Recreation & Entertainment

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Indiana provides ample opportunities for recreation and entertainment.

Outdoor enthusiasts benefit from the natural wealth of Indiana. At Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visitors can enjoy large sand dunes along Lake Michigan, bird watching opportunities, hiking trails, and the charm of an old homestead. Within Hoosier National Forest in south central Indiana, the Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers a well-preserved natural area of about 13,000 acres (52.6 square kilometers or 5,261 hectares) of wilderness and trails. Spelunkers will enjoy the splendid formations in Marengo Cave, a U.S. National Natural Landmark, which offers walking tours for all ages. Indiana’s state park system boasts one of the largest systems in the country, with 24 state parks, 13 state forests, 14 nature preserves, and 9 reservoirs, guaranteeing ample hiking, fishing, boating, and swimming.

More urban pursuits can also be had in the Hoosier State. Music aficionados will appreciate the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, a full-time professional orchestra founded in 1930 and performing at over 200 concerts for more than 350,000 people annually. Additionally, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, now in its 66th year, features 75 professional musicians and includes the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus. Fans of the theatre will enjoy watching the Indiana Repertory Theatre, one of the nation’s leading regional theatres, which attracts over 130,000 patrons annually with nine productions.

Art lovers can revel at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which boasts over 50,000 works from around the world. Southern Indiana is home to the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science, which features exhibitions and a planetarium.

Family-friendly attractions in the Hoosier State include the Forest Discovery Center, an interactive and educational facility in Starlight; the Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis; the Children’s Museum of Indiana in Indianapolis, complete with natural and cultural artifacts; and the hands-on science center, Imagination Station in Lafayette, among other educational and entertaining possibilities throughout the state.

History buffs will gain much from visiting the Lincoln Boyhood National Monument in Lincoln City, which preserves the site where President Abraham Lincoln lived from ages 7 to 21. The Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne houses the world’s largest private collection of paraphernalia dedicated to the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. At Angel Mounds State Historic Site, visitors can explore one of the best preserved prehistoric Native American sites in the United States. At Tippecanoe Battlefield and Museum, visitors can witness where the famous conflict between Native Americans and settlers occurred. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park at Vincennes commemorates the victory of American Colonel George Rogers Clark over the British during the American Revolution.

Sports fans have many opportunities to enjoy in the Hoosier State. Indiana prides itself on its professional franchises. Basketball fans can cheer the NBA team the Indiana Pacers and the WNBA team the Indiana Fever. Football fans will rejoice in the 2006 NFL champions, the Colts. Baseball fans have the Minor League Baseball team, the Indianapolis Indians, Evansville Otters, and Fort Wayne Wizards, to name a few. Indiana is also famed for its college teams, including the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish football team, and Indiana University’s NCAA basketball team.

Racecar fans also have the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

Whether cultural or active pursuits are desired, Indiana boasts a broad spectrum of recreation and entertainment possibilities for every taste.

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