Kids Love Indiana

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www.kidslovetravel.com

Updates to Kids Love Indiana (new 3rd edition now available)

Changes:

NC – COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME (pg. 96). SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The College Football Hall of Fame, which never managed to attract the number of visitors its organizers hoped for after moving it to South Bend in 1995, is being moved to Atlanta to bring it more exposure, organizers told the city. The National Football Foundation notified the city of South Bend in a letter Tuesday that it is terminating its agreement with the city when its current lease ends on Dec. 31, 2010.

SW - The awesome, kid-friendly YOUNG ABE LINCOLN outdoor drama (pg. 186) did lose funding and is CLOSED. It was kid-interactive at some parts and filled with enough song and dance to tell the sometimes sad, storyline that kept the kids’ full attention. Many of you know how much we adore historical dramas so please support any that you can with your attendance.

NC – South Bend, Orchestra (pg. 100). They no longer have the Fire Fly Festival.

CW – Rockville, Parke County (pg. 222). Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. Some of the bridges burned – be sure to use the website for updates to the tour.

C – Columbus, ZAHARAKO’S CONFECTIONARY (pg. 13) is closed. Word is, they are talking about turning it into a museum but nothing firm yet.

NC – Kokomo. COCA-COLA BOTTLING (pg. 83) is closed. The Coca-cola bottling plant in Kokomo, IN quit bottling in January of 2004. –thanks, Nicholle, for the email tip.

Additions:

C – INDIANA STATE HISTORY CENTER (pg. 19) www.indianahistory.org. The grand reopening is scheduled for Spring 2010. The new INDIANA EXPERIENCE: Those new and exciting ways include You Are There, which features three-dimensionally reconstructed historic photographs that include first-person interpreters, allowing visitors to step into another era. The 1945 grocery store will be back next year by popular demand, joined by two other images come to life – one that will take visitors to Robert F. Kennedy’s speech in Indianapolis the night Martin Luther King Jr. was killed and one that will re-create a visit to a 1920s auto repair garage in Hartford City. Allowing visitors to travel through time using innovative technology, touch screens and immersive displays of historic images, Destination Indiana is IHS’s newest experience, developed to better explore and understand the story of Indiana. The History Lab is a hands-on demonstration lab that allows visitors to learn and participate in conservation and preservation activities. Within that space, INvestigation Stations allow visitors to “do” history as they analyze historic documents, research their family trees, search for clues in historic photographs and explore careers in history. Renovations will also allow visitors a window into the IHS’s real life History Lab – the Conservation Lab – and provide an opportunity to see conservators at work.

NW – HOOSIER VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM. http://hvrm.railfan.net/. Open Saturdays 9am to 4pm CT.... Admission is FREE. Train Rides May - Oct and Open Saturdays 9-4 CT year-round, weather permitting during the winter months. Ride behind a vintage diesel locomotive in various sytles of railroad cabooses, and an open-air sightseeing car. Travel through the rural farm country of Starke and southern LaPorte counties. Flowers, butterflies, wildlife and lots of Indiana crops visible from the train. Roundtrip - North Judson to English Lake / Kankakee River Bridge. Ride is approximately 40 to 45-minutes / 10-miles "roundtrip". $11 Adult. $8 Youth (age 6-15 yrs). $4 Child (age 1-5 yrs).

C – LUCAS OIL STADIUM TOURS, downtown Indianapolis. Public tours of the behemoth building located on the southeast side of downtown Indianapolis are offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Adults – $7.00, Seniors (65+) – $5.00, Child (4-12 years of age) – $5.00, Child (3 & under) – Free. Tickets are available at the door only; no advance sales available. The 45-minute to one hour tour includes visits to the playing field, an NFL locker room, Lucas Oil Plaza, Press Box, as well as other areas not open to the general public. Be sure to check the Lucas Oil Stadium website before you plan your trip, as tours may be canceled on some dates when events are planned inside the stadium.

CW - Exotic Feline Rescue Center, 2221 E. Ashboro Road, Center Point, IN 47840. (I 70 to exit 23 (Brazil/Linton also state road 59 south - This is about 20 minutes east of Terre Haute and 1 hour west of the airport). Tuesday - Sunday 10:00am- 5:00pm. Phone: 812-835-1130 or www.exoticfelinerescue.org. Admission: $10.00 adult, $5.00 child. The Exotic Feline Rescue Center is a not-for -profit organization. They do not buy, sell or breed and give cats a home for the rest of their lives. On a guided tour you will see lions, tigers, leopards (black and spotted), pumas, bobcats and servals. On the tour you can get within 3 feet of the enclosures. If the keepers are feeding you can see that process and depending upon the weather/ time of day etc. the groups are often playing. Even the cats that live alone will play with their boomer balls and come near the fence for attention. If you love big cats this is the place to visit. It is a walking tour that takes about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Strollers will work on their paths. September - Fall Fest – bon fire and weenie roast (last weekend). November - Pumpkin Party (2^nd or third weekend). December - Winter Wonderland (last two weekends).

NE – Shipshewana. SPLASH UNIVERSE WATER PARK RESORT - (next to Town Center). www.splashuniverse.com. Splash Universe includes a 154 room full-service hotel and restaurants. This convention and “expo” center also houses the Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum. The museum holds the world’s largest collection of antique Hudson automobiles and one-of-a-kind cars donated by chicken watering inventor Eldon Hostetler, with over 60 patents. A highlight is the “Doc Hudson Hornet” car built for actor Paul Newman whose voice is in the automated 2006 blockbuster film, “Cars.” The combined 24-acre project takes aim at a new market to introduce younger families to Shipshewana, while giving older adults another reason to stay in this town that has an estimated 1 million visitors a year, especially grandmothers who now have another “destination” for their spouses with the car museum and grandkids with the water park resort. The theme of the water park mirrors the farming traditions that surround this historic town named after Indian chief Shipshewana, and home to the nation’s third largest Amish community. It features seven water slides, an adventure area with a 500-gallon tipping bucket, a lazy river and more for youngsters, ages 2 to 12.

NE – Fort Wayne, DEBRAND CHOCOLATES. DeBrand Corporate Headquarters and Shoppe. 10105 Auburn Park Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825. (I-69 exit 116, Dupont Road). www.debrand.com or 260-969-8335. Another great chocolate factory tour in the Midwest! Tours begin with a 15-minute video. Groups are then led one at a time to begin the tour. You'll start with a DeBrand tour guide telling you all about their online shipping department, then move on to tour the three DeBrand chocolate kitchens. Here you will learn about the various DeBrand chocolate collections and the delicate chocolate-making process, watching these artisan chocolates being hand-made and sampling some exquisite chocolates. End the tour in their elegant chocolate shoppe where you have the opportunity to use your admission certificate to purchase and take home some of these treats you just saw made … or sit with your group and order delicious desserts and drinks. Tours: Depending on attendance levels, tours typically last 45 minutes. Tours are handicapped accessible. Tour cost is $5 per person. Attendees then receive a $5 off certificate good toward any purchase of $10 or more made that day in the shoppe.

More fun information about:

NC – KOKOMO OPALESCENT GLASS COMPANY (pg. 85). The company welcomes visitors as much as always but they’re always improving their format so that it is still safe and fun. Here’s their newest statement of tours: (we highly recommend this tour – it’s still a favorite) Tours: Monday-No tour-no glass production Tuesday-Private pre-scheduled tour at 10:00 A.M. only Wednesday-Public tour at 10:00 A.M. only Thursday-Private pre-scheduled tour at 10:00 A.M. only Friday-Public tour at 10:00 A.M. only Saturday, Sunday and HOlidays-closed Admission: Adults age 18 years and over $5.00 per person Children age under 18 years $2.00 per person Miscellaneous: Absolutely no open shoes of any type due to OSHA regulations. There is broken glass on the floor in many areas so please follow the tour guide’s instructions carefully. Sheets of stained glass produced. Gift shop. Hot glass studio can produce a unique range of quality hand blown glass using our own world famous Kokomo Opalescent Glass. Dating back to 1888, it is the only remaining “Gas Boom” factory in Kokomo, Indiana where up to 22,000 color combinations of machine rolled art glass are made for stained glass artisans. Several ingredients are used to produce this art glass. Some of which are silica sand, soda ash, feldspar, and borax. All minerals mined from the earth. The special recipes for each color are time honored traditions. Each color can be produced in 7 densities and 17 textures. The 2600 degree furnace runs 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The process starts when the table man rings his bell to let the “ladlers” know it is time for a sheet of glass to be made. These ladlers use giant ladles to scoop out different colors of molten glass and spoon it onto a mixing table where it is blended with a giant fork. Next the blob is rolled out to sheet glass form, slowly cooled, and cut to size. Kokomo Opalescent glass has documented sales to the Louis C. Tiffany Company. This tour is a great big “WOW”!

C – Indianapolis Zoo (pg. 31). Dolphin In-Water Adventures. Visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at the dolphins and the chance to learn and use training techniques. Visitors get a brief orientation and educational session, then don wet suits. Trainers then take participants wading into the water (only waist deep) to meet and greet the dolphins. You begin by touching and feeding them. They’re much bigger in person! Does their skin feel like rubber? Next, learn hand signals used as commands to get the dolphins to dive, leap and roll. Adventure lasts about 90 minutes, including 30 minutes of pool time. Participants get their picture taken with a dolphin and a souvenir Zoo towel. Program costs $185.00. Observers poolside $35.00. Participants must be at least 4.5 feet tall and at least 6 years old. Younger than 14 yr. Olds must have an adult participant or observer with them.

C – Indianapolis. (pg 35) CARIBBEAN COVE INDOOR WATERPARK. www.caribbeancovewaterpark.com. Our current 3^rd edition description still stands but we have a few notes to add. Most importantly, this waterpark is connected to a Holidome with heated pool, ping pong, pool table, craft shack and lounging areas. The kids eat free with a paying adult meal so that may be appealing to budgeting parents. The Holidome is less noisy than the giant waterpark and, after all that activity, winding down is a good thing. Within the waterpark are ample lounging areas laid out so that Mom and Dad can relax in nearly full view of the kiddies. This is not common to most indoor waterparks and a feature we parent’s truly benefit from.

Suggested Lodging & Dining:

C – Indianapolis, QUALITY INN & SUITES. 4345 Southport Crossing Way. I-65S exit 103. This nice, clean property is located just about 10 minutes from downtown attractions. The exit is full of shopping and family dining choices. Each morning, the hotel serves complimentary breakfast items with some hot items (waffles, biscuit and gravy – yum). The indoor pool is small but very clean and warm. Their suites include the prized mini-frig and microwave – great for warming up leftovers or popping popcorn. Modest prices at a safe, friendly exit.

NC - CARLTON LODGE (420 West University Drive, Mishawaka. 800-44-lodge or www.carltonlodge.com). A chalet-like rough cedar hotel – You can sleep in reasonably priced rooms with the comfort of a posture-pedic ultra plush mattress, a complimentary continental breakfast, and a heated (warm) pool. The hotel is surrounded by numerous restaurants and shopping and the staff couldn’t be any friendlier (actually, all of this area is comfortably friendly).

Suggested Day/Weekend Trips:

SW – Coasters, Cabins and Choo-choos Trip. - Drive in before dinnertime and check in at LAKE RUDOLPH CAMPGROUND & RV RESORT (877-YES RUDY or www.lakerudolph.com - right next door to HolidayWorld). The campground offers a free shuttle service to the amusement park plus discount tickets. For $26.00-$119.00 per night, you can overnight amongst other families “roughing it.” Actually, this is quite comfortable accommodations. We’d recommend camping with your own gear or renting an RV. Either way, you can cook and eat each evening under the stars. If you’re not busy site-seeing, ride your bike, walk or rent a golf cart visiting the camp store, play in the game room, paddleboat or play mini-golf or swim at one of two pools. Their numerous bathhouses provide modern bathrooms and showers for campers. If you have time, walk the 2/3 to one mile trail called the Trail of 12 Stones. Each of the twelve stone markers details a different phase of Lincoln’s life. Each stone is from the actual foundation of a site Abe visited in his life. Before they finish what may be their last season for a while (lost funding), be sure to see the awesome, kid-friendly YOUNG ABE LINCOLN outdoor drama (pg. 186) It was kid-interactive at some parts and filled with enough song and dance to tell the sometimes sad, storyline, that kept the kids full attention. Many of you know how much we adore historical dramas so please support any that you can with your attendance. Reserve most of the next two days for HOLIDAYWORLD (pg. 192) and back at your lodging. If you’re not cooking breakfast over the open fire, try ST. NICK’S RESTAURANT in Santa’s Lodge. They have a great breakfast buffet for $8.95 adults and free for kids under 8 years old. Now, with lots of energy, plunge into HolidayWorld & Splashin Safari for too much fun. We rate this park high for KIDS LOVE families mostly because it has great atmosphere and caters to kids ages 2-15. Everyone loves the free parking, free sunscreen and especially the free soda (self-serve stations located throughout the park). Their pizza is very good, too. We liked all the shows, the Swing ride and every ride in the waterpark (by the way, lockers are only $3.00 and the showers are warm)! Nearly every water ride comes with tubes which is so nice for adults to “cushion” the ride and makes it easier to manage with kids. It was so clean and the personnel were super pleasant. The most unique ride – definitely the giant funnel-shaped Zinga! On the full day in Santa Claus, head northeast about one hours drive to the INDIANA RAILWAY MUSEUM AND TRAIN RIDE (pg. 181). Catch a weekend or summer Tuesday afternoon (1:00pm) train (pricing $12.00 adult, $6.00 child (3-11). Pass by Larry Bird’s boyhood home, a log cabin, Parson’s Falls and the coolest part – the long, completely pitch dark tunnel. We all clapped once we made it through!

NC – Weekend in South Bend and a touch of Amish Country! - Notre Dame and a whole lot more! – the South Bend slogan. Start by contacting the visitors center CVB. (800-828-7881 or www.exploresouthbend.org). First, (a weekday is best), we decided to take the HERITAGE TRAIL AUDIO DRIVING TOUR of Northern Indiana Amish Country (and RV country). Purchase your CD set with accompanying booklet at the ELKHART COUNTY CVB, just off the Elkhart exit of the Indiana Toll Road (800-262-8161 or www.amishcountry.org). Initially, we weren’t sure the kids would enjoy this tour, but it turned out they did. The audio and directions are well done and intriguing. We’d suggest reserving the day to drive and STOP at every suggested site. Some of the sites we visited this trip: RV/MH HALL OF FAME (pg. 82) – the best part- climbing in most of the units to see their varying layouts. Cozy sleeping quarters but convenient; BONNEYVILLE MILL (pg. 79) – try to visit when the mill is open; JAYCO OR COACHMEN RV’S (pg. 88-89); or save your appetite for DAS DUTCHMAN ESSENHAUS (pg. 89) and their famous sweet peanut butter and apple butter spreads on fresh-baked bread. Your kids will be tempted to eat much of this, but, save room for the family-style meal and dessert! Walk off all that “stuffing” browsing around the huge bakery, gift shop, and village. Something not directly mentioned on the driving tour but a must-see is WALTER PIANO (pg. 81). Begin with a demonstration of the inner ‘guts” of just one note – there is so much to it! They play a piano piece with crisp quality – faster than humanly possible – and the piano keys keep up! Once in the factory, you won’t believe all the hand-sanding and hand-tuning that goes on. The smell of freshly sanded wood prevails as you explore the thousands of parts used to make a quality piano. You can’t imagine how much tension is on each string – it’s all about tension to produce that crisp note. Truly amazing to watch! Now, back to South Bend the next day. We started on the NOTRE DAME campus (pg. 96). The Snite Museum of Art conducts Museum Mornings and JumpstART tours for kids. The Dome has 1250 thin strips of 23 karat gold. The “Fighting Irish” became the official nickname of the University in 1927 because the original mascot was an Irish Terrier. The new mascot is a leprechaun. Old College was the first building constructed as the founding of UND. Located next to it is a replica of the Log Chapel built for missionaries. You absolutely cannot visit the area without taking the INSIDE SCOOP tour at SOUTH BEND CHOCOLATE COMPANY FACTORY AND MUSEUM (pg. 103). Go behind the scenes – where few have gone before. These personal tours last a half hour or more depending on who you meet and where you go! The tours, beginning on the hour, enlighten your knowledge of chocolate and cacao beans. Walk inside the factory to gaze at machines with the molten brown liquid pouring or dripping out into molds and morsels. Check out the big vats and nibble on samples. Visitors then make their own chocolate spoons, eat some more samples and then watch an animated film narrated by Koko, the talking Cocoa Bean. Finally, in the museum, look for the largest Valentine heart box in the world or the 1300 year old Mayan chocolate pot (and Cortez thought gold was the most precious commodity the Aztecs discovered!). Definitely the tour for Wonka-wannabes! So well done and paced at a kid’s attention span. We next headed downtown for lunch (as if we weren’t already full from taste-testing all that chocolate) and, where better to go, than the SOUTH BEND CHOCOLATE CAFÉ (122 South Michigan Street, 574-287-0725 located next to the College Football Hall of Fame). Their freshly grilled sandwiches, salads and soups were so yummy (try the grilled chicken Caesar salad on bread). Still have room for dessert? They have America’s Best Hot Chocolate (we agree, a dessert unto itself) or Fondue for Four – oh-h-h! The COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME (pg. 97). This fun-filled, active museum allows visitors to test their aptitude to be a player, strategize plays to win the big games, play with a marching band, sing a favorite fight song, be a homecoming queen or king, or take a picture with a favorite school mascot. We spent a lot of time in Strategy Theatre trying to outwit other coaches and “virtually” score the most points. We love those exhibits that make you think but still play a fun game. Just around the corner is the HEALTHWORKS KIDS MUSEUM (pg. 98, Monday hours too, www.qualityoflife.org/healthworks.htm.) Your body has a lot of neat equipment – ever wonder why it does what it does? Their shows are interactive and provide great body and mind “choices” information. Kids do lots of crafts and even get to vote. The best part – you interact at every station and the folks here are super fun! Finally, if you have time, venture over to Studebakers or the NORTHERN INDIANA CENTER FOR HISTORY (pg. 98). Check out the Voyages Gallery – through life-like dioramas and interactive displays, visitors walk along a replica dredge boat and “the Free Life Theatre” tells of the Underground Railroad sites of Michiana. KidsFirst is still our favorite area. Maybe now head over to BARNABY’S for dinner (713 East Jefferson Blvd, 574-288-4981). Barnaby’s is a tradition in the area and many families go here after games or skating in the park.