Blog: Relax, Recharge and Breathe in Brown County
By: Maggie the Frugal Momma, Mommy’s Gone Shopping Again
We spent a terrific weekend in Brown County Indiana. If you have never been to Brown County Indiana,
then you must add it on your must visit list!
Brown County is approximately an hour southwest of Indianapolis. Once you turn onto St. Rd 46, you
start seeing something that isn’t common in all parts of Indiana! Hills-- beautiful and graceful hills!
Brown County is home to Brown County State Park which has 16,000 acres of beautiful rolling hills,
rugged terrains and just simply serene beauty! Brown County is also home to Nashville Indiana which is
a historic artist colony!
Life in and around Nashville seems to be at a slower pace. If you are used to the rat race and need to
unwind, then you really need to plan a trip to Brown County! Even if you can only make it for a
weekend, you will not be disappointed! It’s a great place to just recharge your batteries!
As in all of my travel reviews, I highly highly suggest that you contact the Brown County Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau! They are a vast pot of information!
We had an opportunity to stop by their office in Nashville. We can honestly say it is the most beautiful
Convention and Visitors Bureau we have ever seen! Look at the sculpture in front of the building!
Across from the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau is the HobNob Corner Restaurant. You
can check out our review about their restaurant here.
On Saturday, we spent a lovely morning of walking around the shops. There is so much history in
Nashville! The Annual Chocolate Walk was going on which benefited the humane society. Members of
the local high school band were playing music on the square and the smells of all of the restaurants and
the shops were mouth-watering!
Be warned though, at meal times, you may be waiting for a while for a table at a restaurant. Be patient
though and enjoy the atmosphere! One of the restaurants, Big Woods Pizzeria had large heaters on the
patio so patrons could enjoy their pizza while sitting outside. We didn’t get a chance to eat there this
time but the pizza looked cheesy and gooey! My husband went up to one couple and asked them how
it was and the gentleman replied, “The best pie he has ever had”!
One would think with all of the visitors and the smaller quarters in the shops that people would be
cranky and miserable (like Black Friday) surprisingly though everyone was pleasant, smiling and helpful
and most importantly courteous! I truly believe it is the magic that Nashville offers. It’s so unlike
anywhere you have ever been!
One stop we made and that I didn’t get a picture of was the Chateau Thomas Winery! What a quaint
shop! We did a wine tasting and brought home a few bottles for ourselves. One tip I highly suggest is
ask the wine host/hostess what they recommend! Our hostess based on our likes/dislikes recommend
several then saved the best one for last. Of course we had to buy one of those bottles!
This is one of the reasons I can’t recommend enough to talk to the CVB for where you are going AND
talk to the locals! Eat and travel like a local!
One of the other shops we went into was the Nashville General Store and Bakery. Walking into the
store was like going back in time!
This store has so much history! There are so many unique things you can purchase in there
including……are you ready for this……FUDGE!!!!!!
TURTLE FUDGE!!!!!!!! and it is sooooooooooooooo good!! NOT good for the diet but as a delish little
snack! Nummy nummy!
Of course since I got wine and chocolate, my husband needed something for himself. So we went into
the House of Jerky! Yes, a store that sells all kinds of Jerky!!
The stores I have listed are literally just a few of all of the shops and places to visit to and around
Nashville! To learn about ALL of the businesses, please go to the CVB’s website!
If you have preschool or younger children, you know that once they are done walking around and their
little bellies are telling them it’s time to eat, then the walking around and shopping is over for the
day. And since it was quickly approaching nap time, we decided to grab a bite at the 19th Hole Sports
Bar and Grille located at the Salt Creek Golf Retreat since we stayed in a condo at The Overlook Lodge.
Here is our review of the condo!
The wait was our food was very minimal and the staff was super friendly!
My oldest decided on the ultimate comfort food! What do you think? F decided on the “Hoosier
Fries”! These are waffle fries drenched with melted cheese and topped with bacon, onions and
jalapenos! No food coma afterwards but let’s put it this way, someone wasn’t very hungry for dinner
later that evening!
Paul and I decided on “Brown County’s best burger” also called the “Sports Burger”
This lovely greasy hamburger was made into a patty by hand. We got it with all of the fixings and it was
greasy, flavorful and delish!!
Now before some of you say, “What! You took children into a Sports Bar”?? Yes we did. Children are
welcome until 9 pm. On Friday and Saturday evenings, they have live music so your children can enjoy
the music with you. It’s no different than taking your children to Buffalo Wild Wings.
Brown County has so much to offer for families! Nashville doesn’t shut down for the winter! There is a
lovely variety of holiday activities! I saw there was even a 5k in the state park! That would be such an
amazing experience! I will have to add that to my list to do one year!
Some of the cool activities you can find to do:
eXplore Brown County – https://www.explorebrowncounty.com/ – #1 rated activity in Brown County via
Trip Advisor! AND eXplore Brown County was just voted #4 by the Indiana Department of Tourism for
Fall Fun!!!
Old Time Photography – www.NashvilleImage.com and www.BrownCountyWedding.net
Some of the stores were already setting up for the holidays! I can only imagine how Nashville looks with
a light dusting of snow and all of the lights and decorations from the lights from the stores. Then to see
carolers singing! Nashville would truly be an amazing experience for the holidays!!!
To discover what is waiting for you during the holidays in Brown County, you can go to the Convention &
Visitors Bureau website here to learn more!
We definitely plan to go back to Brown County! My husband thought it would be the perfect couples
weekend away as well as a great place for families! My oldest wants to go back to check out the stables,
the alpaca farm we passed on St. Rd. 46, and eXplore! I’m planning on taking my Mom there next spring
for a Mom/Daughter weekend! I know she will absolutely love it!