If you're looking for a fun weekend, a nice drive, and beautiful Autumn colors, than Brown County, Indiana is the place for you. The thickly forested foothills of the Cumberland Mountains produce truly remarkable colors. In fact, they're so spectacular that it isn't uncommon to find October weekends at some hotels booked more than a year in advance. But fear not! There is always plenty of room to be found.

Driving to south-central Indiana in the winter can be a bit of a chore (its a little more than four hours from the Loop), but certainly not in the Spring or Summer, and during Autumn the scenery is breathtaking for the entire trip. True, there are plenty of areas a little closer to Chicago for viewing fall colors, but Brown County has enough other selling points to make it a great destination for a weekend getaway.

Brown County been a center for crafts ever since impressionist painters made it their home in the early 20th century. There are more shops than you could ever cover in a weekend (Nashville, IN has a population of 800 souls, but more than 300 shops), so don't even try - there are plenty of other things you'll want to see and do, and you'll need to budget your time just to scratch the surface.

Tours of Nashville, the local town, are available by tram or carriage, and are a great way to soak up some of the history of the community. And if you're interested in antiques, you'll find yourself in the right spot. Besides the countless smaller shops and stands, you'll find much larger malls (yes, malls!) devoted entirely to antiques. You won't go home empty-handed. Or even empty-trunked.

Brown County also offers plenty for those interested in something a little more "outdoorsy." Golfers will be happy to visit Salt Creek, an eighteen-hole course located adjacent to the Brown County State Park. The north entrance is on Highway 46, 2 miles east of Nashville, IN. For information, call (812) 988-7888. Just down the road in Columbus is the Otter Creek Golf Course, consistently one of the top twenty-five public courses in the country (Golf Digest Magazine). Their address is 11522 E. 50 North; call (812) 579-5227.

Fisherman can stop by the Brown County State Park office and get an Indiana license, then head over to Ogle Lake and get into the local bass and bluegill. Horseback riding is also available at the Schooner Valley Stables. You can go trail riding as well as take a moonlight or overnight trip (you won't find that in Chicago!). Call (812) 988-2859. And besides Ski World's seven wintertime ski slopes, they conveniently offer summertime go-carting and a water slide. Call (812) 988-6638.

Of course you'll want to spend plenty (if not the majority) of time at the Brown County State Park (the largest in Indiana). Here you'll find plenty of hiking, fishing, swimming (they have an Olympic-size outdoor pool), hayrides, and much, much more. The park is located on Highway 46, 16 miles west of I-65. For more information, call (812) 988-7316.

Dining and lodging in this area covers everything from camping to the sophisticated palate, so don't worry about finding a place to stay that suits you. With everything Brown County has to offer, its easy to see why its become something of a hotspot. Pack your bags and have a great weekend!

Directions

Brown County is very easy to find. Take Highway 65 south out of Chicago and follow it all the way through Indianapolis to Columbus. Then, head west on Highway 46, and make a quick jog south when you get to Highway 135. Its simple, beautiful, and a great way to spend a weekend!