I grew up in a town called Clarksville, Indiana. It is in Southern Indiana, on the border of Kentucky, next to Louisville. There are many smaller towns in the U.S., but it certainly wasn't big city living in Clarksville. I never want to live in a place that small again, but I visit every chance I get. I think that traveling the world and skipping all of the small towns across America is a mistake. There is just something so, well, American about them.

I'm going to tell you some places to visit, in case you ever find yourself in the area of Clarksville. If it's summer time you have to visit the community pool. It is a lot different than it was when I lived there. They have built it up and made it much nicer, but the concept is still the same. It is simply the place to be on hot summer days. The pre teens are all there trying to meet and mingle. The women laying on their towels getting sun, the men playing with kids in the water. They also have a low and high dive, a slide, a concession stand. It is nice to see that a sandy beach and an ocean isn't necessary to have this kind of fun.

After leaving the Clarksville Pool, as it's so creatively named, head over to Yummy's ice cream parlor. I may be biased, but I think it's the best ice cream in the world. Get a brown derby (chocolate ice cream dipped in chocolate). It is messy, but it is well worth it.

Now Clarksville has a Pro Bass Shop where our big mall used to be. I am completely not into this kind of thing and think it just shows the redneck side of town, but lots of people think it's pretty cool. If you like hunting, it's worth a visit. Also, across the street is the Greentree Mall which has been there forever. There is something just so different about small town malls compared to big city malls. You should go, just to experience that small town flavor.

I love my hometown, even though, I'll definitely never live there again. I like to go at least once a year, and I think it's worth visiting even if you didn't grow up there. It's not a famous landmark or beautiful art, or a theme park, but it's definitely representative of small town America culture.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Trip.
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