Indiana is among a group of area states that have claims on President Lincoln; he spent part of his childhood there, and his mother is buried there. The Amish are a small portion of the state’s population, but they have made a large impression with their rural way of life that many find fascinating and appealing. There are plenty of opportunities for tourists to learn more about this group of residents — and to buy some fine Amish-made products.

Indianapolis is a thriving city, and the Indiana event people know best — the Indy 500 auto race — occurs in the state’s capital. Indiana also is home to three notable universities: Indiana University, Notre Dame and Purdue. Nevertheless, most Americans haven't found their way to vacation in Indiana. Those who get off in the midwestern state instead of passing through will find plenty to do and see, from the lush forests and hanging cliffs in the south to the lakeshore in the north. Shoppers can use Indianapolis as a base to go antiquing in nearby small towns.

Who goes there? Visitors from states to the south come up to test the waters of Lake Michigan and the mineral springs at French Lick. There is no distinct personality type that frequents the state. When do they go? Summer is the season of choice for most.

Ride the mountain bike trails in the Deam Lake State Recreation Area near Borden and connect to the trails in Clark State Forest.

Attend the Indy 500-mile auto race on Memorial Day weekend. Plan this trip well ahead.

Attend a maple tree tapping workshop in Deep River County Park.

Camp (with modern or primitive facilities) at Amishville USA at Berne. Tour the house and ride a buggy across the 120-acre farm. Eat Amish-style food at the on-site restaurant, the old chicken house.

Charter a boat for sport fishing on Lake Michigan.

Go to Badlands Off-Road Park in Attica for some fun on an ATV or dirt bike. Or, go to Redbird State Riding Area at Linton for the same thing.

Race around on Lake Shafer in a ski boat or on a waverunner.

Hike Indiana’s longest trail, 58 miles through Clark and Jackson-Washington state forests.

Test the quarter-mile toboggan track, at speeds of 35 to 40 miles per hour, at the Pokagon State Park.

Cross-country ski in Indiana Dunes State Park. In summer, enjoy the beaches (the park abuts Lake Michigan).

Stay at the haunted Old Bridge Inn in Jeffersonville.

Satisfy your every yen for chocolate during the Week of Chocolate in Bloomington. If you are good at culinary arts, enter the Chocolate Creations Contest.

Hike in Brown County State Park near Nashville. Do it in the winter for an alternative way to appreciate scenic beauty.

Using accompanying audio narrative, drive the Heritage Trail in Amish country in and around Elkhart.

Visit the Slippery Noodle Inn, Indiana’s oldest bar (1850) in its original building, in Indianapolis. Go to hear the live blues any night of the week, and look around. The place was once a station on the Underground Railroad and, later, a hangout for the Brady and Dillinger gangs who used the building in back for target practice.

Bicycle through Parke County as one way to see the area’s numerous covered bridges. If you time it right, you can join a structured Parke County Covered Bridge Bike Tour.

Attend a historical reenactment event. There are many in Indiana, but Vincennes calls itself the state’s City of Living History. It is the site of separate events remembering the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

Canoe and camp in Chain O’Lakes State Park. Cross-country skiing is a winter option. Or, try that skiing in France Park, Logansport, or Potato Creek State Park, North Liberty.

Treat yourself to a spa experience in French Lick, staying at a historic hotel, either the French Lick Springs Hotel or the West Baden Springs Hotel. And, go to the casino.

Attend a performance tour at Buckley Homestead Living History Farm in Lowell on one of the nights it is transformed into Sleepy Hollow. You’ll hear all about Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman from your storyteller host — and there will be some surprises. Or, attend the Buckley Homestead Fall Festival which promises reenactments that cover the time from the area’s fur trade era to the Civil War, plus demonstrations of traditional crafts. Try your hand at making candles or a piece of rope, or play games from the time of the Civil War or earlier.

Attend a Notre Dame football game. The excitement is very contagious!

Attend the Parke County Maple Syrup Fair and visit maple syrup camps around the county. Of course, have pancakes with lots of syrup, and buy the locally made syrup. There are several maple syrup festivals in the state.

Eat a Threshers Dinner served in the century-old barn restaurant on the grounds of Amish Acres in Nappanee. Tour the historic farm, see craft demonstrations and see the on-site theater’s signature production, “Plain and Fancy.”

Dine and see theater at the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis.

Go bird-watching in Charlestown State Park.

Take a guided walking tour of New Harmony, which was home to two utopian societies in the early 19th century that left a rich heritage in a small town.

For more information, consult the Indiana Office of Tourism Development at www.VisitIndiana.com

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