Part of exploring should also be as close as your backyard.
We’re off to another farmers market! This one is in the town just south of where we live, so it’s only 10 miles away. It’s a very popular farmers market too – it was PACKED, but we also went on opening weekend. Franklin Farmers Market is held on Saturdays from 8AM – 12Noon May 31 through September 13. It’s located right in downtown Franklin in Youngs Creek Park, 237 Monroe St.
Farm Fresh
Of the nearly 80 stalls, 15 are local farmers selling everything from freezer beef, to fresh veggies and fruit and super popular eggs. We got there at 9AM and every stall selling eggs was sold out. There are several goat farms that sell soap, lotion and cheese. There are a few stalls that sell potted plants and plant starts. Strawberries were also a popular item flying off the shelves. My niece’s friend who has a honey farm has a stall, and it’s the bees knees😅. I couldn’t resist – I probably should have though, but seriously their honey is amazing – Sugar Creek Farm. And my number one tip I learned from my niece (and her honey farmer friend) is that local honey is a natural allergy relief and has natural antioxidants that boost overall immune function. The secret for it to be effective is the honey has to be produced within in your area (no more than 50 miles away). But I’ve also bought local honey while travelling and I swear it helps with the sniffles – shout out to Keez Beez in Key West.
Bread Basket
There are multiple options for baked goods including breads, muffins, brownies, sandwich breads, cinnamon rolls. My other niece got blueberry oatmeal bars from Sweet Treats by Janis and said they were excellent. Some of the cinnamon rolls were ooey gooey looking but I resisted. Don’t worry there is also Cosmic Dog Bakery and a few others selling dog treats. There were sooooo many dogs there! All shapes and sizes and one that looked like a mini horse that we think was a Himalayan Sheep Dog. And a friendly Maine Coon kitty in a stroller wearing a fancy bandana that let me pet her. Oh yeah, and they bought the fancy bandana at one of the stalls selling handsewn items.
Brews
There were two coffee stalls, I picked the first one I saw because they had a “sunrise latte” which was lavender, honey and orange – it sounded good. Not my best option because it wasn’t a shop that sold coffee, they sold soaps and lotions and were using coffee (made via Keurig😐) as a way to drive people to buy the soap. The other coffee stall, Pearl Coffee Company is an actual mobile coffee vendor and never had a line shorter than 30 people deep. If I had to do it over, I would have waited in line. I did stop while walking to the the Farmers Market at Coffeehouse Five(41 W Monroe St) and it was standing room only with a very long line and we were meeting the family so I moved on. Coffeehouse Five is a local coffee roaster that is a “for benefit” coffee shop and they use their net revenue funds for counseling and mentoring programs. In addition to the coffee being top quality, it’s nice to know you’re supporting a cause. Just get there super early on a Saturday.
Crafts and Handiwork
There were a lot of stalls selling original art, handsewn items, jewelry, leather goods and quilted items. Honestly I felt like there were more stalls selling craft items than fresh produce and farm fresh foods, but I think it’s just because the farm stalls are spread out throughout the market.
Parks and Rec (I mean, it is Indiana)
This Farmers Market is located inside the Youngs Creek Park in Franklin which is right off the courthouse square in downtown Franklin. If you’re not from Indiana (or the Midwest in general) all small (and some large) towns that are the county seat have a courthouse in the middle of town and a square block around the courthouse filled with shops and restaurants called “the courthouse square.” Franklin over the last ten-ish years has really built a nice courthouse square with popular restaurants, shops and boutiques. My favorite bites and brews are Blue Cactus, Shale Creek Brewing Company, The Willard, Greeks Pizzeria and Tapp Room and the best breakfast/lunch you’ll ever have at Ann’s Restaurant (but it’s closed on the weekends).
At the park there is also an amphitheater that hosts local bands throughout the summer on Saturday nights. There are pickleball courts at the north west end of the park and a giant playground and splash pad at the south end. The playground is a great way to entice kids to be good while your shopping the market – if you’re good you can go to the playground.
And if you go for the farmers market, you should stick around for a matinee at The Historic Artcraft Theater. The Artcraft, which first opened in 1922, used to show first run movies until 2000, and yes it was where Dave and I had our first official date – we saw the movie Twister. In 2003 the Franklin Heritage Foundation acquired the Artcraft and began the full restoration of the Art Deco theater, and now shows second run movies sponsored by local businesses. Everything from Blue Hawaii to Sing! to Mean Girls. Before each movie they play the National Anthem and a cartoon – like the good old days. For evening shows there’s also a small stage show where you see a brief skit, a prize giveaway based on the movie being shown and an award for the person who travelled the farthest to be there. https://www.historicartcrafttheatre.org/
There are a lot of things to see and do in downtown Franklin – it’s a great day trip if you’re close enough!
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is hands down the most famous racetrack in all of motorsports. Even if you’re not a racing fan you’ve likely heard of it. Growing up 25 miles away from it, however, I tend to lose sight of just how massive and iconic the track is. Okay, before I start I need to explain that when you grow up in the Indianapolis area the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is known simply as: the track, the speedway or (less likely) IMS.
While the track hosts multiple racing events from May through September, none is more famous the Indianapolis 500 – “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing“. The entire month of May in Indianapolis is filled with non-stop race related or themed events. Things kick off on the first Saturday in May with the 500 Festival Mini Marathon. If you are a runner (and I am not) this is a traditional half marathon that roams through the city of Indianapolis and the half way point includes a run around the famous 2.5 mile oval track.
The first racing event in May is the Sonsio Grand Prix which is held the 2nd Saturday in May. That is the race that I went to last weekend, but I’ll make sure to include tips for the big race too (I’ve been several times, but have zero plans to attend this year).
It’s BIG!
Outside Turn 1 – On 16th Street
When I say the speedway is big, it’s an understatement. It’s a massive complex. Okay let’s start with some basic numbers:
328 acres – the size of the farm purchased to build the track in 1909
2.5 miles – the length of the oval track
2.49 miles – the length of the Grand Prix track
257,327 – permanent seats
400,000 – (roughly) number of people inside the facility during the 500 (includes workers, race teams and general admission tickets)
For reference (above): the the population of Indianapolis is 888,578 and 2nd largest city in Indiana is Fort Wayne with a population of 269,994.
14 – number of Big 10 football stadiums (including University of Michigan) that can fit inside the IMS property
4 – number of PGA golf holes inside the oval track (there was 9 until the golf course was redesigned in 1993)
I walked nearly 12,000 steps and would have walked almost 3,000 more but a really nice guy gave us a ride on a golfcart. For reference, you can fit all of Vatican City plus Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Coliseum and Wimbledon all inside the oval track.
Tickets
Ticket prices range from $70 – $285 for the 500. For fun, I clicked on “buy tickets” and although there are still 3 seating sections with available tickets I didn’t find any under $145. If you’re willing to buy re-sale tickets the lowest price was about $195. Other events like the Grand Prix, Practice Days, Qualifications, and Carb Day have General Admission pricing ranging from $25 to $45 depending on the event. On those days, most grandstand sections are open for general seating or you can bring chairs/blankets and sit in the infield. There is also $55 General Admission for the 500 which gives you the opportunity to fight for a spot on the infield grass mound viewing areas in turns 2, 3 and 4.
Where is the best place to sit? I’m not the person to ask. Because, for me, it would be on my back deck listening to the race on the radio while grilling out hamburgers and hot dogs. Oh yeah, fun fact, the race is typically blacked out in the Indianapolis media market, so listening on the radio (think 1930’s before TV) is a tradition here. However, since it is 2025 – not 1930, my son usually figures out a way to live stream the race.
B Penthouse, Section 20 (entry to Turn 1)
I asked Dave and Dawson – where is the best place to sit (other than the suites) if money were no object? Dave said hands down Turn 1 – either in E-Stand or Southwest Vista. Why is this the best spot? “Turn one at the beginning of the race is amazing – all 33 cars coming full speed into the turn as they are still mostly lined up in rows of three.” Dawson picked Turn 2 – the Southeast Vista. Why? “A lot of crashes” happen going into and out of Turn 2. Dawson actually picked Pit box as his #1 location, but that’s because he’s working towards employment on a race team.
If I wasn’t on the deck in my backyard – I would say the infield grass viewing mounds in Turn 4 BUT only if I had infield parking (which is a wild fantasy). There are three infield parking lots in Turns 3 & 4 and one by the golf course. Dave checked in January and those lots were already sold out for May. Why the viewing mounds? If you get there early enough you can stake out a good spot, but also you’re in comfy lawn chairs and for the most part you’re not packed in like sardines. My 2nd pick is the Tower Terrace – which is the grandstand right behind the pits. Why pick Tower Terrace? Two reasons, height and ADHD. Height: the Tower Terrace only goes to Row MM (39 rows) so no nosebleed section and bonus – Row MM is shaded by the Penthouse suites above. ADHD: It’s a big track and the cars only zoom by every 45 seconds so sitting where you can see the pit stalls provides constant things to watch. We sat there once during the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR).
Parking
There are two ways to look at parking – plan ahead or fly by the seat of your pants. We’ve done both. Around the track there are roughly 21 parking/camping lots that you can pre-pay to park in. 7 of those lots have Handicapped parking with golf cart shuttles to the gate. Our parking for the Grand Prix cost $25 right across the street. Parking in any of the 21 lots around the track is sold out for the 500. Parking for Qualifications and Carb Day and Practice varies in price from Free to $35.
So what do you do if you decide to buy tickets to the 500 today? No worries, but be prepared to add steps on your pedometer. There is unofficial parking all throughout the town of Speedway – at the schools and several churches from $20-$40. Multiple residents also offer parking in their yards for about the same amount – keep in mind some yards aren’t that big. On race day, you will see kids waving people into their front lawns while mom & dad collect the cash. Most families have lived in Speedway for a long time, so they have yard parking down to a science and most are selling drinks and sometimes snacks – one lady even had a porta potty. Some creative families have even listed themselves on Google maps – check it out just go to IMS zoom in and search nearby parking.
There is also the infamous “Coke Lot.” At the corner of Georgetown Rd and 25th street – just northwest of Turn 4 is the Coca Cola bottling plant which has an enormous grass field behind it known locally as the Coke lot. Officially it is known as IMS parking lots 1A and 1C. There is daily parking and weekend camping there. I’ve never parked there or camped there. The weekend of the 500 it’s a massive 24/7 tailgate party for 3 days. Local news crews are always stationed in the Coke lot on race day, and some of the long time reporters know which campers come back year after year and where all the good tailgate food is. I’m not saying I wouldn’t park/camp there, but just be aware of the party atmosphere you are heading in to.
Food & Drinks
There are multiple options for food and drinks all around the track, and yes you can get a tenderloin sandwich. Again, you’re not in Indiana if a tenderloin sandwich isn’t on the menu. You can bring in your own food and drinks if your cooler is no larger than 18”x15”x15” – we use backpack coolers for drinks and purchase food, but you do you. Yes, drinks include alcoholic if you choose. No judgement here. Since this is Barns, Brews and Backroads, you can get domestic beer (Coors/Miller Lite) for $8.99 (ish). There’s also multiple stands with mixed drinks and craft beer. Pictured below is the tenderloin and the world famous Track Dog. When I was growing up, the Track Dog’s were famous for being “green/gray” in color – they have improved. Not the best tenderloin you’ll get in Indiana, but not bad.
Where to Stay?
If you are from out of town and plan on staying, the hotels are pricy in Indy during the month of May. For reference, the Hampton Inn three miles from the track is $527 for race weekend. Suburbs just outside of Indianapolis are slightly less, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Avon, Camby, Southport or Greenwood. If you are a camper – there are several options for camping around the track (I think they are also sold out for the race weekend).
Carb Day & The Snake Pit
What is Carb Day? It’s the final practice session on the Friday before the Sunday race. It’s named Carb Day because it used to be the final day for race teams to tune their carburetors. It’s been Carb Day as long as I can remember even though Indy cars haven’t used carburetors since 1963. Carb Day is famous for it’s all day party atmosphere, many people I know have been as close to alcohol poisoning as possible after attending. Practice for the Indy cars starts at 11am and runs for two hours. At 2:30 there is a pit stop competition – which pit team can change the tires fastest. And then at 4pm there is concert in the Snake Pit. Oh.. Did I forget to mention there is a whole concert stage inside Turn 3? This year the All American Rejects kick off the concert and then Bret Michaels plays. Why is it the concert stage called the Snake Pit? The history of the Snake Pit is – ummm “colorful“. First, it wasn’t originally a concert stage and it wasn’t in Turn 3. Inside Turn 1 was known for its drunkenness and rowdiness (mud wrestling, heavy drinking, streaking) and earned the name the Snake Pit in the 1960’s from the Indy Star newspaper. In 1981, the president of IMS decided to install infield bleachers in Turn 1 to deter the craziness. Over time the party crowd migrated to Turn 4 and then Turn 3 (and tamed down some) until finally in 2010 IMS leaned in to the idea of the Snake Pit and built the current concert area. And for the most part it works, the party people go to the Snake Pit and don’t watch the race, and the race fans don’t go to the Snake Pit. On race day they have an “electric dance music” festival (aka a full on rave) rocking before and after the actual race. If your nervous about bringing kids with all the drinking and partying, don’t be! The Snake Pit is 18 and up only, but kids come to all the racing events here and there are a lot of family friendly areas. Both my husband and I grew up going to the track (in the 70’s and 80’s when it was more raucous) and we took our kids when they were young too.
500 Festival Parade
Growing up this was my FAVORITE part of race weekend. Saturday before the race is the annual 500 Festival Parade. In addition to floats, marching bands, car clubs and horses and the Indianapolis Police Department motorcycle drill team – all 33 drivers ride the parade route in convertibles. My mom worked for WFYI, the local PBS station, when I was young and their studio was along the parade route. The employees and their families would go up to the roof of the building and set up lawn chairs and watch the parade. We had signs to get peoples attention, especially the drivers. I just remember it being so much fun! Fun Fact: the last band is always the Speedway High School marching band and they are the only band allowed to wear the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Wing & Wheel logo on their uniform.
Race Day
Congratulations – you have made it to the actual race day. It is always held the Sunday before Memorial Day. If it gets rained out, they continue it on Monday.
6AM – Gates Open (a canon is shot off to announce the opening). If you are not within 5 miles of the track at this time you will be stuck in hours of traffic.
6:05 AM – the time you need to stake out a spot in the infield grass mounds – okay maybe 6:15 but still…
9:00 – cars to pit lane
10:00 AM – if you are not near the entry gate by this time — good luck!
10:30 – cars to the starting grid
11:47 – driver introductions
12:20 – National Anthem
12:38 – Command to start engines
12:45 – Green Flag
Other traditions you won’t want to miss – I just have no idea what time they all happen. A lot of them involve music.
The Gordon Pipersare a bagpipe and drum corps that has been part of the pre race ceremonies since 1962.
IMPD motorcycle drill team, while they always kick off the parade on Saturday but they also can be seen on the track before the cars line up. The highlight of this drill team is that while 12 motorcycles (with letters attached to their windshield that spell out Indianapolis) form 2 lines, 3 riders (with the numbers 500 on their windshields) split the two lines with the middle rider standing on his seat balancing his bike with his arms straight out. They should have a – don’t attempt this at home warning.
The Purdue University“All American” Marching Band – will accompany the singing of Back Home Again in Indiana. Their giant drum is also on hand along with the Golden Girl and Silver Twins baton twirlers.
Singing of Back Home Again in Indiana – most famously sung by Indiana native Jim Nabors (aka Gomer Pyle) before his passing, but now sung by Jim Cornelison (Chicago Blackhawks official singer).
Singing of God Bless America – most famously sung by Indiana native Florence Henderson (aka Carol Brady) before her passing, but now sung by Arturo Chacón-Cruz (Opera singer).
Parachute team flying in with the American Flag.
The playing of Taps (bring Kleenex) and presentation of the flag by the joint military color guard
Flyover – not unique to the 500 for sure, but it’s usually a squadron of fighter jets.
Celebrities: there will be many but 1 or 2 will be the honorary starter and wave the green flag to start the race and sometimes there will be an honorary pace car driver for the first lap of the race.
The winner of the race will drink milk (started in 1936) and kiss the bricks (started in 1996) at the start/finish line. Oh yeah history again: the track was paved in bricks in the 1920’s hence the nickname the Brickyard. There is a 3 ft. strip of original (maybe) bricks at the start/finish line.
The Borg-Warner trophy is presented to the winner. It has the face of every winner since 1936 etched on it.
The Finish Line
I honestly feel like I barely scratched the surface of everything that is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. While it is touted as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – I think the spectacle encompasses so much more than the race. There are hundreds of years of traditions and Indianapolis embraces the racing community wholeheartedly. Locals know all the racing legends: Andretti, Foyt, Unser, Mears and more recently but no less legendary Helio Castroneves. And I know all the barrier breakers like Janet Guthrie (first female to race), Lyn St James (first female rookie of the year), Sarah Fisher (youngest female to race at age 19 and female with the most career 500 starts), Pippa Mann and Ana Beatriz (first female teammates to race together) and Danica Patrick (first female to lead laps at the 500 and highest female finish – 3rd in 2009). And I didn’t even get to mention the 500 Museum. No worries though, my son wants to go since it’s been recently renovated so once it’s not May anymore, we’ll check it out!
Main Street in Speedway (the town not the track) has been revitalized over the last 10 years and has an eclectic mix of race team headquarters and restaurants. Restaurants I’ve visited on Main St include Bronzini’s (NY style pizza), Dawson’s On Main (steaks) and O’Reilly’s Irish Pub (pub food, obviously). I recommend all of them! Friends recommend Big Woods (same one from Brown County featuring Hard Truth liquor and Quaff On! craft beer) and the famous Charlie Brown’s Steak and Pancake which is starting it’s 50th year in Speedway. If you want a true Indiana tenderloin, I would suggest Charlie Brown’s, Dawson’s or O’Reilly’s over the one I got at the track – jus’ sayin’.
Since I can’t possibly cover everything (I tried!) here are links with all the info:
This just in – yesterday they announced that the race would not be blacked out in the Indianapolis area – YAY!
But also.. The Indiana Pacers are having a great post season and will play the Knicks Sunday May 25th at 8:00 pm. Traffic will be crazy (9 miles separates Gainbridge Fieldhouse and IMS) – adjust your expectations 😏.
I know.. the title is a bit bawdy, but it’s an accurate description – read on!
To be completely honest, this was two separate trips but could have easily been one, and both trips were completed before I decided to start this blog.
Hot Dogs
In March I convinced Dave to drive to Anderson for the sole purpose of getting cans of root beer from Gene’s Root Beer and Hot Dogs (640 Scatterfield Rd., Anderson, IN). Nope, not for the actual root beer but for the cans. Why? Because Gene’s Root Beer and Hot Dogs is famous for the “Spanish Dog” and their logo is a dachshund in a hot dog outfit wearing a sombrero. And the bright orange root beer cans have the logo on them.
I might be slightly obsessed with all things dachshund ever since Mr. Pickles joined our family. BUT… this time my obsession turned out to be a great place to eat. Gene’s is a drive-in restaurant that has been in business since 1964, but instead of a typical drive-in “coney-dog” their specialty is a “Spanish-dog.” We pulled in to the American Graffiti era drive-in and were lucky because a car had just pulled out leaving ONE open parking space. The menu is mostly hot dogs with your choice of Spanish sauce, cheese, sauerkraut and/or bacon, but they also have cheeseburgers, polish sausages, chicken sandwiches and (of course) breaded tenderloin sandwiches. I’m not even sure if you’re a legitimate restaurant in Indiana if you don’t serve a breaded tenderloin sandwich.
The car hop came and took our order: 2 Spanish dogs, 1 French fry, 1 onion ring and two mugs of root beer. We drove just over an hour, I wasn’t about to get anything but the famous Spanish-dog. Let me start with the root beer – it is exceptional! I never know how to describe the taste of root beer, but Gene’s is creamy and maybe the flavor I’m trying to describe is actually just vanilla. Root beer is an interesting drink that is hard to describe because it has a wide variety of spices like sassafras, vanilla, wintergreen, anise, licorice and ginger as flavor options. The fries and onion rings were top notch – just like you’d expect from a true 60’s era drive-in. And finally the Spanish Dog – is it just coney sauce with a fancier name? No. It definitely has a different taste than you’re average coney sauce, but I also can’t explain why it’s different.
Was it worth the drive – 100% yes. Is the canned root beer as good as the frosty mug version? Sadly, no – but I’ve also heard people say to pour the canned root beer into a frozen mug and you regain the original taste. It was too chilly for ice cream in March, but they also have soft serve vanilla and chocolate and also root beer floats. Let me rephrase that, it was too cold in March for ME to get ice cream because the car across from us totally got 3 cones before we left.
Total Cost: Spanish Dog ($2.59/each) Fries ($2.75) Onion Rings ($3.25) Root Beer mug ($1.75) and 6-pack root beer cans ($10.49).
A short 12 minute trip south west will lead you to Uranus Fudge Factory (1423 W. 53rd, Anderson, IN). I’m going to need everyone to revert back to your 10 year old, back of the school bus jokes about poop to appreciate this unique candy store and “attraction.” I’ve stopped by 3-4 times while on the road, because it’s just off of I69 at exit 222.
When you walk in you are greeted by the entire staff shouting “Welcome to Uranus!” While they have just about every type of candy you can imagine, they are famous for their fudge. There are 18 different types of fudge and they even have sugar free fudge options. I have only sampled the chocolate fudge, which is their best seller, but it is top notch fudge! When you are purchasing fudge you will be asked “Do you want your fudge packed tight in a box, or loose in a bag?”
Besides tons of candy options, they also have novelty gifts and t-shirts. The gifts are themed around both Uranus and Route 66. The t-shirts are hilarious. They have just about every “occupation” with a cheeky (no butt pun intended – seriously) saying. For instance, the Uranus Fire Department shirt boasts “When Uranus is hot we come real quick!” As well as Uranus Trucking “Dropping big loads in Uranus since 2015!” Don’t worry they also have Uranus Police Department “to protect and serve Uranus.” Then the shirts start to get a little more – adult. Like Uranus Union Local #2 Plumbing Company, “laying quality pipe in Uranus since 2015.” Yeah…..
They have a lot of space and alien stuff too. I bought my favorite coffee mug there – a unicorn holding a rainbow saying “Shuh Duh Fuh Cup.” They also have a bearded cowboy mascot named Rex Uranus. As you’re checking out, if you’ve spent enough money they give you a free copy of Uranus News and ask you “Did you have fun exploring Uranus?”
That’s an old picture, from our first visit. There are several similar signs to take pictures with. Our last visit, just a few weeks ago, their ice cream shop was open. Uranus Ice Cream Company “One lick of Uranus and you’ll go nuts!” Okay let’s talk about the ice cream – it’s worth the trip alone if you don’t want fudge. I got raspberry chocolate chip in a waffle cone (because who eats ice cream in anything but a waffle cone?!?!?) and it was 5 out of 5 for sure! Dave got cherry chocolate chip (in a cup 🙄), which he let me sneak a bite and it was tasty too. I have a hard time picking ice cream because I love so many flavors and they had a lot of my favorites like birthday cake, mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, cookie monster… the list is long. They also have shakes, sundaes and some flavor combination specials.
And last but not least, they have a putt putt course – Putt Pirates Mini Golf “Sink your balls into our putt holes.” We skipped the putt putt, but it does look like a fun course.
There are two other Uranus Fudge Factories, the original in St. Robert, Missouri and the third one which just opened in December 2024 in Richmond, Indiana. I didn’t know about the one in Richmond until I started writing this blog – annnnnd now I’m going to have to go because it is now the largest Uranus Fudge Factory (15,000 square feet) and has a Uranus vortex tunnel, massive animated dinosaurs, 18 fudge flavors and 32 ice cream flavors. And, it actually straddles the state line between Indiana and Ohio. I’m not sure what the building used to be, but there is one of the giant, side of the interstate crosses on the property. Uranus restored the cross and re-lit it, interesting combo – a giant cross and Uranus.
Circling back to the Spanish-dog – I accidentally found out a little more about the history of the Spanish-dog thanks to Dan Woeller – The Food Etymologist (https://dannwoellertthefoodetymologist.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/the-spanish-hot-dog-the-ohio-and-indiana-post-war-treat/#:~:text=The%20Ohio%20Spanish%20Dog%20is,of%20chili%20dog%20or%20coney.) Apparently it’s unique to Indiana and Ohio and only north of I-70. OK, if you’re not from Indiana and reading this I-70 acts as a barrier dividing the north and south – it’s almost an internal Civil War type barrier. Everything in Indiana, including weather, is described as happening either north or south of I-70. The Spanish-dog originated from a drive in called B&K which still has multiple locations in Indiana including Alexandria, Muncie, Gas City, Kokomo, Logansport, Peru and Mentone. Yes, I’m adding those to my list of “places to eat” while I’m driving through the state.
Well…. all bawdy-ness and butt jokes aside, I hope you enjoyed the fun. Other attractions in Anderson include Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Anderson Speedway and Mounds State Park which features 10 unique earthworks built by prehistoric Indians known as the Adena-Hopewell people. Mounds also is known as a famous location for cryptids. What is a cryptid? An animal (think Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist. The ones in Mounds State Park are specifically known as Pukwudgies and have long been legends of the Lenape (Delaware) people. They are described as small troll like creatures who are best left alone – if you leave them alone they will leave you alone.
That a wrap on hot dogs and Uranus 😏. Next blog will be from the most famous 2-mile oval in motorsports – the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stay tuned….
This trip was absolutely spur of the moment. My son texted me Friday night and asked if we wanted to meet Saturday and go to the farmers market and then over to Nashville. I love the farmers market and Nashville so I said “absolutely!”
Saturday 10:15 – Arrived at Bloomington Farmers Market – 401 N. Morton St. in Bloomington. Market is open Saturdays April – October from 8am – 12:30pm.
Since this is a new blog, I need to explain that I absolutely hate Midwest weather. The saying “if you wait 5 minutes it will change” is very accurate, however it can be 70 degrees Friday and when you get to the farmers market on Saturday it feels like it’s 37 degrees. Dress in layers is my only advice.
The market was missing several of its regular vendors, but it’s the start of the season and it was also Little 500 (known locally as Little Five) weekend at IU. What is Little 500? It is the largest collegiate bicycle race in the United States where IU students race in 4 person teams for 200 laps around the track at Bill Armstrong Stadium. It’s mostly fraternities and sororities that compete, but residence halls can form teams as well as independent students. There’s an academy award winning movie about it – Breaking Away (1979) starring Dennis Quaid. It sounds like an athletic event. However, anyone in Indiana will tell you it’s one of biggest college party weekends in the state, and at some point there’s a bike race – if you haven’t passed out. We drove by three frat houses on the way in and surprisingly they weren’t completely trashed (both people and yards). Yes, the parties start Thursday and end sometime before graduation. Yes, as a young adult this event is where I learned puke and rally – just for perspective.
First stop was coffee, there were only about 3 stalls selling coffee – I went with Brown County Coffee which is a roaster, but was offering drip coffee for $3. He sells a variety of roasts, $17.00/bag and he will grind the beans for you if you ask. The thrill of the blog having “brews” in the title is that it can be coffee or beer. 😏
Second stop was my husband’s favorite Brown Station Sugar for Maple Syrup. We ran out of syrup last weekend so Dave was excited they were at the market. They also sell whiskey infused maple syrup toward the end of the season. $10 for 12 oz. bottle and he was also selling Hosta and Ficus plants.
There were a lot of stalls selling plants and flowers because according to the Farmer’s Almanac our region is at the prime time to plant gardens and flower beds. Unique tip: while checking the almanac, I found that May 3-17 is the best time to plant cannabis. I had no idea the Farmer’s Almanac was that progressive. Also, full disclaimer, it is illegal to plant cannabis in Indiana. I don’t want anyone going to jail because of my blog.
Other items: fresh cut flowers (specifically tulips), goat milk cheese and soap, popcorn and kettle corn, fresh bread, several bakeries with multiple pastries, mushrooms, meats, eggs and local honey.
The market supports food assistance programs like WIC, SNAP and Senior FNMP. A lot of the Amish farmers were missing Saturday, but no worries, it’s one of my favorite places so I’ll head back when the weather’s better. They also have special days in June featuring art and crafted items – those are the best days to visit. For more information click here: https://bloomington.in.gov/farmers-market
We decided to eat before heading to Nashville (Indiana) because a) we were hungry and b) Pili’s Party Taco didn’t have their food truck at the farmer’s market. Pili’s is amazing so we were all slightly disappointed. There are 150 restaurants in Bloomington’s downtown district and any and all types of cuisine. We chose Hive at 2608 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN. It was busy, but all restaurants are busy during Little Five weekend. Unique features: they serve all day breakfast, have Indiana made craft sodas, multiple coffee/espresso options, a full deli and a wide variety of vegetarian/vegan options.
I got an Egg-n-muffin – which is exactly what it sounds like. Egg, English muffin, cheddar cheese and choice of meat (I picked ham). It was served with nearly perfect tater tots – okay they were perfect and crazy good. Dave got biscuits and gravy which is his go-to for brunch anywhere we go. Dawson got a Smashburger called the Hive Heatwave with cheddar, jalapenos, grilled onions, pickles, and bacon on a potato bun. We all passed on the craft soda’s for Diet Cokes, but there’s always another day to try them. I would recommend Hive for sure. The menu has a lot of diverse options, so great to take a group with different tastes. Downside – the dining room is smedium sized, but they also have outdoor seating – when it’s warmer than 48 degrees.
From Bloomington a 25 minute trip east on US46 takes you to Brown County and the quaint town of Nashville, Indiana. It’s best known currently for the hundreds of small shops, but before the modern day stores it was known as the Brown County Art Colony. There are still many galleries woven in and out of shops selling everything from leather goods, books, wines, clothes and candy.
Because I live close, I can spend a few hours here knowing I can go back. If you plan to travel and stay here you can easily fill an entire weekend. Brown County is where Indiana, known for flat cornfields, starts to get hilly. Which is what inspired the original Art Colony as artists were drawn to the scenic views and painted the rolling hills. I can’t talk about Nashville without mentioning Brown County State Park (https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/brown-county-state-park/) which offers hiking and mountain biking and during the summer has a pool and saddle barn. Inside the park there is a lodge and rental cabins as well as camping options if you choose not to stay in one of the hotels or Airbnb’s nearby. I’m a HUGE fan of Indiana’s State Parks – they are well maintained and offer a lot of amenities.
Full Disclaimer the first store I always visit is FoxfireBoutique (59 E Main St.) because it’s where my daughter-in-law works. My obvious reason for visiting aside, they have a wide variety of trendy things including women’s clothes, purses, jewelry, and seasonal items. They have a huge Chala collection – I have a purse and wallet! Next door to the boutique is their gift store which has kitchen items and decor, Swan Creek candles, inspirational gifts and custom frames.
Other stores in their building are: The Educated Otter, Holly Pots, and Home on a Limb. All offering unique gifts, pottery and more candles. You won’t lack for candles after visiting Nashville. Across the street from Foxfire is Naughty Dog Books which has books and bookish merch, it’s an adorable store if you are a true bibliophile.
Rounding out the list of stores I always stop at:
Lakeside Candles (158. S Old School Way) – poured in their shop, with bold scents. They have 3 jar sizes, a tin, wax melts and sprays in multiple scents or you can order customized scents and pick them up later in the day. I got 4 tins for $30: Poison Apple, Gardenia, Lilac and White Tea.
Bone Appetit Bakery (211 S Van Buren St) – handmade dog and cat treats as well as other pet products. We got a taco cookie for Mr. Pickles and a squirrel cookie for Whopper.
Mulberry Cottage (46 W Main St) – they have apparel, books, kids clothes, inspirational items and jewelry. My go-to item (I have 3 now) is a hand sewn flag banner made from double sided cotton fabric. It’s hard to describe:
If you’re wondering if the guys get bored, no – Dave and Dawson always go to Nashville Spice Company (227 South Van Buren St.) and The Candy Emporium (58 W Main St.) which they visit for the candy but it also has a large selection of tea and teapots. We also went to a new store, The Tent Commandments (41 S Van Buren St) which is more “glamping” than camping, but has a collection of fun T-shirts.
Food – we didn’t eat this time but there are plenty of options. Top pick for me is Big Woods Pizza (44 N Van Buren St). Big Woods is an extension of the Hard Truth Distillery (418 Old State Rd 46) and they serve their line of craft beers alongside gourmet pizza. Hard Truth alone is worth the visit to Nashville, but would be an entire blog itself (idea!). You won’t go hungry or thirsty here or lack for any and all types of snacks, baked goods and candy. Bring an appetite! Two other comfort food options I enjoy are: Little Gem Restaurant at Abe Martin Lodge, inside Brown County State Park and Brown County Inn’s Harvest Dining Room (51 State Rd 46 East). And I cant forget the historic (in business since 1851) Story Inn and Still Tavern (6404 Indiana Highway 135, Nashville). To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever eaten there, but when I used to go horseback riding with my sisters we would ride there and drink at the tavern. Is it smart to drink and ride? Absolutely not!
Hopefully you’re starting to discover Indiana has a lot to offer outside of racing and basketball!
For more information and links to the stores and restaurants listed above: https://browncounty.com/
Bloomington and Nashville (or either one separately) make a great weekend escape: Girls weekend, couples weekend – maybe not a bachelorette party like Nashville Tennessee is known for but a quieter pre-wedding shopping get together.
Hello! My name is Andi and I love to travel. In my personal blog I have found that when I write about my travel adventures I usually get a decent amount of likes or compliments and I wanted to explore writing an actual travel blog. But… I’m not independently wealthy and unless that Nigerian Prince I sent some bit coin and Target gift cards to actually pays me the million dollars he owes me I have to keep my travel mostly local.
I live in Indiana – the “Crossroads of America.” Most people usually think of three things when you say you’re from Indiana: Hoosier hospitality, corn and the Indianapolis 500. Maybe basketball, if you’re a big basketball fan or a movie fan and have seen Hoosiers with Gene Hackman.
So what is there to see in Indiana? Honestly, you’d probably be surprised at what there is to offer outside of racecars, basketball and corn.
Yes, there is a lot of farmland.
No, I do not know why we’re called Hoosiers or how it started.
Yes, we have beaches (for real, on Lake Michigan).
No, I did not grow up on a farm, but I did have a rural route address growing up.
Yes, giant tenderloin sandwiches are worth the trip to Indiana – there are hundreds of restaurants claiming they are the best in Indiana.
No, I don’t buy in to the IU vs Purdue frenzy — I’m a Notre Dame fan.
Yes, I have eaten deep fried butter at the State Fair.
No, I don’t know why North Vernon is in the southern part of the state and South Bend is literally at the very top of the state.
Yes, I’m a Colts fan (ugh) we’ve been re-building for a hot minute now.
I’m actually excited to get started! I travel a lot throughout the state for work and I don’t usually have time to stop and eat at the local restaurants or check out the local hot spots. Plus it’s an excuse to get out and about on the weekend and avoid yard work.
Barns Brews & Back Roads 