Summer Things To Do in Southern Indiana

Attractions & Things To Do

Outdoor & Riverside Recreation

Big Four Bridge
Bike or walk across the Ohio River on the mile-long Big Four Bridge that connects downtown Jeffersonville to downtown Louisville. 

Cabins in Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana has several cabin options to give you the adventurous experience best suited for your family or travel crew.

Charlestown State Park
Located at a reclaimed site where an ammunition plant stood, this is one of Indiana's largest and newest state parks. Hike the trails and fish on the banks of Fourteen-Mile Creek along with other activities. 

Clark State Forest
Clark State Forest is the oldest state forest in Indiana and is home to the southern end of the state's longest hiking trail, Knobstone Trail. 

Deam Lake State Recreation Area
This park features many amenities including a spacious lake, camping, horse rentals, boat rentals, mountain biking trails, and more. 

Falls of the Ohio State Park
Walk alongside the Ohio River on the world's largest exposed Devonian Fossil beds and wander inside the Interpretive Center to check out its four themes and learn about its fascinating history. The Interpretive Center is closed this year from May 22 to October 16, you can still explore the fossil beds! 

Hoosier National Forest
The forest runs through 9 different counties and provides resources for the region. Here you can find camping, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. 

Indiana Caverns
A premier family adventure park in an underground cave featuring walking tours, rides, and an escape room. 

Louisville Mega Cavern
An underground adventure featuring zip lines, an underground tram, bike park, and an obstacle course that can be fun for all ages. 

Louisville Zoo
The zoo is a summer staple in Louisville, as it's home to more than 1,700 animals and 134 botanical areas. 

New Albany Flow Park
Skateboarders can shred this summer at New Albany's river-themed skate park. 

Ohio River Greenway
Take a stroll or bike on this 7-mile pathway along the Ohio River that connects Clarksville, Jeffersonville, and New Albany. 

Origin Park
The first amenity of this future 450-acre urban park in Clarksville is now open! Bring your canoe or kayak to the newly opened Croghan Paddling Launch to paddle down Silver Creek and out onto the Ohio River, where paddlers can enjoy the only stretch of the river free of commercial boat traffic.

The Sporting Club at the Farm
A new attraction that offers the ultimate outdoor experience. Head to New Albany to take part in archery, fishing, shoot clay pigeons, and more.

Taylorsville Lake State Park
Just east of Louisville, this park offers boating, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and more.

Waterfront Botanical Garden
Louisville's brand new botanical garden along the riverside.  A perfect spot for morning yoga, walks, and events. 

The Woods ATV Adventures
Explore over 500 acres of classified forest in Starlight Indiana. You-Drive ATVs allow you to take hold of your adventurous side on our guided sightseeing experience!

Amusement Parks, Waterparks & Sports

Charlestown Family Activities Park
This park has everything! Enjoy the splash pad, roller skating, mini-golf, playground, and more. 

Clarksville Cove Family Aquatic Center
An aquatic experience that will keep you coming back, with three splash pads, multiple slides, a full-size pool, and a snack bar. 

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
A theme park and a water park with a seasonal theme in Santa Claus, Ind. that's perfect for the family in the summer. Opening May 20.

Jeffersonville Aquatic Center
Slides, kiddie pools, full-sized pools, concession stands and so much more! Your summer fun attraction. 

Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay
Louisville's lone theme park is filled with 60 thrilling rides and pure entertainment for the family. The waterpark offers everything from a lazy river to monster waterslides and everything in between! The theme park opens May 13, and the water park opens May 27.

Louisville Bats
Watching baseball is a must during the summer months, so head over to Louisville Slugger Stadium and watch the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A team!

Louisville City FC / Racing Louisville FC
A brand new stadium, competitive teams, and the world's most popular sport...soccer! Check out the men's and women's teams this season. 

River Run New Albany Family Waterpark
A summer fun hot spot! River Run is one of the area's premier waterparks offering exciting slides, a kiddie pool, full-size pool, and a concession stand. 

Arts & Culture

Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana
Promoting art within three Southern Indiana counties, it has a plethora of events and classes during the summer. 

Derby Dinner Playhouse
Catch a musical at this iconic southern Indiana dinner theatre where shows rotate monthly. Summer shows are "Father of the Bride," "Tilly The Trickster," and "The Sound of Music"!

The Jefferson Venue
Kentuckiana's newest event and music venue! Located at the base of the 2nd Street Bridge, it offers incredible views of the Ohio River and the Louisville skyline. Hosting live music from national touring headliners and locals several nights per week.

Georgetown Drive-In
Georgetown Drive-In is open from May to October, showing first-run movies, as well as classics. Take a step back in time and go to the drive-in! 

NoCo Arts & Cultural District
A whimsical art district in Jeffersonville that showcases an array of colors and offers playful activities around the district. 

TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana
TheatreWorks is the resident theatre company at the New Albany Performing Arts Center that is committed to creating performances for local artists to provide quality entertainment to the community. 

Farm Experiences

Charlestown, Jeffersonville and New Albany Farmers Markets
Four separate farmers markets in four different and robust southern Indiana towns. Here you can find fresh produce and other goods on a weekly basis. 

Joe Huber Family Farm & Restaurant
Yes, you can have a delicious country-style meal here but there is so much more. Kids will enjoy the playground and can feed the ducks and fish. 

Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards
Pick strawberries, taste wine, and shop in the country market. Huber's is the largest winery in Indiana and is a favorite within the community. 

Museums

Carnegie Center for Art & History
A branch of the public library with rotating and permanent art exhibits in the heart of New Albany. Each exhibit is sure to grab your attention and make you think about the past and future.

Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site
Take a tour inside the home of William Culbertson, once the richest man in the state of Indiana, and gaze at the artistic and architectural beauty of the mansion. Preregistration is recommended, offering timed tours and the max capacity is 10 people. 

Frazier History Museum
Interactive exhibits that are always changing and bringing the past 1,000 years to life. The Frazier History Museum is also the start of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Howard Steamboat Museum
A 22-room mansion turned museum located along the Ohio River that allows visitors to explore the region’s rich steamboat history. Interior woodwork and décor were constructed by the Howard Shipyard’s master craftsmen in the 19th century. 

Kentucky Derby Museum
Located on the grounds of Churchill Downs showcasing everything there is to know about the historic "Run for the Roses."

Kentucky Science Center
Kentucky's largest science museum offering three floors of exhibits. 

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory 
Make a stop at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, one of the greatest sports museums in the world.

Muhammad Ali Center
Swing by and take in this magnificent cultural experience dedicated to Muhammad Ali, a native of Louisville. 

Speed Art Museum
Experience the largest art museum in Kentucky and take in its architecture.

Vintage Fire Museum
A museum telling stories of fire fighting all the way back to the 1700s. 

Golf

Champions Pointe Golf Club
One of two golf courses designed by native Fuzzy Zoeller. It is a demanding, yet brilliantly designed course. 

Covered Bridge Golf Club
The second Southern Indiana course designed by Master's champion Fuzzy Zoeller. A course for anyone, with excitement at each hole. 

Elk Run Golf Club
The ultimate "shot maker's" course with wide fairways and large greens; located in the heart of Jeffersonville. 

Hidden Creek Golf Club
27-hole course in the countryside where turkeys and bald eagles are often seen. 

Valley View Golf Club
Located on a wooded hillside, this course has everything like subtle breaks on the green, potential water hazards, sand bunkers, and unusual grass bunkers. 

Wooded View Golf Course
Known for its beautiful clubhouse and wooded surroundings. It's not unlikely that you'll see a rabbit, deer, fox, and other living animals.

Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries

Angel's Envy Distillery
Visit Louisville's first fully operational whiskey facility and enjoy an experience unlike any other. 

Distillery 64
Craft distillery in New Albany with a speakeasy-style tasting room and 4 featured spirits: Gin, vodka, oaked rum and silver rum. 

Donum Dei Brewery
SoIN’s lone brew-stillery, Donum Dei offers craft beer, 2 whiskeys (one rye) a bourbon, gin, vodka and liquors, plus small bites, sandwiches and soup. 

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Learn everything you need to know about distilling bourbon and how Evan Williams came to be. 

Fistful of Ale
The two-for-one special, Fistful of Ale and Fistful of Tacos are side by side and serve up immaculate locally crafted beer and tacos.

Floyd County Brewing Co. & The Enchanted Forest
A brewery, restaurant and live music venue all in one! This medieval-themed brewery offers award-winning craft beer and pub grub, plus live music entertainment in the Enchanted Forest.

Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards
Huber's is the largest estate-bottled winery in Indiana and is a favorite within the community. Wine tasting, along with an array of other activities, provides fun for an entire day on the farm.

NABC Pizzeria & Public House
Taste local and international beers at New Albany Brewing Company. Enjoy NABC craft beers or brews from across the greater region and even from overseas.

Our Lady of Perpetual Hops
This brewery and live music venue features 12 beers on tap and plenty of games to keep you entertained, like cornhole, darts, jenga and arcade games.

Starlight Distillery
Located at Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards, this is where you can enjoy the best of both worlds, wine, and bourbon. 

Turtle Run Winery
Turtle Run Winery, a perfect place to have a picnic and taste wine in the rolling hills of southern Indiana.

Upland Brewing Co. 
Grab Hoosier brews and bites at this primo spot overlooking the Ohio River. 

Summer Shopping

Summer shopping is always a popular activity in our riverside towns because of the abundance and diversity of shops—many within walking distance of each other. You'll be able to find anything from summer apparel to home decor. Buy yourself the perfect gift or find something for that hard-to-buy-for friend. Treat yourself to a day of shopping in downtown Jeffersonville or downtown New Albany!

Restaurants

Summertime, the perfect time to grab a cocktail outside and dine on a patio. What makes Southern Indiana's restaurants so special is it's access to riverside dining, which gives customers a gorgeous view of the Ohio River and downtown Louisville. Don't forget to get dessert after your meal or grab an ice cream cone at one of Southern Indiana's ice cream shops!