Visit Plymouth Marshall Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Plymouth, Indiana: Experience the Amish community and the antique wood wood mill! Stroll through the beautiful city and enjoy traditional dishes in the local restaurant.
Honestly, if you're wondering why "Plymouth Sights" are blowing around in your head, it's because this small town has more history in the heart of Center Township, Marshall County, Indiana than you suspect at first sight. Founded in 1834 by a few brave pioneers who colonized the country after the Erie Canal boom, Plymouth has a bit of everything since then: from the rough frontier spirit to an almost kitsty small town idyll. I usually drive by car over the US-30, because traffic here is rarely a drama – a short stop at the old railway bridge and you are in the middle of the historical core, where the old brick houses still tell of the time they have survived.
A short detour to the south leads you to the center of Center Township, where the town hall – a real jewel from the 1880s – still beats the heart of the municipality. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual “Plymouth Fest” but the small café next to the town hall, which serves the best apple cake wide and wide, is really great and gives you the feeling of being part of a long tradition. And while you are here, take a look at the old barns on the edge of the city; they are not only photographic motifs, but also witnesses of an agricultural history that has shaped the whole county. If you do a detour to Marshall then you quickly notice that the “Plymouth Sights” are only part of a much larger, slightly sleepy, but charming mid-western experience.
So, if you ask me, the first thing I want to show you in Plymouth, that is Plymouth Historical Museum – the old court building, now full of dusty treasures from the founding period. I don't understand the hype about old court records, but the cracking parquet and the original judge benches give you the feeling that you could suddenly land in a Western film. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there is a real problem because then the local historian meeting takes place and everyone tries to get a place next to the exit.
Directly next to the museum, the Riverwalk along the Yellow River. I once stood there with a sudden rain shower, while a few joggers were happy – a picture for the gods, I tell you. The path is well maintained, and free parking at the small parking lot behind the bridge is a real lucky handle if you don't want to be in traffic all day. The river itself is not particularly spectacular, but the view of the old factory ruins, which now serve as art installations, is really great.
If you then have enough of water, just stroll the Main road down in Downtown Historic District. There are more small shops here than you can count, and each has its own history. I drank a coffee at the “Old Mill Café” that was so strong that I almost reinvented the word “coffee”. The parking spaces are scarce, but this is part of the charm – you just have to turn a bit around the block and then keep with the local bike.
A short detour leads you to Plymouth Public Library, one of these venerable Carnegie libraries, which you only know from movies. I borrowed a book about the history of the region, which led me almost back to the museum during the walk through the city. Parking is a bit more expensive here, because the property is small, but the staff is friendly and will be happy to give you tips where to see anything else.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Plymouth Community Center. The swimming pool is not Olympic, but the water is warm enough to relax after a long day in the museum. I once watched a local swimming competition there – the participants looked like they just kicked out of a gym, and the audience cheered as if it were the final of the Olympics. Parking here costs a few dollars, but this is a fair price for the opportunity to recover a bit of childhood.
If you're on your way in the summer, you'll be allowed to Plymouth Farmers Market do not miss. Every Saturday morning there are fresh fruits, vegetables and handmade jams, which you can only find in the supermarket. I once tried an apple cake there that was so good that I almost took the whole piece home – a little betrayal, but who can resist a good cake? Parking is a bit messy here, because the road is blocked for traffic, but this is part of the experience if you want to feel like a real local.
And at the end, almost as an excuse for all the other places I mentioned, there are the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The 19th building Century has an impressive bell game that echoes the city every Sunday morning. I once took part in a fair to admire the architecture – the stained glass windows are really an artwork. Parking is a bit limited here, but that's not a reason to stop by looking for some rest.
If you now think that this is too much, let me tell you: All these Plymouth Attractions are not just points on a map, they are small chapters of a story I always like to rediscover – and I would like to show you personally if you want to explore a bit of Indiana off the highway.
The Tippecanoe River State Park is just a short drive north of Plymouth and is for me the true counterpart to the crowded city parks – there is still real nature, not only lawns, which are overcrowded in summer with barbecue odour. I remember the day I explored the narrow paths along the river bends with my old mountain bike; the water was so clear that I saw almost mirroring my sunglasses in the river. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with the whole family of the neighboring campsite – then the small parking lot becomes a battlefield quickly.
A few miles further south, almost in the hinterland of the Indiana Beach world, is the same-named amusement resort on Lake Shafer. I don't quite understand the hype about the shrill roller coasters, but the noise of the water that floats across the floating platforms has something soothing-unweighted. Last year, I ate a piece of caramel apple popcorn that was so tacky that I almost threw the whole towel in the lake – a small price for the smile of the children who, along with me, crawled down the giant slide. Parking is well signposted on the main road, but on Friday night there is often a small traffic jam problem because the city residents want to invite the weekend.
If you have enough of water and sugar, it is worth a trip to Culver, where the Culver Military Academy Museum presents a surprisingly charming piece of history. I was there because I thought it was just another boarding school, but the exhibition on military training in the 20th. The century really tied me – especially the old measuring instrument that was supposed to be used in the Second World War. The museum is located directly on the campus, so there are always a few students who hurled through the corridors with their jerseys; This ensures a little lively flair. Parking is free on the campus grounds as long as one is not there during one of the annual “Founders Day” celebrations, then the field becomes an improvised parking space for visitors from all over the state.
A short detour to the east leads to Lake of the Woods, a small but fine reservoir, which is equally appreciated by anglers and picnics. I once organized an improvised grill festival, which, thanks to a sudden breeze, became almost a fireworks of flames and flies – an unforgettable moment that showed me that one must respect not only the calm, but also the unpredictable weather. Access is via a small gravel path, and parking is practically directly on the shore, but there are only a few places, so better to come early if you don't want to land in the mud.
A little further north, in Winamac, the Riverwalk along the Tippecanoe River attracts a mixture of art installations and cozy benches. I spent an afternoon there while reading a book about local legends and watching how an older couple in the skate style sneaked over the wooden planks – a sight that was almost too cheesy to be true, but that's what makes the charm. The path is barrier-free, and parking is well organised at the small town hall; On Saturday night, however, it can become a bit fuller, because the city then organizes its weekly “Riverfest”.
Last but not least, the Marshall County Fairgrounds, which are not in operation all year round, can be turned into a colourful spectacle every spring. I have seen the local pumpkin throw competition there for the first time – an event that is absurd and fascinating at the same time, because the participants with a seriousness throw as if it were about the survival of the community. The fairgrounds are just a few minutes outside the city centre, parking is generous, but on the main days you can easily get into the situation that you have to park the car on the lawn.
Whether you are looking for a peaceful nature experience, a nostalgic amusement park, a touch of military history or a lively community event – the surroundings of Plymouth offers a colourful mix that surprises every traveller. And when you go back home at the end of your tour, remember that all these experiences are the Plymouth Attractions belong that make the little Indiana town an underestimated destination.
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