Indiana Tourism welcomes today’s guest blogger, PK Kudori:

PK {Prabhakar} Koduri is a native of Indiana but now calls Indiana home. An alumni of the famed Indian Institutes of Technology, PK also has graduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Business from University of Louisville and Indiana University-Bloomington respectively. When he is not dreaming up his next business idea PK can be found at the IMA getting his shoes and pants dirty trying to capture that perfect shot. You can also find him on Smaller Indiana and Facebook, and he maintains a portfolio/blog at http://www.photoindica.com.

Ever wonder where people go to take a vacation from a vacation? I think I found the answer this past weekend at the White Oaks Cabins near Patoka Lake. White Oaks Cabins are located right in the heart of the Hoosier National Forest in Taswell IN, a 3 hour 170 mile car ride from Indianapolis. White Oaks was founded by Bob Cadwallader, a veteran social worker, in 1995 on 45 acres of land he had originally acquired to build a homeless children’s shelter.

Those plans changed due to some unforeseen bureaucratic challenges and White Oaks was born. Bob, a very spiritual man and in tune with nature, is proud of his Welch ancestry. One can find ample evidence in the names that he chose for his cabins and the various paths around the property.

I got to White Oaks after sundown and I immediately the number of stars in the night sky. It is as if someone just turned on a bazillion little LEDs all at once. I stared at them for a few moments before being greeted by one of Bob’s assistants (I apologize for not remembering her name). The office was warm and welcoming and Bob made me feel right at home. We talked for a few minutes and he handed me a few guest books to read. His point was simple – rather than have him tell me why White Oaks was a special place he let his guests do the talking. I read through some that night and more the following morning over breakfast. What I quickly learnt was that for some folks coming to White Oaks was like therapy. They chose to come there for a variety of reasons – mend broken relationships, rekindle friendships, family reunions, de-stress, or just to get away from it all. Almost all of them left feeling better than when they came.

I was lucky enough to stay at Castle Genevieve, a cabin Bob built to honor the memory of his Grand Parents Anthony and Genevieve. A notable feature of the cabin is the 35 foot tower aptly named “Tower of Anthony” which looks great at night when lit.

The cabin is well appointed with a kitchen and comfortably sleeps a family or group of six. The decor is eclectic and one can even find a replica of a medieval sword going up the stairs to the bedrooms. A word of warning to those that cannot live without TV or Internet – there are no televisions or internet access. You will be lucky to get a cell phone signal , which I found out could be quite tricky. I had what one could describe as “withdrawal” symptoms. It felt wired to not have a TV running in the background or some other electronic noise.

The next day I woke up to the sound of birds and a gentle breeze outside. The weather was perfect and a balmy 70 degrees. I visited the main office once more before heading out to the lake. I was greeted at the entrance to the office by Bob’s Chocolate Lab “Big Red”.

Short on time I decided to visit Marengo Caves which were just a few miles away. Southern Indiana is known for its rich geological features and the caves are a treasure. Since I had my daughter Mira with me I took the shorter “Crystal Palace” tour which lasted about 45 minutes. The views are breathtaking and it is amazing that there is so much geological activity going on even today. The temperature inside the cave was an even 52 degrees – which answers the question as to where the cavemen chilled their beer .

I drove around for a little while trying to look for a place to eat. You will quickly find out that there are none of the “modern” amenities that us city folks are used to such as McDonalds or Subway. I ended up all the way in French Lick before I found a place. I should have asked for Bob’s advice before heading out about food places – may be next time. French Lick is home to the renowned West Baden Springs Hotel. I did not get a chance to tour the place as I had to meet some family back at the cabin. Later that evening we made a camp fire out in the meadow and cooked some hotdogs and bratwurst. We also made some smores and had a great time. I woke up the next day wishing I could stay there longer but life waits and it doesn’t like to be put on hold. I went by the office one last time to checkout and return the guest books. As I drove down the gravel path towards the exit I made a promise to myself, like many others before me that came to White Oaks, that I will be back.

For More Information Contact:

Bob Cadwallader

Information: (812) 338-3120 / Reservations: (877) 338-3120

White Oaks Cabins

2140 North Morgan Road

Taswell, Indiana 47175

Credits:

Accommodations Provided by:

White Oaks Cabins

2140 North Morgan Road

Taswell, Indiana 47175

Special Thanks to:

Jeremy Williams

Indiana Office of Tourism Development

www.visitindiana.com

Pat Coyle

Smaller Indiana

www.smallerindiana.com

Indiana Tourism welcomes today’s guest blogger, Curt Brantingham:

Curt Brantingham is the Public Relations Manager for the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Curt has been with the office since August 2006 and worked at the Indianapolis Zoo before that. You can find out more about the Indiana Office of Tourism Development at the Indiana Media Insider Blog.

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in Evansville has two very cool new reasons to visit. The zoo recently announced that two female jaguar cubs were born at the facility on September 22. The cubs will make their debut on exhibit beginning in late November in AMAZONIA Forest of Riches, an indoor tropical rainforest exhibit that opened in 2008. Live streaming video from inside the jaguar den will also be available at www.meskerjagcam.com. The two “jagcams” will provide a window into the cats’ world anytime, day or night. The Zoo plans to hold an online naming contest for the cubs when they go on display. The birth of these jaguar cubs is very significant. As of 2007, there were only about 44 jaguars in facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

“This is truly a ‘Wow Factor’ to be working with the cubs and will be incredibly rewarding to watch our visitors experience their growth,” said Amos Morris, Executive Director, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. “We use successful births as a benchmark of great care.”

In Fort Wayne, the nationally-acclaimed Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo reports that the 2009 season ended with a record 610,949 visitors. That breaks the previous record of 541,399 visitors set in 1996. A survey conducted during the summer shows that visitors came from at least 40 states in 2009. The zoo’s new $9 million African Journey exhibit opened in June and was a big draw for members and first-time visitors. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is open from April through mid-October, and hosts the annual Great Zoo Halloween. It will reopen to visitors on April 24, 2010.

Source: Mesker Park Zoo and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Indiana Tourism welcomes today’s guest blogger, Christy Glesing:

A native Hoosier and proud Purdue alumnus, Christy and her family live in Indianapolis. A 15-year veteran of community development and tourism in Indiana, she believes the strength of a community is determined by the imagination and persistence of its people.

We just missed the peak of fall colors in southern Indiana. But the landscape of rural Indiana was beautiful just the same as I drove the kids to my parents’ house for an overnight visit. My trek began in Indianapolis where I grew up and now live. Located in the center of a triangle made by Bloomington, Vincennes and Terre Haute, it takes just over an hour to get to Bloomfield from Indy.

I like to take I-70 to the Cloverdale exit as we did to get to my grandma’s house when I was growing up. I remember stopping at the Clover Queen drive-in for soft-serve ice cream on the way home. It has morphed into commercial storage units now. As we continue down S.R. 231 toward Spencer, we pass the Hill Top Restaurant. It’s a nice meeting place for my very large family. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed many family-style dinners atop the hill that overlooks the Owen Valley.

As we drive into town, I picture it as the one-horse kind of town it might have been before the highway went through. Bookended by a bustling McDonalds to the north and Wal-mart to the south, Spencer’s main claim to fame is a few miles north at McCormick’s Creek State Park, where a hike to Wolf Cave is a must.

As we turn off the main road and cross the town square, I chuckle to myself as I always do when we pass the sign for Juliebob’s Antiques. While no connection to the store, it carries the name of my younger siblings. Once I cross the bridge over the White River, I know I have 12 miles of twisting, turning, dipping back roads and several one-lane bridges to pass along Pottersville road. Yes, we really do go over the river and through the woods to get to grandmother’s house. This is the best part of the trip for me. With no stops, but one, and few other cars around, I can really ride the open road. Even in a less-than-stealthy minivan.

Once we arrive, I can relax and take in the beauty of my parents’ 110-acre property. A century-old log cabin – rumored to once be a hideout for famed gangster John Dillinger – still stands to greet us as does the barn that’s not as old or as sturdy. What’s left of the color on the trees is reflected in the pond next to the house which causes me to reflect to myself, it’s good to be back home again in southern Indiana.

Indiana Tourism welcomes today’s guest blogger, Melinda Cooper:

Melinda Cooper is originally from Elkhart, Ind. and now lives in Anderson, Ind. with her husband and two cats. A writer at heart and formerly at the Indianapolis Star, she’s now an intern at Roundpeg. You can find her on Twitter @mindyc05.

I wanted to go on an anniversary trip for our fourth anniversary but I was laid off in July and it just wasn’t practical. When I read on SmallerIndiana.com that VisitIndiana.com was holding a contest for a trip, I jumped at the chance. I started tweeting and Facebooking like crazy.

The trip ended up being postponed due to a last minute booking so we just went – Nov. 2-4. We had just been to Naperville for a conference and stopped in Elkhart to visit my parents and then stopped at our house to check on the cats and then left again for Patoka’s Edge Retreat. So by the time we got there, we were set to relax for a couple of days!

We drove on a gravel road for what seemed like 20 minutes in the middle of the night and it was so remote. Thank goodness for our GPS or we would have certainly been lost at least once. We arrived at the home around 10 p.m. and immediately found the outdoor hot tub. It was so quiet and relaxing. All we could hear were coyotes way out in the woods and the scampering of animals while we sat in the hot tub. When we went inside and looked around the house, we found rose petals to our room!!!!! It was so romantic. And we found a bottle of wine. It was so romantic and nice of the owners to do that. It made us happy.

It was crazy to wake up and see what we had been missing! There was a shimmering lake and a forest surrounding us. There were hills upon hills. Even in the morning, it was so quiet. It’s weird not hearing traffic. Usually you have to wake up in a tent to get that kind of quietness. I read a book for a while then we ate some breakfast and headed out to Marengo Cave.

We were the only people there for the tour so we had our own private tour of the whole cave (we did both sides). It was really interesting because I haven’t been in many caves in my life. I didn’t realize how many caves there were around southern Indiana. Afterwards, we went to a newer winery called Indian Creek Winery. It was near Georgetown. It’s only been around a couple years and not yet even on the Uplands Wine Trail so we were pretty excited to find it! They had an amazing woodsy white. And some blackberry wine that tasted like a liquid Jolly Rancher.

After that, we headed back to our house in the woods. The drive in the daylight was so pretty. It was nice riding passenger so I could enjoy the scenic drive. Even with leaves fallen already, it was nice. It’s weird to me to see pieces of rock off the road instead of flat land. My husband is from Cincinnati originally and was making fun of me. But when you come from Northern Indiana, it’s not rocky! So yes, I was intrigued by the granite by the road.

The last day, we checked out and drove towards French Lick to see what the big deal was really.French Lick was a cute small train town with a big casino. We skipped the casino and went to the train museum. And, of course, we found the French Lick Winery. The winery was awesome. The guy working there was hilarious! He had tattoos and this hemp necklace and knew all about wine. It was funny because he seemed more like a beer or Jack Daniels kind of guy but he was so knowledgeable and personable! We had a good time just hanging out with the guy tasting the wines. They had a great dry white and they offered a port sample! Usually wineries NEVER offer port. So I had to try it. The guy explained it as a mixture of almost a brandy and a wine. It made me warm and fuzzy inside. I got a bottle for the winter months! The guy said we should check out some other wineries on our way back and gave us an awesome map so we did. We headed towards Mitchell (the best topography in the state according to my college geography professor) and stopped at Carousel Winery.

The owners were there out in the open! Usually we never catch the actual vintners so it was exciting. They are known for their fruit wines (the other guy said in French Lick) and that we had to try them so we did. I LOVED the pomegranate and Hubby loved the cherry one. They had such unique flavors to their wine. They weren’t too sweet or too tart but they weren’t plain ol’ wines either. And these cookie/cracker things they offer. They are part animal cracker and part oyster cracker. I forgot to get a box. Note to self: find these wine crackers.

Then we went back to Anderson. The cats missed us. I think they are still waiting for us to leave again! Oh well it’s nice to be back to my normally scheduled program again.

Hubby and I would like to say THANK YOU! to Jeremy Williams at VisitIndiana, Pat Coyle at SmallerIndiana and David and Ginger, owners of Patoka’s Edge Retreat for letting us have this wonderful experience!!! (and all our friends, coworkers and family members who had to read my every hour tweets about fall in Indiana)

You can see more pictures from our trip here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mindyc05/PatokaSEdge02#

Are you looking for a few good beers? If so, Indianapolis is the place for you!

Visit Indy’s regular video blog, Doing Indy, featured some Indy-based microbreweries in their most recent episode. Among the great breweries featured are Greenwood’s Oaken Barrel, locally brewed beer at Rock Bottom Brewery, Indy’s newest brewery; Sun King Brewing Company and the state’s oldest brewery, the Broad Ripple Brewpub. Check out the video below (about 6 minutes long).

While we’re talking about Indy-based breweries, tonight is the grand opening of the new Barley Island brewpub, located in Broad Ripple where Scholar’s Inn used to be.

Barley Island is a brewery based in the Indianapolis suburb of Noblesville and this will be the brewery’s newest and first location in Indianapolis proper. With Broad Ripple now anchored by such micr0-brew favorites as the Broad Ripple Brewpub, Brugge Brasserie and now Barley Island Restaurant & Brewhouse (Facebook fanpage), Broad Ripple is the place to go in Indy for great craft brewed beers.

See some of our other posts about Indiana-based breweries and wineries.

There are obvious tourist destinations in many cities — the ones with the billboards pointing toward the location or with the slick brochures set out in hotel lobbies. Then there are the hidden treasures that you might not find unless you ask a local or just look carefuly as you drive down the street.

Nancy Sartain of the Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau introduced me to a few such spots in her county and now I’m sharing them with you.

Gennett Records Walk of Fame
Gennett Records was a record label founded by Starr Piano in Richmond, Indiana in the early 1900s. Gennett was the recording home of such jazz, blues and country legends as Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Gene Autry, Duke Ellington, Guy Lombardo and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. To recognize Richmond’s place in musical history and the contributions of the artists who recorded there, in 2007 the Starr Gennett Foundation established the Gennett Walk of Fame along South 1st Street in Richmond, the site of the old Starr Piano factory.

The three-dimensional bronze and colored tile mosaic markers on the trail are shaped like 78rpm records and are accompanied by a small bronze plaque identifying the artist and his or her contribution to the history of music. To date 25 artists/groups have been recognized.

Hoagy Carmichael's spot on the Gennett Walk of Fame

Duke Ellington has earned a spot on the walk as well.

For more information, including a map to find the Gennett Walk of Fame, click here.

Scott Shafer Stoneware
With the winter gift-giving holidays looming ahead, now is the perfect time to let you in on the secret of Scott Shafer Stoneware.  Shafer’s quiet, almost hidden, studio is located at 610 N. Morton Avenue in Centerville. Look for the green roadside sign signaling the entrance.

The small building just behind Shafer’s home houses both displays of finished stoneware clay products for sale as well as Shafer’s studio. Shafer’s pieces are both artistic and functional. Dishwasher and oven safe, they’re perfect for use in the kitchen, as well as other areas of your home.

A sample of pieces available for purchase at Scott Shafer Pottery.

If you’re lucky, you’ll catch Scott as he is hand throwing pottery on the wheel that he and his father built early in his career as a potter. Shafer has been doing pottery full time since 1979.

Scott Shafer sits at the potter's wheel he and his father built some 20+ years ago.

Scott Shafer Stoneware is open Monday-Saturday from 10am to 5pm. You can reach Scott by calling (765) 855-2409.

Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery
Just west of Centerville is the town of Cambridge City. On U.S. 40 in Cambridge City is the town’s public library. And in the basement of the library is the Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery. Produced between 1911 and 1955 by the six Overbeck sisters — Ida, Margaret, Hannah, Harriet, Elizabeth and Mary Frances — the pottery and the paintings created by the sisters are recognized as having importance in U.S. folk art history.

Just a few of the pieces on display at the Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery.

There is no charge to visit the collection, which is open Monday-Saturday, 10am-noon and 2-5pm. Group tours are available by appointment.

While you’re in Cambridge City, stop by the Pour House Cafe, a mom and pop operation that is half cafe and half antique shop. Treat yourself to a coffee, if you must (I’m more of a diet soda drinker, which they also serve), but do not skip the homemade fudge. I tried the chocolate peanut butter and was not disappointed.

These destinations may be a little off the normal tourist radar, but they’ll be stops you’ll be glad you made on your next trip to Wayne County.

I was 1 year old in 1968, so I wasn’t as up on current events and popular culture as I am now. But I could learn about what was going on in the first year of my life by visiting 1968 in America at the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie (Delaware County).

The exhibit has been running since September 5, and will run until January 7, 2010. It teaches visitors about the major events of 1968 affected East Central Indiana. The exhibit “. . . will explore events of that year, from the first images of the whole Earth to the look and sounds of an average teenager’s room. Amazing artifacts and period music will transport you to a bygone era.”

There is a special event on Saturday, November 14, from noon to 4 pm with a chance to:

• Sing Karaoke to your favorite 1968 songs
• Get a snack at the Easy Bake Oven snack bar
• Tie-dye a shirt
• Ride-a-roo races
• Play “Beatles Rock Band”
• From 1 to 1:30 p.m., McDonald’s will give away free Big Macs, which made its debut in 1968.
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Take dance party lessons and learn how to dance to the tunes of the times..

You can even leave your own 1968 story on their blog.

Hours & Admission

Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children and students.
Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

November is going to be a big month in Conner Prairie.

Their Follow the North Star experience will show visitors the fugitive slave experience on the Underground Railroad. You can actually participate in an interactive experience that Conner Prairie staffers have researched for years.

You play the role of a runaway slave, and you’ll meet several costumed characters along the way — a slave hunter, a Quaker family, a free black family, to name a few. This is a great learning experience for students, and some powerful diversity training experiences for civic, church, and corporate groups.

As you Follow the North Star, you’ll experience the life of an escaped slave in a way that no book, movie, documentary, website, or story cannot. You’ll actually be a slave on the run, facing the people you would have faced in your escape. Slave owners, slave hunters, and the people who would help them along the way.

The Conner Prairie website says Follow the North Star is not for everyone, however.

This program takes place outside in all kinds of weather, and participants walk approximately one mile on rough terrain. The emotional effect of the program is intense, as participants are treated as slaves, being told to keep their eyes down and not to speak unless spoken to. Because of the nature of the experience, participants must be 12 years or older.

The Follow the North Star experience runs November 5-7 12-14, and 19-21 from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 per person, or $16 for members, and reservations are required.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn about different countries around the world, but didn’t have the time or money for an international cruise, you can experience these different cultures at the Indianapolis International Festival, held November 19 – 22 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The festival is organized by the Nationalities Council of Indiana, a nonprofit organization made up of more than 50 ethnic and cultural groups in the Hoosier state.

Performances and exhibits will include:

• Professional instructors from the Arthur Murray International Dance Studio will teach attendees different dances, including the Merengue, Bolero, Tango, Cha Cha and the Samba.
• Watch Italian Street Painting as madonnari (street painters) will create a gallery on the floor of the West Pavilion. Vandra Linder will be the primary madonnari.
• The Umbdabu Dance and Percussion Company will feature four of their dances at the festival. The company is based in Birmingham, Alabama, and is dedicated to the preservation of traditional and contemporary South African history and culture.
• The Nationalities Council of Indiana is partnering with the Geography Educators’ Network of Indiana to present the National Geographic Society’s Giant Traveling Map of Africa. This is the world’s largest map of the African continent. It is 26 feet by 35 feet, and weighs 102 pounds.
• The Student Passport Program allows students to explore their heritage and to talk with people from other cultures as part of the educational outreach program. Students can collect stamps in their Student Passports as they visit different tables and exhibits.
• Of course, you can’t have an International Festival without International Beer & Wine Tasting. Kahn’s Fine Wines & Spirits is sponsoring the tasting, as authentic cuisines from over 20 different ethnic food vendors will be offered to visitors over the 4-day festival.
• A naturalization ceremony that will welcome 175 new American citizens on Friday.
• An international marketplace that offers gifts from around the world.

Schedule

School Dates & Hours
Nov 19: 10am – 2pm
Nov 20: 10am – 2pm

General Public Dates & Hours
Nov 20: 2pm – 9pm
Nov 21: 10am – 9pm
Nov 22: Noon – 6pm

Tickets are $7 in advance for adults, and $9 at the door. Children, ages 6 – 12, are $6. You can get your tickets at Marsh Supermarkets, Kahn’s Fine Wines, or show your AAA Hoosier Motor Club Membership card at the door, and receive $2 off the adult ticket price at the door.

You can see a slideshow of the 2007 International Festival at their Flickr feed.

I’ve never seen the lighting of the Indiana Christmas tree, the Circle of Lights. I do have an excuse, in that I’ve only lived in Indianapolis for two Christmases. The rest of the time, I either lived in Muncie (Delaware County) or Syracuse (Kosciusko County). In the past couple of years, we’ve had sick kids and my wife’s birthday, but this year is going to be the year. I can just feel it.

But this year, I’m going to see the Circle of Lights as its lit.

The event is always held the day after Thanksgiving — Friday, November 27, this year — and attracts more than 100,000 spectators to the event.

The lighting has been a tradition since 1962. The 284′ 6″ tower is lit by 4,784 lights and 52 garland strands. They’re hung by volunteers from the Contractors of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW 481.

Each year, the Circle is decorated with giant toys, peppermint sticks, gorgeous lights strung throughout the trees along the sidewalks, and even a mailbox for Santa. Last year, we took our two youngest kids to the Circle so they could drop the letter in Santa’s mailbox. They were so excited because this mail was a special delivery being taken directly to the North Pole.

There will be live entertainment that starts at 6:00 p.m., and the television coverage will start at 7:00 and run for an hour. The giant switch will be thrown around 7:45.

Since I’ve never been, I’m guessing it’s going to be important to get there rather early. I’ll probably show up around 4:00 so I can find a good place to stand, and just hope I’m not too late. If you have ever been to the tree lighting, and think I need to show up sooner, please let me know

Photo: JoanieOfArc