Summers were always special growing up in our house. With both of my parents being schoolteachers, the season took on a different rhythm — slower mornings, afternoons spent exploring, and a feeling that the world had exhaled just a bit. Without the structure of the school year, our days stretched wide with possibility, filled with impromptu road trips, long visits to the McCollough branch of the then-named Evansville Public Library system, and plenty of time outside. Those carefree summer months, free from bells and lesson plans (though my income from helping grade papers for my schoolteacher parents was lost in the summer), shaped my love for the season. The appeal of free summers was not enough to lead me down the paths chosen by my parents, and in the magazine publishing business, deadlines continue through these three months. But my childhood continues to color how I experience summertime in Evansville — where the days are long, the pace softens, and there is plenty to discover.
That’s the feeling we strived to evoke with the “Summer’s Funner in Southern Indiana” feature story. (Credit for the catchy coverline goes to the talented Wilkinson Brothers, Evansville natives now living and working in Fishers and Carmel, Indiana, who completed the cover illustration.) You don’t have to have long stretches of free time to enjoy the 18 tips Evansville Living staff dreamed up for a fun Southern Indiana summer. Start by sequestering yourself with this issue on your porch or patio or under that favorite tree!
Of course, summer fun can be had around and outside of the Hoosier State. If you’re looking for a getaway that doesn’t involve boarding a plane, we have you covered with “Hit the Road.” Indiana-based writers Amy Lynch and Michelle Mastro take us to four regional destinations worth considering for easy, drivable getaways. My family understood the assignment: Recently, I was surprised with a birthday weekend trip to Brown County, Indiana. (I was especially surprised when my sons, Maxwell, living in Indianapolis, and Jackson, living in Louisville, showed up unexpectedly at the hotel door.) We stayed at the Abe Martin Lodge in the Brown County State Park, enjoyed a great dinner at the Nashville Chop House located in the Hotel Nashville, strolled the charming streets of Nashville and stopped in for a wine tasting at Brown County Winery Tasting Room, and topped off the weekend at Hard Truth Distilling Co. for a special event. The Charred Truth World Food Championships Live Fire Invitational brought together barbecue chefs from across the country for a fiery culinary competition featuring Indiana pork, Hard Truth spirits, tastings of both, and live music from Hard Truth’s On The Rocks stage in a natural amphitheater. Another benefit of summer, at least for me? A June birthday!
As always, I look forward to hearing from you!
Kristen K. Tucker
Editor & Publisher
