Visit Wilkinson Hancock Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the small town of Wilkinson in Indiana and experience the beautiful nature of the Hoosier National Forest. Camping in the State Forest Campground is a perfect way to equip with the family and recover from the tranquility of the forest. The evening offers a picnic on the banks of Patoka Lake or a walk through the woods.
Wilkinson landmarks are for me less a marketing term than an honest hint that this small town in the heart of Wilkinson Township, Hancock County, Indiana has more to offer than one would suspect at first sight. Honestly, the story here is not a Hollywood drama, but it has character: Founded in 1850 as an agricultural base village, Wilkinson grew up to a tranquil commercial center thanks to the railway line that intersected the area in 1869. My grandparents told me that the first shops were made of wood and that the old town hall – today a renovated office building – was once the pulsating heart of the municipality.
If you come from Indianapolis by car, take the I‐70 east and follow the signs to Wilkinson; the ride is short, but the landscape suddenly looks much greener as soon as you see the outskirts. I don't quite understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between the fields and the quiet sum of the tractors, you suddenly feel less like tourist and more like a secret insider.
A short detour to the old cemetery, where the tombstones still bear the handwritten stories of the pioneers, is a must for me – no joke, that is almost spiritual. And while you're standing there, you might take a look at the small café on Main Street, the best coffee served wide and wide, because the owners simply know how to make a good espresso. This is the true flair of Wilkinson, which I would put to everyone who seeks a little authenticity.
I have to confess that Wilkinson Town Hall my personal favorite place is – not because it is an architectural miracle (it is rather a snuck brick building from the 1910s), but because it beats the heart of the city if I hold my weekly “coffee and bald” rounds with the local politicians. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you are not there on the first Friday of the month, when the town hall has a meeting with all citizens and turns the road into a battlefield.
A short walk further Wilkinson Community Park, a piece of green that has more to offer than one would expect from a place with less than 2 000 inhabitants. There is a small lake, a playground, and a pavilion I used for an improvised open-mix concert – the audience consisted of three teenagers and my mother, who applauded loudly because she thought I had finally found a job. If you plan a picnic there in the summer, bring a blanket; the benches are present, but they have the appearance of furniture from a second-hand store from the 80s.
If you are looking for a bit of spiritual food, look at these Wilkinson Public Library on. I don't understand the hype about huge, modern libraries, but here there is a cozy reading shackle that could almost tempt you to read the book that you actually wanted to borrow to ignore it later at home. The staff knows every regular in the name – I even got back a book I had never borrowed because the librarians thought I had forgotten to return it.
A bit of history? Then the Historic Main Street where the old shop fronts still radiate the charm of past times. I once discovered an old record player who was supposed to come from the 1950s and I bought a shorthand – just to realize that he is just a pretty dust collector. Nevertheless, the flair is real, and parking behind the shops is usually a children's game as long as you are not there on Saturday morning at the weekly market time.
Another highlight I can hardly overlook is the Wilkinson Attractionsspread across the whole city – from small monuments to annual events. Especially recommended Wilkinson Fall Festival, which takes place every year in October. I won a pumpkin competition there once, because I accidentally brought too little pumpkin and the jury thought it was an artistic comment on the consumer society. The festival grounds are well signposted, and you'll find enough food stands there to feed you through the evening – but parking is a bit messy, so it's better to come early.
For the culinary conclusion, I recommend Miller’s Diner, a local classic that sells more burgers than one would expect in a city of this size. I tried a “homemade” milkshake there, which tasted more like sugar water, but the service was so friendly that I still came back. The diner has a small outdoor area where you can enjoy your meal in the summer, and parking is right outside the door – a rare luck in small cities.
The Wilkinson Community Center not missing. I tried a yoga course there that looked more like a stretching exercise for old office workers, but the atmosphere was so relaxed that I felt almost like a local. The center offers various activities, from craft hours to senior dance nights, and parking is an open field behind the building – so just look in if you want to try something new.
I must confess that my first real adventure to Wilkinson was not the small café on Main Street, but the dusty road that turned me into Conner Prairie Interactive History Park , There, between imitated 19-century farms and a huge, almost oversized cornfield, I suddenly felt like a time traveler with too much leisure. The best? Park-Parking is almost always a Klacks – only on Saturdays when the school classes move, the field becomes the battlefield of school buses.
A few miles further, almost in the heart of Indianapolis, lies this Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I have never experienced the smell of burnt rubber and the circle of the engines so intensively – and that, although I was only there for the “Rundum-Rundweg” walk. The crowds of tourists are a bit exaggerated, but if you're lucky, you'll get a training where the drivers don't look as serious as in the TV broadcasts. And yes, parking is a labyrinth that can only be mastered with a GPS signal and a portion of patience.
A short detour to the south leads you to Newfields – Indianapolis Museum of Art. I was there because I thought art was something you only find in dusty galleries and was taught to a better one. Sculpture gardens are a perfect place to let the soul bangle while wondering why someone placed a huge, glassy fish in the middle of the green. Practical note: The main parking spaces are right next to the café, so you can grab a latte immediately after the art enjoyment – a real life savior after the long walk.
If you have enough of art and speed, take a look at Brown County State Park. This is not some park, that is Indiana’s “mountain paradise”, although the highest points here are rather gentle hills. I made a hike there, which led me to a viewpoint from which you can see the whole valley – and that, while a few deers were curiously sewn out of the underwood. The parking lot is huge, but on weekends it can come to a small jam, because everyone here wants to shoot a photo of the “perfect sunset”.
A little further east, almost on the border to Ohio, this is Hoosier Hill, the highest point of the state. Yes, it is only 383 meters above sea level, but the shield there is a magnet for selfie hunters. I spent a few minutes there to enjoy the panorama and then realize that I was just here because of the sign. The way there is a simple field path, and parking is practically a field – so bring your own chairs with you if you want to make it cozy.
Back near Wilkinson, but not in the place itself, lies the charming Historic Downtown Greenfield. The old brick buildings, the small museum and the local shops give you the feeling of being in a different time – and that without having to fight through crowds. I discovered an old bookstore where the owner recommended me a book about the history of Hancock County, which I could not put out of hand until today. Parking is available near the town hall, but they are quickly occupied, so be ready to run a few blocks.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Indianapolis Canal Walk. This is a narrow waterway that is stretched through the city centre and lined by art installations. I spent an afternoon there while I licked an ice cream and watched the passing canoe – a bit like a mini holiday in the heart of the city, just that you don't have to worry about the weather because most sections are covered. Parking is a bit tricky here because the places are quickly full, but a short walk from the main road is enough.
So if you think about what you want in the area of Wilkinson next time, remember: Wilkinson Attractions not only are the little things in the place, but the whole colorful potpourri from history, art, nature and a bit of adrenaline that awaits you just a few minutes drive away.
Find more vacation destinations near Wilkinson Hancock Indiana using our map.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
