It’s hard to believe it’s already 2017! I was lucky enough to get 11 days in Indiana with my family and friends at Christmas this year. It’s always a bit of a culture shock going home after living in New York City for so many years. My hometown of Auburn, Indiana (Home of the Classics) always seems a littler smaller each time I’m there. That being said, it’s a nice change of pace and a much needed refresher from regular life in the busy, fast paced city.
Indiana, I’m sure, is not on most people’s list of “must see” places, but I don’t think it gets enough credit. Our small town of Auburn, is actually quite famous due to it’s history in automobiles. The “Auburn” was one of the early, luxury cars built in the United States. Each year on Labor Day weekend, Auburn is filled with classic cars and collectors coming for the world’s largest auto auction, the classic car parade and to visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, which is now a National Historic Landmark. It’s a really fun weekend in town and in a way puts us on the map. In addition to the Labor Day festivities, we also have many lakes, great wineries and plenty of shopping to keep you entertained year round.
I grew up on Main street in downtown Auburn, but when I was in college my parents moved to “the country.” They now live in the middle of nowhere, on land that is in an even smaller town called Spencerville, about 15 minutes from Auburn. It is a VERY small town; like only has a post office and a gas station with a tiny convenience store small. Most people drive through town to see the “famous” covered bridge. The Spencerville covered bridge is one of the few remaining covered bridges in Indiana. It was built in 1873 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. It’s quaint and picturesque and a great example of small town Indiana.
Now living in a big city, I love being able to just relax, watch [Christmas] movies and visit with family and friends when I’m back in Indiana. While I was home, I decided to treat myself and went to the Auburn Massage Center for an hour massage. (Check Groupon for deals!) Honestly I wasn’t expecting much from a massage in small town Auburn, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how great it was. It was so relaxing and I felt so much better after. Ask for Trudy, she was fantastic!
To also help with relaxation, I visited a brand new winery that opened just a few miles down the road from my parent’s house, Byler Lane Winery. The inside was decorated with reclaimed barn wood from multiple local barns in the area and it is beautiful. More importantly, they have a great selection of wines from which to choose. They offer a free tasting of 5 wines, which is definitely worth the stop if you are in the area. Of course I bought several bottles to take home to have throughout my vacay and a few to bring back to New York, which I’m currently enjoying. Believe it or not, there are several other great wineries in the area as well (Two-EE’s Winery, Satek Winery, Country Heritage Winery, Briali Vineyards). Most of which also offer free tastings, so why not make a day trip out of it and check them all out!
On Christmas Eve, we decided to visit Pokagon State Park, in Angola, Indiana, about 30 minutes from our house, to go tobogganing. Their toboggan run has been a winter time tradition for many in the area for years. I personally have not been since I was 13-14 years old, so I figured it was time to give it another go. We rented a 4 person toboggan ($13) for my dad, my brother, my 18 month old niece and I. My sister in law and her parents went on another toboggan on the track next to ours. Super fun, but it was a much bumpier and faster ride (40 mph!) than I remembered. The second run was much smoother as the parents and the baby sat out, so I had my own sled. Less is more with bodies on those toboggans; I have the bruises to show for it still. We were only able to take two runs, as the lines became really long as the day went on. I’d suggest getting there when they open to get a few runs in before the crowds arrive. Pokagon is great for all seasons, as they also have cross country skiing, hiking trails, saddle barns with horses you can ride, lake access for boating and swimming, sand volleyball and picnic areas.
After tobogganing we stopped for lunch at Cricket’s, a bar in downtown Auburn. This is becoming somewhat of a tradition for my family as we also stopped in last year for Christmas Eve lunch. Cricket’s is a hole in the wall bar, but a classic spot in Auburn. They are known for their famous Cricket burger and their ham and cheese sandwich. Greasy deliciousness and drinks were the perfect way to kick off the holiday weekend.
The remainder of my time home flew by with Christmas celebrations. I love living in New York City, but I am also grateful for being from a small town with friendly people, where I can visit a couple times each year. Auburn, Indiana is no New York City, but it really is perfect the way it is. Stop in for a visit sometime and see for yourself! Go Barons!
NOW BOARDING: 
One thought on “Back Home Again in Indiana”