Exploring Back Roads of Brown County Studio Tour

We had planned to spend only one night in Brown County, Indiana, last October. We were going to enjoy the area’s natural beauty and browse some of Nashville’s art galleries. But when we discovered that during the entire month of October artists along the county’s back roads open their studios to visitors, we tacked another night onto our visit. We spent several hours that second day visiting artists participating in the Back Roads of Brown County Studio Tour. The area landscape is artwork in itself, with the October leaves painting a spectacular image in shades of amber and crimson. Brown County is an artist’s dream. It’s no wonder it’s considered the Art Colony of the Midwest. Read more

Exploring Byways and Trails

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Podcast, Road Trips, Wisconsin August 30, 2018August 30, 2018byways, chocolate trail, Great River Road, Iowa Antique Trail, Lincoln Highway, National road, Richmond Indiana, road trips, Route 66 2 Comments

In this podcast, we chat about exploring byways and trails. If you’re a regular Midwest Wanderer reader, you know we do a lot of road trips. Some of our favorite trips are along scenic or historic byways. And then there are trails. What’s the difference? You’ll find out in this podcast. Read more

Pierogi Fest: Whiting , Indiana, Celebrates and Pokes a Little Fun at Their Heritage

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Indiana, Video July 25, 2018July 25, 2024festivals in Indiana, Indiana festivals, pierogi, Pierogi Fest, pierogi fest whiting, pierogi festival, pierogi food, pierogi queen, pierogie, whiting pierogi fest 4 Comments

I grew up in Illinois just over the border from Northwest Indiana. Although I no longer live in that immediate area, I have lots of friends and family who do. Over the years I’ve heard talk about Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana. I assumed it was just a small-town festival, no big deal—until I finally went to Pierogi Fest. What a hoot! Read more

Blue Gate Amish Tours: Up Close and Personal

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana July 10, 2018July 2, 2018Amish, Amish tours in Indiana, Amish Tours in Shipshewana, Blue Gate Amish Tours, Shipshewana, Shipshewana things to do, Shipshewana tours, Up Close and Personal tour, What to do in Shipshewana, What to see in Shipshewana 6 Comments

When I think of Amish craftspeople, I think of quilters and blacksmiths. I would never think of a leather worker who creates belts and purses from alligator or ostrich. But that is what one Amish craftsman does in a shop we visited during the Blue Gate Amish Tours Up Close and Personal Tour in Shipshewana, Indiana. As part of that tour, we also visited a Mennonite family that creates a special kind of basket, and an Amish bishop’s home. Read more

Blue Gate Amish Tours: Evening in an Amish Home

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana June 19, 2018Amish home visit, Amish Tours in Shipshewana, Blue Gate Amish Tours, Blue Gate Tours, Shipshewana, Shipshewana Amish tours, Shipshewana IN, Shipshewana Indiana, Shipshewana tours, Things to do in Shipshewana, What to do in Shipshewana 0 Comment

Our Blue Gate Amish Tours guide, Allen, encouraged us to ask questions of the Amish bishop we were about to meet in Shipshewana, Indiana. “Nothing’s off limits,” he told us. So the twelve guests on the Evening in an Amish Home tour spent the time asking Bishop Monroe Yoder questions. We came away realizing that although the Amish culture is different in many respects from mainstream America, we have more in common with them than we knew. Read more

Indiana Bead Town Mural Aiming for World Record – And You Can Help

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana April 26, 2018April 26, 2018Along the South Shore, Bead Mural, bead mural world record, Bead Town, Indiana mural, Stephan Wanger 6 Comments

A world record is about to be broken. And the call is out for you to help. It’ll actually be two years before the record is official. That’s how long it’ll take to adhere nearly fifteen million recycled Mardi Gras beads in place. The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is hosting the Bead Town project to create the world’s largest bead mosaic. Artist and Bead Town Executive Director Stephen Wanger designed the Bead Town: Along the South Shore mural and leads the project. During the next two years visitors to the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond, Indiana, are invited to participate in the project by placing beads in the mural. Read more