30 FREE Roadside Attractions: Southern Indiana’s Epic Roadtrip (Southern Indiana) 

FYI...finding the best fried chicken in Indiana is our official past time

I’ve watched Adam a few years, he seems like good people! His buddy, Tampa Jay, is a fellow Hoosier that’s covered spots in northern Indiana. Jay grew up in that area.

Adams sister and brother in law live in Kokomo!

Not only that, there’s enough others for a separate video! 🙂

Don’t wait, go! You’ll thank yourself later!

Me too. We've been to Vincennes and that direction but not to some of these, geesh. Didn't know about the meteor place in Kentland either.

I enjoy doing these! Lots of worthy places to share! 🙂

My hope is that this epic road trip will inspire people to get on the road and visit these worthy places! I know I had a lot of fun making it! 🙂

At some point, I’ll do a video about low impact tourism in Indiana. There are lots of great places that don’t require climbing or tough hiking!

We live in Daviess county but my son lives in Martin County at Boggs lake.

My sincere pleasure! I enjoy bringing back good memories and encouraging new road trips. I was once at a New Albany drive-thru, and a young kid asked about my RU-vid hat. “Do you have a channel?” When I told him I had one about southern Indiana, he said, “What’s down here?” The kid was working near over 180 attractions, and didn’t know one of them, not even the show caves. But there’s a good reason for that. Families don’t do road-trips like they used to, and the state of Indiana focuses most of their tourism dollars on Indianapolis. Hopefully people will catch some of my videos and see more of this wonderful place! 🙂

@@AdventureswithRoger I agree. it is sad that the family road trip has fallen out of fashion. growing up in the 70's in Ellettsville, we would do road trips almost every week end. a lot of them over nighters.

I sure do miss those road-trips with family. How much more I’d enjoy all of them, with what I know now.

PLEEEEEEEZ bring back the "family road trip"!! When I was a newly single Mom of Three VEEERY young ladies, in 1994, we made MANY memorable ADVENTURES in Indiana, on my days off.

@drshelkie4153 Finishing-up a very large roadtrip segment called “Easy Adventures in Southern Indiana”. Hope to publish in the next few days, as people are thinking about summer plans. 🙂

You are welcome! I started the channel, 6 years ago, thinking I’d be wrapped-up in a few months. Still finding more and getting tips from viewers!

Thank-you, Bobby! I know I’ve loved finding these places and sharing them. If people would take a day trip to find some of these places, they’d find a great deal of peace.

My folks were big on Indiana road-trips, and it’s something I’ve always enjoyed. I’ve become a walking encyclopedia of places to see, as I’ve been exploring this state for decades! I remember being at a drive thru, and a young kid saw my RU-vid hat. He asked what kind of channel I had, and when I said it was about Indiana, he said, “What’s there to do in Indiana?” He honestly didn’t even know about the showcaves and other attractions, just minutes down the road, from where he was. Hopefully these videos will help people find great destinations, not far from home.

@@AdventureswithRoger That’s why I appreciated your channel so much once I found it. It showcases the beauty of this state that most people overlook. It also brings back those nostalgic feelings and childhood memories along with the poignant history. Reading the comments adds to the delight as you experience Indiana through other’s eyes. Way to bring Hoosiers together!

@@rickbailey7183 It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve met so many nice people. It’s always fun to hear local people, talk about their hometowns, and learn things you can’t find in any book or internet post. It’s all meant a great deal to me. 🙂

The filming and travel isn’t too bad. For me, I spend most time writing, doing voice overs and mastering to a final product.

A long road trip, taking pictures of quirky things: it just makes life better! 🙂

Thanks Michael!

Definitely lots of good road-trips to be had! 🙂

Lots and lots of fun stuff! 🙂

Thank-you, Claudia!

My pleasure, Linda!

Thank-you, Marcus!

Thank-you, Sylvester!

My pleasure and happy travels! 🙂

I always feel at peace at Lincoln City! 🙂

Tons of interesting places, not well publicized. 🙂

Thank-you! This makes my day! 🙂

My pleasure!

I’m always humbled when I learn I’ve made a difference to someone. Thank-you for brightening my day with your comment!

Lots of good places for day trips! 🙂

It’s always wonderful to hear, when my videos inspire travel, adventure, wonder or memories! My parents were big on road trips, and I’ve always been a fan of clearing my head with a day on the road. Safe travels to you and your family! 🙂

New Harmony is called “Rain tree County”. 🙂 If you’ve never been, it has an unreal, muffled quiet, all over the town

My pleasure, Daniel!

My pleasure! Hope you and Catfish can get down this way sometime!

A lot of people don’t grasp silly fun. And they should! I have fond memories of jumping in a car with a bunch of people, just to go see a landmark. By itself, the landmark was ok, but posing next to it, laughing about it, and all the miles in between are what make a life worth living. 🙂

@@AdventureswithRoger Agree with you 100%. Also, people anywhere in the world can just decide to have fun and start throwing shoes at a tree, bam! in few years it would become a local place to visit. I guess Indiana has people really say, "well, why not!"

A LOT! 😂

My pleasure! Always glad to hear people enjoy these

Thanks, Tony! I left out at least as many as I showed, but if the video goes well, I can do a part 2. Also considering a “best of Southern Indiana”, that includes great attractions, free and admission based.

I would love to see a best of video from you! @@AdventureswithRoger

My pleasure, Diana! There are MANY great places, between these roadside stops, and it the weather is pleasant, it’s simply the best!

It really does!

Thank-you Janet!

My pleasure, David!

Now that’s some great trivia! If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought it was stone or concrete!

Thank-you!

My pleasure! The weather now is awesome, and with leaves turning in a short while, it will be a wonderful time to road trip!

My favorite time of year!!If you haven't visited Madison, In. is beautiful in the fall and spring!!Check out Clifty Falls state park!!

Madison is awesome! Made several movies there.

Thank-you!

Right now I’m filming in northern Indiana, before moving on. I’ve actually filmed places in 4 other states, just haven’t published them.

I bet you recognized a few of these!

Thank-you, Todd! I explored Posey and Gibson counties quite a bit, over the last two years. It was like finding a section of your house you didn’t know existed! Just a wonderful time seeing new things!

Thanks, Whitney!

I had many more, but I wanted to shorten the video. Lots and lots of gems!

Welcome to the adventures! 🙂

I know it sounds crazy, but I was thrilled to find the Empire Quarry, and look at the void that bore the Empire State Building! Growing up in Greenwood, we just didn’t have things like that. 🙂

My 2nd cousin is 92, and remembers the big to-do they had in Bedford, with the Joe Palooka statue. She said it was placed by the highway, but people were taking pot shots at it! When they moved it to Oolitic, some significant restoration had to be done. He isn’t as beefy as he used to be!

Thanks 👍

It’s a beautiful place! I hear it’s lit up at night, but have always visited during the day.

Just a really serene area. I re-filmed most everything I had from 6 years ago. Not sure how I’ll use it, but maybe a highlights video!

Thank-you, John! I’m trying to make them better and better as I go! 🙂

I got St Meinrad, Monte Cassino Chapel, and St Joseph’s Holy Family at Gods Country in part 2. St Joseph’s I started, but it was under reconstruction when I visited. Part II: Free Roadside Attractions of Southern Indiana ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-U0To_yd4mPU.html

I’ve got a little over 30 other sites, if I get around to a part 2! If a person hits only these free sites, they’ll see lots of beautiful country along the way. Lots of ways to make good memories! 🙂

My pleasure to bring these great things to light

Could not forget Joe! 🙂

Outstanding view and a wonderful story behind it! Here’s a video of all my favorites: Heaven on Earth: 9 Beautiful Places above the Ohio River (Southern Indiana) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WZdx_NgTWvs.html

The Ashtabula covered bridge (Smolen-Gulf) is relatively new, built in 2008. The folks at Medora maintain that theirs is the longest HISTORIC covered bridge in America, as it was built in 1875. But,the Cornish-Windsor in New Hampshire was built in 1866, is 449 feet long, and still a little longer. The correct thing they should market it as: Medora is the longest three-span covered bridge in the United States.

A road-trip always brightens my day, and there was plenty to see on this one! My folks grew up in Lawrence County, and I’ve spent nearly a lifetime fascinated by the cave systems and legends. Nearly every seasoned caver will say: “there’s probably a huge one, we just don’t know where yet.” I’ve no doubt that the discovery could happen anywhere in the area!

@@AdventureswithRoger Oh for sure!! We've lost a lil of our farm to sink holes over the years. But compared to some in the area. I'm not grippin at all😉 The story of how blue spring caverns were found is kinda sad. Really sad actually. Mr. Colglazer (sp?) couldn't find some or all of his cows one morning. However, he found a huge opening into the caverns instead. Our family has a pond story. Years before I was born in the 60s, one morning my great granddad went out to feed/milk/etc the critters. He heard a horrible sucking sound down over the hill. He went running and could barely see in the dawn of the morning, the pond sucking into the ground, like the draining of a bathtub. About 3 football fields away, the pond popped back up in a low spot! In my early 20s, that 2nd pond drained and I assume, popped back up in the Hoosier Nat. Forest somewhere, as the forest is next to us?? Thx again & have a great day ♥️

Lots of cool cave stories in this region! I did one about Bluespring Caverns, a while back. Lots of people didn’t even know it existed, just 30 minutes away!

Soooooo many places, hundreds. 🙂

It is in the works ! There are quite a few places that are handicap accessible, throughout southern Indiana, and it’s not just museums. There are lots of wonderful boardwalks with a flat terrain.

@@AdventureswithRoger thanks looking forward to it. When I was young I was in boy scouts and we went to a cave every year it was on private property. I don't remember just where it was though. It had a stream through it and a big room we use to stay in.

If you only knew what I was working on! 😂 Certainly more to come!

Walk-up / Drive-in Ice Cream: Southern Indiana Style ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kf97i4ml7Bs.html

Lots of gangsters frequented southern Indiana, particularly West Baden and Jeffersonville. Capone had a safe house along Silver Creek, in Clark County, and had weekly booze shipments delivered from Chicago. Lots of shady business!

@@AdventureswithRogerI wasn't aware of the safe house. I wonder if it still exists?? 🤔

The safe house and old mill on silver creek were torn down long ago. I don’t know if it’s still available, but there’s a great book called, “The Joints of Jeffersonville and Southern Indiana”, by Paul Bender. Lots of stories and fantastic pictures! I haven’t worked out a script, but feel there’s a video in there! 🙂

It’s got a long history for sure! Was in storage for many years

Easy to miss at 55 mph! 🙂

I’ve definitely been up that way, over the last year!

@@AdventureswithRoger My dad was a buckskiner. I grew up going there. Haven't been that way for a while. Sometimes life gets in the way of life. My son has heard stories tho. My dad was famous there, not exactly for the best of reasons. He partied and fights. He didn't start most of them but he finished them.

there is also one someone bought and used the land for an auto salvage yard in mecca, IN the stacks are still there. actually i think that one was an old clay tile factory. there's a hill they used the old tiles for erosion control on

They are trying to raise funds to create a Medora museum, but I think it’s still a long ways off

Right after a storm, Wesley Chapel Gulf is wicked.

@@AdventureswithRoger I may have missed a detail but is that where the geo grotto is located?

@@hobojungle1 No, the Gulf is over in Orange County, northwest of Paoli. I went right after a massive thunderstorm. The gulf filled-up with water, and made an ominous sucking noise as it shot into the south cave.

@@AdventureswithRoger oh that sounds awesome. I randomly stumbled upon this video. I have no knowledge of Indiana’s geography or where any of this stuff is, but I dig it.

@@hobojungle1 Lots of crazy stuff in southern Indiana. I moved down here a little over a decade ago, and it never seems to run out.

Not without trespassing. A few people I know took drones there.

I was using a pro Canon XA10, but did most of these on an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple was hosting a contest where filmmakers used nothing but an iPhone, and I said, “Why not!” The footage looks great and I always have it with me. I do use a pro tripod, and a mount for my car hood.

Thats great I use a android phone but i just got back into filming youtube with a gopro 11 it's been kinda a learning curb for me , I once had a Canon x7 but I had a lot of trouble with it when I went outside with it. You have a clear speaking voice do you use AI

No AI, but if I could get something to create an entire voice over, from just my notes, it would be a true time saver. I can only imagine AI trying to duplicate my southern Indiana dialect. 😂 I have so many do-overs as I’ll listen to a VO, and and say to myself, “Many people will not understand what I just said. I don’t even know what I just said.” I talk to a fella that’s lived here all his life, and I’m convinced most people would not understand most of what we’re saying. It’s like talking to family! 🙂

@@AdventureswithRoger also I didn't know that statue of Rosie was there in Clarksville I read somewhere she is buried in New Albany and I was going to do a story on her but I never did it

I don’t

None that I know of

“You have been warned!” 😂 No way I’d try it!