Summer has officially just begun, but there’s no better time to be thinking ahead to an amazing autumn adventure in Indiana! The state is infamous not only for its gorgeous fall color displays, but also for the abundance of festivals, celebrations, gatherings, and events that welcome the cooler weather each year. Many popular areas in Indiana, from the Indiana Dunes National State Park to Raccoon Lake to Oakwood Resort, become some of the most traveled-to destinations in the state each fall – and for good reason. This is why it’s so important that you start planning a fall getaway in Indiana now!
A Note About the Best Hotels in Northern Indiana
As soon as you choose the general area where you’d like to spend a little fall getaway, you’ll want to book your hotel room or lake house right away. Don’t just choose any run-of-the-mill hotel or resort to stay at, though! You’ll appreciate choosing one that is surrounded by fun fall activities, exciting entertainment, beautiful scenery, delicious food, and satisfying shopping. An Indiana hotel that offers a vacation all on its own will always remain one of the best fall destinations near South Bend!
Without further ado, here are some ideas for things to do in northern Indiana in the fall:
No autumn in Indiana is ever complete without visiting a pumpkin patch – but Thistleberry Farm is much more than your average patch! Bursting with activity throughout the season, this popular attraction hosts the ultimate fall activities, including outrageously fun pumpkin carving. There’s also a super slide, corn mazes, duck races, hayrides, and pedal cars, too. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the pony rides and corn cannon – you do not want to miss those!
Each year, roughly 100,000 people travel to a little-known town named Grabill for a spectacular country-style fair in the heart of a large Amish community. The town only has a population of about 1,000 people, but explodes when The Country Shops of Grabill come alive. This year, the immense craft fair will host tents and canopies galore, and is expected to host at least 130 craft booths. Each year the fair is held on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after Labor Day, offering crafts that showcase the natural beauty of wooden Amish furniture, knitting and needlepoint, dolls, ceramics, glassware, toys, and more. Activities include apple peeling, cherry pit spitting, frog jumping, and other old-fashioned contests. There is also plenty of delicious county fare to keep all fairgoers more than happy.
Just eight little miles from downtown Ft. Wayne is a “You Pick” apple orchard that is fun, affordable, and delicious! Advanced Tree Technology offers a pleasing variety of apples you can pick yourself, but that’s not all! They also have a “You Pick” pumpkin patch each fall so that visitors can get everything they need for the perfect autumn season. If you want to go but aren’t sure what type of apples you should pick, visit their website; there is a fantastic chart that tells you which types of apples are best for sauces, baking, freezing, and more.
During the War of 1812, one of the most influential engagements happened in Marion, Indiana: The Battle of Mississinewa. Today, Mississinewa 1812 is the largest living history museum and event space dedicated to the War of 1812 in the entire country! Enjoy military encampments, traditional crafts, delicious foods, Native American villages, and more. No trip to Mississinewa 1812 would be complete without a battle reenactment, so plan to visit the battlegrounds in mid-October to catch it!
Sometimes, the perfect things to do in Indiana in the fall are – well, nothing at all. Heading to a place where you can leave the itineraries behind and enjoy your surroundings on a day-by-day basis, away from the hustle and bustle of life, may be just what your soul has been needing! Oakwood Resort in Syracuse, Indiana is such a place. Once you arrive, you won’t have to leave the grounds at all to enjoy a private beach, boat tours of a gorgeous lake, ball courts on the premises, spectacular cuisine at an on-location restaurant and bar, walking and hiking trails that will refresh your mind, body, and spirit, and more.
Located right near shopping, entertainment, dining, and more, Oakwood Resort is the ideal destination to enjoy everything that a busy life tends to overlook. Make your reservation today for the fall, though, because Oakwood Resort is one of Indiana’s best kept secrets…but not for long!
