When you live in a historic town like I do, it is often really easy to overlook the jewel of a destination in your own backyard. So I’m kicking off my adventures in travel blogging with a series on my hometown of Madison, Indiana.
Madison is a beautiful little town located on the Ohio River about halfway between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky. It is essentially divided into two parts: The hilltop, where you can find your usual chain restaurants, Walmart, hotels and other businesses, and the downtown historic district. Also, when we say “downtown,” we actually mean DOWNtown as you have to drive down one of the four hills into the Ohio River Valley.
Madison is the perfect vacation destination for just about everyone. It has history, outdoor attractions, art, theater, nightlife, a variety of food experiences and shopping. So whether you are a family with active children, a honeymooning couple, or retirees, there is plenty to do and see in Madison!
Historic Sites Galore!
Madison’s main destination draw is its abundance of historic museum properties. Visitors often compare Madison to other beautiful historic cities, like Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. The whole downtown is considered a historic district, and sprinkled from one end to the other are museum properties which are open to the public. Here are two sites to wet your interest:
Lanier Mansion State Historic Site
The Lanier Mansion State Historic Site is Madison’s pride and joy, and it’s constantly evolving. Over the past couple decades it has been the location of several archeological digs which has resulted in the restoration of the home’s original gardens and out buildings. So if you’ve been there before, it’s worth a trip back to see all the new things that have been discovered!
The Hours: The Lanier Mansion State Historic Site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 pm.
- Lanier Mansion Visitor Center is open:
- Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday – Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The site is closed on some major holidays.
Admission:
Indiana State Museum members receive FREE membership and a 10 percent discount in the gift shop.
Purchase tour tickets at the Lanier-Madison Visitor Center. Guided tours start at the top of the hour between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., except noon. The final tour of the day begins at 4 p.m.
Adults: $10
Seniors*: $8
Children*: $5
Children under 3: FREE
*Seniors: Ages 60 and older, Child: Ages 3 through 17
For more information on the Lanier Mansion or its builder, Attorney and financier J.F.D. Lanier, visit: http://www.indianamuseum.org/lanier-mansion-and-state-historic-site
Dr. Hutching’s Office
Back to the 1800s …
You feel as if you’ve stepped back into the 1800’s when you walk into the office of Dr. William Hutchings.
Dr. Hutchings practiced medicine from this small two story house from 1882 to 1903. Upon his death, the building was closed up as if he had simply stepped out on a house call. It remained shuttered until it was rediscovered and gifted to Historic Madison Inc. in the 1970s.
Children, as well as adults, will enjoy learning what it was like to be a doctor before the twentieth century. Get ready for a few surprises!
Reconnect with Nature!
If you’re the active type, there are plenty of options for you in Madison. From hiking to swimming to biking to boating, each day can be a new adventure in fitness and fun.
Hiking
Madison boasts several mild to challenging hiking trails, with one of the most popular being the Heritage Trail. Beginning in downtown Madison, the trail features several branches of varying difficulty. One branch follows the famous Madison Railroad Incline through the railroad cuts to the hilltop. For more information about the Heritage Trail visit http://www.heritagetrailconservancy.com/
Madison Railroad Cuts and Incline
Swimming
It’s hot!
Don’t have a pool at your hotel? No worries! Head on down to Madison’s historic Crystal Beach Swimming Pool! It’s open daily from Noon until 8 p.m. from late May through August.
The half-moon-shaped pool is ideal for families with small children as it slopes from an easy ankle deep edge to about seven feet at the deepest. The pool is fully staffed with life guards.
Other amenities offered at Crystal Beach include the historic bath house shower and dressing facilities, a concession stand, picnic areas, and a lighted basketball court.
Admission is $4, but season passes can be purchased for $50. For more information, visit http://www.madison-in.gov
More Fun in the Sun:
Boating
Got a boat? The mighty Ohio River is waiting for you! The Madison boat ramp is conveniently located on Vaughn Drive at the end of West Street.
If you don’t have a boat of your own, we have another exciting option for you: Take a spin on the Rockin’ Thunder jet boat ride! Scream down the Ohio River in the only New Zealand jet boat ride in the Midwest. It’s sure to get your adrenaline going!
For more information, visit http://www.rockinthunder.com/
Golf
Grab your clubs and head out for a few rounds. In Madison,there are several golfing options:
Sunrise Golf Course – located on the hilltop on Michigan Road (18 holes)
Cozy Acres – located on Old State Road 62 (a nine hole, par 3 course)
River Chase Golf Course – located on the west end of downtown Madison, off Main Street (9 hole)
Camping
The city of Madison offers camping facilities east of the bridge on Vaughn Drive.
Camping fees are $25 per night or $150 per week. An attendant is on duty daily.
For more information, call 812-265-8333 or visit http://www.madison-in.gov and click on the campground link.
Come back soon for Part 2!
There is so much to do and see in Madison that I could never fit it into one entry, and these just skim the surface. We’re not even touching on Clifty Falls State Park – that’s a topic all its own. And the festivals – I can’t wait to tell you about those!
In Part 2, we’ll check out some of the great restaurants and pubs, both downtown and on the hilltop. See you soon!
All photos are the property of V. Lori Hedges and may not be used without permission.
Copyright 2016 V. Lori Hedges. All Rights Reserved.
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