On our latest Explore Indiana adventure, we visited a 200-year-old city in Southern Indiana along the banks of the Ohio River. While heading to a soccer tournament in Cincinnati, we stopped for an afternoon to explore Aurora in Dearborn County.
A few of the main tourist attractions are closed for winter (dang winter!), but luckily, Aurora is full of historic buildings, beautiful outdoor murals and quaint shops to visit.
Hillforest Mansion
Our first stop was Hillforest Mansion. It is closed for the season, but I still thought it was worth a peep. Completed in 1855 and built in the Italian Renaissance style, the mansion is now a national historic landmark and absolutely beautiful. As I love poking around old homes, this will have to be a re-visit next time I get down this way when it’s open for tours.
Downtown Aurora
After snapping a few pictures of this gorgeous tourist attraction, we headed downtown. I parked the car (ample free street parking) to stroll the main street and see what we could discover. River towns are so interesting as they tend to be laid out so that the businesses head down towards the river versus the traditional Indiana downtown square.
Aurora was incorporated in 1819, so they just celebrated their 200 year anniversary. Most of the downtown buildings have been carefully restored and maintained, which makes for captivating architecture. In addition to several large, eye-catching murals, there is a walking tour called the Windows of Aurora that show scenes of life in the early 1900s. Go to their website to print out a map or download an app to help you find the murals. I printed it before we left, but we ended up just trying to spot the paintings as we strolled the main street.
In addition to a few interesting antique stores, there is a darling clothing boutique and a delicious ice cream store next door to it called Wellington’s Ice Cream Palace. Even though it was a brisk, wintery day when we visited, we had to indulge. The ice cream is all from Madison, WI and the vanilla has won #1 vanilla for years. It is super creamy and rich – YUM! The shop has an adorable courtyard in the back of the building perfect for enjoying ice cream while watching the kids play cornhole and basking in the sunshine.
Towards the end of the street near the river is an adorable little riverfront park called Gabbard Riverfront Park. The park has several swings, a grassy yard and a wonderful mural on the building across the lawn.
On the way out of town, is a local winery, but sadly they are closed until April too. I guess we’ll just have to make a trip back!
With a gorgeous historic home, a handful of unique shops, an art-filled main street and decadent ice cream, it is easy to spend an afternoon exploring Aurora’s charms. Add in nearby Lawrenceburg and you can happily enjoy a quick Midwestern family mini-vacation.
Other Midwest Vacation Ideas
Interested in other small towns perfect for a day trip (or even overnight) from Indy? Or you could combine a few of these fun day trips and string together a fantastic long weekend getaway.
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I’d do all this stuff if we ever visit Aurora. I’ve come to really like historical mansions and always been in love with locally made ice cream
I agree – always things I search out when we travel.
These are great ideas. I love checking our historic homes on my travels.
Great ideas! That ice cream shop looks cute!
They were so friendly too – we were the only patrons that day so we chatted with them for quite a while.
Me too!
Love that ice cream shop! It reminds me of a gelato place at Portofino Bay Resort at Universal in Orlando. Love the old homes, too! Looks like a great place to visit.
Sounds lovely – I’d like to be in Orlando about now!
Hillforest mansion is beautiful! I would love to go in there when it opens. And who doesn’t love ice cream?
Yep, a little history and a little something sweet make for a fantastic afternoon.
I’ve never been to Aurora. It looks so cute! I love your trips through Indiana. they always make me smile.
Thank you – it’s been so much fun to explore all the nooks and crannies of the state – I can’t wait to get back out there!
I love visiting historic mansions and hearing all about the history. Aurora looks like such a cute town!
I think river towns are always cute – but this one was quite lovely.
It’ll be interesting to see inside the Mansion when you get back.
Yes, I’ll have to update this post for sure.
I love your entire Indiana staycation series…and would love to visit this charming place – especially the historical home.
I don’t mind ice cream in the winter, especially if it’s vanilla & voted #1, too! Would be nice to explore inside the historical mansion (too bad it’s close for the winter), beautiful exterior.
I agree – ice cream is good year-round! I do want to get back to see the inside of the mansion someday.
Thanks! I’m hoping I’ll be able to get back out there someday soon!
Those buildings are soooo gorgeous! I love historic homes and mansions and this looks like such a charming town!
It really is!
I love finding adventures in my home state! This will need to be a must visit soon.
It’s a cute little town for sure.
What a nice area to explore. Hillcrest Mansion looks amazing and definitely a house I would like to explore.
What a cute looking town! I love checking out little historic towns like this.
Me too – one of my favorite pastimes.
This looks like my kind of place! The Hillforest Mansion looks so interesting. I love checking out places like that. And who can resist ice cream? Not this girl.
Right?
I love that you are doing this! Aurora looks charming. I love the older homes.
Thanks – I can’t wait to get back to it!
We are planning a midwest summer trip but not sure if it will happen! I will have to see if this is close to our route.
If you hit Indiana at all, there are tons of places – let me know if you end up driving through and I’ll be happy to give you suggestions.
I would love to visit Hillforest Mansion. Love learning about history.
Indiana hasn’t really been on my radar but we have decided we wanted to try hit all 50 states so this is a good place to add to the list!
There are a lot of great places in Indy to visit. Check out my Explore Indiana post to see which ones I’ve hit so far: http://bit.ly/2ZkJ8ea
My son and his family are not too far from Aurora….adding it to my travel wish list!
I love to spend the day touring historical homes.
This town looks so cute! I would definitely be stopping at the Ice Cream Palace!!
I love historical mansion tours & this one sounds very interesting. Thank you for sharing your trip!
I love historic towns with quaint shops. So picturesque.
You always visit such amazing places! This Michigander needs to book a road trip to Indiana to discover these towns. Thank you!
Thanks! We love Michigan too – very similar feel to Indiana. Something about the Midwest!
I would love to visit Aurora in southern Indiana. It looks like such a cute place!
History and ice cream, what else do you need? Looks like fun!
I agree!