These are four of Indiana's most treasured views. How to find and enjoy them
Outsiders might not associate the Crossroads of America with scenic beauty, but get beyond Hoosiers' Midwest modesty and Indianapolis residents will point you to some truly inspiring views in their home state.
You can drive from Fremont in far northeast Indiana to Mount Vernon in the state's southwest in less than six hours, and there are ample day trips to be had in the spaces between. While not an exhaustive list of Indiana's most treasured places, these sites offer varied experiences that are all breathtaking in their own right.
[ Most Treasured Views in America: National | West | South | Middle America | Northeast ]
A day trip to scenic Brown County is a fall rite of passage for many Hoosiers. With acres of wooded hills, Indiana's "Little Smokies" offer a unique rural refuge only an hour's drive south of downtown Indianapolis.
From Nashville's quaint shops and restaurants to Brown County State Park's numerous trails and views from its 90-foot fire tower, there are relaxing options for all abilities and interests. A five-minute drive north of Nashville on State Highway 135 will take drivers to the Bean Blossom Overlook, one of the best vistas for fall foliage peeping in the county.
Explore our nation: Discover America's best hidden natural wonders: 12 breathtaking views to explore
Brown County offers year-round cultural and recreational activities, but peak visiting season comes between October and early November when leaves from the region's American beech, sugar maple, black walnut, shagbark hickory and white ash turn vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red.
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With sand between your toes, Lake Michigan gently lapping at its southern shore, and abundant birdwatching, Indiana Dunes National Park brings Hoosiers beach vibes without the full-day drive to Florida or the Carolinas.
Dedicated as a national park in 2019, this 15-mile stretch of sandy beaches, rising dunes and wildlife-filled marshes is unlike anything else in Indiana. Today's dunes, a 2 ½-hour drive north of Indianapolis, are the result of more than a century of struggle to preserve this ecologically diverse stretch of lakeshore from development and decline.
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Park explorers can learn about the dunes' shifting sands, Great Lakes ecosystem and more through interpretative offerings, or just kick back and enjoy some sand and sun on a hot summer day.
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Buy a photo: Purchase select prints of Indiana Dunes National Park and other treasured views
Indiana Dunes charges a $25 entrance fee per vehicle. America the Beautiful pass holders can enter for free. Learn more about the park, fees and activities at www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm.
Few university campuses can claim to match the instantly recognizable grandeur of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. The golden dome of the Main Building towers over a campus filled with iconography of the Catholic faith, Hoosier history and college football tradition.
Campus explorers can find the Gothic-inspired Basilica of the Sacred Heart next to the Main Building, reflect at the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes, take in the famous mural of "Touchdown Jesus" on the Hesburgh Library and circle legendary Notre Dame Stadium on their own, or as part of one of the university's guided tours.
Meanwhile, in West Lafayette: Purdue's 'Jedi Council Room' offers stunning campus view, study and meeting space
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You didn't think we'd forget "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," did you?
You don't have to be here on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend to enjoy Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A newly renovated museum, the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, and IndyCar Experience two-seat race car rides are among the diverse options to take in racing's hallowed grounds.
But there's nothing else in the world like the moments before the Indianapolis 500, as more than 300,000 fans gather for "(Back Home Again in) Indiana," the national anthem and military flyover, and the unmistakable roar after "Gentlemen, start your engines!"
Race fans can enter the grounds and browse the IMS Museum's gift shop for free outside of event days, or pay to attend any number of events on the track. Outside of the Indy 500, the annual IMS schedule stretches into October, with NASCAR's Brickyard 400, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, and the Indy 8 Hour Intercontinental GT Challenge among the late summer and early fall offerings.
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