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Indianapolis
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The Terre Haute Destination can be found in the western region of Indiana, additionally covering a small portion of eastern Illinois. An abundance of forested areas are scattered throughout the destination, containing wildlife such as rabbits, white-tailed deer, raccoons, shrews, and wetland birds including geese, ducks, and swans, to name a few.[7] Indianapolis, one of the most prominent cities in the area, draws in a fair amount of tourists annually, some of which visit the destination to engage in outdoor recreational activities at White River State Park. Visitors may explore the area by foot, boat, or bicycle, to see the varying attractions such as the Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, and several concert venues.[5] In addition to the attractions of the city, Indianapolis is known to be Indiana’s state capital and has been such since 1825.[4] The most ideal time to visit Indianapolis is reported to generally be from June through September; however, July is the hottest month in the city as temperatures rise to nearly 87 degrees Fahrenheit on average.[6]

What Indianapolis is known for

Located in the western region of Indiana, the Terre Haute Destination derives its name from a city within the destination, Terre Haute, named after a French phrase that means “highlands.” French explorers of the 18th century had discovered a plateau-like area that joined with the Wabash River, thus creating the name for the city.[1] Surrounding cities of Terre Haute include North Terre Haute, Seelyville, Brazil, Linton, Bloomington, Youngstown, and St. Mary-Of-The-Woods, as well as Paris and Marshall located in the neighboring state, Illinois. A portion of eastern Illinois can be found in the Terre Haute Destination as the namesake of the destination is nearly five miles east of the state’s western border. Indianapolis, the most prominent city in the Terre Haute Destination, has a general population of 892,656, as of 2020. Currently, the population is growing at an annual rate of 0.61%, with a growth of 8.65% since 2010 when, at the time, the city had been home to 821,579. The racial demographic of the city is 60.9% white, 28.55% African American or Black, 3.43% Asian, and 3.47% of other races.[2]

White River State Park occupies land in the heart of Indianapolis and is comprised of other parks, attractions, and land features including Military Park, White River Gardens, the Central Canal, Indianapolis Zoo, and White River itself. Various concert venues and theaters can also be found, including places such as The TCU Amphitheater and the IMAX Theater. Touring the park by bicycle or by pedal boats and kayaks is an option for those who take interest in exploring the White River State Park.[5] Attractions vary throughout the city of Indianapolis, with one of the more popular ones being The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, which, according to Indianapolis’s official website, is “the largest children’s museum in the world,” and was additionally voted as “one of the best” by Child Magazine and USAToday. Similar to other museums, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis features interactive exhibits that primarily emphasize the subjects of history, science, art, and culture. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is only one of many museums in the city, as art galleries and museums play a major role in the Indianapolis culture. Another noteworthy museum is the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, featuring more than 152 acres of gardens that visitors can explore. The Indiana Historical Society, the Indiana State Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Dallara IndyCar Factory are a few other attractions that typically draw in a number of tourists.[3]

Bloomington, another notable city in the Terre Haute Destination, features over 30 pizza joints, restaurants that serve authentic international cuisine from nearly 20 countries, and almost 10 wineries, breweries, and distilleries in total. Though Bloomington is relatively smaller in size, the downtown area of the city contains local restaurants, shops, bars, and venues that draw in a number of tourists annually. Kirkwood Avenue, in particular, is one of Bloomington's most iconic promenades and can be found in downtown Bloomington as well.[8]

Geography

A typical summer season in Indianapolis can be described as humid, warm, wet, and long, in contrast to the winter season, which is cold, snowy, windy, and short. Temperatures rarely drop below 3 degrees Fahrenheit and rarely rise above 92 degrees as they generally range between 22 and 85 degrees. July is the hottest month of the year in Indianapolis, with an average high of 87 degrees and an average low of 67 degrees, while the coldest month, which occurs during January, has an average high of 36 degrees and an average low of 23 degrees. The best time of year to visit Indianapolis falls between June to late September, as temperatures are relatively warmer and can allow opportunities for outdoor recreation. Precipitation varies day-to-day throughout the year as March through August are the months that generally receive the highest number of wet days. In the month of June alone, a total of 12.3 days receive rain on average, with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation.[6]

The Terre Haute Destination is characterized by many aquatic land features, namely, Van Bibber Lake, Cecil M Harden Lake, Cagles Mill Lake, Lake Monroe, the Wabash River, and the White River that runs through Indianapolis. Wildlife that can potentially be seen when visiting the Terre Haute Destination includes white-tailed deer and mammals that are smaller in size including rabbits, raccoons, skunks, moles, shrews, opossums, and bats, as well as rodents such as woodchucks, squirrels, mice, and rats. The wetlands in the southwest contain beavers, muskrats, and various birds including geese, ducks, swans, and the sandhill crane. Plantlife in Indiana consists mainly of hickories, oaks, maples, and sycamores. Various species of ferns can also be found in the woodlands of the Terre Haute Destination, especially considering that there are many forested areas in the destination. During the spring, some of the most commonly found trees that typically bloom through this season are the tulip trees and dogwood.[7]

History

The historical background of the Terre Haute Destination contains mainly rail and road networking, as the city of Terre Haute had been given the nickname “The Crossroads of America.” William Henry's construction of Fort Harrison in 1811 was the first American settlement in the area; however, the inhabitants that resided there before the construction of Fort Harrison were Wea Indians who lived in a village called Weatano. As the new settlers arrived at the land, the Wea Indians were banished and forced to take residence elsewhere. What is now known as Terre Haute was previously land filled with orchards and meadows, where the Wea had roamed. Eventually, Terre Haute became the county seat of Vigo County in March 1818; though, the official establishment of becoming a town took place in 1832, then as a city in 1853.[1]

In addition to railroad networking that had become part of Terre Haute in 1852, the city’s economy began to thrive when it became a port for steamboats and water trade. The construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal and the National Road also contributed to the development of the trade. Another significant addition to the economy at the time was pork processing, which had been beneficial prior to the occurrence of the Civil War which caused it to decline. Years later, when World War II took place, goods and supplied labor were being provided and Terre Haute began to improve. Many of the buildings that can currently be found in Terre Haute are original to when they were first built, some of which–including the Indiana State University–date back to 1865.[1] 

Indiana’s state capital, Indianapolis, became such in 1825, four years after being founded in 1821. Similar to Terre Haute, Indianapolis had been a railroad center during the start of the Civil War. From 1860 to 1870, the city’s population more than doubled, due to its significance in Union logistics that was causing it to develop.[4]

The NCCA, as well as other organizations including the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, aided the growth of Indianapolis’s economy starting in the 1970s, as the city was putting forth the effort into becoming an international center of amateur sports. An abundance of other sports venues can be found throughout the city, namely the Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and the Indianapolis Tennis Center, to name a few.[4]

#1
4.95 (202 Reviews)

The Wampler House Bed and Breakfast is located in the Bloomington Proper in a rural area of Bloomington, Indiana. There are eight guest accommodations on the property, each including amenities such as jacuzzi tubs, walk-in showers, pull-out beds, and private balconies. The owner and chef, Zack, prepares a hot breakfast every morning. The original home of Wampler House was built in 1857 and, although extensive renovations were made, the home still has the same walls and flooring it did when built in the 1800s. The Wampler House Bed and Breakfast is open year-round.

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#2
4.7 (133 Reviews)

Clayshire Castle

Bowling Green, Indiana

Clayshire Castle

Clayshire Castle is located in Indiana. It is located in the countryside of Bowling Green. The Clayshire Castle does its best to provide a unique bed and breakfast experience with its medieval theme and decorating styles. The historical hotel is also able to host events like weddings, if guests would like. During the month of September, usually the last weekend, the Clayshire Castle will host an annual fair that guests can enjoy.

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#3

Nestle Inn

Indianapolis, Indiana
3.27 (519 Reviews)

The Nestle Inn is located near downtown Indianapolis. In the three-story home, there are six rooms. The owners, Robert and Leesa Smith, strive to give guests a modern B&B experience. The inside of the home has been renovated and is more modern than its 1896 exterior. Rooms come with various amenities, including private bathrooms, and each varies with king and queen-sized beds. Breakfast is not served at Nestle Inn specifically, though guests are given vouchers that allow them to eat at one of two nearby restaurants at any time of the day. The staff strives to give every guest a memorable experience. The inn is mostly known for its location and being within walking distance from many shops and restaurants. They also offer a cooking class if scheduled in advance from professional chefs specializing in savory dishes, baking, and pastries.

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#4
4.7 (110 Reviews)

Old Northside Bed and Breakfast is a house that occupies a third of an acre near downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The owner of the bed and breakfast, Gary Hofmeister, says that the establishment is located on the edge of downtown. Indianapolis has many locations that visitors may take an interest in as well, such as the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, the Indiana State Museum, Newfields, and various monuments and historical places. Those who are staying at Old Northside Bed and Breakfast are given the option to reserve one of seven distinctly themed rooms that are characterized by different styles, such as the Hollywood Room, The Rose Garden Room, and The Bridal Room. A snack bar with homemade cookies, popcorn, soft drinks, pretzels, bottled water, and other treats is also available for guests. The owner reports that about 4,000 movies are at his property, and he says that many visitors like to watch movies after taking some popcorn or soda from the snack bar.

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