Indiana

Indiana’s capital city, Indianapolis, is located right in the middle of the state. It is famous for the Indy 500 race and its love of all sport, and is increasingly renowned for its White River State Park, America’s only cultural urban state park. The park includes a view of history at the Indiana State Museum, the thrill of sport at the NCAA Hall of Champions, and an attractive Central Canal with boat rides scenic and walking paths.

A little over 80 kilometres southeast of Chicago, Indiana Dunes State Park features nearly 900 hectares of beautiful landscape, including a 24-kilometre stretch of Lake Michigan’s coastline. The park’s main draw is its beaches, which are framed by undulating sand dunes that can rise more that 60 metres high. In Chain O’ Lakes State Park in northern Indiana (about 200 kilometres northeast of Indianapolis), nine connecting lakes provide boaters, swimmers and fishing enthusiasts a serene paradise. You can kayak or canoe across all nine lakes, or, if you prefer staying on land, hike the park’s 16 kilometres of forested trails.

Southern Indiana is also home to the state’s largest park, Brown County State Park. With almost 6,500 hectares of ridges, ravines and forests, this beautiful wilderness area has earned the nickname “Little Smokies” because of its similarities with the Great Smoky Mountains.  Located about 75 kilometres due south of Indianapolis, Brown County State Park features ample hiking and biking trails, not to mention tennis courts and a swimming pool. But perhaps the best way to experience the park is on horseback.

Parke County, the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World” is home to 31 of Indiana’s 98 covered bridges. History, stunning architecture and beautiful outdoor landscapes are waiting to be experienced in Parke County. Be sure to experience the Mansfield Covered Bridge during the Covered Bridge Festival each October, one of the best festivals in North America.

The beautiful resort community of French Lick West Baden has been welcoming travellers for over a century. French Lick is home to the French Lick Resort. Comprised of French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel, this resort lets guests step back in time to the splendour of the early 1900s. French Lick offers boutique shops, a variety of restaurants, bowling alley, fitness centre, pools and luxury spa. West Baden, a National Historic Landmark, continues to wow visitors with its one-of-a-kind domed atrium.