Welcome to winter in Boone County. A time when snow falls, temperatures plummet and many folks choose to stay home rather than risk the freezing outdoors.
We get calls at the Boone County Convention & Visitors Bureau asking, “What’s there to do in Boone County this time of year?” And we answer with a long list of things you can see and do – inside where it’s warm.
Here are some suggestions on easy day trips to take in Boone County.
Boone County Art:
Have you ever visited the Sugar Creek Art Center? If not and you like original art, you owe it to yourself to head over to Thorntown and spend some time viewing both the artists and the art they produce at this impressive building devoted to the support of local artists.
The Sugar Creek Art Center will be sponsoring a Winter Arts Festival on Feb. 12, 2010 and Feb. 13, 2010. Friday it’s Culture at the Creek – Seeing Red” and Great American Date Night. There will be live music, catered goodies and a special area set up for you to purchase tins of home made sweet treat and fresh flowers will be available for your special someone. On the first floor Art Vendors will be set up to offer you the nicest merchandise available for that special Valentine gift.
Saturday Feb. 13, it’s “Bluegrass Music and Chili Supper” at the Sugar Creek Art Center, with the Bluegrass Jammers in concert entertaining the public with their acoustic music. While you are enjoying the music, why not round out the evening with a Chili Supper. For only $5.00 you can get a big bowl of chili, peanut butter sandwich and drink. For more information, please visit Sugar Creek Art Center
To discover how to create your own special Boone County Art Experience - CLICK HERE on our website.
Tour a Museum:
The SullivanMunce Cultural Center in Zionsville features a wide range of exhibits, events and programs designed for anyone interested in celebrating the culture of a historic town where the past is preserved and the future is embraced. Admission is always free. For more information, please visit Sullivan/Munce Cultural Center
Visit the Lebanon Courthouse:
The Lebanon Courthouse is truly one of the architectural gems of Boone County. The Courthouse is well worth a visit for:
•The large columns on the north and south entrances are believed to be the largest monolithic limestone columns in the world.
•The magnificent courthouse dome is the second largest stained glass dome in Indiana.
•Eight rare Hahl pneumatically calibrated clocks that still keep time inside the courthouse.
There are also magnificent quilts on display in the rotunda and, if you’d like to experience the American justice system in action, you can sit in on a variety of trials, hearings and other legal meetings that go on every week day in the Boone County Courthouse. To read more – CLICK HERE
Take a Road Trip to a Boone County locally owned restaurant:
One thing you can count on when you visit any city or town in Boone County is you’re going to find a great down-home, locally owned restaurant or two when you get there.
Stookey’s in Thorntown features what’s said is the best catfish in Boone County while Chuck’s County Famous Breaded Tenderloins are now being served at the Pizza King in Jamestown. If you love BBQ, you’re sure to love Parkey’s Smoke House in Lebanon or if your tastes run to finer French cuisine, Bijou on the Courthouse Square in Lebanon has earned a national reputation for gourmet excellence.
The LA Cafe in Whitestown is open again for dining amongst the motorcycles and Sigler’s in Mechanicsburg serves up down home cooking you’re sure to enjoy. The Friendly Tavern in Zionsville offers classic pub food, with great steaks and daily specials, while the Rice Cooker (also in Zionsville across from Boone Village) will cook up any Chinese meal you can imagine as well as having an extensive menu of favorite Chinese entrees.
As you can probably tell, I’m a real foodie who enjoys traveling across our great County and sampling the many delicious meals to be found just about anywhere you stop.
Of course, no column having to do with great eats in Boone County would be complete without mentioning Donaldson’s Chocolates in Lebanon. Whether you’re just stopping in for a box of mixed chocolates or have called ahead for a special tour, the hand-made chocolates at Donaldson’s are a definite must to try again and again.
You can find information about all of these restaurants RIGHT HERE on our website.
Take in some culture, experience new art and artists and enjoy a locally owned Boone County restaurant – three great things to do when it’s winter time in Indiana. I’ll hope to see you there.
