The US state of Indiana is located in the northeast of the huge country. To the north, the state borders Lake Michigan. With an area of around 95,000 square kilometers, Indiana is one of the medium-sized states in the USA. Almost 6.8 million inhabitants are spread over this area. Indiana is characterized by a natural landscape that is as diverse as it is varied.
In the south, hilly landscapes that are extremely densely wooded are lined up, while the north, on the shores of Lake Michigan, is characterized by dune landscapes. The capital of Indiana, Indianapolis, is undisputedly one of the most famous metropolises in the USA with 830,000 inhabitants. The city has a long tradition of automobile construction and motorized racing, which can be seen on every corner within the city area. In addition, a lot of interesting cultural events take place here. Outside the USA, the city is also known for the Midwest music festival and the Indy Fest jazz festival. So if you have a mixture of exciting and varied landscapes, car racing and culture in mind for your holiday in the USA, Indiana is the right place for you.
The capital Indianapolis is an exciting starting point for the journey through the state of Indiana
Indianapolis is the ideal starting point for a round trip through Indiana. The city is centrally located, in fact right in the middle of the US state and has an international airport. The city became known early on for the Indianapolis 500, which is one of the oldest car races in the world. If you happen to be in the city during the race days, then a visit to the race facility is mandatory.
But even outside of the race days, a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an absolute highlight. Because the four-kilometer-long racetrack, which is built into an oval and whose grandstands offer space for a total of 300,000 visitors, is not only considered the largest sports stadium in the entire USA. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway also has the special feature of being one of the few racing areas in the world to be centrally located, and thus within the city of Indianapolis. At the attached Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, visitors can learn all about the history of racing in Indianapolis. Indianapolis is still considered a city of art. The Indianapolis Museum of Art has an extensive art history collection that exhibits not only American but also many European, as well as some African and Asian artworks. The exhibition programme runs through numerous art epochs, such as late medieval art, the Renaissance and contemporary works of art.
Some of the most famous artists exhibited there are Domenico Tintoretto, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet or Albrecht Dürer. The Indiana State Museum provides information about the history and culture of the entire state. Originally, numerous Native Americans settled in Indiana, which ultimately helped the state to get its name. In addition, Indianapolis impresses with beautiful parks and green spaces. Fort Harrison Park and Eagle Creek Park are particularly popular with nature lovers and families with children. You should also take a look at the very sublime-looking Capitol of the state of Indiana. The building was largely built in the Renaissance style and can be visited free of charge from the inside and outside. Exciting festivals in the city’s streets, such as the Indy Jazz Fest, take place mainly in the autumn months from September to November.
Indiana Dunes National Park on Lake Michigan
If you travel to Indiana, you definitely have to make a detour to the Indiana Dunes National Park on Lake Michigan. This national park was only established in 2019 and covers an area of 61 square kilometers. The most exciting area of the spacious area is a 24-kilometer-long coastal strip that stretches along Lake Michigan. In its form, it can easily compete with the dune landscapes of the North Sea or Baltic Sea . In addition to dunes up to 60 meters high, the national park also contains some swamp and moorland areas as well as no less than 1,100 different plant species. Furthermore, all bird and butterfly lovers get their money’s worth here. the offer for tourists in Indiana Dunes National Park is enormously diverse. You can explore the park either as part of guided tours or on your own. There are numerous well-marked hiking and biking trails, a campground, fishing, horses that can be booked for horseback riding, and of course, designated swimming areas right on Lake Michigan.
The densely forested south of the state of Indiana
The south of the state of Indiana, unlike the northern spheres, is not characterized by water, but by forest. First and foremost, mixed forests are to be expected here, which reveal an incredibly colourful and dreamy face in autumn. If you like hiking, you can experience wonderful nature adventures here, especially in the autumn months. Enchanting hiking trails include the Hoosier National Forest and Brown County State Park. Mountain bikers also feel at home in the latter. However, a little attention should be paid to the reptiles living in Brown County State Park, because among them are rattlesnakes. If these don’t frighten you, you can also camp in the park. McCormick’s Creek State Park is home to passionate anglers. In the nearby Spring Mill State Park, caves can be explored. The longest cave area in the entire USA is also located in the south of Indiana: the Indiana Caverns. Here, rivers and lakes located in the caves can be crossed on guided tours by boat. The Paoli Peaks are home to snowboarders and skiers in winter
