Visit Whitestown Boone Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Whitestown, Indiana: Discover the friendly town with the exciting High Bridge Park and the unique Monon Center!
Honestly, if you ask me, what most people over Whitestown call “historical gem”, is actually just a bit of dust and a few old wooden houses that have been watching the Indiana Frontiers since the 1820s. I dragged myself from here the other day by train from Indianapolis – the line stops just in front of the city centre, so you either have to go on foot or borrow a folding bike that you can then push through the flat fields. The city was founded in 1829, named after the then Governor, and has since then experienced more growth than a cactus in the rain. I don't quite understand the hype about modern housing estates, but the small café on Main Street, which I accidentally discovered, serves the best coffee far and wide – no joke, that's almost a cult place. And then there is the old court building, which today serves as a community center; the crunching halls tell stories about mayors who knew more about tax relief than about real history. So if you're looking for Whitestown landmarks, forget about the usual tourist clichés and get surprised by the quiet corners that only a real insider can appreciate.
So, next time you climb over Highway 31, make a trip to Whitestown – I swear, the first thing you need to see is the old Town Hall building that somehow swings between “dusted museum” and “local pride”. I once organized a spontaneous picnic, because parking is almost always free in front of the door, except on Sundays, when the city administration throws a barbecue and suddenly every place has a “reserved for mayor” sign. The building itself is made of red brick, the windows have these thick, slightly sloping sprouts, and there is an old portrait of a founder I can never say because it appears only exists in the archives. Nevertheless, this is a perfect spot to sniff a bit of history before you fall back into modernity.
Right next to the town hall, the White River Trail, a narrow path that is more than just a walk – it is the backbone of the Whitestown Attractions for those who believe that nature and suburbs cannot fit together. I put out my running shoes there the other day, just to see that the grass is so high in some places that you almost feel you run through a field, not through a trail. By the way, this is the reason why you get up early on the weekend: parking at the Trailhead is then a little wonder, because otherwise a few families with picnic blankets block the entire parking lot.
A short detour to the Whitestown Community Park is like a little jump into childhood – if you're lucky, you'll still see the old metal slides that I thought as a teenager "too old-fashioned" but now seem somehow retro. I remember starting an improvised baseball game with my cousin there because the official field was just occupied by a youth group. The toilets are clean, this is a plus, and parking is almost always a Klacks as long as you are not there on Friday night after the weekly Food Truck Festival – then the field becomes a mini market and you have to go through between burger stands and pop-up art installations.
If you prefer to stay inside, check out the Whitestown Public Library. I once borrowed a book about local legends that I have never finished reading because I have been interested in the café that is next to the reading room. The coffee is not a joke, and the Wi-Fi even works when you hide in the back corner with your laptop. Parking is a bit tricky here: the small visitor park house is often full, but a short walk to the street is enough to find a free place – provided that you are not just the “hours of history” event there, then the whole neighborhood becomes the pedestrian zone chaaos.
Another highlight I can't leave is the Whitestown Golf Club. Yes, a golf course in a city that is more connected to crops and suburban roads sounds absurd, but the 18 holes are actually well maintained and the clubhouse serves a breakfast that is better than what you get in most diners along I‐65. I spent a morning there because I thought a bit of golf was a nice change – the result was that I spent more time searching my balls in the water than hitting them. Nevertheless, parking is huge, you can just turn off your car at the edge and have enough space to unload your golf bag without having to fight you through a labyrinth of small entrances.
Finally, if you want to catch the real Whitestown feeling, go to the weekly Farmers Market on Saturday morning. The market is a collection of fresh vegetables, handmade soaps and a stand that allegedly sells the best homemade apple cakes in the region – I did not test it because I prefer to enjoy the scent of freshly brewed coffee from the adjacent café. Parking is the real adventure here: the street in front of the market is usually full, so plan a few minutes extra to find a place, or get ready to walk a few meters on foot while balancing your shopping bags.
I must admit that my first stop after waking up in Whitestown was not the city centre – that would be too simple – but the Monon Trail, which moves like a narrow, slightly worn belt through the suburbs. I dressed my running shoes because I thought that would be a typical “Fit-Tourist”-Move, and then suddenly I was in the middle of a group of commuters who spoke loudly about the weather while an older couple leisurely put their dogs out. The trail is well signposted, parking at the beginning is usually a Klacks, except for the weekends when the local jogger clubs take over the field and you ask yourself if you have just entered a gym.
A short detour to the east leads you to Zionsvillewhere the main road of red brick almost looks like a set of film from the 50s. I discovered a café there that claims to serve the best latte in the area – no joke, the foam was actually an artwork. While I was sitting there, an elderly man came by telling me that the city was once an important railway hub and that the old railway signal is still at the edge of the square. This is not only a nice photo motif, but also a small time jump that reminds you that there is more history than you would suspect at first sight.
Just a few minutes away Boone County Historical Society Museum. I have actually overlooked the museum only from a fleeting mention in a guide, but the exhibition about the early settlers and the old barn, in which you can still feel real, crunchy wooden beams, has completely knocked me over. The staff is friendly, but not exaggerated enthusiastic – they give you the feeling that you are really welcome here without overloading you with endless anecdotes. Practical: Parking is right behind the building and you can park your bike there if you come from the Monon Trail.
If you have enough of history and want some nature, then that is Eagle Creek Park A must. The lake is huge, the water is clear enough to forget your swimming wings, and the trails wind through dense forests that offer a firework of red and yellow shades in autumn. I remember renting a kayak there on a hot July-day – that was a bit exaggerated, because I could barely row, but the laughing of my fellow drivers who called me “Paddel-Papst” was invaluable. Parking is usually free at the main entrance, but at the weekend it can come to a small mess when the families move with barbecue equipment.
A bit further south, almost into the city, this is Conner Prairie Interactive History Park. I visited the “Prairie Farm” there, where you can actually milk cows – yes, that’s real, and it’s a bit embarrassing when you first try to get the milk out and bring the barrel to overflow. The park is huge, so plan enough time, otherwise you miss the live demonstrations that take place almost daily. Parking is free at the main entrance, but the access roads can be quite full on holidays.
For those who prefer to experience the adrenaline in the form of speed, this is Indianapolis Motor Speedway a place you should not leave. I visited the museum there before I watched the race on TV – that was a bit like a taste of what locals celebrate every year in May. The route is impressive, and the visitor centre offers a good overview of the history of motorsport. Parking is possible at the main gate, but if you arrive by train, you have to set yourself on a short walk, because public transport does not offer the nonplusultra of comfort here.
A last but not less interesting stop is that Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. I was there because I thought a little art would round off my trip, and I wasn't disappointed. The sculpture gardens are perfect for a picnic, and the museum itself has an impressive collection, ranging from classic painting to modern installation. Parking is free at the main entrance, and the museum offers a free shuttle from the nearby train station if you don't want to drive around.
If you ask yourself what you can experience in the area of Whitestown, Worth Township, Boone, Indiana, then these places are a good starting point. From trails to historic museums to huge parks – there is plenty of variety here to inspire even the most incubated travellers. And yes, these are definitely some of the best Whitestown Attractionsthat you shouldn't miss.
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