Indianapolis, Indiana

Off all the 50 state capitols in the United States, Indianapolis is the only one which was actually created, laid out and designed for the express purpose of becoming the state capitol.

It is a large mid-western city with a vibrant downtown area and many attractions of interest for locals and visitors alike. Among these is Whitewater State Park, an exceptional urban recreational area, and the largest children's museum in America. Indianapolis may be best known to many outsiders as the home of the Indianapolis 500, one of the most famous auto races in the world.

Bean Blossom, Indiana, Bluegrass Capital of the World

Bean Blossom is a tiny unincorporated community about five miles north of the small town of Nashville, in Brown County, Indiana, and 50 miles south of Indianapolis. It's not a world-class tourist destination by most people's standards, but others flock here from around the globe to the Buegrass Music Capital of the World. They especially come in June for the world's oldest continuing bluegrass festival.

Karen and I visited here over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday week-end in January, 2006, while staying nearby in the lodge at Brown County State Park, Nashville, Indiana. I found Bean Blossom particularly interesting because one of my dear old friends, Darvin Byrd, played rhythm guitar in Bill Monroe's original bluegrass band and Darvin speaks fondly of being here in years gone by.

Bean Blossom Covered Bridge, Indiana

This picturesque single-span covered bridge, over Bean Blossom Creek, was built in 1880 by Joseph Basley. It was originally on the main road leading from Bean Blossom to Nashville, Indiana, but was later bypassed by State Route 135. Today the bridge can be accessed via Covered Bridge Road, a paved road wiich leads to the west off St. Rt. 135 just south of downtown Bean Blossom. South of the bridge, Covered Bridge Road is an unpaved gravel lane, which winds its way up a high hill and re-connects with State Road 135 near the Bean Blossom Overlook.

Because of it's proximity to the well-known artists colony in nearby Nashville, the Bean Blossom Covered Bridge is probably the subject of more paintings and photographs than any other covered bridge in Indiana.

French Lick Resort Hotel and Spa, Indiana

What did Al Capone, Joe Lewis, and Franklin D. Roosevelt all have in common? The notorious gangster, the world heavyweight boxing champion and the American President (plus many other presidents for that matter) have all been visitors to the little southern Indiana town of French Lick. It is also the hometown of Larry Bird, of Boston Celtics basketball fame.

It sounds sexy to some, but French Lick got its name from an early French outpost in the area and the nearby salt lick. It was the mineral springs here that made the town famous, and a magnet for the rich and famous during the early decades of the 20th century. Pluto Water, named after the god of the underworld, was once bottled here and sold worldwide.We had heard so much about this town, and especially it's fabulous old hotel, that we decided it would be a good venue for our Valentines Day weekend.

There isn't really much to the town, although we did enjoy exploring the local winery and the old five and dime store downtown. This is hill country, more reminiscent of Appalachia than the midwest. And the hotel exceeded our expectations. It was another great weekend getaway.

This big old rambling hotel with 471 rooms was built in 1902 upon the remains of an earlier facility that was destroyed by fire in 1897. There was not a single unoccupied room on the two nights we were there, but staff told us the place is sometimes mostly empty during the week.

This is the only property in Indiana on the registry of "Historic Hotels of America." Amenities include a world class spa, the Donald Ross Championship Golf Course, bowling alley, tennis center, swimming, horesback riding, several shops, restaurants, and more.

We took a long walk through the spacious gardens, vowing to come back when the flowers would be in bloom. We also wanted to spend some time in the rocking chairs which lined the sprawling veranda, but the cold drove us inside. The large ornate lobby with it's traditional furnishings was a great place for people watching.

Wilbur Wright Birthplace, Henry County, Indiana

The Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Interpretive Center pays tribute to a man who rose from humble beginnings in Indiana to become, with his brother Orville, the inventors of the first workable airplane. The home and center offers an intimate look into the life of Wilbur - about his parents, siblings, and other influences and experiences in his childhood and early adulthood that shaped him. We expected to spend an hour here, and we so enthraled by the exhibits that we stayed almost three hours -and would have enjoyed even more time there.

Features we saw include:

*A full-scale replica of thee 1903 Wright Flyer (The first successful heavier-than-air flying machine).

*A replica of the birthplace home of Wilbur Wright, with 1860s era furnishings, restored Wright family farmstead.

*A splendid museum celebrating Wilbur, his family and avation with a variety of Wilbur Wright memorabilia.

We expected this place to be interesting - but it was much more than that. It was fascinating!

Charles Major Statue, Shelbyville, Indiana

A question I often ask of local people in small towns we visit is: "What is this town famous for?" The answers we get often lead us to interesting new discoveries. That's how we first heard of the novelist Charles Major, who was a well known writer in the early years of the 20th century.

On the square in the center of Shelbyville, 30 miles southeast of Indianapolis, stands a statue of a young man holding aloft two bear cubs. A plaque on the fence surrounding the statue reads: Charles Major, native son, Author of The Bears of Blue River.

Major was actually born in Indianapolis, but moved to Shelbyville with his family when he was thirteen. The Bears of Blue River, one of his better known novels, is set in the early 19th century in Shelby County on the banks of the Big Blue River. To learn more about Majors and his writings click the web site below.

Lower Cataract Falls, Owen County, Indiana

Cataract Falls State Recreation Area consists of three beautiful waterfalls on 37 acres along Mill Creek, in Owen County, Indiana. It is about 8 miles south of the small town of Cloverdale, via Hwy. 321. Cloverdale is just south of I-70, about half way between Terre Haute and Indianapolis.

The Upper and Lower Cataract Falls, the largest in Indiana, are .8 mile apart, and are connected by a hiking trail. Each of the falls may also be reached by automobile, and a parking lot is adjacent to each. At the lower falls a short trail also leads to Little Sister Falls, on a tributary to Mill Creek. Just above the Upper Falls is a 140-foot Smith Type 3 covered bridge, which was undergoing restoration when we visited in July, 2004.

Immediately below the Lower Falls, Mill Creek empties into Cagles Mill Lake, the lower portion of which is bordered by Lieber State Recreaton Area. In the larger Lieber S.R.A. is a Visitor's Center, Campground, Aquatic Center, Marina, Picnic Shelters, and other recreational ammenities. Just .4 mile south of the turnoff to the falls is Cataract General Store, which will be in interest to those who might enjoy exploring a quaint old-fashioned village store.