Indiana's license plate says "Crossroads of America" and the description is geographically accurate — more interstate highways converge here than in any other state. But it undersells what Indiana actually is. The state has 90 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with dunes that rise to 200 feet — the Indiana Dunes National Park, one of America's most diverse ecosystems, sits just 60 miles from downtown Chicago and contains more plant species per square mile than most national parks. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted the Indy 500 — the largest single-day sporting event in the world — every year since 1911. Parke County has more covered bridges than any county in the United States. These are not incidental facts. They are Indiana insisting it be taken seriously.
Indiana's tourism industry generates over $14 billion in economic impact annually, with Indianapolis serving as the primary hub — a city that has reinvented itself as a world-class convention and sporting events destination, with a downtown that is genuinely walkable, affordable, and increasingly interesting to eat in.
Indianapolis, the Dunes & Covered Bridge Country
Indianapolis has quietly assembled one of the strongest cultural cores of any mid-sized American city. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the largest children's museum in the world. The Indianapolis Museum of Art (now Newfields) sits on 152 acres with gardens and an amphitheater. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is extraordinary whether or not you follow racing — the history of American speed and engineering is all here. Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse anchor sports events year-round.
Indiana Dunes National Park's 15,000 acres of dunes, forests, prairie, and wetlands have been described as a "laboratory of plant succession" — it contains 1,100 plant species, more than many states in their entirety. The three tallest dunes (Mount Baldy, Mount Tom, and Mount Jackson) offer Lake Michigan views that feel completely unlike anything in the Midwest interior. The park is accessible by South Shore Line commuter rail from Chicago, making it one of the most accessible national parks in the country.
"Indiana Dunes, 60 miles from Chicago and accessible by commuter rail, contains more plant species per square mile than Yellowstone — one of the most overlooked national parks in America."
Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches, Indy Food & The Hoosier Table
Indiana's signature food is the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich — a pounded, breaded, and fried pork cutlet that typically hangs several inches over the edges of its bun. It is a Midwestern original with no close equivalent anywhere else, and the best versions (Nick's Kitchen in Huntington, Mug 'n Bun in Indianapolis) are worth a dedicated road trip. Indianapolis's restaurant scene has grown dramatically, anchored by the Mass Ave arts corridor and the wholesale transformation of the Fountain Square neighborhood.
A carhop drive-in operating since 1960 and serving Indiana's best pork tenderloin sandwich alongside homemade root beer in frosted mugs. The tenderloin arrives wider than your face, the root beer is brewed on premises, and the experience is pure Indiana Americana.
$ · BudgetSet in a converted 1924 Italianate building in Fountain Square, Bluebeard is Indianapolis's most acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant — charcuterie, Indiana-sourced mains, and a natural wine program. Named after Kurt Vonnegut's novel (Indianapolis's most famous literary son).
$$$ · UpscaleIndianapolis's most storied restaurant, open since 1902. The shrimp cocktail with nuclear-strength horseradish is a legendary dining experience that has reportedly moved grown men to tears. The steaks are serious and the atmosphere is old-school American power dining.
$$$$ · LuxuryThe restaurant that put Indianapolis on the national food map — a brunch-only restaurant in Fletcher Place earning rave reviews from Bon Appétit and national food press. Creative, precise, locally sourced brunch dishes with cocktail pairings. Lines form early; arrive at opening.
$$ · Mid-rangeIndianapolis Hotels & Weekend Getaways Statewide
Indianapolis offers excellent hotel value by major-city standards. Mid-range properties downtown run $120–$200/night; the Conrad Indianapolis and JW Marriott anchor the luxury market at $250–$450/night. Indy 500 weekend (late May) is a complete sell-out — book a year ahead or accept driving from Fort Wayne. Indiana Dunes National Park gateway towns (Michigan City, Chesterton) offer budget motels at $80–$130/night. Bloomington, home to Indiana University's stunning campus, has solid boutique hotels and B&Bs at $100–$180/night.
- Indy 500 is Memorial Day weekend. Hotels within 50 miles sell out a year ahead. The race is genuinely worth attending once in a lifetime — plan far ahead.
- Indiana Dunes is open year-round. Summer brings beach crowds; fall and early spring offer the best dune hiking with manageable temperatures and fewer people.
- Parke County's Covered Bridge Festival (second full week of October) is the largest outdoor festival in Indiana. The 31 covered bridges are drive-accessible — get the county's bridge map at the visitor center.
- Bloomington is 50 miles south of Indianapolis and worth a day — Indiana University's campus, the Monroe Lake outdoor recreation area, and a surprisingly good restaurant scene anchor a college town with real character.
- The pork tenderloin sandwich is the single mandatory food experience in Indiana. Nick's Kitchen in Huntington (northeast Indiana) is widely considered the state's best.
- Indiana has more motorsport facilities per capita than any state — beyond Indy, Lucas Oil Raceway, Putnam Park, and dozens of local tracks create a year-round racing culture.
Indiana on Its Own Terms
Indiana has the misfortune of sitting between two states (Illinois and Ohio) with more dominant cultural identities, which means it rarely gets credit for what it actually is. The Dunes are extraordinary. The Speedway is one of American sport's most extraordinary venues. The food scene in Indianapolis is growing fast enough that the city's culinary reputation is finally catching up to its reality. Come with an open mind and a willingness to order something fried with a pork tenderloin hanging over its bun — Indiana will deliver.
Crossroads, and proud. 🏎️