As we look forward to a brand-new year of family adventures, my family has taken note of the fact that 2016 is the year of Indiana’s Bicentennial Celebration (you can learn more about that here) and we’ve decided to forgo any longer vacation plans we may have been contemplating to other states. Instead, when it comes to leisure travel this year, we’ll be focusing on destinations around the great state of Indiana, and I would invite you to do the same! Here’s what we’re planning:
We’ll be taking short overnight trips and day trips around the state, hitting up three kinds of destinations. First, we’re going to travel to some places that my husband and I have visited in years past so that our son can experience them as well. At the top of that list are things like the Lincoln Memorial and Lincoln State Park near Santa Claus, Indiana and the hiking trails at Turkey Run State Park.
Second, we’re going to visit some of our family’s favorite (and frequent) Hoosier haunts – these are usually fairly close to home. Places we’ve been to many times, but still love. Examples would include Morgan-Monroe Forest, Willowfield Lavender Farm, or quick little daytrips to nearby Indianapolis, Hendricks County, Columbus or Bloomington.
Third, and this is where it gets really interesting, we will be identifying as a family some of those places across the state that we’ve heard of in the past and said “Oh, that sounds cool – we should check it out sometime” but have never actually visited. A couple of these spots already on our radar include Wolf Park and the Exotic Feline Rescue Center (can you tell my son is a huge fan of animals?). Also on that list of possibilities are historic locations such as Angel Mounds or the Limberlost Marsh (anyone else a fan of Hoosier author Gene Stratton Porter’s books?)
So, I challenge YOU and your family to plan to visit a few places around the Hoosier state this year as well to help us say “Happy Birthday” to the great state of Indiana. To help with your planning process, we have all the new 2016 Visit Indiana travel publications on hand here at the Morgan County Visitors Center (109 E. Morgan Street, Martinsville). Stop in to see us and pick up an Indiana Travel Guide, Festival Guide or Roadway Map to get started planning your Bicentennial adventures!
There are so many options - things you can ONLY find in Indiana, and we’d certainly be very honored if you included some of our Morgan County events and attractions on your list of places to visit, and yes, we’re always happy to give you a few suggestions.
First, be sure to check the calendar here on our website from time to time for upcoming festivals or events. Second, please be sure to follow us on Twitter or Instagram and like us on Facebook so you can stay in the know about upcoming Morgan County events, festivals and highlighted attractions and dining opportunities. We promise we’ll do our best to let you know about all the cool stuff coming up! In addition, please feel free to give us a call (765-346-5611) or send an email or Facebook message to get personalized suggestions of great things to do in Morgan County based on your family’s unique preferences. Happy exploring. . . and happy birthday, Indiana!
Author
Tosha Daugherty
Tosha is the executive director of Visit Morgan County. She loves telling the many stories of Morgan County and often drags her husband and son along for the ride. You can often spot them out and about at the local Farmers' Market and area attractions, festivals and special events. Tosha lives with her family in Morgantown, Indiana.