Family-Friendly Spring Break
Games & Grub
Revisit the good old days at Recbar 812, a two-story restaurant and arcade featuring 200+ retro and modern games. Play pinball, skee ball, air hockey and more. Order their famous "totchos," loaded nachos made with tater tots, and a craft beer from their tap list. Find more eat-ertainment at Union where you can challenge friends to a game of foosball, corn hole or giant trash can pong while enjoying a delicious burger or sandwich.
Xtremenasium Trampoline & Ninja Park
Have you or your kids ever wanted to be a ninja? You can practice your skills at this indoor trampoline park that boasts multiple obstacle courses that can be fun for all ages!
Derby Dinner Playhouse
There is nothing better than having a delicious meal while being entertained by one of your favorite musicals. That’s the magic of Derby Dinner Playhouse. This is one of the oldest and largest continually operating dinner theatres in the country, and its shows do not disappoint. This spring, they'll perform ”Hairspray”, an award-winning musical phenomenon that is filled with laughter, romance, and is a joyous tribute to the 60s.
Museums
Southern Indiana is home to a few historical and cultural museums like the Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center, Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, Vintage Fire Museum, and Howard Steamboat Museum. For more regional history, head over to Louisville, which is just one mile from Southern Indiana. Explore museums like the Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Derby Museum, Kentucky Science Center, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Muhammad Ali Center and the Speed Art Museum.
Schimpff's Confectionery
Experience sweet history at USA Today’s 2025 Best Candy Store. Schimpff’s Confectionery is one of the oldest, continuously run candy shops in the U.S. Free, live candy-making demonstrations are a must-see at this attraction, which has been family-owned and operated since 1891.
Soccer Games
Catch a match on either side of the Ohio River! Cheer on one (or all!) of our local pro football clubs when you add some stadium time to your stay. Kentuckiana is home to Southern Indiana FC, Racing Louisville FC and Louisville City FC.
Signature Spring Events
Abbey Road on the River
The largest Beatles-inspired music festival in the United States, Abbey Road on the River is happening at Big Four Station Park in Jeffersonville, Ind. over Memorial Day weekend from May 21-25, 2026.
Star Valley Strawberry Festival
Sip, savor or sport strawberries at this small-town festival, which has been celebrating the strawberry harvest for more than 40 years. Hosted each Memorial Day Saturday (May 23, 2026), guests are treated to live music, a local vendor market, horse rides a petting zoo, and, of course, all things strawberry.
Thunder Over Louisville
The nation’s largest annual airshow and fireworks display, Thunder Over Louisville, is also the opening ceremony for the Kentucky Derby Festival, a weeks-long celebration leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
Great Steamboat Race
The Great Steamboat Race occurs annually on the Wednesday before the Kentucky Derby (April 29, 2026). Visitors can view the race from the banks of the Ohio River in Southern Indiana or purchase tickets to ride aboard the racing steamboats. Tickets for the Belle of Louisville andthe Belle of Cincinnati and include food, drinks, and live entertainment.
Kentucky Derby
"The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," the Kentucky Derby, is the largest horse race in the United States happening May 2, 2026. The top thoroughbreds compete in the Run for the Roses at the legendary Churchill Downs each year on the first Saturday in May! Head to our region, stay in Indiana, experience what we have to offer, and go five minutes down the road to Louisville for an unforgettable Derby weekend.
Southern Indiana Renaissance Faire
Have fun exploring Old World demonstrations by chain mail makers, spinners, potters, and blacksmiths every weekend from April 25 - May 24 in nearby Seymour, Indiana. The Southern Indiana Renaissance Faire raises funds for local arts and entertainment scholarships.
Outdoor Recreation
Parks & Trails
From serene settings to adventurous trails, you'll find the perfect park in SoIN! Hike trails surrounded by spring wildflowers at Charlestown State Park, Clark State Forest, and Origin Park. Boat and camp out at Deam Lake State Recreation Area. If you’re more of a biker or if you have kids that like playgrounds, visit Big Four Station Park or Ashland Park, which are both along the river and offer access to the Ohio River Greenway, a paved path for pedestrians and cyclists. Looking for more milage? Check out the Monon South Trail. Walk, run or bike along 10.6 miles connecting SoIN’s Deam Lake to New Pekin. The Monon South, when complete, will span nearly 60 contiguous miles of multi-use trail from the Floyd and Clark Counties line to Mitchell, Indiana.
Falls of the Ohio State Park
Hike on 390-million-year-old fossil beds, the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world. The interpretive center features hands-on exhibits in four-themed time tunnels: An Ancient Sea, A Changing Land, Converging Cultures, and The Falls Today. Visit their website for upcoming events.
NoCo Arts & Cultural District
This vibrant and growing public art district in downtown Jeffersonville is perfect for visitors interested in exploring local, outdoor art. Keep an eye out for events at The Depot at NoCo, which hosts musical acts, markets and more in the warmer months.
Golf
SoIN is home to six public golf courses, two designed by Masters champion and Southern Indiana native, Fuzzy Zoeller (Champions Pointe and Covered Bridge). All courses are beautifully designed! Take a spring getaway with your friends and play as many holes as you can!
Farm Experiences
Huber's Orchard & Winery
Indiana's largest estate-bottled winery is also the site of the award-winning Starlight Distillery. Enjoy wine tastings, farm-to-bottle tours, and explore the market. The kids will have a blast running around the farm and on the playground.
Joe Huber's Family Farm & Restaurant
Country cookin' is on the menu at Joe Huber's. Kids can feed the ducks, catch fish, explore the farm, and play on the playground.
The Sporting Club at the Farm
This attraction offers pure outdoor fun. The Sporting Club at the Farm features archery, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and more.
Farmers Markets
Can't wait to taste the first local spring vegetables? Visit Southern Indiana's farmers markets. The Charlestown Farmers Market, Jeffersonville Farmers Market and New Albany Farmers Market are can't miss for fresh produce, baked sweets and artisan goods.
Digital Passports
Take your Southern Indiana experience to the next level with our FREE digital passports. Our year-round Scenic SoIN, Inspired SoIN and Stranger Things of SoIN passports allow you to explore SoIN’s best sights, creative scenes and peculiar spots with ease. These passes are perfect for out-of-towners wanting to explore what SoIN is all about or locals wanting to discover all their hometowns have to offer.
Shop & Dine
Downtown Shopping
Springtime is the perfect time to refresh and reset with new clothes, jewelry, and other knick-knacks. Jeffersonville and New Albany offer walkable downtowns that have everything you need from boutiques like Sapphire or Dress and Dwell to home decor at Madhouse to unique gifts at Mood and so much more.
Patio Dining
Take in the sunshine and the local culinary scene with al fresco dining. Southern Indiana offers outdoor dining with river views at places like Upland Brewing Co. and Kingfish in downtown Jeffersonville.
Louisville Attractions
Belle of Louisville Riverboats
Follow your visit to the Howard Steamboat Museum with a ride aboard the Belle of Louisville, the oldest operating Mississippi River-style steamboat in the U.S., or the Mary M. Miller riverboat, named after the first woman steamboat captain in the U.S., who was from Louisville, Ky. You'll get fantastic views of Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Louisville Zoo
The Louisville Zoo is home to more than 1,100 animals, botanical gardens and seven different habitats, including Africa, Australian Outback, Glacier Run, HerpAquarium, Islands, and New World.
Louisville Bats
Catch the start of the Louisville Bats season. There's nothing like watching baseball with a hot dog and a cold beverage in this stadium just across the street from Waterfront Park, which connects to SoIN via the Big Four Bridge.
Louisville Mega Cavern
Enjoy an incredible attraction for the ultimate adrenaline junkie in an underground cave. Louisville Mega Cavern offers ziplining, a rope challenge course, and all sorts of tours.
