story by JULIE CAMPBELL
A few years ago, Anderson resident Becky Hamilton Smith and her family were in search of an adventure that didn’t involve hiking.
That’s when she saw a post about the Tenderloin Lover’s Trail on Facebook.
“It was shortly after Covid restrictions ended, and we were a little stir crazy,” recalled Becky. “We love food and adventure, so we combined the two and took the trail.”
While Becky’s son, Ethan, was home from college and her daughter, Emily, had time off from her job as a nurse, the entire family, including Becky’s husband, Rob, hit the trail, completing it in a long weekend.
“We ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner out in order to accomplish this,” Becky said. “Emily and I loved the tenderloin at Amazing Joes in Muncie. Ethan liked the 1925 Pubhouse in Anderson, and Rob liked the Oasis in Plainfield.”
Using the Indiana Culinary Trails Passport app on their phones, they checked in at restaurants on the Tenderloin Lover’s Trail, enjoyed some family time, and ended up winning prizes for their efforts as well.
“It was fun to receive the T-shirt for our efforts. We like to have that carrot dangled in front of our nose,” Becky explained. “It makes the challenge more exciting!”
According to Tina Keaffaber of Indiana Foodways Alliance, the Tenderloin Lover’s Trail is the largest of all the “trails,” with 79 locations around the state.
“It’s so large that we had to break it down into three regions; northern, central, and southern,” she explains. “Following a food trail is a fun way to discover new-to-you establishments, taste some of the most scrumptious food and drinks around, and get motivated to explore different communities.”
Other popular Indiana Culinary Trails include “the Soup, Salad & Sandwich Trail at 74 locations, Between the Buns Burger Trail at 65 locations, and Sweet Temptations Trail at 60 locations, and honorable mention must go to our Rise ‘N Shine Trail at 51 locations.” said Keaffaber.
In Carmel, you can explore 50 miles and 13 stops for wines, whiskies, and brews on their Brews & Barrels Trail. Or, check out some great coffees and shops on the Carmel Caffeine Trail.
If you’re not a foodie, though, there are still plenty of other themed trails to explore. Celebrate Black History Month in February on one of the state’s newest trails: the Black History Trail in Richmond, which was unveiled in June 2023.
“Visitors can explore the sites that are significant in telling about Richmond/Wayne County’s Underground Railroad movement as well as the history, culture, entrepreneurship, and contributions of Wayne County’s Black community,” said Visit Richmond’s Nancy Sartain.
Connecting a trail of seven counties, the Indiana Glass Trail links artists and glass-related venues located throughout Eastern Indiana.
“The trail brings together the tradition and beauty of glass art so you can experience it first-hand. From artist studios and blown glass demonstrations, to glass festivals, museums, classes, and exhibits, to the oldest glassworks in the U.S., this unique trail highlights it all.” said Sherry Matlock of the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau.
Adventure seekers can find the glass trail in these eight counties: Madison County (Anderson/Elwood), Howard County (Kokomo/Greentown), Delaware County (Muncie/Albany), Jay County (Dunkirk), Wayne County (Richmond), Allen County (Fort Wayne), Hamilton County (Carmel), and Kosciusko County (Warsaw).
If quilting is your passion, there are two trails to check out: Marshall County’s Barn Quilt Trail and the Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail in northern Indiana. On these trails, visitors will see beautiful quilt- inspired gardens and hand-painted, quilt-themed, super-sized murals. Be sure to bring your camera or have your phone ready to snap photos.
In Shipshewana, you can stay in your car and enjoy the rural countryside with their new driving tour. You’ll see backroad shops, barn quilts, and local culture, along with Amish “cottage businesses” and unique art.
Garfield fans will love following the Garfield Trail in Delaware and Grant Counties, the birthplace of “Garfield” comic creator, Jim Davis. Located in Muncie, Marion and surrounding towns, the trail features unique five- foot-tall fiberglass statues of America’s favorite lasagna-loving fat cat.
More of a dog person? Recently, the City of Crown Point unveiled, “Walk the Dog,” a multi-faceted public art project anchored by a 4-foot-tall fiberglass bulldog painted to illustrate Crown Point’s rich history. A collaborative project between the city and Chicago-based artist and Crown Point native Lewis Lain, “Walk the Dog,” includes a coloring book and an historic walking tour with signage. Both the coloring book and walking tour feature the 10 historic sites that showcase the bulldog.
Fans of thrifting will love the Greater Lafayette Thrift Trail, which features a variety of traditional and specialty thrift shops. Part of the fun is the thrill of the hunt, and visitors will find plenty of shops to satisfy them on this trail.
If you’re hungry from all the thrifting, take a break and check out the Lafayette-West Lafayette Ramen Trail. The trail highlights Asian and Asian American restaurants that feature one of the hottest dishes right now: ramen.
This is just a sampling of the many trails found throughout the Hoosier State, perfect for exploring during these winter months. Many of the trails have passports you can download on your phone to keep track of your progress and earn prizes.
