Trip Ideas

Patoka Lake is Southern Indiana’s #1 recreation area. Experience nature at its finest, enjoying the day in the sun at Patoka Lake and the surrounding area.

Remember to check out our list of events—there may be something going on that you want to be a part of. Also, other things around the lake are available as well, this is just one idea of how to spend your day in the Patoka Lake area.

Morning

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Deb’s Truck Stop or another local favorite (click here for a complete listing of restaurants).

After breakfast, explore Patoka Lake. Be sure to drive, walk, or bike to the Patoka Overlook for a great picturesque view of the lake. Also, view the dam and watch water pour out of this massive structure. Other Patoka Lake Trails are also available.

Rent a pontoon from Hoosier Hills Marina. Or take a trip down to the beach. On hot and humid days, you will want to beat the heat in the water.

Lunch

Have lunch right by the water at The Idle Zone Pizza at Patoka located at Hoosier Hills Marina. If on a boat, simply pull into the boat dock at the marina to pick up some pizza. Another option is to pack a picnic or bring grilling materials. There are very picturesque locations around the lake as well as shelter houses for a picnic with many locations featuring charcoal grills. Other restaurants near the lake are also available, feel free to call if you would like to know of other options.

Afternoon

Tour the Patoka Lake Visitor and Nature Center. Different programming is also available throughout the year through the Patoka Lake Visitors Center.

Grab a large cone at the Birdseye Dairy Barn. A reader’s choice in the Best of Indiana magazine, the Dairy Barn will please your sweet tooth with their large soft serve ice cream cones with a large variety of flavors. Be careful in ordering a large cone—it may be more than you can handle!

Evening

Take an evening wine or beer cruise on The Patoka Voyager. Toward dusk, the lake is usually ever-so-smooth and peaceful. What better way to end the evening than kicking back with some wine as a tour is given of beautiful Patoka Lake with the sun close low on the horizon.

OR

Only a short drive away, head to French Lick and West Baden. Tour West Baden Springs National Historic Landmark, formerly dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. The property has undergone an exciting transformation and is a beautiful place to see. Also, try your hand at the French Lick Casino—lady luck just may be on your side. French Lick also offers great fun for kids with indoor go-karting, miniature golf, big splash indoor water park, and laser tag.

Jasper is filled with history, great food, and vitality. Explore the town’s heritage and create a memory that will last a lifetime.

Remember to check out our list of events—there may be something going on that you want to be a part of. Also, other attractions are available as well—this is just one idea on how to spend your day in Jasper. If you are just going to be here for one day, you may want to look over the day in Dubois County itinerary to encompass even more things in a short time.

Morning

Start your day right with a quick breakfast & delicious local coffee at a café such as Zax Creamery, Azura’s Café, or Midwest Cafe. For a heartier breakfast, Shoney’s, and Denny’s are well known for their selection (for a complete listing of restaurants, click here).

After breakfast, tour the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Designated as the “Faithful Watchman over Jasper”, St. Joseph Church is an 1880 Romanesque old-world church listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Priceless German stained glass windows, Austrian-designed mosaics with 50 million stones, and marble statues are just a few of the details that make this historic landmark a truly heavenly place. Behind the church explore the Grottos at the Providence Home.

Explore the historic district of Jasper, along the Patoka River, featuring the Jasper City Mill a replica of a previous mill that once stood near the Patoka. Watch the workings of the waterwheel, learn about the production of cornmeal and browse the souvenir gift shop. Stroll the Jasper Riverwalk & take in the beautiful scenery and wildlife along the way. Stop at the Schaeffer Barn, a historic, hand-hewn log structure, originally built in the 1800s and relocated to the “Old Jasper District” serving as a picturesque backdrop & venue for events throughout the year.

Located in the heart of the historic district of Jasper, delight in the variety of artwork on display at the new   Thyen-Clark Cultural Center. 

To learn more about the history of Dubois County first hand you won’t want to miss out on The Dubois County Museum, a German heritage cultural center and one of the largest county museums in Indiana, featuring early settler history, religious history, sports memorabilia, its very own life-size log cabin, antique farm machinery, murals covering the walls, a train room with a unique setup of model trains, a play area for children, and a main street that showcases old-time shops and history and the new exhibit featuring a wild game safari display.

Lunch

Enjoy lunch at one of our unique eateries in Jasper (for a complete listing of restaurants, click here). A wide selection is available including ethnic cuisine, small deli’s, local pubs, and home-style restaurants. A lunch or supper favorite of Jasper is southern Indiana’s premier German restaurant, the Schnitzelbank, winner of Indiana’s super sandwich competition during Superbowl XLVI.

Afternoon

Visit the Jasper Downtown Shopping District and the area around the square. This beautiful area of Jasper is filled with vitality, history, and a variety of shops. Be sure to not forget some homemade fudge or other desserts from Chocolate Bliss.

Dedicated to the sport of baseball and its Indiana heroes, the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame, located on the Vincennes University Jasper Campus, showcases memorabilia from high school, collegiate, and professional athletes throughout the Hoosier State.

Evening

Enjoy the evening at an event at the Astra Theater. Please check current performance listings before visiting as their schedule varies & is limited.

All aboard the new “Spirit of Jasper” Train for a “Ride and Dine”. Ride in style on beautifully renovated, climate-controlled lounge cars complete with restrooms and comfortable seating. Each car maintains its own unique design and ambiance. Enjoy a buffet meal to accompany the scenic train ride. (Other excursions are also available besides the evening “Ride and Dine.”)

Spend the day in Huntingburg, a growing community that has been featured in films and is rich with history.

Remember to check out our list of events—there may be something going on that you want to be a part of.

Morning

After grabbing a cup of Joe at Kim’s Koffee or Main’s Bakery travel to Charles C. Niehaus Memorial Park and have fun at the driving range or take a walk on the walking path through the park. Explore this nice scenic area. Schedule a tour at historic Huntingburg League Stadium, built in 1894, and renovated in the early 1990s. It is the site of the motion-picture film, “A League of Their Own”, featuring Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, and Rosie O’Donnell. Original advertisements from the film still remain along the outfield fence. The Stadium also starred in the HBO movie, “Soul of the Game.”

Lunch

Enjoy lunch at one of the unique eateries, many of which are located on Huntingburg Historic 4th Street. Consider Old School Café, Fry’d, The Gaslight.

Afternoon

After lunch, stroll down the street of this charming Victorian downtown, known as Huntingburg’s 4th Street Shopping District. Browse over two dozen locally owned and operated antique shops, trendy apparel stores, and specialty and gift shops. Great finds await your arrival. If it’s hot and humid, cool off at Huntingburg Municipal Pool also located in Huntingburg City Park.

Evening

Enjoy dinner at Mama T’s Italian Steakhouse or visit the newest Brewery in the county, Yard Goat Artisan Ales, offering a pub-style menu. End the evening rooting for the Dubois County Bombers collegiate baseball team as they play on the legendary field at League Stadium. One of the Rockford Peaches beer girls in uniform replicas from the movie will be happy to fill your drink order.

Also, many local facilities and bars supply entertainment at times. Call us for more information.

Discover the local heritage, historic and architectural structures, and beautiful nature in the charming town of Ferdinand and other towns close by.

Remember to check out our list of events—there may be something going on that you want to be a part of. Also, other attractions are available as well—this is just one idea of how to spend your day in Ferdinand. If you are just going to be here for one day, you may want to look over the day in Dubois County itinerary to encompass even more things in a short time.

Morning

After enjoying breakfast at one of the local eateries, explore nature at the Ferdinand State Forest, one of the most beautiful forest lakes in the state. This 7,640-acre area includes primitive camping, picnic areas, shelter houses, grills, playground, fishing, hiking, boating, a swimming beach, and more. Between mid-April through October rent a canoe or rowboat and enjoy a morning on the lake (you could even pack a lunch and cooler and have lunch while experiencing the scenic beauty). If you plan to eat a picnic lunch, stop by one of the two local meat produce shops in Ferdinand to grab lunch, Ferdinand Processing or Butcher, Brew & BBQ Supply.

Lunch

Another option as opposed to packing a lunch would be to eat at Soup-N-Such or a popular Mexican restaurant, Tres Agaves. Several other local pubs & restaurants are located along Main Street as you drive through town.

Afternoon

Tour Ferdinand’s Monastery Immaculate Conception, known as the “Castle on the Hill” and home to one of the nation’s largest communities of Benedictine women. Experience the sisters’ serene lifestyle with a guided tour of the recently restored majestic domed church and Lourdes Grotto, then browse the Monastery Gift Shop for great gift ideas. After shopping, stop and taste the local craft beer made right on the Monastery grounds at Saint Benedict’s Brew Works, believed to be the only U.S. craft brewery on the grounds of a women’s religious community.

Stop by local shops such as Tin Lizzie’s, House of Flowers, Ferdinand Antique Emporium, Horseman’s Paradise, and Traditional Arts Today for some great shopping.

Only a 15-minute drive, tour Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Founded in 1854 by monks of the Abbey of Einsiedeln in Switzerland, the Saint Meinrad Archabbey is one of only two Archabbeys in the United States. Today, more than 135 monks of the community live by the Rule of St. Benedict, and with the motto Ora et Labora (To Pray and To Work).

Looking for a thrill?? Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is a short drive to Santa Claus, IN.

Evening

Only minutes away from St. Meinrad Archabbey, tour and taste at Monkey Hollow Winery. Monkey Hollow Winery is a family-owned and operated winery nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana. Enjoy a complimentary tasting of their award-winning wines and browse their selection of locally made arts and crafts.

After everyone has their fair share of wine, continue south and have dinner at New Boston Tavern (17 miles from Ferdinand). A favorite of Southern Indiana, New Boston Tavern has great steaks and more to enjoy. If you want to stay more locally in Ferdinand, there are many other options to enjoy as well (click here for a complete listing of restaurants).