One thing you can trust about Indiana is that some things never change. These 10 quintessential aspects of Hoosier life are what make this great state home, and you’ll probably be familiar with them all.
From food to natural attractions to ways of life, this list has it all. Scroll on for all the details.
- Friday night will always be for fish frys.
Max Mixel Whether you go to your local fire station, church, or other community building, these traditional meals are the best thing you’ll eat all week. Nothing is more Hoosier than a fish fry. Oftentimes, you get to try local fish, and it usually comes with fixin’s like cole slaw or fries.
- The corn will always be knee-high by July.
Wikimedia Commons/Illustratedjc This saying goes way back. Nowadays, the corn is often much taller than knee-high by July as we now grow corn taller than we did in the past. Indiana will always have the perfect soil to grow this crop.
- There will always be covered bridges.
Wikimedia Commons/Chris Light Even as they fall into decay, the bridges around Indiana are here to stay. No one wants to see these pieces of history go away, so many towns allow them to remain, even if they are unusable.
- There will always be a diner in every town.
Facebook/Oasis Diner Even the tiniest villages in the Hoosier State have a hometown diner where the locals love to eat. You can always count on these place to have classic American dishes like burgers, chicken, and seafood, and often for a decent price.
- There will always be back roads.
Flickr/Jim Grey As Indiana is “the crossroads of America,” it is blessed with a wealth of different types of roads, many of which carry some historical significance. Back roads offer unique views of the state you won’t see from boring highways.
- There will always be Amish communities.
pxhere The Amish have been settled in this area for centuries, and not much has changed their way of life. While the modern world is experimenting with drones and artificial intelligence, this culture is sticking to buggys, gardening, and outhouses. They’ll never change.
- There will always be adventure.
Flickr/usfs_Eastern_Region No matter where you go in the great Hoosier State, there is wonder and excitement to be found. Caves, waterfalls, sand dunes, and a plethora of unique hiking trails grace this expansive state making sure you always have something to do.
- The sky will always be wide and the horizon endless.
Instagram/annajhagen Living in Indiana may mean we’re in one of the nation’s flattest states, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get great views here. You can find beauty in the ordinary here. Sometimes the sky is so big, it’s like you can see to the end of the earth.
- There will always be at least one tornado each summer.
Wikipedia/Ks0stm Not every little thing that will never change about Indiana is good. Each summer comes with some mighty storms that bring thunder, lightening, hail, and occasionally tornadoes. We’re right in America’s tornado belt, so it’s bound to happen.
- There will always be at least one snow day each year.
Flickr/John Wolf It may come in early December or late February, but there is often at least one big snow (or ice) storm each year that gives parts of the state enough snow to shut down schools and libraries. A blessing in disguise, these days are great for taking a break with a nice cup of hot cocoa.
For more like this, check out nine places in the state where you can still experience old Indiana.
Max Mixel
Whether you go to your local fire station, church, or other community building, these traditional meals are the best thing you’ll eat all week. Nothing is more Hoosier than a fish fry. Oftentimes, you get to try local fish, and it usually comes with fixin’s like cole slaw or fries.
Wikimedia Commons/Illustratedjc
This saying goes way back. Nowadays, the corn is often much taller than knee-high by July as we now grow corn taller than we did in the past. Indiana will always have the perfect soil to grow this crop.
Wikimedia Commons/Chris Light
Even as they fall into decay, the bridges around Indiana are here to stay. No one wants to see these pieces of history go away, so many towns allow them to remain, even if they are unusable.
Facebook/Oasis Diner
Even the tiniest villages in the Hoosier State have a hometown diner where the locals love to eat. You can always count on these place to have classic American dishes like burgers, chicken, and seafood, and often for a decent price.
Flickr/Jim Grey
As Indiana is “the crossroads of America,” it is blessed with a wealth of different types of roads, many of which carry some historical significance. Back roads offer unique views of the state you won’t see from boring highways.
pxhere
The Amish have been settled in this area for centuries, and not much has changed their way of life. While the modern world is experimenting with drones and artificial intelligence, this culture is sticking to buggys, gardening, and outhouses. They’ll never change.
Flickr/usfs_Eastern_Region
No matter where you go in the great Hoosier State, there is wonder and excitement to be found. Caves, waterfalls, sand dunes, and a plethora of unique hiking trails grace this expansive state making sure you always have something to do.
Instagram/annajhagen
Living in Indiana may mean we’re in one of the nation’s flattest states, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get great views here. You can find beauty in the ordinary here. Sometimes the sky is so big, it’s like you can see to the end of the earth.
Wikipedia/Ks0stm
Not every little thing that will never change about Indiana is good. Each summer comes with some mighty storms that bring thunder, lightening, hail, and occasionally tornadoes. We’re right in America’s tornado belt, so it’s bound to happen.
Flickr/John Wolf
It may come in early December or late February, but there is often at least one big snow (or ice) storm each year that gives parts of the state enough snow to shut down schools and libraries. A blessing in disguise, these days are great for taking a break with a nice cup of hot cocoa.
What else seems to never change in Indiana? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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