My son and I added another fun Explore Indiana county to our collection when we checked out Greene County. Just a few hours south of Indianapolis, it’s a stark difference from our daily views.
Instead of concrete buildings and traffic galore we encoutered twisty roads, lots of hills and empty roads. It was a beautiful break in the week!
Small Town Treasures
Every road trip should start with coffee, so this one was no exception. The town of Linton was fairly empty except for a tasty little coffee shop downtown. With delicious drinks in hand, we were ready to explore the area.
Our next stop was Bloomfield. This town boasted the county courthouse and a few fun stores. We picked up a puzzle at a wonderful (and large) toy store and poked around a nearby boutique.
Tulip Trestle
At 2,307 feet long and 157 feet tall, the Tulip railroad trestle is one the longest of this type of bridge in the world still in use today. It was really quite the sight to see. It was built in 1906 which is pretty amazing when you stop to think about it.
There is a really nice observation deck with a few parking spots and picnic tables. I wish I’d had the foresight to pack a picnic as it would have been an ideal spot for one. Although a bit out of the way, if you find old structures or bridges interesting it’s well worth a short visit.
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Sculpture Trail
I love hiking and I love art, so the Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum has been on my list for quite some time now. And, it didn’t disappoint. In fact, I was amazed at how many sculptures were scattered throughout the area.
We wandered around for quite some time checking out the many works of art. There were still dozens we didn’t see so I suspect we’ll be back next time we head south. It would make a fantastic break on a longer drive or addition to a nearby weekend getaway.
I did find that the many hills were HARD on me. I hike and walk a lot, but the land is really flat in the Indy area and I guess I’m just not used to that! Apparently I need to add tougher terrain to my workouts.
What’s for lunch?
We struggled a bit finding a great place for lunch. Most of the restaurants we found on Yelp didn’t open until dinner. There was a winery in the area, but it was only open Fri/Sat/Sun when we were visiting.
If only I’d packed that picnic!
We ended up stopping for delicious Thai carryout in Bloomington on our way home. It was the perfect way to end the day!
Do you love day trips? I do and have been making the most of any free days we have by exploring. A few other recent favorites include Henry County and a trip to Muncie, IN!
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Love your staycation series and the adventures you found in Greene County, Indiana. I love sculpture gardens and historic bridges.
Thanks! It’s been a lot of fun exploring -and I still have a lot of places to go!
Indiana seems like it has lots of hidden gems. I would love to check out the Sculpture Trail!
We do have a LOT of hidden gems – it’s been fun discovering them the past few years.
The sculpture trail would be fun. Makes the walking more exciting.
So true!
Looks like a great county to explore. I love sculpture gardens.
I do too, and this was my first experience with one in the woods.
The outdoor museum sounds amazing! That is such a cool place to visit in Indiana!
It was really interesting – if you like hiking and like art, it’s the perfect combo! Plus, fun for little kids – gives them something to look for.
I love small towns and discovering treasure. I love outdoor museums. We have something similar in Raleigh.
Very cool! It’s been too long since I’ve been to Raleigh – I love the whole RTP area!
I love visiting small towns like Greene County! Thanks for the info!
It’s adorable!
I have to admit, I haven’t had many outside adventures this year. I did hike some trails this summer, but I’ve been a slug since the weather turned cooler. (New Mexico does not get as cold as Indiana – but, I’m kind of wimpy about cold weather.)
Looks like there are lots of outdoor opportunities where you live – enjoy!
It’s so much harder in the winter, I agree. I’ve been making myself get out there somedays!
Greene County has lots to offer! I love that sculpture trail!
It was so neat – I’ve never seen anything like it elsewhere.
I love the idea of an outdoor sculpture park! Looks like I need to stop in Greene County next time I’m in the area!
It’s a fun little stop!