Jody chats with guest Amy Howell, Director of Communications for Visit Indiana

Moderating our chat today (on the live broadcast) is Lori LeRoy, family travel blogger at Maps, Memories & Motherhood - and proud Hoosier!

or watch this episode on YouTube

Click here to save this to your Midwest Travel board on Pinterest

Where is Indiana?

Indiana is on the far eastern edge of the Midwest- in both the eastern and central time zones. Which can get a little confusing when you drive in! I was late for the start of a writers retreat a couple years ago because I forgot to check if it was in EST or CST!

What misconceptions do people have about Indiana before visiting?

Back in the day there was a slogan for an attraction that said there's only corn in Indiana. Indiana does produce a lot of corn but there is so much more than that. And, the corn actually leads to great agritourism destinations.

Indiana is on Lake Michigan. So Great Lakes up North, lots of fun, summer activities the Indiana Dunes National Park is a top destination. When you drive south of there, you get urban and suburban - the capital city of Indianapolis has everything that an urban city would offer.

And if you keep driving South you get to the rolling hills of Indiana, which is fantastic for hiking, biking, any kind of outdoor activity. And we go all the way down to the Ohio River.

Rent a canoe, kayak, or bike and enjoy the rivers that run through the heart of Fort Wayne.

Indiana topography ranges from hills to lakes to rivers, and forests. Probably the biggest misconception that there's nothing to do. But with all of that there's something for everyone.

What is a Hoosier?

The word Hoosier has been traced back to the Anglo-Saxon word hoo meaning high or hill but honestly, nobody can really say what it truly is but it is the definition of a native, or just somebody from Indiana.

Indiana's Greatest Hits

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARKThe nation’s newest National Park is here in Indiana, with 15 miles of shoreline on a backdrop of soaring sand dunes. Visitors love conquering the 3 Dune Challenge, and they can also go kiteboarding, dive a sunken ship, or rent a boat to take on Lake Michigan. It’s a must-do for hikers, birdwatchers and those who just love the beach.

DESTINATION DINING & DRINKING It doesn’t take long to get from farm to fork when the restaurant is at the farm! Indiana is home to several destination dining establishments, and you can taste and tour over 300 wineries, breweries and distilleries.

INDIANAPOLISA family playland by day and an exciting social scene by night! So whether you’re exploring the world’s largest children’s museum or tasting food prepared by a James Beard-nominated chef, it’s a trip to remember. There’s also tons for sports fans, from touring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or NCAA Hall of Champions to taking in an Indianapolis Colts game and more.

COLUMBUS ARCHITECTURESee why camera-toting visitors come from all over the world to tour the art and architecture of this welcoming city. Churches, homes and other buildings were designed by internationally renowned architects such as I.M. Pei, who also designed the pyramid at the Louvre. Public art is around every corner, also created by well-known sculptors like Swiss artist Jean Tinguely.

WORLD-CLASS RACING & PRO SPORTS“The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” happens once a year, but visitors can tour the famed oval speedway all year long. There’s also professional football, basketball, baseball and soccer plus the NCAA Hall of Champions.

STUNNING STATE PARKSIndiana is home to a diverse array of State Parks, seven with beautiful Inns. There are hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as large lakes for boating and fishing. All offer campsites and cabins for staying close to nature.

AMISH CULTUREThe Amish communities in Indiana welcome tourists with delicious food,