Southern Indiana Itineraries

Riverside Experience

Day 1

Morning - Kick off your day with breakfast at Geraldine's Kitchen, a family-owned diner serving breakfast and lunch in Jeffersonville. If you arrive on a Sunday, you can't miss brunch at Upland Brewing Co. offering fantastic river views.

Afternoon - Hike or bike the Ohio River Greenway pathway and tour attractions and shops in Jeffersonville, New Albany and Clarksville along the way. Grab your camera. You'll see great views on this route of the Louisville skyline, public art installations and a few of our historic landmarks. 

Evening - Go rolling on the river by way of the Belle of Louisville or Mary M. Miller riverboats. Take a relaxing two-hour sightseeing cruise on a piece of American history. The cruises include an optional buffet lunch or dinner, dance floor, and bar. 

Night - Sit back and relax at The Exchange Pub + Kitchen. During the warmer months, you'll find most folks sitting outdoors enjoying the plush patio furniture around the fire pit enjoying a cocktail or two. And as they say, "when in Rome."

Day 2

Morning - Start your day with a nice cup of Joe at Pearl Street Game & Coffee House. Sit back, relax and enjoy your coffee while playing a few board games. 

Afternoon - Just a stone's throw away is Ashland Park (Clarksville) which features a playground, picnic areas, and a great view of the locks and dams across from the Falls of the Ohio State Park. 

Evening - If you're in SoIN between April and September, you'll want to check out Waterfront Wednesdays, a free concert series in Louisville's Waterfront Park. The event occurs on the last Wednesday of the month featuring a new band and a children's activity area. On Saturdays from June through September, enjoy free concerts on the RiverStage in downtown Jeffersonville. 

Night - Take a romantic stroll on the LED illuminated Big Four Bridge. Stay overnight at one of our riverfront hotels or have a nightcap at our many bars or pubs to close out the day. 

Event Recommendation - Part of the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Great Steamboat Race takes place just ahead of the Kentucky Derby. It pits our local Belle of Louisville against the Belle of Cincinnati. Ticketholders are treated to a cruise, dinner, live entertainment and bragging rights if they’re aboard the winner.  

Outdoor Exploration

Day 1

Morning - Start your day off with a cup of coffee from Charlestown Coffee and Cream.  

Afternoon - Next, grab your backpack, give your shoes their best lace up and hit the hiking trails at Charlestown State Park. The park’s interpretive naturalist Jeremy Beavin recommends Trail 1, a rugged 2.5-mile trail with rock outcrops and remnants of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. In the springtime, hikers are treated to a carpet of wildflowers, including hillsides of Virginia Bluebells. 

Evening - Recharge with dinner at Charlestown Pizza Company. With an amazing beer selection and great pizza prices, it’s a local favorite in Charlestown that’s been a must-visit for years!

Night - If you're up for more walking, take a night stroll through Charlestown's Greenway Park. This is extra special from Thanksgiving to New Year's when the park is lit up for the holidays.
 

Day 2

Morning - Fuel up for your outdoor adventure with breakfast from Sleepy Rooster Morning Kitchen in New Albany. 

Afternoon - Find your outdoor bliss with over 194 acres of adventure at Deam Lake State Recreation Area, a premium spot to hike, camp and kayak. You can hang out on the beach during the warmer months. Alternatively, grab your favorite binoculars or fishing rod and visit the Falls of the Ohio State Park to discover wildlife and unique geological formations.

Evening - Watch the sunset while you bike the Ohio River Greenway, a scenic trail that follows the Ohio River and offers stunning views of the water and surrounding landscape. 

Night - End the day with dinner from a local restaurant that offers patio seating. Upland Brewing Co. and Harry’s Taphouse offer superb views of the Ohio River. 

Event Recommendation - Celebrate the arts and the migration of monarch butterflies when you attend the Monarch Festival. The annual event takes place in September, during the Monarch migration, and features a Monarch butterfly release. 
 

Fun for the Family

Day 1

Morning - Enjoy a donut or breakfast sandwich at one of the many well-known sweet shops in downtown Jeffersonville's historic district. You'll find delicious goodies at Adrienne & Co., Sweets by Morgan or Geraldine's Kitchen.

Afternoon - After breakfast, check two states off your bucket list with a walk across the Big Four Bridge. Start at Big Four Station Park and take the mile-long walk across the Ohio River into Louisville. If your child is a fan of playgrounds (and who isn't?), check out the swings, slides and merry-go rounds at Big Four Station Park's playground. Just up the street are some lunch options such as Red Yeti, Cluckers and Parlour.

Evening - Children of all ages love the shelves of candy at Schimpff's Confectionery in Jeffersonville. Make sure to call ahead to see when candy demonstrations are held. The antique equipment used has been in operation since the company began in 1891. Best of all, you'll get a red hot (or a lemon drop) after it's made! That's some sweet history. 

Night - Head north on Spring Street and check out the colorful NoCo Arts & Cultural District. Located within the arts district is the Vintage Fire Museum. What child doesn't dream of being a firefighter? At this museum, your kids can discover fire engines from years ago, and they can get a glimpse of what it was like to fight a fire before dialing 9-1-1 was a thing. Enjoy dinner at one of our nearby family-friendly restaurants and then stay overnight at a southern Indiana hotel.

Day 2

Morning - Call ahead to see what shows are playing at Derby Dinner Playhouse in Clarksville. The whole family can enjoy wholesome entertainment with its popular Children's Theater program. The dinner theater's performances serve either breakfast, lunch or dinner. Next, travel millions of years back in time and explore the interactive exhibits of the Falls of the Ohio State Park. These exhibits tell about the ancient creatures that lived here when this area was covered by the sea. When the river beds are low, the remnants of those creatures can be seen in the fossil beds, only a short hike away from the interpretive center. 

Afternoon - Enjoy lunch at one of SoIN's family-friendly restaurants in Clarksville on Lewis and Clark Parkway or Veterans Parkway.  

Evening - If your kids love pools, they'll find a splashing good time in our aquatic parks and family fun areas. Check out New Albany's RiverRun Aquatic Center, Clarksville Cove, or the Jeffersonville Aquatic Center. Charlestown's Family Activities Park has a splash pad and many other kid-friendly things to do as well. 

Night - On Friday and Saturday nights in the summer months, you'll find family-friendly movies at the RiverStage in Jeffersonville, Gateway Park in Clarksville, or one of New Albany's parks. Or go "old school" and visit the Georgetown Drive-In to see what the first-run movies are playing. 

Event Recommendation – Steamboat Nights held at Big Four Station Park in Jeffersonville is a free can’t-miss family event. It features a one-of-a-kind steamboat heritage festival, along with live music, rides, a silent disco and a balloon glow. 

History & Heritage

Day 1

Morning – Grab a homecooked-style breakfast from Geraldine’s Kitchen in downtown Jeffersonville. Next, a history buff’s dream awaits at the Howard Steamboat Museum. Built in 1894, the mansion-turned-museum features a collection of original furnishings, brass gasoliers, stained glass windows, intricate carvings and a magnificent black walnut staircase replicated from a steamboat. 

Afternoon – Check out another “Gem of Jeffersonville” at Schimpff’s Confectionery, a family-owned and operated candy shop that has been going for more than 130 years. Order lunch and a float at the deli before walking through the shop’s three stores and candy museum. Enjoy a free candy-making demonstration where the owners create shop favorites using the same equipment that was used over 100 years ago. 

Evening – Go back to SoIN’s start at Falls of the Ohio State Park. Exhibits at the park’s interpretive center take you through the region’s history from the ancient sea that left behind 390-million-year-old fossils through activities of Native Americans and European settlers to today.

Night – Savor a delicious dinner at Redi Yeti in downtown Jeffersonville, located in a historic building dating back to 1881! Over the years, it’s been home to a jeweler, pool hall, doctor’s office, grocery store, antique shop, electronics store, and more. 

Day 2

Morning – Grab coffee and a delightful pastry at Leaven Bakery for breakfast.  

Afternoon – Next up, visit the Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center (a former library funded by Andrew Carnegie). The center’s permanent exhibits showcase the region’s history, including New Albany’s ties to the Underground Railroad. Grab lunch at Seeds & Greens Natural Market & Deli, which serves freshly made salads, soups, sandwiches and paninis.  

Evening – For lovers of old homes, take a stroll down New Albany’s Mansion Row, where you’ll find the Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site. Get tickets for a guided tour to learn more about the mansion’s original owner and area philanthropist William Culbertson.  You can also enjoy dinner in downtown New Albany, home to several restaurants housed in historic buildings. The Exchange, housed inside the historic Shraders Stable and Livery, offers rotating, seasonal menus consisting of locally sourced and harvested products made from scratch ingredients. 

Night – Experience the New Albany Wicked Walk, a 2-hour walking tour of locations where the odd and dreadful happened in downtown New Albany from the 1800s to the early 1900s. Note: this tour is not recommended for minors due to graphic details that will be shared. Occasionally, the tour will stop at The High Dive, an eclectic dive bar housed in the historic Stoy-Shrader House.  

Event Recommendation – New Albany Main Street’s Historic Home Tour is ideal for history buffs and lovers of old homes. You can take self-guided tours of historic homes, gardens and commercial buildings. Typically, the tour features homes on New Albany’s Mansion Row, a national historic district.

Arts & Culture

Day 1

Morning - Eat breakfast or grab a coffee at Coffee Crossing in Jeffersonville. Before you begin exploring, remember to sign up for Inspired SoIN, a free digital passport guiding you to SoIN’s best murals, public art installations and more.  

Afternoon -The colorful water tank will invite you to explore NoCo, Jeffersonville's new Arts & Cultural District.  This vibrant area located “NOrth of COurt” (hence the name NoCo), is one of 12 Arts & Cultural districts in Indiana.  Snap a few selfies with the district’s colorful murals. You might even catch a live performance at the Depot, the district’s outdoor event venue. For lunch, visit Pearl Street Taphouse.  

Evening - Grab dinner at one of downtown Jeffersonville's restaurants to savor the culinary arts.  You can enjoy creative decor along with scrumptious dishes and drinks at Kabuki and La Catrina Tacos & Tequila. Harry's Taphouse & Kitchen, Parlour, and Union Restaurant & Gameyard are just around the corner, too. 

Night - Head to Derby Dinner Playhouse for an evening of musical comedy and rousing show tunes. There's also Clarksville Little Theatre, one of the oldest community theaters in the nation.   

Day 2

Morning – Start in New Albany with regionally-roasted coffee at True North Coffee House. Then set out to explore downtown New Albany where you can easily check in at 10 Inspired SoIN locations, earning you this funky print from Matthew Clinard. 

Afternoon - Stroll over to Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center and enjoy free admission to its changing and permanent exhibits. If you're lucky, you can catch one of their activity workshops. From there you'll be right by New Albany's shopping district where you'll find apparel, home decor, consignment goods, antiques, and gift shops. Next, visit the Arts Alliance of southern Indiana and ArtSeed. Both art organizations help cultivate the area's art and artists.  

Evening - You'll find a plethora of options for lunch or dinner in New Albany, which is known for its thriving restaurant scene. You'll know you're in the center of New Albany’s culinary scene when you see the Fork in the Road, a sculpture on Market Street. Try out Dog Haus Biergarten, which serves gourmet hot dogs, burgers and more.  

Night - Catch local performers and enjoy local craft brews at the Enchanted Forest & Music Hall. For a more laid back ending to your day, visit Wine Shop in downtown New Albany. Adorned with chic vintage furniture and bright paintings and murals, you and your friends will feel immediately relaxed and ready to enjoy a nice glass of wine or two! You can also buy wine and beer for your next event or night in, which they will allow you to sample before buying. Check their website and social media for special events.

Event Recommendation - Head to SoIN Memorial Day Weekend to relive the magic of the Beatles at the Abbey Road on the River festival. This annual gathering of music lovers transports you back to the Swinging ‘60s.   

For The Foodie

Day 1

Morning - Stop by My Cup Runneth Over Coffee & Charcuterie Café for a delicious cup of joe and light breakfast. 

Afternoon - Head to Joe Huber’s Family Farm and Restaurant for down-home country cooking. They will hook you up with delicious fried chicken, mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings and more! After that, visit Huber’s Orchard & Winery and Starlight Distillery for a wine tasting or tour at the winery or distillery.  

Evening - Before dinner, be sure to stop by Sweets by Morgan to satisfy your sweet tooth with handmade cookies, cakes and cinnamon rolls. You’ll find great food and games at Union Restaurant & Gameyard. Settle in at a cabana and challenge friends (new or old) to foosball, ping pong or “giant beer pong.”  

Night - Finish off the night with a few drinks from The Alcove, Jeffersonville’s coolest late-night spot.  

Day 2

Morning - Start the day in Clarksville at Williams Bakery, an old-fashioned bakery where you can order cakes, cookies, breads, brownies and donuts.  

Noon - Visit the  Spice & Tea Exchange of New Albany. Here you’ll find more than 90 specialty spices, loose-leaf fine teas, infused honey, fused olive oils and more.  

Evening - Engage with the region’s top chefs at  MESA, A Live Dining Show as they prepare a three-to four-course dinner. Alternatively, head to The 1894 Lodge in New Washington for their signature Tomahawk pork chop, which comes highly recommended by Chef Logan Hostettler.
 
Night - Rums. Gins. Moonshines. Vodka. All made locally, delectable and award winning – even internationally! Step into Distillery 64’s speakeasy for a unique vibe and one of their spirits on the rocks or in a specialty cocktail. 

Event Recommendation - Harvest Homecoming is a Foodie’s dream come true! Held annually in downtown New Albany, foodies can indulge in crowd favorites such as chicken and dumplings, pumpkin ice cream, homemade donuts, roasted corn on the cob and more.