Indiana Insider Blog

Need a getaway? A staycation? The Grant Street Inn provides a restful, retreat-style backdrop near the heart of Bloomington. Make a reservation and rejuvenate! The vintage charm of the Inn instantly surrounds guests. Comfortable rocking chairs dot spacious porches surrounded... Read more

Indiana has produced two great composer-lyricists (what we call “songwriters” these days): Cole Porter of Peru (Miami County), and Hoagy Carmichael of Bloomington (Monroe County). While Hoagy may not have his own bed-and-breakfast like Porter, he does have his own... Read more

With a long Day 1 behind us (see Bloomington, Indiana Travel Trip, Day 1), Ben and I woke up fairly early on Sunday. “Fairly” being 8:30, which is way too early for a weekend vacation. But we only had a... Read more

Over the last four years, I’ve taken my two daughters and my wife on my local travel writing trips. This time, it was my son Ben’s turn. We were heading down to Bloomington, one of my favorite cities in Indiana,... Read more

When I was a kid growing up in Muncie, everyone always talked about heading up to “The Lake.” “We’re going to The Lake this weekend.” “We’ve got a cabin at The Lake.” At age 10, I thought there was only... Read more

Carolyn Madvig, of Sleeping Dogs Studio in Bloomington (Monroe County), is a mixed media master. Whether it’s wooden boxes, jewelry holders, or even picture frames, Carolyn creates these gorgeous one-of-a-kind keepsakes. She uses everyday elements, like leaves, fibers, or historical... Read more

When you stop and think about it, limestone is the very foundation of Indiana. Not only is it found in most buildings on Indiana University’s campus and many buildings around the state (I even grew up in a limestone house... Read more