BROWN COUNTY, INDIANA | 136 MILES | 2.5 HOURS
Fun-filled family adventures, a relaxing getaway with girlfriends, or a romantic weekend for two — Brown County, Indiana, fits the bill for all with inns, Airbnbs, and cabins set against a rustic hilly backdrop.
“People come to Brown County to slow down and catch their breath,” says Cristina Villani, Marketing Director of the Nashville/Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s the kind of place where you can trade busy city life for quiet trails, cozy shops, and relaxing moments on a porch swing.”
County seat Nashville brims with art galleries, down-home eateries, and shops full of country-style décor for a little dose of civilization. But let’s be real. Visitors come here to slow down, by spending time in the great outdoors and appreciating the natural beauty of this unspoiled south-central Indiana haven. With nearly 16,000 acres to explore on foot, horse, or mountain bike, Brown County State Park is the region’s centerpiece, especially when the vibrant seasonal foliage peaks each fall. Scale the 90-foot fire tower for a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the rolling topography below. ATV tours are another fun way to get the lay of the land at the sprawling Hard Truth Distilling Co. campus, followed by a sampling of spirits produced by Evansville-native master distiller Bryan Smith. Music buffs should keep an eye on show schedules at the contemporary Brown County Music Center and the more intimate Brown County Playhouse.
With all this fresh air and activity, working up an appetite is a given. Start the day with old-fashioned biscuits and gravy at Hob Nob Corner or delectable hot apple dumplings at the Nashville General Store to accompany a hot or cold coffee from the Daily Grind. Pints of house-brewed craft beer are the perfect way to wash down slices of Big Woods Pizza, and some of Brown County’s most winding country roads lead to fine-dining rewards at the 1850s Story Inn, a quaint relic of the once-booming village of Story.
There’s also no shortage of shopping in Nashville. With fragrant salts, soaps, and scrubs, Bathology carries everything needed for bespoke bathing. Browse the whimsical sock inventory at For Bare Feet and find treats for four-legged friends at Bone Appetit Bakery. Chocolates and licorice make sweet souvenirs at the Candy Emporium.
“Brown County is one of those places where you can feel how much people care. Whether it’s an artist, a shopkeeper, or someone pouring your coffee — everything’s done with heart. The hospitality here is real,” Villani says.
If you have kids along, book a room at the Abe Martin Lodge — or better yet, a family cabin — at the Brown County State Park. (Access to the indoor aquatic center is a bonus.) In Downtown Nashville, the elegant Artists Colony Inn maintains cozy accommodations with Shaker-style furnishings and private balconies. Among a dizzying selection of cabins, you’ll find pops of character at the 1891 Schoolhouse Inn and the uber-modern Plāhaus, built in a shipping container.
On the way, hidden treasures await within the vast confines of the Brown County Antique Mall on S.R. 46.
