prophetstown State Park Waterpark (Battle Ground)

Another waterpark to make the list is the one that resides within Prophetstown State Park, which is near Lafayette. It costs $8 for IN residents to get into the park, plus another $5 to get access to the waterpark. That said, the waterpark offers a 30-foot tube slide and a body slide, along with a lazy river, adventure channel, kiddie play area, and an aquatic area to play water sports. There are concessions available as well. The hours are 11am-7pm daily until Labor Day. The best way to get your money’s worth would be to go to the state park and camp for the weekend, allowing you to utilize the park’s hiking trails and spend more time there.

4. Friday Nites Live at Jefferson Pointe (Fort Wayne)

During the months of June-August, the Jefferson Pointe mall in Fort Wayne offers free concerts on Fridays from 6:30-8:30pm. These concerts take place in the fountain area in the middle of the outdoor mall and usually draw quite a crowd. It’s a great venue because you are so close to great places to eat before or after listening to some good music. Even though summer is half over, there are still 7 chances to go and enjoy an evening of music, shopping, and eating.

5. Canoe Country (Danville)

Canoeing, kayaking, and tubing are 3 great summer activities, and there are many places in Indiana where they can be done. However, the one I have personal experience with is Canoe Country. Canoe Country allows you to pick from multiple experiences based on how long you want to be out of the water/how many miles you want to travel down the White River. It is also one of the cheapest experiences that you’ll find in Central Indiana. If you’re interested in a 5-mile trip, you’d pay either $32 for a canoe, $17 for a kayak, or $12 for a tube. Some of the trips involve you being taken to a drop off point and returning to Canoe Country, while others start at Canoe Country and go to a location where they come and pick you up. The hours are Mon-Fri from 8am-6pm, Sat from 8am-7pm, and Sun from 12:30pm-6pm. Be sure to arrive in time to be able to take your trip; don’t expect to be allowed to go on a 2 hour trip if you arrive a 6pm.

6. Splash House (Marion)

Marion’s Splash House offers multiple ways to cool off: a wave pool, a lazy river, a kiddie playground, two racer slides, and a flush slide. There are plenty of chairs for sunbathing, and a concession stand that offers food for decent prices. The hours are 11am-6pm Mon-Sat and 12-6pm Sun until Labor Day. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children, but there have been Groupons available for 38% off all summer.

7. Foellinger Outdoor Movie Series (Fort Wayne)

If you’re looking for a great place to enjoy a free movie, the Foellinger Theatre in Fort Wayne is showing a movie every Thursday at 8pm during the summer. The movies are family friendly, so the list for the rest of the summer contains Despicable Me 3, Minions, Finding Nemo, and Finding Dory.

8. Festivals (various locations)

Summer is the perfect time to spend an evening at a carnival, watch a demolition derby, or attend a concert. Indiana has festivals abound in the summer, ranging from local 4-H fairs to the Indiana State Fair in August. There are multiple websites that have catalogued all of the summer festivals here in Indiana, so peruse at your own leisure. Currently, the Three Rivers Festival in Fort Wayne is going on. This festival contains rummage sales and flea markets, food trucks, sports tournaments, concerts, a parade, helicopter rides, a carnival, and Junk Food Alley, which is exactly what it sounds like. Check their official website for day-by-day schedules.

9. Deep River Waterpark (Merrillville)

This waterpark is easily one of the best in the state. Not only does it offer the traditional wave pool, lazy river, and water playground, but it steps up the game with dueling toilet bowl slides, race slides, speed slides, tube slides, body slides, and more. Being a larger waterpark, it also offers a lot more as far as concessions are concerned. Unlike other waterparks, you are allowed to bring in coolers here. The hours are 10am-6pm daily, but keep in mind that the waterpark is in the Central Time Zone. General admission is $24 on weekdays and $26 on weekends, though there are many ways to get a discount. Show an Indiana ID and get $2 off. Show up after 2pm and get $3 off. Each Tuesday the hours are extended until 9:30pm, and if you show up after 5pm, the cost is only $15.

10. Hiking (various locations)

Hiking is a great way to enjoy the beauty of a summer day. The trees keep you relatively shaded from the hot sun, but you’re still able to get out and see nature at its finest. Summer hiking offers a chance to see different flowers along the trails and wild raspberries as well. Summer rains make waterfalls much more impressive as well. Look up what state parks may be near you and go explore, or better yet, find a nature preserve near you…those don’t get as much attention and they’re free! Just make sure you bring bug spray and plenty of water.

11. Farmer’s Markets (various locations)

Summer brings out plenty of farmer’s markets, where people can come and enjoy different seasonal fruits and vegetables along with different arts and crafts. Towns small and large hold farmer’s markets, it’s just finding out when and where the markets are at. However, it’s not unheard of to think that the larger the city, the better the farmer’s market. Vendors will typically flock to a place where they are more likely to sell their goods. Marion, my town, does their Hometown Market on Saturdays from 9am-1pm in front of the Abbey Coffee Company.

12. Holiday World (Santa Clause)

Holiday World is an amusement park that also contains a waterpark (Splashin’ Safari). Splashin’ Safari is similar to Deep River Waterpark as far as what it contains: a wave pool, lazy river, tube slides, body slides, a kiddie playpark, race slides, a toilet bowl slide, and regular swimming areas. However, it also has a water coaster. The amusement park side has multiple roller coasters to thrill you and dry you off from your time at the waterpark. The hours are Sun-Fri 11am-7pm and Sat 11am-8pm, though those hours change in August as school starts and the summer seasons begins to wind down. Like Deep River Waterpark, Holiday World is in the Central Time Zone. Admission to Holiday World is $49 on weekends and $43 on weekdays. While that price is decently high, included in that price is unlimited soft drinks, free access to sunscreen, and free Wi-Fi.

13. Shipshewana Flea Market (Shipshewana)

This flea market is the largest flea market in the Midwest! It boasts stall after stall of crafts, food, plants, antiques, home décor, and all other sorts of interesting items for sale. There are over 900 booths at this market and offers a planning packet to prepare people for their trip. There are also 6 different food courts! The market is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8am-5pm through September. Admission is free, but it does cost $3 to park on the grounds. Fair warning: even though there is a large variety of items being offered here, there is also quite a bit of repetition…don’t be surprised if there are multiple vendors selling the same things.

14. Mini Golf (various locations)

Mini golf is a great way to offer fun competition amongst friends and family. Summer nights are the perfect time to go out and play 9 or 18 holes of mini golf. Make it a contest that has the losers buy the winner ice cream afterwards and you’ll be all set!

15. Blueberry Picking (various locations)

The season of summer is when blueberry season occurs, and there are plenty of blueberry patches throughout Indiana. Sure, you can go and buy blueberries from a store, but you’re paying a lot extra for those. Plus, blueberries are better enjoyed when you are the one who picked them. Blueberry season is currently happening, so look online to see where there is a patch near you! I personally like going to The Blueberry Patch in Etna Green. I have never had any issues there and it is one of the closer places to Marion for picking. It’s $1.90 per pound to pick them yourself. Wherever you end up picking, make sure to bring cash; not all patches accept credit cards.

Honorable mention: Drive-in movies!

10 Fantastic Places to Get Ice Cream in Indiana

We are now at the time in the year where hot temperatures reign supreme. One of several glorious solutions to cool off is to get some ice cream. There are plenty of places to get ice cream, such as the grocery store, a gas station, or different fast food restaurants, but today we will be looking at ten different places in Indiana that really stand out. Places like Handel’s, Graeter’s, and Debrand’s, while all good, will not be listed because they are still chain stores.

 

1. Antiqology (Huntington)

This store has morphed quite a bit over the 5 years that they’ve been in existence. Currently, their store houses some cool antiques, which makes a very fun ambiance. There is also a wall of glass bottled sodas for you to try. Owners Adam and Rebecca Hanson sell over 700 different glass bottled sodas, many of which are from small businesses you’ve never heard of before. They even do their own line of sodas and have 1919 Root Beer on tap. For the sake of this entry, however, we must discuss the delicious ice cream that they have. If you’re more of a traditionalist, they do have your usual chocolate and vanilla, but they also have some more uncommon flavors. Some of my favorites include cinnamon churro, peanut butter brownie, and cookie jar. Others that are very popular are raspberry rendezvous, fudge mint cookie, and mocha almond fudge. Antiqology also changes things up by having a weekly flavor and having different flavors for different seasons, such as a peppermint one in winter and a strawberry cheesecake one in summer. What’s even better is that one can mix these ice creams with any of their sodas to create a float!

2.  Payne’s (Gas City)

Payne’s may be more well know for their excellent British themed menu, but their custard is certainly worth including on this list. You can get servings of it on its own (chocolate or vanilla), which are good, but their selections with mix-ins are really where it’s at. My personal favorite is the Cookie Monster, which is vanilla custard with Oreos, cookie dough (real, large pieces…not the fake stuff fast food restaurants have), and hot fudge. Other great options are: Jenny’s Reese (vanilla custard, peanut butter, hot fudge, Reese’s cups), Turtle (vanilla custard, hot fudge, pecans, caramel), Jimmy Dean’s Payne (vanilla custard, espresso, raspberries), and Worms and Dirt (vanilla custard, Oreos, gummy worms).

3. Ivanhoe’s (Upland)

Ivanhoe’s is probably best known for the sheer number of options that they have as far as ice cream is concerned. Sure, they have ice cream that you can simply get in a cone or bowl, but that’s not as fun as trying different mix-in options from their list of 100 different shakes and 100 different sundaes. They have something called the 100 Club, which is for people who have tried all 100 options on the shake or sundae menu. Ivanhoe’s is usually very generous with the portion sizes as well, which is another big plus. My favorite to get here is the Trojan Two, which consists of vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, peanut butter, and chocolate covered graham crackers. They are also known for their seasonal strawberry shortcakes, which are piled high with strawberries and whipped cream. Ivanhoe’s does have quite a bit of notoriety, and as a result, is often very busy. Plan on waiting for your food/ice cream while here.

4. Zaharakos (Columbus)

One of the oldest ice cream parlors in the state (since 1900), Zarharakos has a lot going for it. It boasts a retro ambiance and even has a small museum in it that shows some old soda fountains and music machines. You are able to get meals here, but the focus is the homemade ice cream. Because everything about the parlor is old fashioned, the ice cream flavors are pretty traditional: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mint chip, cookies n’ cream, etc. They also do floats, shakes, brownie sundaes, and banana splits. The one time I’ve been there, I got some cookies n’ cream and was very satisfied with it. The one downside to this place according to online reviews would be spotty service.

5.  Just Cream Ice Cream Boutique (Fort Wayne)

This is a fairly new ice cream parlor, but they bring 50 different flavors of ice cream to the table, complete with dairy-free, sugar-free, and vegan options. The location is not the easiest to find, but once you get in, you are greeted by a quaint atmosphere. The employees are usually pretty patient with people as they try and figure out what to get. They trend more towards the fun and interesting flavors, but the traditional ones are available as well. Prices are a little higher than your typical walk-up ice cream vendor, but portion sizes are decent for what you’re paying. They also serve the popular Intelligentsia coffee. They have a lot of competition in Fort Wayne, with Coldstone, Zesto, and Debrand’s, but they hold their own quite well.

6.  Fair Oaks Farm (Fair Oaks)

Fair Oaks deserves a place on this list not only for the ice cream they have, but for the whole experience they offer as well. Going to Fair Oaks gives you a chance to see how all of the dairy products we enjoy are made, starting with the cows. Visitors can go on different “adventures”, where they get to see how the whole process takes place, from milking the cows to turning the cream into cheese/yogurt/ice cream/etc. They have a café and a restaurant onsite and a lot of interactive things to keep kids interested. Reviewers rave about not only the ice cream, which is said to be quite creamy and smooth, but all of the dairy products they offer. A place like this that offers a lot will likely find a way to drain your wallet, so be wary of costs going in.

7.  Rocket Science (Nappanee)

Rocket Science often makes the lists of top ice cream places to visit in Indiana, and it’s because it was one of the first places to offer ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. Everything in an order is mixed together, then flash frozen, then served to you to enjoy. There are over 25 different options for you to pick from, all using quality grade ice cream and ingredients (something they pride themselves on). You are also able to create your own order. Many reviewers comment how this ice cream stands out and tastes much better than traditional ice cream, while other point out how portion sizes are great for the price they paid.

8. The Chief (Goshen)

This is a wildly popular walk-up ice cream parlor that almost always has a long line. Many reviewers say the line does go quickly, however. They boast flavors like mango pineapple, mint chip, raspberry, black cherry, peanut butter, blue moon, and more! They have weekly flavors that they cycle through as well as seasonal flavors. Their ice cream is homemade and hand scooped, and it seems like decently generous portions. They have been operating out of the same small building for quite some time now and seem to really know what they’re doing. They also offer shakes, sundaes, and some grill food. One accolade they boast is that Thrillist named them the best ice cream in Indiana in 2016. Like many walk-ups, they do have an off-season where they are closed and offer picnic tables for seating.

9. Trader’s Point Creamery (Zionsville)

Trader’s Point is similar in a lot of ways to Fair Oaks Farm (#5 on this list). They are a farm that gives tours to show how the whole dairy process works, plus there is a farm-to-table restaurant set inside a beautiful building. The ice cream is found at the dairy bar, which offers their chocolate and vanilla ice cream along with rotating seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, peppermint, and wildberry. Places like this that allow customers to get ice cream right from the source are almost always guaranteed to be delightful experiences. The farm store allows you to purchase ice cream too, along with all of their other products, which they proudly claim as 100% organic.

10.  Hartzell’s Ice Cream (Bloomington)

Rounding off the list is a place that works hard at pleasing traditionalists as well as those who like to try new things with their ice cream. Hartzell’s is a small parlor that has an amazing rotation of specialty flavors that are really worth trying. Here are a few examples: cherry wasabi, curried coconut, blueberry muffin, green tea, chocolate basil, black raspberry, and dirty vanilla. Be warned, though: as they are specialty flavors, they cost more than your traditional flavors. If you aren’t willing to spend more, then you still have dozens of flavors to pick from. Another interesting addition to Hartzell’s is their Carbolite ice cream, which only has 8 calories per ounce.

Honorable mentions: Valpo Velvet Shoppe (Valparaiso), Sycamore Drive-in (Logansport), The Chocolate Moose (Bloomington), BRICS (Indianapolis), Sundae’s Homemade Ice Cream (Indianapolis), Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream (Carmel), Frosty Boy (New Palestine)

10 things to do in Indiana in the spring

Spring is the wonderful time of the year where everything starts growing and looking vibrant again. In Indiana, it tends to be a season where the temperatures fluctuate quite a bit, but there are plenty of fun outdoor activities that are only available during this time. Some items on this list are time sensitive, while others are best done in spring (in my humble opinion).

1. The Indianapolis Mini Marathon/5K (Indianapolis)
There are plenty of races in Indiana throughout the year, but the one that seems to really get a lot of attention is the Indy Mini. Tens of thousands of people register every year to do the 13.1 mile trek, and plenty of businesses in the area get involved in some way. One of the more unique aspects of this race is how the path of the race takes you into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to do a lap of the track. The racetrack is enormous and is a lot to take in. The park at the end of the race is packed full of things to look at afterward, including food trucks, a massage station, and different vendors. For those who want part of the experience for just a portion of the amount of running, there is a 5K at the beginning of the day. The Indy Mini is usually the first weekend in May, so even though it is too late for this year, it’s a great time to start training for next year!

2. The Quilt Gardens (Elkhart/Middlebury/Goshen area)
Beginning May 30 and going through October 1, the quilt gardens are a collection of 18 gardens that have flowers set in the shape of patchwork quilt patterns. Along with the gardens, there are also 21 different quilt-themed murals that can be viewed. The gardens and murals are free to view during this time, so you’d only be spending money on gas. There is a specific route to take to view the gardens in the different towns, which can be viewed at this address: http://www.amishcountry.org/assets/QGHTMap2018.pdf

3. Taltree Arboretum and Gardens (Valparaiso)
Taltree offers quite a wide variety of land on which to hike and explore. There are hiking trails there that pass through wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and manicured gardens that total 6+ miles in length. There are facilities available to rent for different venues, plus an area where concerts are performed a few times per year. One of the main attractions of the arboretum is the Railway Garden, a garden scale model of a train system with miniature trees, bridges, and water. Taltree costs $10 for general admission, though it offers discounts for young children, military, seniors, and college students. It is open April-October from 8am-7pm.

4. Gravity Hill (Mooresville)
This is an interesting phenomenon that involves optical illusions and a sense that you are defying gravity. The idea behind Gravity Hill is that you find the hill, put your car in neutral, and you get seemingly “pulled” uphill (backwards). Because of no real horizon line and the rolling hills around you, it looks and feels like you are going uphill, but you actually are not. There is no specific address to use for a GPS, but here are some helpful directions from Only in Your State’s website: “(the closest we can give you is 705 Keller Hill Rd.), but you will find it roughly a mile from the turnoff from Hwy 42 onto Keller Hill Road. It works best when you are facing west (away from Hwy 42—you will be pulled east, back toward the highway). When you think you’ve found it, stop your car at the bottom of the hill and shift into neutral. Be patient; it takes a few seconds for your car to start rolling. It may take you a few tries, but it really is worth the effort.” Be cautious while doing this, however. It is an active road with plenty of regular traffic, so be sure to use your hazards and be aware of other cars.

5. Wellfield Botanic Garden (Elkhart)
If you enjoy bright spring flowers, Wellfield is the place to go. The botanic garden is home to plenty of colorful flowers, especially tulips. You’ll find hundreds of tulips of different hues throughout the gardens, along with waterfalls, an Old English cottage, and a Japanese bridge. Like Taltree, there are plenty of events to watch for throughout the seasons, such as concerts, yoga classes, and other outdoor-themed gatherings. Wellfield is open from 9am-7pm Mon-Sat and 11am-5pm on Sunday. Admission is only $8 for adults and $4 for kids, and for a place where guests typically spend 2 hours at, that’s a great price.

6. Connor Prairie (Fishers)
Connor Prairie is a park in which you can immerse yourself in different aspects of Indiana’s history. It is divided into different areas, each of which represents an era of time. Staff in these areas dress in ways that people in that specific era would dress and show guests what life was like for someone during that time period. There is often quite a bit of audience participation involved. There is an area where a Civil War town is recreated, an area that shows what the pioneer lifestyle was like, a wigwam/log cabin area, and an area where the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra puts on performances. One big draw here is the 105 foot helium balloon, which is tethered to the ground and gives rides to passengers to up to 377 feet in the air. Two other great areas are the petting zoo area and the treetop adventure, which has a 4 story treehouse with all kinds of engaging activities around it. Admission to Connor Prairie is $18 for adults and $13 for kids ages 2-13 (the balloon ride is $9-17 extra depending on the day you go). They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm.

7. Lavender Lane (Rome City)
Lavender Lane is a unique garden whose name is self-explanatory. The farm grows over 21 different types of lavender and allows guests to roam around and take in the lovely smells. Peak time is June, so hurry in this month to get the most out of this experience! There are over 700 lavender plants here, as well as a gift shop that sells all things lavender: soap, tea, honey, lotion, shampoo, etc. For those who aren’t aware of lavender’s great qualities, it is know as a plant with soothing/relaxing properties that can even help you sleep. It also heals minor bug bites, scars, burns, and acne. Lavender Lane is open from April to December from 10am-4pm Tuesdays-Saturdays. DISCLAIMER: The farm’s Facebook post says this year in particular wasn’t great for crops due to the volatile temperatures, so there isn’t as much lavender as usual for 2018.

8. Rustic Driving Range and Miniature Golf (Indianapolis)
This is not like any type of mini-golf you have played before. This place offers 27 holes that are about 3 times as long as a typical mini golf hole and don’t have any barriers keeping your ball from going off the “green” …you’re playing in grass. It gives mini-golfers a chance to hit their golf balls a little harder than usual and is much more challenging (most pars are a par 4). Prices are as follows: $7 for 9 holes, $9 for 18 holes, and $14 for 27 holes. It is CASH ONLY. They are open from 10am-10pm Mon-Sat and are open from noon til 8pm on Sundays. There is also a driving range here.

9. Hiking
Hiking will honestly be on each of the lists I make of “things to do” for the 4 seasons. Indiana offers such a wide variety of hiking opportunities that a lot of time is needed to explore them all. Plus, hiking in spring is a totally different experience than hiking in the fall. If you’re willing to pay the $7 fee to enter a state park, I highly recommend it. If you’re looking for free hiking, check out a previous entry of mine where I detail some great free hiking places. Nature preserves are great for those not looking to spend a whole day hiking, as most preserves have trails that total 4 miles or less. There are also many state recreation areas, state forests, and city parks that contain great trails.

10. The Exotic Feline Rescue Center (Center Point)
This is a place that is worth the drive, no matter where in Indiana you’re coming from. Just like the name states, it is a rescue center for more than 200 exotic felines that have been abused or neglected. Since it was founded in 1991, the EFRC has rescued cats in 24 different states and has given them a home in which to live out the rest of their years. These animals get treated well and are quite cared for by a loving staff and plenty of volunteers. As more cats come in, the center continues to grow; the initial 15 acres bought for the cats has now turned into 108 acres. The public has the opportunity to come in and take a 1-hour tour of the center with a guide for $10 ($5 for kids under 12). One thing to realize is that this is not a zoo; it is not meant to be flashy by any means. Also, you will only get a chance to see about 25% of the cats at the center on your tour. For $200, 2 adults can stay overnight at a house of the premises that is not a part of the public tour area. The EFRC is one of the very few places that exist on Yelp and TripAdvisor that has a 5-star rating with over 100 reviews, and it is well worth the money to check out. They are open from 10am-5pm daily.