- Get Indiana
- Posts
- Fall Vibes: Parks, Wineries and Life on the Lake 🏞🍇
Fall Vibes: Parks, Wineries and Life on the Lake 🏞🍇
Plus - We added another hidden gem in Indianapolis to your must-visit list!
Get IN, Austin Sellers & Nate Spangle
October 16, 2025
Thursday, October 16th
For generations, Hoosier families have turned to Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance for protection that comes with hometown understanding.
With offices in every Indiana county, your dedicated agent is always just a quick call or text away. They’re also here to help you find coverage customized for whatever stage of life you're in – whether you're just starting out, growing your family, or planning for retirement. From auto, renters, home, life, business and farm, they've got it all.
Check out INFB.com to connect with a local agent today. Let’s insurance together.
đź“ś This Week in Indiana History đź“ś
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Expanded (1976)
This week in Indiana history, we celebrate the expansion of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (now Indiana Dunes National Park). President Gerald Ford authorized funds to expand the boundaries of the existing Dunes Lakeshore by nearly 4,000 acres.
Stretching along 15 miles of Lake Michigan’s southern shore, Indiana Dunes today offers incredible views and spans over 15,000 acres of rolling dunes and forests.
If you visit, you can hike over 50 miles of trails, from climbing sand dunes to inland marshes. On clear days, you can enjoy phenomenal views of Lake Michigan and even see the skyline of Chicago from across the lake.
Indiana Dunes was officially designated as a national park in 2019. It is the state’s only national park, and we are proud that the Hoosier State is home to one of the best national parks in the country.
Want to wake up next to the water? We compiled a list of six Indiana towns where lake living is king. Teaser: Warsaw (located next to Winona Lake) made the cut. Can you think of the other five?
A National Park, State Park and Park to Visit this Fall
The Hoosier State is home to one national park — Indiana Dunes in northern Indiana. With direct access to Lake Michigan beaches, towering sand dunes, trails to explore, leaves changing colors and 140 electric hookup campsites, the Dunes make for a perfect fall weekend getaway for an RV or tent camping adventure.
A state park to check out this fall is the oldest state park in Indiana — McCormick’s Creek — where our state parks expert Allison Martin paid a visit. You can hear her IN the Parks podcast episode McCormick’s Creek State Park: Coming Back from Tragedy on Apple and Spotify.
McCormick’s Creek State Park opened in 1916 and has awesome features like the Canyon Inn, Stone Arch Bridge, trails and a beautiful waterfall in the creek. You may or may not remember, but the park’s campground and many trails were devastated by a tornado on March 31, 2023. Positive news: Earlier this week, the State Budget Committee approved $25 million to rebuild the campground with 190 sites, a gatehouse, three playgrounds and additional structures.
Last but not least, get the scoop on France Park near Logansport. It spans over 100 acres with its main attraction being the fish-stocked France Lake, making it a great place to cast a line, canoe or kayak.
Calling Wine Connoisseurs
One thing that just tastes right in the fall is wine. So, here are a couple wineries to add to your bucket list…
Established in 2013 near Sunman, Holtkamp Winery quickly earned a reputation for excellence by winning the title of Indiana Farm Winery of the Year five years later. This is a true estate winery, one that grows grapes onsite while also sourcing fruits from California, Oregon and the Midwest. Here’s the full breakdown on Holtkamp.
There’s also Mallow Run Winery just 20 minutes south of Indianapolis off I-69 near Bargersville. Mallow Run spans nearly seven acres of grapes that contribute to the winery’s diverse selection, from dry reds to sweet whites and seasonal favorites. Read more about Mallow Run here.
Holtkamp Winery
Indy Grills and Outdoor Living is a local Indiana small business that specializes in fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and custom patios. Its team focuses on craftsmanship and quality so your outdoor space feels just as comfortable as the inside of your home. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade, now’s the perfect time to get started.
Gem hunting? Start at Khamis đź’Ťđź’Ž
When Markiss Stone (known as Traveling Foodie Guyde on Instagram) speaks about food, we listen — and you should, too. He was a recent guest on the Get IN. Podcast and mentioned Turf Kitchen, an Indianapolis dive restaurant located in Castleton, as his hidden gem.
They’ve got 4.9 stars on Google, with guests often raving about the Turkey Club, Cubano and truthfully, pretty much everything on the menu.
The next time you’re in Crawfordsville, check out Jenna Morello’s second mural in town, located at 121 S. Green St. The piece features a Victorian house, Sugar Creek, a cardinal and firefly (Indiana’s state bird and insect), celebrating local history and nature all in one.
You can learn more about Morello’s works of art here.
What’s your Hidden Gem? Submit here to have it featured!
đź‘Ź 2 Big wINs đź‘Ź
Saturdays and Sundays have been quite fun for football fans in the Hoosier State.
First on Saturday, then-No. 7 Indiana University went into Eugene and took out the mighty and then-No. 3 Oregon Ducks in a result only the Hoosiers, their fans and Pat McAfee believed could happen. The Hoosiers prevailed 30-20 and ascended to No. 3 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, the highest-ever ranking for Indiana football.
After making the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff and bowing out to Notre Dame last season, this year’s Hoosiers are led by QB Fernando Mendoza, who transferred in and has become a true Heisman Trophy contender. As it stands, Mendoza is third in the betting odds to win the 2025 Heisman behind Miami (FL) QB Carson Beck and Alabama QB Ty Simpson.
Next up: Homecoming vs. Michigan State (3-3), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. on Peacock
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts survived the injury-ravaged Arizona Cardinals and improved to 4-0 at Lucas Oil Stadium and 5-1 overall with a 31-27 win. It wasn’t pretty at times, but a win is a win.
The usual suspects were strong for the Colts. QB Daniel Jones threw for 212 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, and rushed for another score. RB Jonathan Taylor tallied 123 yards and a score on the ground. Rookie TE Tyler Warren (6 receptions, 63 yards) and WR Josh Downs (6 receptions, 42 yards) were on the receiving end of Jones’ TD passes.
The Colts have a league-best +78 point differential and are averaging 32.3 points per game, most in the NFL.
Next up: at Los Angeles Chargers (4-2), Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Unique Fountain Square/Fletcher Place Duplex — Crazy Investment Opportunity! | Indianapolis | $675,000
🎙 On today’s show I sat down with Zack and Shana Light, third-generation co-owners of Ceramica and Fundraising Brick, based in Indianapolis.
We discuss their journey from meeting in Bloomington to finding careers in New York and eventually taking over the family business.
Our conversation explores the evolution of Ceramica from its founding in 1988, the innovative techniques implemented, and their recent acquisition of Fundraising Brick.
They share insights on taking over legacy businesses, the importance of community, and adapting to modern business challenges.
You are going to learn about:
- The Evolution of Ceramica
- How Zack and Shana Acquired Fundraising Brick
- The Importance of Community to Legacy Businesses
Want more from us?
🎙 Hear our founder interview Indiana CEOs on Spotify!
đź“Ł Partner with us to get your product/service in front of our audience.
đź’Ž Know any hidden gems we should cover? Submit yours here!