Family Fun : Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari here or Indiana Beach.
If ice cream, candy and pie aren’t enough reasons to bring the family to Indiana, there’s also outdoor adventure galore! Explore the area lakes, wildlife areas and parks, shoot hoops at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame or visit the gardens at Minnetrista.
Here are some of the top family things to see and do during your stay
Candy Shops IN Indiana
It’s okay to admit that sweets drive you. Especially when you can indulge yourself at stops like Ivanhoe’s Drive-In, where they have over 100 milkshakes and sundaes (delicious sandwiches and salads, too). The famous Wick’s Pies are baked in Winchester, and you’ll love their version of sugar cream — Indiana’s official state pie. Buy pies to take home or have a slice after a delicious meal at Mrs. Wick’s Bakery & Cafe. And “good” is more than their name at Good’s Candy Shop. Yes, the Good family has been making candy since the 1940s, with the current location being the newest and largest candy shop in this part of Indiana. See how the fifth generation of Goods make fine ice cream and chocolates.
Outdoor Sightseeing
Mounds State Park features 10 unique earthworks built by the prehistoric Adena-Hopewell people, likely as gathering places for religious ceremonies. The largest is believed to have been constructed around 160 B.C. There’s also a nature centre with wildlife viewing room and interactive games. At Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve, you can explore 475 acres including marsh, forest and prairie. Open from dawn to dusk, it features a tree identification trail, approximately 3.5 miles of easy walking trails, and a ¼-mile ADA handicapped-accessible trail with benches. Check out Thistlethwaite Falls, named for Timothy Thistlethwaite, who blasted a new channel in the West Fork of the Whitewater River in the early 1800s to direct the water over this rock formation to provide more waterpower to his nearby sawmill.
Basketball & Ball Jars (Bob Ross)
If you know Indiana, you know they love our basketball. The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame celebrates the proud heritage of the game from its 1890s origins to today. You’ll see uniforms and trophies, but you’ll also get to shoot for a buzzer beater, announce a game-winning shot and more interactive fun. Special exhibits highlight John Wooden, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird and the 1954 Milan Indians (inspiration for the movie Hoosiers). You’re likely familiar with the famous Ball canning jar, but did you know its roots are in Muncie? The Ball family legacy lives on at Minnetrista, a gathering place with beautiful gardens, interactive exhibits featuring art and history, and unique events like a farmers market.
Fishing, Boating & Camping
This is a great destination for water lovers. Enjoy fishing, kayaking, boating, camping and more at Salamonie Lake, J.E. Roush Lake Fish and WIldlife Area, Summit Lake State Park and Ouabache State Park.
Roadside Attractions
Social media was made for curious roadside attractions, so get ready for the World’s Largest Ball of Paint. Mike and Glenda Carmichael have been caring for this oddity for over 35 years, which currently weighs over 4,000 pounds and holds about 23,400 layers of paint. You can even add a layer of your own when you visit. Jim Davis, the creator of the popular Garfield comic strip, hails from Grant County, and they’ve honoured his legacy with more than a dozen fun and unique statues on The Garfield Trail. Find them all to brighten your newsfeed.
