White River State Park is one of the most popular parks in the city, and for good reason! The…read morenickname for it is Indy's backyard. With riverfront and canal-front trails, a pedestrian bridge to the zoo, proximity to the city, and the amphitheater, so much goes on down here. Over the years, my favorite special events have been the food truck festival and the solar eclipse festival. The area is kept to be pedestrian friendly, with parking being underground to the park and wide walking and biking lanes. During warmer weather, I often see a hotdog vendor for a nice and easy lunch. There's lots of sculptures around the park too, which helps to keep things scenic. There's also a huge lawn space for running around.

This park is such a gem! As I write this review while listening to "Here Comes The Sun" by The…read moreBeatles, I feel like I'm right back walking through the beautiful pathways and taking in skyline views. From the canal and trails to the open green spaces, there's something here for everyone to enjoy. Plenty of smaller festivals and walks/runs are held at this park, and it truly seems like the perfect spot for them. My favorite festival that happens here is the Taste of Indy, which takes place in the summer and the MS Walk is always a well organized event here. I also really enjoy walking the paths behind the zoo, especially in the spring when the cherry blossom trees are in bloom. Absolutely gorgeous! Ps - As beautiful as it is, be sure to stay alert while on the pathways!

Goodness, have I walked the canal about 50 times now?!…read more It's such a unique experience for Indy to have some water space in the middle of the city. This 3 mile loop will take you from 11th Street down to White River State Park to access the green space and extra trails down there. The canal water itself is not super cute, where there can be litter, and the water is rather opaque. They do drain the canal every so often to keep it from getting too uncute. The sidewalks are kept nicer, though a few spots in front of apartment buildings could use some TLC. There are also a few spots where the sidewalk is not level, so take caution if that is an issue. It's mostly stair access to the canal, but I *think* I've seen an elevator around the Ohio street basin. The canal has a few businesses along it for your merriment. Notably, there is Fresco on the Canal (I have a separate review for this) which is open March-October. Eiteljorg museum cafe is open daily around the lunch hours (11-3) and can be accessed through their patio gate. Entertainment wise, there is more going on. I've done the swan boat rentals, where you can pedal around on the canal. This is quite a workout! Rental of swan boats and kayaks is near the Ohio Street basin. There is also the gondolas, where your gondolier can sing, and they've always sounded marvelous. There's also a few stations for the Pacers Bikeshare around the canal, which is free for Marion County residents. Any time the weather is right, you can find me getting my steps in!

Nice river walk nearby center city area. It's refreshing looking at the water flowing through…read more We saw some fishes so definitely clean water for the city. Love the greens, bridges, arts around it. It would better with warmer weather for sure. I couldn't walk far because of the cold. But overall I love the scenery.

The visitors Center is an extraordinary resource for anyone interested in learning about Columbus…read moreand it's incredible architecture and history. I only stopped by to get a map, but instead spent several hours watching films about Irwin Miller, his home and the architecture of Columbus. The building itself is lovely with modern artistic areas and a fabulous Chihuly glass sculpture. The staff is super friendly, helpful and knowledgable. One staff member played a film for us (alone) to learn about the local architecture. They offer guided tours of the city and the Miller house. Reservations are required for the tours, which fill up quickly. They have information on their website about the tours so you can book in advance. Their gift shop is filled with art and books about architecture. There is plenty of parking in their private lot. Restrooms are available.

Extraordinarily friendly folks work here. Anything you want to know about Columbus, you can find…read moreout here. I highly recommend the tours they offer. I took the tour because I have heard so much about the architecture in this small town. I was not disappointed. I loved hearing the back ground stories on all the buildings as well as the facts about each. Very interesting and a must if you love architecture. I do have one big gripe , which is that the air conditioning wasn't working on the shuttle we took, which was rough since it was quite a hot and humid day. Once back at the visitor center, I did a little shopping. Love the merchandise from local artists. Also picked up a few more brochures about Columbus specifically and some about the region in general. If you are new to the area, you should stop here first so you can plan your visit and not miss anything. Pick out your favorites and take it from there. Enjoy this little town with lots to offer.

The visitors center right off the square in Franklin is one of the best! It has a Photo Booth, a…read moremini replica water slide, mini theater, and a mini dj booth that you can practice DJ'ing. Now for the nations 250th birthday they have a really cool light up flag and you can sign the huge Declaration of Independence as well as have your picture taken in the statue of liberty. They have a mini gift shop with neat shirts, bags, posters things like that. They have a great selection of brochures for all around. Franklin has a GREAT farmers market that will be starting up soon as well as a great splash pad area amphitheater as well as home to the 104 year old Artcraft Theater!!!! Great town just south of Indy!

I was in downtown Franklin for a friend's birthday party. I'd arrived early in order to grab lunch…read moreand visit the nearby Artcraft, but I also had some extra time and decided I would check out some other Franklin establishments. Of course, a stop at the "Festival Country Indiana Visitor Center" was a must as it was about a block of the town square and serves as the area's visitor's center. I will admit that I hadn't heard of the "Festival Country" campaign, a campaign that encompasses Johnson County communities including Franklin, Greenwood, Edinburgh, Bargersville, Whiteland, New Whiteland, Trafalgar, and Princes Lakes. The Visitor's Center is located in a brightly decorated building on Water Street. It's level to the ground and wheelchair accessible, though it is in an older building and the front door is a touch heavy. It's a relatively small location. You enter - to the left immediately is an area for retail purchase of t-shirts, posters, etc. I will admit I was really tempted by an Artcraft poster. You, of course, also have a large rack of flyers and brochures related to things to do in Johnson County. There is a staffed counter on one side, a couple of photo op exhibits toward the back, and a video that plays in an area set up to look like a mini-Artcraft auditorium. The theme here is obviously emphasizing the area's many festivals. It has to be a little difficult right now, however, considering so much is impacted by the pandemic. You were expected to wear a mask when entering and to respect social distancing. The volunteer (I'm assuming) working the counter actually wasn't wearing a mask when I entered, but quickly realized it and put theirs on. This spot also offers free wifi. The photo opportunity was fun, though not particularly wheelchair friendly. However, it's a cute idea that plays off the fact that there's a place you can do paragliding and skydiving in Franklin. The website has a ton of information about area attractions, restaurants, lodgings, etc. There are also some special deals. To be honest, I spent only a few minutes in this actual location. I watched their film. I checked out their sales items. I read through some information about local breweries. I also picked up some brochures. If you're in downtown Franklin and wondering what to do - this is a great place to stop, get information, and ask questions. While there's not much "to do" here, it's a central location to get all the needed info and directions before moving on to enjoy your Johnson County day. It always feels like Franklin, in particular, is farther away but it truly is just one county south and it's a fun little college town. It's an easy day trip with some great spots to visit.

I love Newfields and their events such as Winterlights! I went towards the end of December with my…read morehusband and family :) We loved how they changed it up a little this year. There were more interactive parts but also fan favorites. It was a nice way to spend time with family and loved ones. We enjoyed strolling around and of course taking some pictures for the memories. I highly recommend and will come back! I look forward to harvest nights :)

I visited Newfields for the winter lights and I had an amazing time. The thing about such events is…read morethe festivities, coordination and atmosphere. Everything just adds up and with Newfields being so thorough and welcoming it just always is the best experience. I spent about 2 hours in the light show walking around with my friends and I loved the Lilly house the most. It was so beautifully decorated and very well done. Everything was colorful, elegant and extremely vibrant. Highly recommend!!!

The Visitors Center in Nashville has a ton of information about Brown County, Nashville and other…read moretowns in Brown County. I stopped by yesterday to pick up a map and get directions to a gallery. The maps were laid out on the counter when I walked through the door! The clerks are friendly and helpful and walked me through the symbols on the map. I asked about a restaurant for lunch and was told to try her favorite (and I did). I gathered information about recreational things to do that I didn't know about. There are places that offer horseback riding and zip-lining that were new to me. The Center has a small gift shop with logo apparel, water bottles and stickers. There is also a slideshow running that highlights some of the things to do in the area. A small play area with nature related toys is available for the little ones while parents browse. There is street parking close to the building or a public lot behind the building. The Center is worth a visit and will help you make the most of your day.

I was really impressed by the Brown County Convention and Visitors Association during a recent…read morequick visit to Nashville. I was on the hunt for a public bathroom and this spot is ideally located in the heart of downtown Nashville walking distance from all the action. And, might I add, conveniently located a few doors down from the new-ish Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Roll shop. (side note: holy jamoly, this was the best cinnamon roll I've ever had) I digress, the visitor's center is very clean, well laid out and I was impressed by the great branding and fun visual maps you'll find inside. The whole space seemed very new and especially trendy for the small town area. They had a few style "Brown County" inspired clothing and trinkets for sale on the back wall. Worth noting, the bathrooms were clean. If you're popping into Nashville, I recommend giving the visitors center a quick peek.

If you want to find something (practically anything) about Bloomington, then I highly recommend…read morestopping by the Visitors Center on North Walnut. It is easy to find if you are approaching from the north and use the business bypass to reach Walnut. Otherwise, you can head north on Walnut passed the SR45/SR46 intersection. The building has its own parking and is much larger inside than it appears from the street. Inside the first set of doors are rows of brochures (free) that you can help yourself to. I grabbed a Visitors guide and a Nature Preserve Guide for my use, but saw maps and festival pamphlets too. Inside the second set of doors, there is a central desk with someone to help you. Surrounding that area are numerous display shelves and racks for picking up merchandise that is for sale. 2018 was the Bicentennial year of the city, so there were celebratory items for reaching that goal like t-shirts. There are also posters, local artisan products like Dillman Farms jellies and salsa, and local popcorn. I found the information available to be quite useful and the person at the information desk very pleasant to talk with. She was quite knowledgeable of the area and was able to direct me to some points of interest that I had not visited before. If you like to explore, or simply to learn more about the area, make a point to stop by here. Review #1977

This is the place for visitors to the Bloomington area to begin a wonderful visit. Friendly faces,…read morelots of great information on area attractions, things to do and restaurants, a fun little gift shop and more! Information specialists are on hand Monday through Saturday to provide you with expert local advice, customized recommendations and driving directions, should you need them. Information vestibule is open 24 hours a day, stocked with area visitors guides, maps and other helpful information.

I love exploring the park with my dog. The park is especially beautiful in the fall! We love the…read morewalking trails and lake views.

There's a $7 entrance fee which is good for the entire day. She was very friendly at the main…read moreentrance. There's a lot to do at the park. Very beautiful and serene to take photos. Many trails. Horseback riding is very therapeutic for me. I wish there was a way to keep the bugs away from the horses. They kept trying to get them off.

Very disappointed with Geoex. Being much more expensive than other high end travel groups I…read moreexpected an elevated experience. Either in accommodations, food or the leaders. We did not experience this at all on the ancient Japan trip. It was actually below the less expensive experiences we had with other groups such as backroads , Nat geo and my sobeck. Very disappointing

We recently had the opportunity to return to Africa and hit up some of the countries we missed the…read moreprevious trip. Our first week, in South Africa, was covered...so I wanted to go with a solid company to hit up Botswana and Zambia. We'd used Kensington Tours before, but had a rather sour taste in our mouth from the experience. The FIRST thing we discovered is that Wilderness Safaris (and Wilderness Air) pretty much locked down Botswana - everyone uses them, so it made choices a bit easier. After a month or so of interviews, we ended up going with GeoEx. They gave us reasonable pricing, and were VERY prompt at addressing specific questions. After signing with them, they promptly sent us specific info about our trip, including a complete (but prelim) itinerary. Bonus - a month before we left, we got a care package from them. It included two HEAVY duty canvas rucksacks, a nice guide book on Botswana and Zambia, and reading material for the plane (of course, the plot was centered in Botswana). It also included our final itinerary. And finally, it included a nice touch - a "free" emergency insurance plan, in case "something" happened with in the bush. We completed the trip - no issues, no hassles, everything was spot on. After our return, Starla (our agent) reached out to us to check on the trip - nice touch!). DEFINITELY would use them again, and absolutely recommend them with no reservations.