Traveling the highways and byways of our great country, I’ve found that some of the friendliest, most generous folks remain right here in the Midwest.
On a recent trip to Southern Indiana along the Ohio River, I was overwhelmed with Hoosier hospitality.
Let me explain.
My story begins in Evansville, a mid sized city situated on a horseshoe bend of the Ohio River.
Their revitalized downtown area and the flashy Le Merigot Hotel, owned by the Aztar Casino, was my base of operations.
I always enjoy stretching my legs and the Evansville riverfront has an excellent walking/bike path atop the levee.
I chose to stroll the three miles to my first stop — the LST 325 — a World War II Landing Ship for Tanks that is anchored here and open to the public for tours.
Many of these ships were built in Evansville along with others built on the Illinois River at Seneca.
The LST 325 served the Allied troops on Normandy Beach and is the only one remaining intact. It is well worth a visit.
On the other side of the horseshoe bend of the Ohio, not far from where the LST ships were built, Evansville’s natural river heritage is being preserved at Howell Wetlands.
This nature preserve, along with Wesselman Woods, the largest urban forest in the state of Indiana, provide residents “green” breaks in the city .
Nearby, the Mesker Park Zoo has opened a fascinating exhibit called Amazonia- Forest of Riches. This unique, domed indoor exhibit was designed by the same architect who did Glen Oak Zoo’s “Africa” and features colorful free flight birds, exotic plants, bird eating tarantulas, howler and squirrel monkeys, and even a jaguar — all native to the tropical rain forests of the Amazon in South America.
After a long day of exploring, I was given a $75 voucher for the Aztar Casino’s upscale restaurant — Cavanaugh’s Steak House.
I walked across the street to the Aztar Pavilion and soon found myself seated at a table with a view of the bend of the Ohio where I enjoyed the sunset and the towboats making the turn while enjoying a meal fit for a king — lobster bisque, Caesar salad, surf and turf (lobster tail and filet mignon), asparagus, mushrooms marinated in red wine, a hot chocolate “lava” cake, and a generous slice of wickedly decadent chocolate layer cake with whipped cream to go took care of the voucher nicely.
The next day when I arrived in Santa Claus, Ind., at the Silent Night Café for lunch, I still had enough chocolate cake to share with my hosts in Spencer County who certainly know it is better to give than receive.
They gave us Bears fans their native son, star quarterback Jay Cutler. Yes, I BELIEVE in Santa Claus!
Just across the street lay Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Resort which was named the 2008-09 National RV Park of the Year.
Located adjacent to Holiday World Theme Park, it offers over 200 family rentals and you don’t even have to own an RV or tent to stay — plenty of rental RVs are available.
Around the corner on Holiday Drive not far from the Post Office (they still get hundreds of letters to Santa each year) you’ll find the newly opened Santa Claus Christmas store featuring gifts in every price range.
Next it was off to the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, but not before a stop at Buffalo Run Farm for a look at some live bison commemorating the massive herds that once crossed the Ohio River near Buffaloville.
Lincoln and his family were ferried across the Ohio near here and moved to southern Indiana from Kentucky in 1816 when Abe was just a boy of seven.
They did not move to New Salem, Ill., until 1830 when the future president turned 21.
You can tour the Lincoln Living Historical Farm year round and during the summer the Lincoln Amphitheatre at nearby Lincoln State Park offers a Broadway quality theatrical production of his life along with a Black Buggy Amish style meal.
Next it was time for me to head east to Perry County and my residence for the next two nights — Forgotten Times Cabins.
My original 1850’s cabin was disassembled and moved to a bluff overlooking Oil Creek and was decorated with an early American motif.
I felt just like young Lincoln when I climbed the ladder to my loft bedroom that night for a quiet night’s rest in the woods.
However, the next morning found me on the banks of the Ohio River checking out the luxurious Colucci log cabins near Magnet, Ind.
From the romantic “Bonnie Pearl” with its heart shaped Jacuzzi to the “Lodge at Buzzard’s Roost” perched hundreds of feet above the river, I was totally impressed with their variety of cabins and views.
Just down the river in tiny Rome, Ind., (had to visit my boyhood home namesake), I had the pleasure of meeting 91-year-old former Indiana Governor Edgar Whitcomb.
He makes his permanent home in Rome but couldn’t resist showing me his own private cabin in the solitude of the Hoosier National Forest with a spectacular river view.
Lunch was served up Hwy 66 at the Rocky Point Waterfront Grille.
Strategically located on the “Dodd Dam Road to Leavenworth,” owner Jim Weeks was thawing fish for his all you can eat Friday night fish fry.
I took the opportunity to try his Catfish Curls (why not if chicken can have fingers) and to talk to some of the dozens of bass fisherman preparing for the big tournament on the river over the weekend.
Hunting and fishing are big business in Perry County including a national wild turkey hunt in an outdoor lover’s paradise.
With nearly 60,000 acres of the county in the Hoosier National Forest, there are also numerous trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding.
The Indiana Uplands Wine Trail winds through Southern Indiana and includes Winzerwald Winery (German for vintners of the forest). Conveniently located just off I-64, I especially enjoyed their Gluhwein, a spiced red wine.
Blue Heron Winery, situated on a high bluff just off the Ohio River National Scenic Byway, is another great place to relax with a bottle of wine. Check out the magnificent stone carving of a Celtic Cross at the base of the bluff.
My final stop in Southern Indiana was at Bear Hollow Wood Carvers near Saint Croix — The Largest Chainsaw Sculpture Gallery in the United States.
I arrived just in time for their Fall Fest featuring eight of the top chainsaw carvers in the country including RD Coonrod of Quincy, Ill., and owner Jason Emmons himself.
The “Buzz” surrounding the event was evident as the white pine logs were soon transformed into bears, eagles, raccoons, and a variety of other critters all set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
These artists amazed me in their ability to create a work of art quickly and creatively with exquisite detail using chainsaws of all shapes and sizes. See for yourself at www.bearhollowindiana.com.
For complete information on all the wonderful sights and attractions in Southern Indiana go to www.visitevansville.com, www.ExploreSouthernIndiana.com and www.SouthernIndiana.org.
For more about Mark Bradley, click here.
Chillicothe, Ill. —
