I've see this guy in a few different articles and online in a few different places, I was finally…read moreable to see him in person on a day off. It's a fun quirky statue, and upon further research I learned that it gets decorated for different holidays and will even be in parades! Fun roadside attraction to check out, I'm glad I can say I've seen it in person now :)

The Pink Elephant - Fortville is a whimsical side adventure in central Indiana. Located along a…read moredusty road in a small town, this elephant with a martini glass in his trunk is a funny attraction. There is parking next to the elephant so that you can get out of your car, take a picture, and be on your way. I highly recommend the Pink Elephant - Fortville.

As someone who has traveled all over the state by wheelchair, I have a special fondness for these…read moretowns and cities reviews. While I'm not a huge fan of actually "rating" a city or town, it's a great opportunity to talk about the many wonderful places in Indiana. I've been to Anderson a few times during my wheeling. I've also been for church and work events. Anderson is the seat of Madison County and has a population just under 55,000. As most know, Anderson was once an industrial hotbed and has at various times hosted the manufacturing of 17 different vehicles. While auto manufacturing really gave the city its fame, as that industry has declined in the area so has Anderson economically. Thomas Broderick Jr. has been the Anderson mayor since 2016. Major attractions include the lovely Paramount Theatre, Mounds State Park, Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, concerts at Reardon Auditorium (Anderson University), and a few other museums and such. The Church of God is based here in Anderson. I have friends who live here, however, I'll admit that I don't really find Anderson to be a true "destination" city. While I'd easily do a day trip here, I'd be hard-pressed to make it a weekend getaway. The city is fairly accessible, though it's worth noting that downtown is a historic landmark. There are hotels/motels here, the curb cuts are decent, and I've generally found the people friendly here. I recently visited the Paramount again and it's definitely a downtown highlight with its historic marquee and incredible auditorium that was looking even better than remembered the last time I was in Anderson. Overall, I'd call Anderson a bit of a hidden gem. It has a few fun touristy spots, lots of nature, the remnants of its industrial past, some cool museums, and a growing restaurant scene. While I wouldn't necessarily call it a destination spot, a trip to Anderson, Elwood, and other small towns in Madison County could easily be worth a weekend.

Anderson was once a hot bed of industry that left behind beautiful architecture in downtown. From a…read moresmall park in the downtown area, I saw a mural, lovely fountain with backdrops of amazing and historic architecture. An iconic theater is alone Jackson Street. The area appears to be a host to downtown festivities. Unfortunately, the Historical Society was not opened during my Thursday morning visit. I would have liked to have learned more about the city and see if there is a walking tour. I was also disappointed that no restaurants were opened in the downtown area around noon time. There's plenty of free street parking but limited restroom options. I will return to learn more and report back.

Living in Indy my main reason to visit Carmel are the many restaurants here. Since Carmel still has…read moremore available space than Indianapolis and a higher median income it makes sense to find more of the upscale restaurants in this area. Parking is also much easier here, but getting here? Let's just say that the traffic in this neck of the woods can be quite atrocious.

Let's be honest. It's pretty easy (and fun) to make fun of Carmel, the growing urban city to the…read morenorth of Indy that is lower in crime, higher in income, and generally on way more "best city" lists than Indy will ever be. Yes, Carmel has a ridiculous amount of roundabouts. Yes, Carmel has a ridiculous amount of public art within those roundabouts. Yes, Carmel is more conservative than Indy politically. I'll even admit that I'm not particularly fond of the city center area and to this day I think that the Center for Performing Arts dropped the ball on accessibility concerns (though is improving). But, okay. When Carmel develops something, they maintain it (I'm looking at you Indy). The Monon Trail in Carmel is awesome. The Christkindlmarkt is nationally recognized for good reasons. There's a strong emphasis on quality of life in Carmel including abundant greenspaces and fitness options. Accessibility? While not perfect (again, looking at you Center for Performing Arts), it's pretty amazingly consistent and a definite emphasis (though I'll admit that I find Fishers even stronger). Whenever I find my Tenderness Tour wheeling through Carmel? I can nearly always get city leaders engaged. In Indy? Maybe. Maybe not. Hotels here are pretty awesome (though Carmel could use more affordable options). After many years under the leadership of Jim Brainard, Carmel elected Sue Finkam as mayor their last time around and, as expected, she's shaken things up a bit. The park system - wonderful. Again, maintained FAR better than Indy. City services seem strong - I can typically drive in Carmel during the winter even after a snow. The city is always clean. Are there issues? Of course. But, there's an awful lot to love about Carmel. But yeah, I'm still going to make fun of it.

While driving in Atlanta, IN, I saw a small chapel out of the corner of my eye that grabbed my…read moreattention. I just had to stop. It happened to be the Roberts Settlement. Roberts Settlement is the historic site where black pioneers, who sought security and opportunity, established a community in 1835. The site consists of a chapel, a legacy walk, and a graveyard. The Legacy walk is very nice. It is relatively new, opening in 2024, and is not a very long walk, though. I would say it covers about 40 yards. The Walk offers visitors a self-guided journey through the history of the Roberts Settlement. It is also intended to be a place to reflect. You will find benches along the outer perimeter of the walk behind each title monolith. Visitors on the walk are greeted by "Morning Light," a dazzling entry feature symbolizing exploration, discovery, opportunity, and hope. The walk is divided into four separate themed sections: Roots & Migration, Progress & Perseverance, Faith & Education, and Legacy & Footprints. Each section includes a title monolith and a bench, both constructed of steel and faux stone. There are also informational placards with interpretive content at each section. Additionally, you will see QR code links you can scan for more information about each section. There is no parking lot, but a little pull-off area in front of the chapel that can hold about 2 or 3 vehicles. There is also a small public bathroom here, located right behind the chapel. This site is marked by an historical marker and is in great shape. It is very well-maintained. Guided tours of the Roberts Settlement are ONLY available between April 1st and October 31st. The Chapel is not open to the general public. It is only open for guided tours by appointment only. It should be noted that the Walk is open year-round, during daylight hours. This is a nice piece of history in Hamilton County that I had no idea existed. It was a nice stop, but I would not call it a long one though. I am still glad I made it here, and I recommend checking this place out if you are in the area.

I wanted to meet a friend in Fishers and City Hall was suggested as a place I could find easily…read more After parking in the free spaces in front of the building, I went into the large lobby to meet. The place is beautiful! And if that wasn't enough, the Fishers Art Council organizes a monthly art exhibit to fill the walls of the first and second floor lobbies. My friend and I wandered around the lobbies checking out this month's art work: a local artist had gone to Mexico to cover the Day of the Dead festivals. The artist had photographs, paintings, and drawings of what she saw and experienced. The facility was easy to get around with a grand staircase as well as elevators. I also have used their help desk to find some information in prior visits. Very nice place to check out art and meet. Review #1714

If you have little kids, this is the perfect small-town fair to introduce them to farm animals up…read moreclose. Watching their faces light up while meeting cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and more is so much fun! Bonus: Bob's Bumpy Barrels is just $2 and was a huge hit with my kids! If you're looking for a simple, affordable family outing before the fair wraps up, I'd definitely recommend adding this to your Sunday plans.

Unexpectedly, I arrived later during the day this season. The rabbit was sold out so I decided to…read moretry a $12 ribeye sandwich. It was much smaller, not as tasty, and very fatty compare to the one I can get at the IN State Fair. No topping of onion or pickles available. When I went back for the $5 elephant ear about 8:30 pm, it was sold out. I'll have to try to eat those usual food another day. Beware food tents are in different locations from last year. Like usual, I picked up Indy State Fair booklets of schedules, fees, etc. Unfortunately, less tent vendors. Baby rabbits were not out due to the heat. I saw the Silo building displaying results of the art contests.

The Fortville library is a cozy spot you'll definitely want to come back to. If you come on your…read moreown, you'll be able to find a quiet spot to read, study, work, or browse for your next favorite book for sure. I personally spend most of my time in 2 places. The first is the kid area. There are hundreds of books and DVDs for your little ones to pick from. There is also a play area full of toys for hours of playing fun for the kids while you get into a good book! Second, I attend the monthly book clubs. Great chance to read books you might not have picked up otherwise and have some great discussions. Book Club meets the first Monday of every month. You can go to the library at anytime to pick up the month's book and there are bookmarks that show the books for the next couple months as well. Join the Facebook page or check out the library's website for weekly events and activities hosted at the library as well! I've attended a Halloween party with the kids at the library as well as Pinterest craft activity nights!

Employees are very kind and helpful. And they offer books with the EVERGREEN library system so…read morebook choices are great.

Huge, cool place to hang! They have free wifi, and they seemed to be getting rid of some books, so…read morethey had a "free book" rack. Very clean, quiet, safe place to be. I will be back!

This is an awesome public resource for the city of Anderson. The availability of black-and-white &…read morecolor printers at a reasonable price is phenomenal! You can email to the printer and as long as you pick up your document within two hours it will be there for you to get. The librarians Are so very helpful I have never been disappointed when I have ask a question. Neither have I been embarrassed to ask something that I probably should've already known. The very best part of this library is that once you get a card you can go online and download an app called Hoopla. With that you can do video streaming you can get e-books you can get audiobooks the only limit or is it's only 10 items a calendar month. And oh by the way if you happen to be home bound they will come to you and assist with access to their resources.