Want to get away after the winter snow and ice? Head south and look to SoIN for a getaway! SoIN is just a mile north of Louisville, Ky. across the Ohio River. It’s our part of Southern Indiana. With our tried and true attractions, plus new businesses regularly opening, you’ll find plenty of new things to experience and explore.
1. Get Your Game On
Union Restaurant & GameYard is a restaurant and attraction all in one. With a sensational menu and outdoor gaming area for all ages, where else would you rather be?! Outdoor games include ping pong, giant trash can pong and corn hole. More games are available inside the restaurant.
Spend the afternoon or evening at New Albany’s eccentric, mural-covered bar, Recbar 812. Don’t let the title fool you -- Recbar 812 is an arcade paradise. You can challenge your kids to a match of Dance Dance Revolution or give them a cup of tokens while you kick back with a brew and some southern-inspired eats.
2. Satisfy your Sweet Tooth
SoIN is home to some one-of-a-kind candy shops! Schimpff’s Confectionery and Candy Museum is the real deal! Watch Warren and Jill Schimpff and staff make their signature red-hot cinnamon drops and hand-dipped chocolates; then enjoy an ice cream float or an old-fashioned chocolate soda. Before you leave with your favorite candies, browse the store museum's collection of antique candy memorabilia. Call before you go to see when they’re holding live candy-making demonstrations.
New Albany Sugar Shoppe is creating homemade candies "like Momma never made!" This hot pink sugar skull-themed shop serves up hundreds of candies including a variety of handmade fudge, pralines, buckeyes, and suckers.
Taylor's Cereal Bowl Kitchen is shaking things up in Downtown Jeffersonville. Build your own mixed shake, choosing from more than 30 of your favorite cereals. Their delicious cereal shakerz will draw you in, but they’re serving up more than dessert. Taylor’s doubles as a sensory-inclusive space where families with neurodivergent children can explore interactive activities that build critical thinking and fine motor skills. With vegan options on the menu as well, Taylor’s provides food and fun that can be enjoyed by all.
With over 30 flavors to choose from, Poppin' Flavors Gourmet Popcorn is your one-stop shop for all your popcorn needs. One of our favorites is Tiger Butter popcorn, a delicious blend of caramel, chocolate, and peanut butter.
3. Learn Something While Having Fun (We Won’t Tell the Kids!)
The museums in Southern Indiana and Louisville are can't miss attractions when you visit. The Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center has rotating and permanent exhibits including "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad." Click here for exhibit details.
For science, hunt for fossils and explore trails at The Falls of the Ohio State Park—even in rainy weather, the indoor exhibits at the Interpretive Center bring the 390-million-year history to life!
One of the most underrated museums in the area is the Howard Steamboat Museum. Located on the Jeffersonville riverside, the museum boasts a gorgeous mansion and highlights the history and industry of a once-booming river town.
Or take the bridge across the river into Louisville and head to Museum Row to experience the Muhammad Ali Center, Speed Art Museum, Frazier History Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum, and more.
4. Have an Outdoor Adventure
Travel back in time while hiking the wooded trails of Rose Island at Charlestown State Park. Imagine what this 1920s-amusement park was like years ago, as you walk among the remains. Explore the Rose Island exhibit, then enjoy a picnic, or spend a few nights at the Charlestown State Park’s campground, which has 60 full hook-up sites. Charlestown State Park offers some of the best spring wildflower displays in the area.
Be sure to use the Scenic SoIN digital passport while you explore! Each check-in earns you points toward the grand prize. For more outdoor recreation and unique sites, check out all of SoIN's parks and trails.
5. Get moving across the Big Four Bridge!
Feel the river breeze and take in the vibrant nighttime views as you make your way across the Big Four Bridge. On the Indiana side, Big Four Station Park in downtown Jeffersonville has a playground and picnic area, as well as downtown shops and restaurants within walking distance. Grab a bike or hike along the Ohio River on the 7-mile long Ohio River Greenway connecting New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Clarksville. It offers incredible views of the Louisville skyline. We recommend checking out the New Albany Flow Park, whether or not you have a skateboarder in the family.
6. The Farm Experience
Southern Indiana is the sweet spot connecting city life and farm life! SoIN's scenic Starlight, Indiana is home to Joe Huber's Family Farm & Restaurant (Joe Huber’s opens for the season on March 1), and Huber's Orchard & Winery. Both offer play areas for kids, as well as farm markets and scenic grounds where you can enjoy the fresh country air.
7. The Stranger Things in SoIN
When we stay strange, we mean it. But in a good way! Southern Indiana embraces all the oddities and unique things our towns have to offer. Step back in time at The Odd Shop, a pop-culture time capsule offering shelves full of vintage toys, clothes, music merchandise, and more. For something magical, head over to J&B Magic Shop and Theater or Raven’s Roost Boutique, they carry all supplies for the budding magician from instructional magic books to various magic tricks and supplies! Grab a bite to eat at Lady Tron's, a quirky soup and sandwich shop with a retro outer space vibe. Its tasty creations are out of this world. Experience more of Southern Indiana's strange things using the FREE Stranger Things of SoIN digital passport.
8. Al Fresco Dining
Spring is coming, which means warm evenings, friends, delicious food, cold drinks, and outdoor dining! Enjoy a meal while you take in beautiful views of historic downtowns, the Ohio River, wooded parks, or the Louisville skyline! Check out our blog for the best patios and picnic spots in SoIN!
9. Soak Up the Sun and Public Art
Brighten your day with a stop at the NoCo Arts and Cultural District. Bring your own picnic or simply enjoy the whimsical public art. The Depot, a part of NoCo, hosts concerts and family-friendly events throughout the year. Check their Facebook page for event updates.
You can use the Inspired SoIN digital passport while you explore Southern Indiana's eclectic art scene, which earns you points toward the grand prize giveaway.
10. Give them Theatre
See a live theater production at Derby Dinner Playhouse, a Southern Indiana treasure noted for its musical and comedy productions. This spring they are performing Urinetown the Musical, How I Became A Pirate (based on the bestselling children's book) and Singin' in the Rain. Check out their other upcoming shows here.
11. Explore SoIN with Our Digital Passports
Our year-round Scenic SoIN, Inspired SoIN and Stranger Things of SoIN digital passports allow you to explore SoIN’s best sights, creative scenes and peculiar spots with ease. Earn prizes along the way, as well as entries to the grand prize giveaways! These passes are perfect for out-of-towners wanting to explore what Southern Indiana is all about or locals wanting to discover all their hometowns have to offer. Check out the blogs below for tips on how to collect all three posters in just one weekend!
12. We all Scream for Ice Cream
Add a cherry to the top of your visit with some SoIN ice cream! SoIN’s seasonal ice cream shops reopen in March—some even open in February! Take the family to Chillers, Zesto’s, Polly’s Freeze, Berry Twist, Pearl Street Treats, Widow’s Walk Ice Creamery, or Boomtown Creamery, to name a few!
Want to learn more about Clark and Floyd counties? Order your FREE Visitor Guide here for all things SoIN. Don't forget to follow our social media pages to keep up with all things "SoIN."
