Exploring Squire Boone Caverns and Village

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana October 2, 2017October 3, 2017boone's cave, boone's cave park, cavern, caves in southern indiana, corydon in, corydon indiana, Indiana Caverns, squire boone, squire boone caverns, what to do in southern indiana, zipline indiana 0 Comment

You’ve heard of Daniel Boone, the early American frontiersman. Chances are, however, you’ve never heard of Squire Boone. Squire was Daniel’s younger brother, ten years his junior. Just as daring as his older brother, Squire explored territories that would become the states of Kentucky and Indiana. He discovered what is now known as Squire Boone Caverns and lived the last part of his life there. Squire Boone built a grist mill and village near the caverns, which are located near Indiana’s first capital, Corydon. At his request, when he died, Squire’s remains were placed in the caverns. Today, a tour of the cavern takes you past not only gorgeous formations, but also a casket that contains Squires remains. Read more

Experiencing the Historic Wabash and Erie Canal

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana September 28, 2017September 28, 2017canal park, carroll county indiana, delphi, delphi in, delphi indiana, indiana central canal, lafayette, lafayette in, lafayette indiana, wabash and erie canal, wabash canal, wabash erie canal, wabash erie canal park 2 Comments

1843 was a big year for Delphi, Indiana. That was the year the Wabash and Erie Canal reached the Lafayette and Delphi settlements. They could now export products they produced—mostly agricultural products— to the east within a couple of weeks. They could also import needed tools, supplies, and cultural products like pianos. Within a few decades, however, the railroads came through. Faster than donkeys could tow a boat and able to run year-round, trains took over the transportation industry. Canal boats became obsolete.

Today the Wabash and Erie Canal is active again in Delphi, albeit for just the distance it takes for visitors to experience a short replica canal boat ride. In addition to the boat ride, an interpretive center filled with hands-on exhibits, a reconstructed 1850s village, and walking trails add to the canal experience. Read more

Rising High: Conner Prairie 1859 Balloon Voyage

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana September 18, 2017September 11, 20171859 Balloon Voyage, conner prairie, conner prairie balloon, Conner Prairie hot air balloon, conner prairie hot air balloon rides, Hamilton County IN, Hamilton County Indiana, hot air balloon rides indiana, Living history museum, living history museum Indiana 2 Comments

The year is 1859. Experienced balloonist John Wise attempts to deliver airmail for the first time in U.S. history. He plans to fly his balloon from Lafayette, Indiana, to New York City with a bag of 123 letters. Unfortunately, the wind blows in the wrong direction. Instead of flying northeast, the balloon flies southward. He gives up after 30 miles and lands in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Fast forward to 2017 and the Conner Prairie living history museum where one of the attractions, the 1859 Balloon Voyage, represents Wise’s airmail attempt.

I was excited to ride in the Conner Prairie 1859 Balloon Voyage because despite my fear of heights, a ride in a hot-air balloon is on my bucket list. The 1859 Balloon Voyage isn’t quite the same as a hot-air balloon ride, but it’s a step towards it. Read more

Exploring Friendship Botanic Gardens

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana September 11, 2017September 8, 2017botanic gardens, Botanic Gardens in Indiana, Botanic Gardens Michigan City, Botanic Gardens Michigan City IN, Friendship Botanic Gardens, Friendship Botanic Gardens Michigan City, gardens, Gardens in Indiana, Gardens in Northwest Indiana, Indiana gardens, International Friendship Gardens, Michigan City IN, Northwest Indiana attractions, Northwest Indiana Gardens, NWI Gardens, things to do in Michigan City, things to do in Michigan City IN, things to do in Northwest Indiana 0 Comment

From the mid-1930s through the 1960s International Friendship Gardens was a popular tourist destination. The gardens in Michigan City, Indiana, represented countries around the world. The venue also hosted musical and theatrical entertainment. The gardens lost popularity from the 1970s to the early 2000s, but have now sprung back. Today people visit the newly named Friendship Botanic Gardens to stroll through rejuvenated gardens, hike forest paths, and even get married. Read more

Exploring Falls of the Ohio Fossil Beds

Vernon Attractions & Events, Indiana September 5, 2017September 3, 2017falls of ohio, Falls of the Ohio, Falls of the Ohio State Park, fossils, fossils in Indiana, fossils in southern indiana, Indiana fossils, Indiana state parks, Jeffersonville IN things to do, state parks in indiana, the falls of the ohio, things to do in southern Indiana 4 Comments

Did you know there are fossil beds in Indiana? They’re some of the the largest, naturally exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world! Last autumn we visited Falls of the Ohio State Park, where the fossil beds are located. Luckily, it was the river’s low time of the year, and it happened to be lower than in most years. That meant more fossils were exposed than usual. Read more

Dr Ted’s Musical Marvels: Instruments that Play Themselves

Vernon Attractions & Events, Indiana August 25, 2017August 25, 2017attractions in southern indiana, dale indiana, dr teds musical marvels, dubois county, group trip ideas, musical marvels, Santa Claus Indiana, southern indiana attractions, southern indiana things to do, street organs, ted music, things to do in southern Indiana, wurlitzer band organ 0 Comment

As a youth, Dr. Ted Waflart frequented a local Louisville amusement park with his buddies. His favorite ride was the carousel, but he couldn’t let his friends know that. So he rode roller coasters with them. However, whenever Ted passed the carousel, he slowed his pace, for it was the calliope music, rather than riding the carved horses, that really captured his attention. Today Dr Ted’s Musical Marvels, in southern Indiana’s Dubois County, showcases Dr. Ted’s mechanical music instruments that he has collected and restored for over 40 years. Read more