We hadn’t been to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum since our kids were young—and they’re now grown with children of their own. It was a great museum then, but its even better now. Four floors of exhibits include everything from dinosaurs to a 1917 carousel. And new added in 2017 is the 7.5 acre outdoor Sports Legends Experience, created for all ages, from preschoolers to adults. Read more
Indiana
Mayberry in the Midwest Festival Takes You Back to Simpler Times

Every fan of The Andy Griffith Show knows Mayberry. It’s that small, charming town filled with friendly, but quirky people. The bumbling deputy, the naive gas station attendant, and the level-headed sheriff who solves everyone’s problems take you back to simpler times. And on one weekend every May, during the Mayberry in the Midwest Festival, the town of Danville, Indiana, becomes Mayberry. Read more
Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, Fort Wayne, IN: Savings, Reunions and Organized Chaos

Over 60,000 shoppers swarm to Fort Wayne, Indiana, over five days each April for the annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. Shoppers are almost all women, from every state in the union and about a dozen countries. Women come by the busload. Groups of friends or generations of families hold reunions. They often dress in matching t-shirts for the big event. It’s one of the biggest events held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum each year. Some shoppers even sleep in tents in front of the door the night before to be first inside. They often come with lists in hand, lists from families and friends. Read more
Howard Steamboat Museum Pays Tribute to Early Riverboat Company
Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville, Indiana, pays tribute to the Howard family and their steamboat building company. The tour combines a history of the ornate Edmonds and Laura Howard mansion and the shipyard located across the street, which the Howard family owned from 1834 until 1941. Read more
Meltdown Ice Festival – Richmond, Indiana
The Meltdown Ice Festival is Richmond, Indiana’s, biggest event of the year. During the 2019 event, five ice carvers created 50 sculptures made of ice, including interactive sculptures like a slide and a ping-pong table. Evening shows include competitions and the Big Reveal, a huge sculpture created in just 30 minutes by a team of carvers. Read more
2018 Midwest Wanderer Year in Review

What a busy year! As we look back on our photos, it’s hard to believe we packed so much into 2018. Besides two month-long trips west, we spent a lot of time touring the Midwest. We traveled the Great River Road from the Mississippi River headwaters near Bemidji, Minnesota, down to the Quad Cities. We also visited southwest Kansas for the first time, with stops in Liberal and Dodge City. As we look at our year in review, we’re sharing a few photo highlights from our 2018 travels, which perhaps will give you inspiration for your 2019 travel plans.
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