October is here! Hopefully you’re planning a trip to Brown County this month. After all, it doesn’t get much more “fall” than a visit to one of the brightest, boldest, leafiest places around!
Besides admiring Brown County’s famous fall foliage, there are plenty of other fun things to do too! With so many great options, it’s hard to choose what to put on your agenda…so we’ve decided to help you out a bit! Here’s a fall to-do list that we’re sure you will love!
Spend some time in the Brown County State Park
It’s the largest state park in Indiana, which means plenty of leaves to see! Whether it’s on a trail, inside of a lookout tower, or at a vista, you’ll be able to admire fall’s bold colors in all their glory at the Brown County State Park! While it’s going to be stunning no matter where you’re at, we suggest climbing the fire tower for top-notch views of the forest. The 90-foot tower is sure to give you an adrenaline rush and some spectacular sights of fall. Wanting something a little more laid-back? Watch the sunset at Hesitation Point! The park’s most beloved vista, Hesitation Point offers a sprawling panorama that you have to see to believe! Take some snacks, a picnic dinner, or even your favorite beverage and watch as the sun sets on another beautiful fall day in Brown County!
Get off-the-beaten path with the Back Roads of Brown County Studio Tour
Take the scenic route around Brown County and revel in the fall beauty. Explore the less traveled parts of the area and enjoy some art too on the Back Roads Studio Tour. This free, self-guided driving tour will take you through the hills and hollers to more than a dozen local artists’ home studios and will feature the work of nearly 30 artists. Meet the artists, watch them work, and explore the spaces that inspire them. Driving along the back roads will provide some magical fall scenery too!
Go on an outdoor adventure
What better way to admire the leaves than getting outside in the middle of them! Home to a state park, state forest, and a national forest, Brown County is perfect for enjoying the great outdoors! Be surrounded by fall’s finest colors as you hike or mountain bike along a trail. Zip line through the trees or hear the leaves crunch underfoot as you go on a horseback ride. You can even admire the foliage from the water on a fall colors kayak excursion or backwater boat tour! There are plenty of other outdoor activities to choose from too. Enjoy Mother Nature’s dazzling fall season by going on a Brown County adventure!
Check out a local farmers market, pumpkin patch, or roadside farm stand
Explore Brown County’s fall bounty and take some home with you! Find the perfect pumpkin for decorating or carving at our local pumpkin patch or other patches located nearby. You’ll also love the fresh fall veggies, gourds, and more found at the many roadside farm stands throughout the county! Looking for a full-blown market? Head to the Brown County Inn every Sunday from 12 – 2 p.m. for the Nashville Farmers Market. From seasonal produce and fall décor to homemade baked goods and local artisan crafts, the farmers market makes for a fun fall afternoon!
Discover Gnaw Bone…it’s “Gnawesome!”
While it may have a funny and weird name, Gnaw Bone is actually a pretty cool place…we’d even go as far as saying it’s “Gnawesome!” Sitting less than five miles to the east of Nashville on State Road 46 is tiny little Gnaw Bone. For being so small, Gnaw Bone has big things going on! This up-and-coming community has plenty of fun things to check out. Find some fascinating keepsakes at the Brown County Antique Mall, tour and sample at Brown County Winery and Bear Wallow Distillery, or enjoy some delicious coffee and even better breads, desserts, and more at the Gnawbone Coffee. Now you definitely want to go!
Venture around the Village via train or carriage
Fall is the perfect time to explore the downtown Village! Take in the bustling streets, the crisp fall air, and the history of Nashville as you ride around town. Yep, we said ride…not walk. Take a load off! Catch the Nashville Express and do the train tour! Relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of fall on the open-air trolley. Not only will you learn a lot, but you’ll get a nice half hour break from walking too. Another unique way to see Nashville is a horse-drawn carriage ride! Choose from the Half Village, Full Village, or the Country View Tour…this is one adventure that’s exciting and fun, but still laid-back enough that everyone will enjoy!
Savor Brown County’s fall flavors
Pumpkin, persimmon, apple, cinnamon…all the flavors of fall! From baked goods and beer to sweet treats and tasty drinks, you can find all your favorite fall fare in Brown County! Pumpkin bread, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin spice lattes, and more…we’re seeing orange around here. Be sure to try a Put A Fork In It Pumpkin Ale or a Hot Carmel Pumpkin Ice Cream Sundae! If it’s apple you’re after, we’ve got that too! Look for caramel apples, apple cider, warm apple dumplings, caramel apple sundaes, and of course, Brown County’s famous fried biscuits and apple butter. That’s not all, you’ll find persimmon pudding, seasonal flavored fudge and candies, even a Campfire Serenade cocktail!
Drive through a covered bridge
We’ve got two of them in the county! You’ll pass through the oldest covered bridge in Indiana and one of only four double tunnel bridges in the country as you enter the North Gate of the Brown County State Park. Pretty cool…we can’t think of a better way to start a scenic fall drive through the park! Our other covered bridge is the Bean Blossom Covered Bridge. Located just south of where State Road 135 and State Road 45 intersect on Covered Bridge Road, this bridge is the subject of more covered bridge photographs and paintings than any other in Indiana. Better go see for yourself!
Experience the local night life
The fall fun doesn’t have to stop when the sun sets…check out Brown County’s local night life! We know we don’t have the glitz and glam or late-night hours like other places, but you’ll always be able to find some live music around here! While the majority of our live entertainment happens on Friday and Saturday nights, someone is performing somewhere in Brown County every night of the week! Good places to check out the live music scene are at our bars, restaurants, and wineries. You can also catch a live show at the Brown County Music Center or the Brown County Playhouse! Your night out is sure to be a hit!
Step back in time…visit the Pioneer Village
Trek around the Pioneer Village and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another century! Located on Old School Lane, just east of the Courthouse, is a neat little pocket of fun waiting to be discovered. Great for families and anyone who likes old-timey things, the Pioneer Village is home to a two-story 1879 log jail, a two-story dog-trot log building, an authentically-restored log cabin with pioneer period exhibits, a working blacksmith shop circa 1850, and an 1898 doctor’s office! Bet you didn’t even know this Brown County gem existed!