Even if you’re not a pumpkin spice fanatic, there are so many things to love about fall. Perhaps one of our favorite of these things are weekend road trips to admire fall foliage and participate in seasonal festivals. Here are a few of our favorite local destinations!
Covered Bridge Capital of the World, Parke County
http://www.coveredbridges.com/
Indiana is known for its covered bridges, totalling 98 in all. Parke County is home to 31 of these bridges and is also home of the famous annual Covered Bridge Festival during a week in October. Even if you can’t make it to the Festival, autumn is a great time to get a map and see how many covered bridges you can visit since they look especially charming amongst the fall foliage.
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
https://visitsouthbend.com/
If you want to combine sports and great architecture with your fall foliage sightseeing, the University of Notre Dame is a must see experience. Be sure to take a tour of campus after the game and don’t miss the photo opp of the colorful leaves contrasting with the Golden Dome.
Indiana Dunes, Porter, IN
http://www.indianadunes.com/travel-blog/fall-and-winter-show-indiana-dunes-in-a-whole-new-light/
If you think of the Indiana Dunes as a summer destination, you aren’t alone. Even though the image of great dunes of sand makes one think of summer, they are actually a spectacular place to visit during autumn. The Dunes offer both breathtaking sights available to the adventurous hiker as well as scenic fall drives for those that want to experience the colorful views via the road.
Conner Prairie – Fishers, IN
http://www.connerprairie.org/
Many people know Conner Prairie as the incredible interactive history park where the grounds are divided into separate eras in time. However, in addition to activities such as candlemaking or a classroom session in an old school house, they’ve added quite a few fall activities. Now you can wind your way through a 7-acre corn maze, search for the Headless Horseman, attend the Halloween festival, or get a treat from the apple store.
Brown County – Nashville, IN
http://www.browncounty.com/
No list about fall road trips would be complete without mentioning Brown County. Just an hour south of Indianapolis, this popular fall destination is visited by millions of families each year. Be sure to visit Brown County State Park for great scenery and all things outdoorsy-biking, camping, fishing, picnicking, etc. Don’t miss the Village of Nashville for wonderful art, antiques, and restaurants!
No matter where your travels take you this fall, we hope you stay safe and enjoy your trip. The certified technicians at Jiffy Lube of Indiana are always here to help keep your car in road trip condition. If you decide to take your vehicle elsewhere before heading out on the road, be sure you have a through inspection that includes checking your oil and other fluids, serpentine belts, wiper blades, filtration system, exterior lights, tire pressure, and chassis. Happy fall roadtripping!
