Kelly
From covered bridges and college football to apple-picking and leaf-peeping, Indiana is a fantastic place to enjoy the best season: fall.
A few times a year, I like to focus on the array of communities, attractions and events the state has to offer. And I have some great ones for you today.
The first is Huber’s Orchard and Winery in southern Indiana. I visited for the first time recently and was so impressed with the number of great things to do there. You can pick apples, berries and pumpkins with your kids; grab a tasty slice of pizza; enjoy a scoop of ice cream; or take a tour of the winery and distillery — while getting some free samples.
The farm market has fresh produce and sometimes there is live music on the patio. And there’s a park for kids to run around and play.
Next up, a football game. Obviously, the University of Notre Dame gets a lot of attention, and its campus and facility is full of tradition. Indiana University is also on a roll, so Bloomington would be a good stop. But honestly, any college football game around the state on a perfect fall day is worth your time. And the Indianapolis Colts stadium is also a great stop — though don’t count on the roof being open even on the nicest days.
Brown County State Park is a treasure. Nicknamed the “Little Smokies” because of the area’s resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Brown County encompasses nearly 16,000 acres of rugged hills, ridges, and fog-shrouded ravines, according to the Department of Natural Resources. This is the best place to enjoy fall foliage. Axios Indianapolis reported that leaves in central and southern Indiana will achieve peak fall color between Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. And while you are in Brown County, be sure to do some early Christmas shopping in Nashville — my favorite browsing and buying spot in the state.
My husband introduced me to the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival 20 years ago and I have been going ever since. It runs Oct. 10-19 this year. Everyone knows about the crafts, art, antiques and flea markets in Bridgeton, Rockville and Mansfield. And I enjoy those along with yummy food. But I encourage everyone to explore the festival’s namesakes by picking a bridge route and driving it. The Blue Route is my favorite.
The weekend before that, Oct. 3-5, is another tradition – the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb. If you like antique cars, it’s the place to be. More than 100,000 people come to see hundreds of automobiles, trucks and motorcycles from the steam, brass, vintage, antique, and classic car eras make timed runs. They go from a standing start up a steep hill to a finish line 1,800 feet away. You don’t want to miss the Sunday finale of the modified division, where I will be rooting on my husband.
No fall calendar would be complete without picking a pumpkin. Every corner of the state has great options for this. Visit Indiana has a fall bucket list with a number of great pumpkin patches no matter where you live.
These are just a few of the ways to celebrate fall this year. I’ll also be buying mums and enjoying time with family around the fire pit. See you there!
Niki Kelly is editor-in-chief of indianacapitalchronicle.com, where this commentary first appeared. She has covered Indiana politics and the Indiana Statehouse since 1999 for publications including the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Send comments to editorial@therepublic.com.
