Indiana Tourism Just Had Its Biggest Year on Record. What Are 83 Million People Coming For?
Indiana welcomed about 83.3 million visitors in 2024, setting a new high for statewide travel. Visitor volume rose nearly 2% compared with 2023, while total spending reached a record $16.9 billion. Average spending came to about $203 per visitor. Tourism spending also surpassed pre-pandemic levels after increasing by 4.7% inContinue Reading
Gen Con Turns Indianapolis Into the Nerdiest City in America Every August – Here’s What It’s Like
Costumed adventurers, armored warriors, wizards, superheroes, and characters carrying oversized props fill downtown Indianapolis each August. Convention badges hang around nearly every neck, gaming merchandise fills shopping bags, and packed sidewalks create a scene closer to a fantasy festival than a typical Midwestern weekend. Gen Con brings tabletop gaming cultureContinue Reading
Moving to Indiana in 2026 – What Nobody Tells You Before You Get Here
Moving to Indiana can look like an easy financial win. Housing prices are lower than in many coastal and fast-growing states, commutes are often manageable, and many communities offer more space for the money. Daily life, however, depends heavily on location. Indianapolis, Carmel, Fort Wayne, Gary, Bloomington, and small ruralContinue Reading
Why Are People Leaving Illinois for Indiana? The Border Migration Explained
Indiana became the leading destination for Illinois residents who moved to another state in 2024. About 25,700 people relocated across the state line, placing Indiana ahead of Florida and Wisconsin. Proximity plays a major role in that decision. Northwest Indiana gives households access to lower housing costs and a differentContinue Reading
The Covered Bridge Festival Is Indiana’s Biggest Event You’ve Never Heard Of
More than 2 million people reportedly visit Parke County each fall for Indiana’s largest festival. Yet many travelers outside Indiana and nearby states have never heard of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. Historic bridges, bright fall colors, local cooking, craft markets, and small-town traditions fill ten busy October days.Continue Reading
Before Late Night, David Letterman Was an Indianapolis Weatherman
David Letterman became one of America’s most recognizable late-night hosts, appearing in more than 6,000 episodes during his television career. Long before national fame, he worked in Indiana as a radio announcer, television anchor, reporter, children’s-show host, and weatherman. Each position gave him room to test jokes, experiment with awkwardContinue Reading
James Dean Was a Farm Kid From Fairmount, Indiana and the Town Never Forgot Him
James Dean’s face appears on Fairmount’s municipal water tower. At Park Cemetery, lipstick marks cover his gravestone, left by fans who still travel to Indiana to honor him. Hollywood presented Dean as a restless rebel in a leather jacket. Fairmout remembered “Jimmie,” a farm kid who attended school, played basketball,Continue Reading
Indiana Beach Towns – Where Hoosiers Actually Go on Lake Michigan
Indiana beach towns sit along the state’s northwest corner, where Lake Michigan creates real beach days with sand, dunes, waves, and lakefront parks. Indiana’s Dunes area includes 9 scenic, swimmable beaches and 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Visitors do not need a coastal state for a proper summer trip.Continue Reading
Is Carmel, Indiana Really One of the Best Places to Live in America?
Carmel, Indiana, earned the No. 1 spot on U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 to 2027 Best Places to Live list. City officials announced the result on May 19, 2026, noting that Carmel ranked first among 250 places. Carmel’s case is built on more than a headline. Strong safety scores,Continue Reading
Columbus, Indiana – The Small Town Architecture Critics Fly In to See
Columbus, Indiana, sits about 45 to 50 miles south of Indianapolis, but its reputation reaches far past its size. With just over 50,000 residents, it has become one of America’s best-known small cities for modern architecture, civic design, and public art. Nicknamed the “Athens of the Prairie,” Columbus carries aContinue Reading
Morel Season in Indiana – The Springtime Hunt Hoosiers Won’t Tell You About
Morel season in Indiana is not just a search for wild mushrooms. It is a spring ritual built around timing, patience, local knowledge, and a little mystery. Each year, Hoosiers walk into damp woods with mesh bags, pocket knives, and stories passed around for generations. Some talk about weather signs.Continue Reading