The art along the Monon Trail in downtown Carmel is fun and interesting. These giant bicycles were…read morecreated by Wiktor Szostalo, a Polish raised, now American, sculptor. The steel structure was completed in 2017. The conjoined disfigured bikes are a bit silly and childlike. The bikes sit envious, watching local athletes whiz by on high end racing bikes. The sculpture is surrounded by nice landscaping and occasional benches. The walkway is accessible for wheelchairs or strollers.

This is an attention-grabbing piece that was created by Wiktor Szostalo in 2017. It is constructed…read moreof stainless steel and corten and consists of three 8-foot tall colorful (Blue, orange, and pink) bicycles connected by a single handlebar. The bells on the bike actually work. It is also meant to be a structure for kids to safely climb or the public to rest. You will find it along the Monon Trail in Carmel. It is fitting that it is on a trail that is popular among bicyclists. The paint on the bikes is a bit dull, but I think that is by design. I really like this piece. It is simple, eye catching and placed appropriately. It needs no explanation and adds beauty to this area that the city has invested a lot into. There is free street parking right by the sculpture and a garage available to park within a very short walk. I know that this is probably not going to be a long stop. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip such as the Selfie Mural or the Sails sculpture that is right down the street.

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.

Thankfully, the historic Cumberland Covered Bridge survived the floods of 2026. The single lane,…read moreHowe truss bridge was built in 1877 and crosses the Mississinewa River near Matthews, Indiana. William Parks of Marion built the bridge. The 181 foot bridge is gorgeous and neighbors have been lovingly taking care of it for 150 years. The bridge has a remarkable past. In 1913, the bridge was removed from its foundation by flood waters that carried it downstream one half mile. A contractor was hired to move the bridge back to its foundation, but raise it several feet higher. The bridge received new siding and roof. Since the flood of 1913, the bridge has survived floods in 1958 and 1980. A lovely little park surrounds the bridge. Plaques documenting the history of the bridge and a nearby gristmill stand in the small park. A historical marker also stands near the bridge. A nice walkway with overlook offers amazing views of the bridge and river. This bridge is maintained and fully functional to traffic crossing. A small parking lot holds about 3 cars sits at the south end of the bridge. Each September, a festival is held to honor the bridge. I absolutely love the incredible story of this bridge. The bridge is an amazing piece of Indiana history and a story of resilience.

Northeast of Matthews, Indiana is a covered bridge and affiliated park that shares the story of…read morethis National Historic Place. The Cumberland Bridge (also known as New Cumberland or as the Matthews Bridge) is on 3rd Street in Matthews where it crosses the Mississinewa River. The bridge was built in 1877 by William Parks and spans 181 feet. During the great flood of 1913, the bridge was lifted by the water and carried down river about a half mile. It was saved and hauled back on rollers by horses. The Matthews Covered Bridge Historical Society has created a nice park for visitors to park and rest near the bridge on the south east corner. The park has observation points to see the bridge and flowing river. There are also information kiosks that tell the story of the bridge's history. The bridge looks to be in good shape and is still used for light traffic. Review #2546

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.

Carmel honors six great American jazz musicians with sculptures on the west side of the Performing…read moreArts Center. The sculptures by J. Seward Johnson were installed in 2023. (Johnson passed away in 2020.) Each musician is marked with a plaque. The life size musicians are all dressed in white dress shirts, popular with their era. On piano, Indiana's very own Hoagy Carmichael is featured. Gene Krupp from New York plays drums. Jack Teagarden is bent over playing the heck out of his trombone. The famous Louis Armstrong's plays his trombone. Sidney Bechet plays the saxophone, while Milt Hinton strums the bass. The sculpture is easily approachable and is easy to take selfies with the musicians. There is nearby street parking.

This is a small, but well done tribute to Gold Star families. It was dedicated in May 2021 and…read morehonors the families of servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military. It costed about $60,000 to build. There are not many such monuments or memorials dedicated to that group. It consists of two benches to sit and reflect, a nice sculpture and a dedication plaque. The memorial is located right in front of Fisher's City Hall and is easy to get to. There is free street parking in the vicinity of the memorial and a free lot with a few spots behind city hall. The sculpture is the center piece of the memorial. It is a 4 granite slab panels and was made by by the Louisville-based Woody Williams Foundation. Two panels with a cutout silhouette of a solder rendering a hand salute, along with the gold-etched words, "Gold Star Families Memorial Monument" with a large gold star above it on the first panel and "A Tribute to on the second panel." The third panel has "Gold Star Families and Relative" etched in it. The fourth and final panel has "who sacrificed a loved one for our Freedom. The opposite side of the sculpture is adorned with the words: Homeland, Family Patriot, and Sacrifice, respectively. and has nice pictures of a flag folding, and serviceman's funeral, Iwo Jima flag raising, and a couple of other photos. I really loved the photos. They are very fitting and nice. On this side is where you will also find the dedication plaque on the ground. There are two granite benches, one is dedicated to USAF Vet William Fehribach and the other has a picture of an American Flag with a soaring eagle in the lower left hand corner. It is sponsored by Freedom Mortgage and has the phrase "Serving Those Who Serve our Nation" on it. This is a nice place to reflect and pay respects to those members of the Armed Forces that made the ultimate sacrifice. There are not many memorials or monuments dedicated to Gold Star families. There are less than 90 nationwide. The Woody Williams foundation has made these monuments in all 50 states and Guam. The front of each monument is the same, but they personalized the reverse side to suit each respective community. Great job Fishers for taking part in this and making this happen.

Just south of the colorful Cornerstone Park on Madison is Fireman's Park (one of two parks…read morededicated to firefighters in Muncie). The park has lots of shade and some benches for visitors to rest on and enjoy the quiet setting. There are a few firefighter themed pieces located on the block: One being a large bronze plated stone and another being a table covered with firefighter symbols. The park has paved paths weaving through the block, but does not have designated parking available for visitors. Review #932

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