Since it is hard to observe Indiana’s hidden gems when traveling by air to coastal locations, the state is already considered a hidden gem.
Don’t fly over the next time. Rather, choose Indiana as your 2025 vacation spot. Even better, pick obscure, little places to see the Hoosier State in a manner that most residents haven’t.
These eight underappreciated communities offer fairytale-like woodlands, German specialties, and biblical gardens.
Alexandria
Though it doesn’t have a famous library or a monument in Washington, the much less frequented city of Alexandria, Indiana, is home to the largest ball of paint in the world.
Mike Carmichael started the ball, which weighs around 11,000 pounds and has over 30,000 layers of paint. He continues to maintain it nearly 50 years later.
Carmichael allows others to add their own layers if they are informed, as he has done for guests from an estimated 63 nations. As evidence of their record-keeping efforts, each receives a certificate.
Have fun at other Alexandria attractions after painting the ball, such as the Alex Movie Theatre, which will be showing Snow White and A Minecraft Movie in July, and Beulah Park, which is the site of the Madison County 4H Fair every July.
Darlington
The name of Darlington is the finest description. According to the 2020 Census, this municipality has just 711 individuals and is surrounded by Sugar Creek and Honey Creek.
The Darlington Covered Bridge, a picturesque mainstay for over 150 years, crosses Sugar Creek, making it even more adorable. Before indulging in sweets at the nearby Honey brook Cafe, take a stroll over that charming brook.
However, especially if you are in Darlington on the first weekend of September, try not to overindulge in strawberry shortcake pancakes.
At the yearly Darlington Fish Fry Festival, make sure to leave space for fish sandwiches. Stay for a foam party, fireworks, cornhole, beer, ice cream, and even an antique tractor show.
Warsaw
Warsaw is a literal and metaphorical paradise tucked away in northern Indiana. In addition to more than 100 bodies of water spread over the county, weary tourists can find not one, not two, but three lakes in Warsaw.
The largest is Winona Lake, which is so large that it gave rise to a distinct village of its own.
After swimming, fishing, kayaking, pontooning, and stand-up paddleboarding at Winona Lake for the morning, explore the Warsaw Biblical Gardens’ Center Lake shoreline or venture off the usual route to Hidden Lake.
The Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts offers its “rural community exceptional artistic performances in theater, orchestra, and music.” Don’t miss a presentation there in the evening.
Oldenburg
Oldenburg offers Old Country charm, as its name suggests. Named after the German city of Oldenburg, it was populated by Germans over 200 years ago.
With the exception of one final component—fried chicken—this small community, now known as the Village of Spires, remains unnoticed while drawing tourists with German-style restaurants like the Brau Haus and Catholic landmarks like the Immaculate Conception Convent.
The James Beard Award for Indiana’s best hidden fried chicken restaurant went to Wagner’s Village Inn in 2023.
Freudenfest, a yearly summer celebration that includes a spires toss and a traditional Oldenburg supper of chicken, sausage, and sauerkraut, is a great place to mix religious imagery, German food, and award-winning fried chicken.
Greencastle
There are many well-known environmental preserves in Indiana, particularly Indiana Dunes State and National Park near Chesterton and Turkey Run State Park near Marshall. In the vicinity of Greencastle, a very little community in west-central Indiana, there are two little-known but highly regarded sanctuaries.
The first is DePauw Nature Park, a 520-acre sanctuary overseen by DePauw University situated in a former quarry.
The second is Fern Cliff Nature Preserve, a 157-acre fern forest with the National Natural Landmark of the same name at its heart.
If you’re not into the outdoors, Greencastle has plenty of indoor attractions, such as the Bridges Craft Pizza & Wine Bar and the Putnam Inn.
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