Visit Middlebury Clay Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Middlebury, Indiana: Experience the Amish community! Discover traditional crafts and Mennonitic cuisine in the "Dutch Country". The highlight of the visit: The Quilt Garden with 39 art installations. #TravelTip #MiddleburyIndiana
Middlebury Sights are more than just a name on the map – they are a small piece of Indiana history that I want to share with you. Founded in 1836 by a few brave pioneers who settled in the fertile soil of Harrison Township, the town has since been offering more than just field paths and grain storage. The first years were characterized by wooden shoes and the hope that the railroad will look past sometime – a dream that later met, though not quite in the glamour that some guides promise.
When you arrive from Indianapolis, take the I‐70 East, exit Exit 115 to Bedford and follow the country roads south; After about 15 miles you will see the sign “Middlebury”. There is no exaggerated tourist crowd, but there are some rustic cafés that serve their coffee with an eye-catcher. I don't quite understand the hype around the big cities, but the little moments here – a walk at the old cemetery, a short chat with the shop owner who has the same sign over the door since 1952 – are really great. And yes, the “Middlebury Sights” include not only historical buildings, but also the feeling that time is slower here, which is more than enough for a short stop.
A short trip to the nearby Clay County Courthouse is worth it because the brick building from 1873 still hits the heart of the region. You can easily park there when you arrive by train from Terre Haute – the Amtrak stops in the neighboring city of Brazil, from there a short bus or a taxi takes you to the village. So, enough chatter – pack your bags, but leave the phone at home so you can really feel the silence.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Middlebury is not some hip rooftop bar – it is that Middlebury Historical Museum, a tiny but surprisingly well-stocked museum, which is housed in a rebuilt classroom from the 1920s. There you hang old school books, a few yellowed maps and a few dusty tools from the time when the city was still dominated by horse cars and not by vans. I don't quite understand the hype about huge art galleries, but here you feel like you're excavating a piece of real Indiana history. Parking is usually easy, except on the first Saturday in July when the museum has a special exhibition day and suddenly everyone from all over the county appears here.
A short walk further (and yes, this is a walk, no 5 minute drive) leads you to Middlebury Public Library. The library is not only a place to borrow books – it is the social heart of the city. I was sitting there at a desk on a rainy afternoon, while an older gentleman, besides me, spoke loudly about the advantages of “good old encyclopedia”. This is the real Middlebury feeling: a bit lazy, a bit cozy, and the WLAN actually works. When you come by car, there is a small garage behind the building; that is usually empty as long as you do not come to the reading on Friday night, then it becomes a real problem.
Now comes a place that I mention almost every time I get over with friends Middlebury Attractions speak: the Middlebury Community Center. Here the weekly yoga classes, the weekly board game tournament and occasionally a local jazz evening take place. I took part in a childbirth day in an accident – the kids spilled over me with a loud “You are our DJ!” because I had compiled the playlist for the parents. The center has a huge parking lot that is almost always free, and a small café that serves the best coffee in the city (no joke that is better than what you get in most chains).
If you want to get some fresh air, make a trip Middlebury Park. The park is small, but it has a baseball court, a playground and a few benches that are perfect for watching people. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, while a local high school team played a game – that was the loudest but at the same time the most authentic experience I ever had in an Indiana town. The parking lot is free, and parking is right at the entrance, but be warned: on warm Saturday afternoons it can be quite crowded there, because the families use the green as an escape point from the summer heat.
Another jewel I mention is the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The building dates back to 19th. Century and has an impressive but not exaggerated bell game that echoes through the neighborhood every Sunday morning. I once participated in a trade fair to admire the artistic stained glass windows – they tell stories of pioneers and saints you only know from history books. The church area has a small parking lot behind the house; that is usually empty as long as you don't come to the wedding on Sunday night, then you have to park a few blocks further and walk on foot.
Last but not least, Middlebury Farmers Market does not leave, which takes place every Saturday from May to October at the Town Hall Square. There are fresh strawberries, homemade jams and the infamous corn bread stand, which is supposed to be the best in the whole county. I once met a landowner who told me that he has been here every Saturday for 30 years – this is the kind of resistance that you rarely find in a fast-paced world. Parking is a bit tricky, because the street around the town hall is getting crowded quickly, but a few free places you can always find when you drive a bit further down the road.
All in all, Middlebury is a place where you feel that every angle has a story that only waits to be discovered by a slightly cynical but passionate guide like me. And next time you go through the place, keep your eyes open – maybe you stumble about the next little secret I haven't mentioned yet.
The first stop I put to every new man's heart is that Hoosier National Forest – a wild green strip that extends south of Middlebury and offers more than 200,000 hectares of unspoiled nature. Here you can not only find endless hiking trails, but also admire the rare oaks and pine trees that shape the landscape. I once tried to run the famous trail “Cedar Creek”, just to see that the GPS of my cell phone gave up the mind in the middle of the thicket – a perfect alibi to just rot a few hours in the shade. Parking is usually a children's game, except for the weekends in the summer, when the families with picnic baskets clog the accesses.
A few miles away Patoka Lake, the largest reservoir in the south of Indiana. The lake is a magnet for anglers who are here on bass, Zander and Barsch, and for boaters who want to enjoy the gentle waves. I remember a sunny afternoon when I glided over the water with an old canoe and suddenly a swarm of carp appeared right in front of me – a picture I have not forgotten until today. The docks are well signposted, but on holidays there can be waiting times because the visitor numbers reach almost the level of a small music festival.
Only a short drive south leads to Lincoln State Parkwhere the little Log Cabin Museum honors the young Abraham Lincoln, who worked here as a young man as a woodjack. The park offers not only historical insights, but also well-kept hiking trails that lead through gentle hills and along the Patoka River. I once made a picnic with a friend, while a curious reh-view floated over the grass – a moment that almost took the romantic idea of “pure nature” too seriously. The entrance is free, the car park is small, so better be there early if you don't want to park in the circle.
A bit further east, about 30 kilometres from Middlebury, is the charming town corydone. There is the historic County Courthouse, which once was the heart of the first Indiana capital. The headstone paved roads and the well-preserved buildings make you almost believe that you have landed in another time. I took part in a guided tour where the guide – a real history fanatic – told more about the early legislators than I ever thought necessary. Parking is available at the town hall, but on Saturdays it can be quite crowded because the weekly farmer market event fills the city.
Only a stone's throw from Corydon is the Corydon Battle Site, a quiet place of commemoration reminiscent of the bloody battle of 1863, at which confederated troops tried to expel the Union troops. The site is today a quiet park with a few information boards and a small monument. I once made a picnic there, while an elderly man told me that his great-grandmother fought there – a conversation that suddenly made history more tangible. Access is free, and a small parking space at the entrance is enough for a few cars as long as you do not come to the main holiday in autumn.
For those who prefer to paddle on the water, the Blue River an underestimated jewel. The river winds through the countryside north of Middlebury and offers quiet sections for canoeing as well as a few quicker speeds for adventure lovers. I rented a kayak with a friend there and we spent the day exploring the shores where we suddenly hit a small abandoned wooden house – a perfect photo pot that hardly anyone knows. Access is possible via several public docks, most of which are well visited in the summer.
Another highlight I can't leave is that O'Bannon Woods State Park in the northwest. The park is famous for its extensive hiking and mountain biking trails, a small lake for fishing and even a disc golf course that challenges even experienced players. I started a spontaneous competition there with a few locals – the result was a chaotic mess of Frisbees and loud cheering calls that briefly mixed up the otherwise so quiet atmosphere. The parking lot is large enough, but at weekends it can be bottled because families use the park for a picnic.
So, if you think about the next time you want to spend your time in the Middlebury area, don't forget that the region has more to offer than just a few small shops. From the deep forests of the Hoosier National Forest to the quiet shores of the Blue River – there are enough Middlebury Attractionsto inspire even the most bretched traveler, and all this with a good portion of local peculiarity that you only find here.
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