International Gardens, Nature Trails and Celebration Gardens Delight at Friendship Botanic Gardens in Michigan City, Indiana

 

An Interesting Mix of Nature Experiences Charmed Us at Friendship Botanic Gardens

Approaching Friendship Botanic Gardens in Michigan City, Indiana, we immediately noted a verdant tree canopy. I already knew that these gardens were a spot for us. We spent a relaxing morning enjoying nature paths and a cache of beautiful gardens 

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A Taste of Hoosier National Forest

During our French Lick, Indiana escape, we explored sections of Hoosier National Forest. The forest is 203,000 acres, so there are quite a few trails to be explored. We made a slight dent! What we experienced certainly indicates that the forest is worthy of more exploring!

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Discoveries in French Lick, Indiana

After visiting the French Lick Baden Museum, we spent some time exploring French Lick. While there is quite a bit of shopping available within both French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel, there are definitely are a lot of discoveries to be made within quaint French Lick.

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Traveling Through History at French Lick West Baden Museum

The French Lick West Baden Museum is a perfect place to start a trip to French Lick, Indiana. The museum does a fabulous job unfolding area history beginning with when buffalo once migrated through stopping for a lick of minerals left behind by evaporating spring water. French Lick started becoming famous for this mineral water in the 1840's when Dr. Bowles built French Lick Springs Hotel in 1845 as an escape where people could heal from the therapeutic waters. An interesting resident, Dr. Bowles was a physician and a minister, served in Mexican-American War and was a Copperhead during the Civil War. Some of the many interesting things we learned at the museum!

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French Lick Resort's 50 Days of Lights

**Disclosure: Thank you to French Lick Resort for hosting our visit. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

French Lick Resort in Indiana captivated us last weekend with their magical holiday season event: 50 Days of Lights. The spectacular event is full of family merriment and cherished family activities including holiday choirs, story time with Mrs. Claus and cookie making, Santa visits, holiday movies and more. Both French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel magically transform into Christmas wonderlands with incredible decorations. French Lick Resort invited us to stay at the West Baden Springs Hotel during the celebration. Immediately upon entering West Baden Springs Hotel, we were caught up in the holiday spirit:

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The Rathskeller in Indianapolis

On a trip through Indianapolis, we stopped at The Rathskeller which is tucked away inside of the historic19th century Athenaeum. The restaurant has long been a staple in Indianapolis and has served German fare since 1894.

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Falls of the Ohio State Park in Indiana

Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana is a must visit every time we are in nearby Louisville. The park is situated along the Ohio River and provides a unique opportunity to observe exposed Devonian fossil beds.

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Unique Holiday Events in the Midwest

The next two months will certainly be a bit of a blur as we celebrate good tidings and savor those special moments that only happen during the holidays. Before we get all wrapped up in the revelry, I have gathered some unique holiday celebrations in the Midwest with the help of some of my favorite travel gurus. If you are planning something different, here are events that top our lists. Please add your favorites in comments. We all love to add a new holiday celebration to our traditions!

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Beach Time in the Midwest: A Collection of Midwest Beaches for Families

If you are like me, you are gleefully anticipating beach season! Dipping your toes in water, settling into a beach chair to read a book under the glorious sun, having a picnic overlooking crystal waters stretching over the horizon, playing frisbee with a beautiful backdrop, exploring a natural wonder with kids--so many things to enjoy during a day at the beach! While it may seem easy to resign ourselves to believe worthwhile beaches only exist on the coasts, the Midwest has some rather enjoyable beaches! With the help of some of my favorite Midwest travel writers, I have put together a list of some Midwestern beaches to help you plan your summer getaway!

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Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument {Indianapolis}

On our way home from a trip to Columbus, Ohio, we stopped to stretch our legs by walking through the downtown area of Indianapolis. Immediately, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument caught my attention. We opted to circle it and see what the monument was all about.

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Mayberry in the Midwest Returns to Danville, Indiana

Image via Hendricks County CVB.

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Last year, we had the pleasure of attending the first ever Mayberry in the Midwest Festival in Danville, Indiana! There has always been something comforting about The Andy Griffith Show and I was delighted to find a way that my daughter could experience that "Mayberry feeling." Life is definitely quite different than that in Mayberry. These days everything seems to go so fast and we are all constantly multitasking--so different than the calm pace of Mayberry.  Mayberry in the Midwest was a fun way for us to slow down a little bit and enjoy some nostalgic pieces of Americana.

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Last Bites about Indiana's Hendricks and Morgan Counties and our Launch Point in Plainfield

A sculpture in Danville.

**Disclosure: Thank you to Hendricks County for sponsoring our trip. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% our own.

We hope that everyone enjoyed our series uncovering Hendricks and Morgan Counties in Indiana. We had an amazing time, found many treasures, met wonderful people and---gasp---relaxed! For those following us from the Chicagoland area, the drive to the Hendricks County area is about 3.5-4 hours. This makes the area ideally located for a long weekend getaway. Both counties are close to Indianapolis. If you are already heading to Indy, you can easily make a stop at one or two of the places we visited!

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Unfolding History at the Hendricks County Historical Museum

While enjoying the Mayberry in the Midwest Festival, we were able to duck into the Hendricks County Historical Museum in Danville, Indiana for a peak. My daughter and I both are total history buffs, so a stop at the museum was a must. What I was not expecting was the amazingly large collection of artifacts in the museum and the jail--yes, the jail--in the basement!

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A Day in Mayberry: The Mayberry in the Midwest Festival and the Mayberry Cafe

**Disclosure: Thank you to Hendricks County for sponsoring our visit. Thank you the Mayberry Cafe for hosting us. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

As a child, I spent an afternoon here and there with my grandparents catching a rerun or two of The Andy Griffith Show. There is just something about Mayberry that elicits warm and fuzzy feelings about simpler times, Sunday afternoons and a slice of pie. Of course, times have changed since those afternoons and I now have a child of my own. In the beginning stages of planning our trip to Hendricks and Morgan Counties in Indiana, I learned about Danville's new Mayberry in the Midwest Festival. While the idea of the festival brought back memories of my childhood, I swiftly realized that my daughter had no idea what Mayberry was. My immediate thought was, wow--what a great way to introduce my daughter to a part of Americana and our own family history. So, we decided to visit during the festival and it was the perfect choice for our family!

Barney Fife on stage!

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Zydeco's: A Touch of Louisiana in Small Town Indiana

**Disclosure: We did receive a complimentary meal in order to facilitate this review. Thank you to the Hendricks County Visitors Bureau for sponsoring our trip to Hendricks and Morgan Counties. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

While planning our trip to Hendricks and Morgan Counties in Indiana, we certainly did not expect to find a splash of Cajun spice never mind a restaurant with a fully Cajun menu. Much to our surprise {and to the joy of our tastebuds}, we found great Cajun cooking inside of a charming, ivy-covered brick building in downtown Mooresville. The flavor and spirit of New Orleans is magically threaded throughout the restaurant and the food is the real deal, allowing patrons to truly experience a bit of Mardi Gras!

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Meeting Makers in Martinsville, Indiana: Martinsville Candy Kitchen and Homestead Primitives

**Disclosure: Thank you to Pam and John Badger and Ann Lankford for showing us some of the treasures of Martinsville! Thank you to the Hendricks County Visitors Bureau for sponsoring our trip to Hendricks and Morgan Counties. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.


Side trip: Martinsville, Indiana:

Our journey through Morgan and Hendricks Counties in Indiana took us to the delightful small town of Martinsville. The lovely old brick buildings with edifices telling the stories of old America will invite you to explore in search of hidden treasures. Across the street from the town's prominent court house, we found two discoveries worthy of a side trip to any vacation in the area. We were thrilled to experience the real flavor of the creativity of the area by meeting the makers behind the sweet treats at the Martinsville Candy Kitchen as well as the intricately hand painted gourds of Ann Lankford.

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Perillo's: A Pizzeria Welcoming Families and Breathing Life into a Town

**Disclosure: Thank you to Hendricks County for sponsoring our trip. Thank you to Perillo's for taking some time to meet with us. We received a complimentary meal in order to conduct a review No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% our own.

During our trip to Hendricks County, Indiana, Perillo's reputation for great food really stood out. Everyone we talked to before our lunchtime visit could not have given more glowing reviews. How often do you see eyes light up all around you when discussing the same restaurant? We knew that Perillo's would be a special place--and it definitely was.

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McCloud Nature Park: A Natural Gem in Hendricks County, Indiana

**Thank you to Joe Reagin for a wonderful tour! Thank you to Hendricks County for sponsoring our visit. Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.**

On every vacation, we love to spend some time enjoying peace, tranquility and natural beauty. We found McCloud Nature Park to be an ideal spot for a nice hike while discovering the treasures of the great outdoors. We started our visit at the Nature Center which houses a number of interactive exhibits to help visitors learn about the wildlife in the area. My daughter could not resist the hands-on learning!

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Be Amazed and Learn about Art at Hot Blown Glass in Hendricks County, Indiana

**Thank you to Lisa Pelo for a wonderful introduction to Hot Blown Glass. Thank you to Hendricks County for sponsoring our visit. Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.**

Reflecting upon our recent visit to Hendricks and Morgan Counties, we realized that the trip delivered the complete package for us. We were able to tap into the uniqueness of this region of Indiana and experience its natural beauty, creativity and welcoming spirit. One of the earliest stops on our trip provided us with a wonderful morning exploring the artistic talent that is threaded throughout the region. Our morning also marked a first for us--a visit to a glassblowing studio!

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A Taste of Hendricks and Morgan Counties in Indiana {A View of What is to Come}

Last weekend, my family and I spent a weekend discovering the places, people, creations and food of Hendricks and Morgan Counties in Indiana. While only 4 hours away from Chicagoland, we really felt whisked away from the humdrum of our regular lives and came back recharged and renewed. We were able to pack in a lot in a short weekend but had a blast the entire time. We experienced nature, art, history, celebration, nostalgia and more. Everything we found not only delighted us but inspired us as well. Next week, I will be beginning a more in depth series on our discoveries. However, I wanted to give you a little bit of a sneak peek of what to expect. I am sure that many of you are busy planning summer trips and Hendricks and Morgan Counties are truly worth the drive!

On our trip, we learned about glass blowing:

Hot Blown Glass by Lisa Pelo

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