Southern Indiana: Food, Culture, and History

by Erin Huiatt

Southern Indiana: Food, Culture, and History

A trip to Southern Indiana may not be on your radar, but I am here to tell you it should be! Southern Indiana includes many small towns that makeup Greater Southern Indiana, New Albany, Clarksville, and Jeffersonville. The area is located just across the Ohio River from Kentucky and offers great places to eat and a ton of culture and United States History. Take a look at some of my top places to stop and explore when you make your road trip to Southern Indiana.

Jeffersonville + Clarksville

NoCo Arts & Cultural District

Address: 628 Michigan Ave, Jeffersonville, Indiana

One of my favorite things to do when traveling (or at home) is supporting locals: local restaurants, coffee shops, stores, and artists. NoCo Arts & Cultural District is one of twelve accredited arts districts in Indiana and is truly impressive! If you are driving through the area it will be hard to miss the colorful and whimsical refurbished water tank. Park, get out of your car and walk around this large piece of art which offers a story walk, a small garden, and even more art around the structure.

Next door to the water tank is an old body shop that has been converted into a community arts center where local artists can display their art, art shows, and even performances! I had a chance to view the Juneteenth exhibit when I was in town and the artist’s stories and their work were inspiring.

In addition, across the street is Maker13, the district’s nonprofit Makerspace serving as an incubator for artists and entrepreneurs. This space is amazing and I love how much thought and work has gone into supporting new innovators and artists who are just starting. They offer tools, knowledge, skills, support, and more.

Coffee Crossing {Breakfast}

Address: 410 Patrol Road Jeffersonville, Indiana

Before you start your exploring of downtown Jeffersonville and your walk across the Big Four Bridge, make a stop for a coffee beverage and a quick snack at Coffee Crossing. They offer all types of coffee beverages, teas, and more. The perfect pick-me-up stop! This location is located just a few doors down from the Southern Indiana Visitor Center. Make sure you stop in and say ‘hi’ while you are in the area!

Jeffersonville RiverStage

Address: W Riverside Dr, Jeffersonville, Indiana

If you love live music, this is the place to go! The Jeffersonville RiverStage is located along the Ohio River and offers live music, events, movies, and other family-friendly entertainment. Take a look at the entire schedule when planning your trip to Southern Indiana.

Big Four Bridge

Address: 200-298 W Market St, Jeffersonville, Indiana

Not far from The Jeffersonville RiverStage is the Big Four Bridge. This pedestrian bridge, which is a part of the Big Four Station Park, connects Jeffersonville Indiana to Louisville, Kentucky. The area around the bridge is a popular place where several restaurants and businesses have opened around the base of the bridge on the Indiana side. The bridge holds a lot of history as it used to be a railroad truss that connected four major train lines. Plan a morning walk across the bridge (approximately a one mile stretch of pathway) to take in the beautiful view of the Ohio River, and the downtown Louisville skyline, and breathe in some fresh air.

Falls of the Ohio State Park

Address: 201 W Riverside Dr, Clarksville, Indiana

Falls of the Ohio State Park holds a ton of outdoor history and is a must-visit when you are in Southern Indiana! Within the park, you will find exposed 390-million-year-old fossil beds from the Devonian period. This is also the site where Lewis and Clark met for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Visitors can hike to the fossil beds and find many fossils to this day, or take a tour of the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center where there are many hands-on activities. Not only will you learn about the history of the fossil beds, but also a timeline of the entire region’s history which is very interesting.

Tip: In the Summer heat the beds get hot! Plan and dress accordingly before you go.

Upland Brewing Company {Brunch}

Address: 707 W Riverside Dr, Jeffersonville, Indiana

After a morning of walking the bridge and exploring you will be hungry! Take a short walk to Upland Brewing Co. which is located right along the Ohio River. This restaurant offers beautiful views of the river and city with a large patio. Enjoy their tasty beers and a delicious brunch with items such as Indiana fried chicken and waffles.

New Albany

Downtown New Albany

Downtown New Albany offers several walkable blocks that include restaurants, a great place to shop, and so much charm. Whether you are looking for a tasting room to try some wine, a great meal, craft beer, sweet treats, stylish clothing, fine dining, or specialty shops, Downtown New Albany is the place to be. We stopped into Baer’s City Winery for a wine tasting and it did not disappoint!

The Exchange Pub & Kitchen {Dinner}

Address: 118 W Main St, New Albany, Indiana

The Exchange Pub & Kitchen is known for helping to bring the popularity back to downtown New Albany. The building was originally built in 1875 and holds a ton of history. The owners did a great job at bringing the historical building back to life by salvaging and repurposing the many elements in the building. I fell in love with the vibe of this fun restaurant. They are known for their farm-to-table dining, Old Fashioneds, and unique dishes. A great spot for dinner when exploring New Albany.

New Albany Wicked Walk

Get ready for some history, spookiness, and tons of fun during the New Albany Wicked Walk! The walk is led by a former history teacher who holds a ton of knowledge of murders, ghostly hauntings, the Civil War, serial killers, and more that has happened in New Albany. It is tons of fun and a great learning opportunity too.

RecBar812

Address: 336 Pearl St, New Albany, Indiana

Arcade games, table hockey, more than 200 old-school pinball machines, skee ball, and more family fun. Adults will have so much fun playing old retro games from their decade and kids will love the hours and hours of game playing. Enjoy fun drinks, food, and atmosphere including vintage decor such as a giant Blockbuster sign throughout the 25,000 square feet space. Add RecBar812 to your list when you are in New Albany.

Town Clock Church

Address: 300 E Main St, New Albany, Indiana

Town Clock Church, also known as Second Baptist Church, is a large piece of history and played a role in the Underground Railroad. If you visit New Albany, you can reach out to the volunteers for a tour where you will learn about the original congregation/s involvement in helping the enslaved on their journey to freedom.

Floyd County Library – Cultural Arts Center

Address: 201 East Spring Street, New Albany, Indiana

At the Cultural Arts Center, you can take a self-guided out of the free art gallery that offers rotating exhibits and workshops for all ages. This is another great place to learn even more about how important Southern Indiana and New Albany played in United States history and the Underground Railroad. Permanent exhibits include:

Ordinary People
Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad
Remembered: The Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols

Huber’s Orchard & Winery

Address: 19816 Huber Road, Borden, Indiana

Huber’s Family Fun Park is a destination for the entire family in Southern Indiana. Huber’s is a 7th-generation farm that not only offers hours of family fun but is also the region’s largest estate-grown winery. They have cultivated grapes for nearly two centuries. In addition, they own Starlight Distillery which creates spirits such as bourbons and brandies.

Some fun things to do while visiting the Family Farm Park include: