Indiana
Discover Indiana
Indiana is a state in the heart of the Midwest region of the United States. Indiana is more than a fly-over state with one large metropolitan area, rural farmland, and cozy college towns. Indiana is mostly rural with high population concentrations in a few major cities/towns. The majority of Indiana is open farmland, though this is changing with expansion.
Taste of Indiana...
Cuisine throughout much of the state is typical Midwestern, with the occasional odd dish like Corn Casserole. Outside of the main cities most of the restaurants are diners or family-style, while in the bigger cities you can find all sorts of varied cuisine. Indianapolis, in particular, has a very cosmopolitan selection of ethnic restaurants from around the world, as do major campus towns (Bloomington, West Lafayette). Lake County, as in most everything, diverges from the norm in Indiana, and is a better place to find Chicago-style food like hot dogs and pizza. Hoosiers know how to drink! Wherever you are, you would be hard pressed to not find a bar. The trendiest part of the state for a drink is probably Broad Ripple in Indianapolis, but you will find streets packed with bars and pubs throughout the cities of the state, especially near major universities in Bloomington, West Lafayette, and South Bend. Micro-breweries are present in all the major cities, Upland from Bloomington is especially popular and available throughout the state. Drink prices can be very low in Indiana—especially out of the Nine-County Region. It's not uncommon to find domestic bottled beer for $1 during the week, with other varying specials. For dancing and nightlife, the main options are in and around Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, as well as by the major universities. Liquor stores are open on Sundays throughout the state. Hours are noon to 8PM.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsIndianapolis International Airport (IND) is the major airport in the state with flights to many cities around the country. Direct international service to IND is limited, and includes a daily Air Canada flight to Toronto and service by Southwest and American to Cancún. Small airports in Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend offer flights to nearby hub cities. Air service is also available from airports in neighboring states, such as Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville. Numerous interstate highways enter and leave the state. Interstates 80 and 90 form the Indiana Toll Road in northern Indiana, linking Chicago, Hammond, Gary, South Bend, and Ohio. Interstate 94 hugs most of Lake Michigan from Illinois to Michigan. Interstate 65 is the major north-south route from Gary south to Indianapolis then entering Kentucky at Louisville. Interstate 70 is the busiest east-west route linking Illinois (at Terre Haute) with Ohio (at Richmond), passing through Indianapolis midway....
Regions
Explore AreasIndiana is mostly rural with high population concentrations in a few major cities/towns. The majority of Indiana is open farmland, though this is changing with expansion. Most of Indiana is in the Eas…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Indiana's motto is "The Crossroads of America" and it is deserving. Indiana has more Interstates (14) than any other state its size, although the original name comes from all the railroad tracks that went through the state. Your traditional sightseeing in Indiana belongs in Indianapolis, which is flush with big museums, an inordinate quantity of giant monuments and memorials, and a very nice canal walk with paddleboats and public art. Outside the cities, and outside of the seemingly endless farmland in the plains, are a host of parks and outdoor recreation areas worth visiting. Without a doubt, the one to see, if you must choose, is Indiana Dunes National Park (and Indiana Dunes State Park). The dunes are enormous, the water crystal clear, the swampy forests beautiful, and the far-off industrial views intriguing. Cuisine throughout much of the state is typical Midwestern, with the occasional odd dish like Corn Casserole.
Language & Talk
While English is the common language, there are regions of Indiana where the Amish live who also speak Pennsylvania Dutch, which is related to German. In Northwest Indiana, particularly East Chicago, Spanish is widely spoken. Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is the major airport in the state with flights to many cities around the country. Direct international service to IND is limited, and includes a daily Air Canada flight to Toronto and service by Southwest and American to Cancún. Small airports in Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend offer flights to nearby hub cities. Air service is also available from airports in neighboring states, such as Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville. Numerous interstate highways enter and leave the state.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Largely rural, Indiana has a fairly low crime rate per capita. In 2006 (the latest year for which data is available) it ranked 29th in crimes per 100,000 population. Large urban areas are exceptions like the former steel town Gary and the outlying Chicago area in the Northwest and certain segments of Indianapolis. While outside of Tornado Alley, Indiana has a fairly high occurrence of tornadoes. You might want to check the Tornado safety page if you are visiting Indiana. The vast majority of Indiana is on Eastern Time. For decades, that part of Indiana was on year-round standard time, but it's observed Daylight Saving Time since 2006. The five counties of Northwestern Indiana (near Chicago) and several counties around Evansville are on Central Time.