Madison Indiana is a very pretty little town with quaint little shops and restaurants. It has lots of historic homes and is right on the river. There is a part of Madison that is called the hilltop and it is just your regular stores and restaurants. The really beautiful part of the town is down the hill in downtown Madison.
Madison local here with some things to do downtown:
Chillbilly's - ice cream on the river (no indoor seating)
Red Peppermint - ice cream (indoor seating)
Pizza Uncommon - quirky pizza shop, vegan options available
Hong Kong Kitchen - really great Chinese food with "healthy" (low sodium, vegan) options
Off Broadway Taproom - bar with funky daily specials, vegan options
Red Roaster - longstanding coffee shop, great coffee, good breakfast
Analog Coffee - newer coffee shop, more expensive, but also a more comfy place to hang
Crawdaddy's - cool local music shop with vintage instruments; owner is retiring so records are $1 (I think that's still going)
Crystal Beach - newly renovated and reopened public pool
Lots of various shops with ample downtown parking, very walkable, so if you can hang with a bit of heat, it's still worth it.
Driving around downtown is cool. Nighttime has a different vibe, equally cool. Lots of scenic drives around depending on what type of vehicle you have, but be careful with night driving if you aren't local bc a lot of the roads have strange curves and blindspots.
Edit: place name
first thing I thought of.
I even re-read the top post by OP just to make sure they didn't say anything about not eating meat before I posted Hinkles.
now that I'm 2 miles from the ocean, I kinda miss being able to be in driving distance of Hinkles.
If by overrated you mean quaint and delightful ur so right. Another great thing about Madison is how it’s located adjacent to Clifty Falls, so you can go hiking and then check out one of the restaurants. Or go shopping in the morning, hike a bit, get dinner. It’s basically the ideal day trip.
Another commenter mentioned fried chicken, so here's an idea:
Take 74 to Batesville and make a right off the interstate onto 229. There's a cute little German town called Oldenburg. Stop at Wagner's for the best fried chicken you will ever have. Trust me on this.
Afterwards, keep following 229 until it ends at 52. Take a right at 52 into Metamora. It's a really nice scenic drive. Stop off into Metamora, which is another cute little town (though it was even better like 20 years ago). There's an ice cream place there that has the world's largest cookie jar collection. I forget the name.
After Metamora, follow 52 into Brookville. Also super scenic through there You can either head up north toward Brookville lake on 101. They have beaches and stuff (you'd have to Google where because I forget). Or take 52 to state route 1 and that will take you back to I-74.
Edited to add: check the hours for Wagner's before you go. They aren't open every day of the week .
It's probably a little far, but Corydon area has 4 cave tours spots if you are into that. Squire Boone, Marango (2 caves here), Indiana Caverns, and Wyandotte. Each is unique, but the same. I have done Squire Boon cave and the Marango caves and enjoyed them both.
I would also add that the drive from Corydon going west on State Road 62 is pleasant drive, much of it covered in shade. It's pretty easy to drive a while on the state road and then jump on the interstate when you are ready to head east. My wife and I have made that drive several times.
Downtown Jeffersonville and New Albany. Jeffersonville has a great riverfront. Both have walkable downtown areas with lots of restaurants, bars and shops. Only about 90 minutes from downtown Cincinnati.
I’m kind of blanking on fun things to do honestly but while you’re here I’d recommend trying some south east indiana [fried chicken](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/dining/fried-chicken-indiana.html)
I would visit Louisville, KY and the surrounding areas. NA is my hometown! :) You could also take 75 down to Lexington and visit the horse farms and distilleries.
At the corners of Indiana Ohio and Kentucky right around that area there is a life-size replica of Noah's ark built there with gift shops and such in it just look up Noah's ark Indiana to see if it's something that you might like to see.
I grew up in Indiana and I had no idea it was down there because nobody ever said or perhaps it was built after I left in '85. There's a lot of walking and such there due to it being life-size, so if you have no problem standing or walking through a huge area that might be a lifetime thing to see and take pictures of.... depending on your interest.
I'm going to guess large stone crosses, billboards about Jesus, more billboards about going to church, a few more smaller crosses on the roadway, another billboard about Marriage Means a Man and a Woman, and a Don't Drink & Drive sign filled with bullet holes.
Madison Indiana is a very pretty little town with quaint little shops and restaurants. It has lots of historic homes and is right on the river. There is a part of Madison that is called the hilltop and it is just your regular stores and restaurants. The really beautiful part of the town is down the hill in downtown Madison.
Madison local here with some things to do downtown: Chillbilly's - ice cream on the river (no indoor seating) Red Peppermint - ice cream (indoor seating) Pizza Uncommon - quirky pizza shop, vegan options available Hong Kong Kitchen - really great Chinese food with "healthy" (low sodium, vegan) options Off Broadway Taproom - bar with funky daily specials, vegan options Red Roaster - longstanding coffee shop, great coffee, good breakfast Analog Coffee - newer coffee shop, more expensive, but also a more comfy place to hang Crawdaddy's - cool local music shop with vintage instruments; owner is retiring so records are $1 (I think that's still going) Crystal Beach - newly renovated and reopened public pool Lots of various shops with ample downtown parking, very walkable, so if you can hang with a bit of heat, it's still worth it. Driving around downtown is cool. Nighttime has a different vibe, equally cool. Lots of scenic drives around depending on what type of vehicle you have, but be careful with night driving if you aren't local bc a lot of the roads have strange curves and blindspots. Edit: place name
and you didn't mention [Hinkles](http://www.hinkleburger.com/)?
Lol, I'm vegetarian, so I didn't even think about it
first thing I thought of. I even re-read the top post by OP just to make sure they didn't say anything about not eating meat before I posted Hinkles. now that I'm 2 miles from the ocean, I kinda miss being able to be in driving distance of Hinkles.
Personally found Madison greatly overrated. Friend lived their down in the historic district.
If by overrated you mean quaint and delightful ur so right. Another great thing about Madison is how it’s located adjacent to Clifty Falls, so you can go hiking and then check out one of the restaurants. Or go shopping in the morning, hike a bit, get dinner. It’s basically the ideal day trip.
It's nice for what it is, but I think it'd be hard for a whole day trip there
i found it boring and pretentious
Kind of like this comment... js
zing
Another commenter mentioned fried chicken, so here's an idea: Take 74 to Batesville and make a right off the interstate onto 229. There's a cute little German town called Oldenburg. Stop at Wagner's for the best fried chicken you will ever have. Trust me on this. Afterwards, keep following 229 until it ends at 52. Take a right at 52 into Metamora. It's a really nice scenic drive. Stop off into Metamora, which is another cute little town (though it was even better like 20 years ago). There's an ice cream place there that has the world's largest cookie jar collection. I forget the name. After Metamora, follow 52 into Brookville. Also super scenic through there You can either head up north toward Brookville lake on 101. They have beaches and stuff (you'd have to Google where because I forget). Or take 52 to state route 1 and that will take you back to I-74. Edited to add: check the hours for Wagner's before you go. They aren't open every day of the week .
The Chicken House in Sellersburg, IN has amazing chicken (and everything else) and the best banana pudding I’ve had since my late grandma’s.
It's probably a little far, but Corydon area has 4 cave tours spots if you are into that. Squire Boone, Marango (2 caves here), Indiana Caverns, and Wyandotte. Each is unique, but the same. I have done Squire Boon cave and the Marango caves and enjoyed them both.
I would also add that the drive from Corydon going west on State Road 62 is pleasant drive, much of it covered in shade. It's pretty easy to drive a while on the state road and then jump on the interstate when you are ready to head east. My wife and I have made that drive several times.
Don’t forget about the sweet little Civil War park commemorating the Battle of Corydon!
Downtown Jeffersonville and New Albany. Jeffersonville has a great riverfront. Both have walkable downtown areas with lots of restaurants, bars and shops. Only about 90 minutes from downtown Cincinnati.
I’m kind of blanking on fun things to do honestly but while you’re here I’d recommend trying some south east indiana [fried chicken](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/dining/fried-chicken-indiana.html)
Wagners in Oldenburg. Recently won a James Beard award for their fried chicken.
Any specific places you'd recommend? What makes Southeast Indiana fried Chicken different than Kentucky fried Chicken?
Wagners is good. I prefer the St Leon Tavern. I’m not a fan of the 10 piece cut personally. It’s the first exit in Indiana on 74 from Cincinnati
Madison
I would visit Louisville, KY and the surrounding areas. NA is my hometown! :) You could also take 75 down to Lexington and visit the horse farms and distilleries.
I second this. I've lived in both and there's way more to do on the Kentucky side.
Do they still offer tours of Fort Knox?
French Lick... you're not too far, but it will still take you a couple hours to get to.
Car tour of Muscatatuck!! Amazing if you like nature at all
Brown county state park
AC in the car for now, but the heat is hard on the cars too. Be prepared for unfortunate circumstances.
Nashville indiana would be more central indiana but the town is a very popular tourist town.
Kentucky
At the corners of Indiana Ohio and Kentucky right around that area there is a life-size replica of Noah's ark built there with gift shops and such in it just look up Noah's ark Indiana to see if it's something that you might like to see. I grew up in Indiana and I had no idea it was down there because nobody ever said or perhaps it was built after I left in '85. There's a lot of walking and such there due to it being life-size, so if you have no problem standing or walking through a huge area that might be a lifetime thing to see and take pictures of.... depending on your interest.
The creation museum! It’s awesomely biblical in its BS. Dinos with saddles!
I just saw the pictures! Omg that is ridiculous
I went. It’s friggin amazing with the scriptural delusion
I'm going to guess large stone crosses, billboards about Jesus, more billboards about going to church, a few more smaller crosses on the roadway, another billboard about Marriage Means a Man and a Woman, and a Don't Drink & Drive sign filled with bullet holes.