by Maggie O'Leary

Created on: March 02, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Indiana is a huge state, encompassing over 36,420 square miles. There are many wonderful places to see in the Hoosier State. When choosing a vacation destination, many visitors to Indiana find it helpful to divide the state into three separate traveling regions. It is impossible to cover the entire state in less than a few weeks, so if you are planning a visit to Indiana, you may wish to narrow your sights to one of the three sections of the state.

Indiana's northern third encompasses everything between Indiana's border with Michigan, to the Lafayette and Kokomo areas, about an hour north of Indianapolis. The central third of the state stretches south past Indianapolis, to the area near Greenwood. Indiana's southern portion extends south from Greenwood to the Ohio River, and Indiana's shared border with the state of Kentucky.

In the northern section of Indiana, visitors will find several Amish settlements, as are common throughout the northern and southern sections of the state. Visitors may also choose to visit Indiana Beach and Dunes, a sandy beach located on Indiana's shores of Lake Michigan. Northern Indiana also offers many shopping opportunities, open roads and natural scenery, and historic monuments. Travelers may also choose to visit the many small country museums that help to educate visitors on Indiana's long, rich history.

Central Indiana's crowning glory is the state's capital city of Indianapolis. Visitors to the Indianapolis area can take in an Indianapolis Colts football game, or an Indiana Pacers basketball game. Visitors may choose to visit Indiana's State House and the Soldier's and Sailor's Monument in the city's downtown area. Visitors may also wish to visit the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Museum and Library at Fort Benjamin Harrison on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Children's Museum, the Indiana State Museum, and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Art are other great places to check out during a stay in Indianapolis.

In the southern third of Indiana, visitors will find farmland, hilly, wooded terrain, and natural forests to visit. One of the most popular vacation destinations in southern Indiana is the Brown County State Park, located about 30 miles east of Bloomington, and about 50 miles south of Indianapolis. Visitors will also enjoy Indiana's riverfront views of the Ohio River at Evansville, and all along the southern border of the state to New Albany. Visitors to Evansville can also tour LST-325, a World War II Navy ship, which is permanently stationed at Evansville's Dress Plaza. Many visitors find a trip to the Black Buggy restaurant in Washington or McCutchanville, or Stoll's in Jasper and Evansville for some home-style Amish cooking to be one of the highlights of their visit to Indiana.

The history and heritage of Indiana are rich and vast. Whichever region you choose to visit is sure to please. Enjoy your vacation!

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