Monday, August 9, 2010

Brown County Indiana - Relaxing Retreat

My hubby had a mountain bike race this weekend in Nashville, IN at Brown County State Park, so we spent the weekend there. We enjoy visiting BC because you really feel like you're away from it all - without having to drive very far. It's like a tiny Gatlinburg (or so I hear). While I've always been more of a city girl at heart, I also love getting away to the country/nature to relax and recharge. The older I get, the more I appreciate the slower life.

One of the beautiful views inside the park...

Below are a few of our favorite places...

Fun place to stay - Hilltop Suites. We've stayed in the Tranquility Lodge and the Whippoorwill here. Nice, homey, cabin feel, great view, easy to get to, friendly staff, bonfire pit, private decks, gas and charcoal grills, close to downtown and the park. Highly recommended it. We've stayed in other places, but we like the feel of this place best.

Muddy Boots Restaurant. YUM! This place is an earthy, eclectic place with really awesome food downtown Nashville. I love the hummus and pita, the bean soup and the chicken artichoke wrap with chipotle mayo***. My hubby likes the grilled chicken focaccia, the bean soup and Norb's grilled cheese. They have the most divine looking desserts, although we haven't tried one yet - next trip! Another favorite restaurant (can you tell we like to eat), about 20 mins from town is the Story Inn in Story, Indiana. It's a must try if you are ever in that area. A truly unique place (with great food). The town of Story...well the inn and restaurant are the WHOLE CITY. There are rooms/cottages to stay in, event rooms/barns, a tavern, and, of course the restaurant (which is in an old general store). Many of the items on their menu are grown right in their garden on site...and the other ingredients are all from local vegetable, dairy and animal farmers.

Below is their definition of Story from their website. 1.A quaint village founded in 1851, nestled in the hills of southern Indiana, a place known for its weather-beaten barns, clapboard churches, covered bridges and splendid fall foliage.

2.A gourmet restaurant, a/k/a "Story Inn," formerly a turn-of-the-century general store, open year-round for breakfast, lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch, offering an exquisite selection of domestic and imported spirits, wines and beers (reservations required for dinner).

3.The Midwest’s premier country inn, offering comfortable and beautifully renovated historic rooms or cottages, many with hot tubs.

4.Any number of ideal venues for weddings, business meetings, banquets or other special events, including, inter alia, a restored century-old barn.

5.A place full of history, like the Story Still, a gathering place in the cellar of the Old General Store, aptly named for the area's prohibition-era bathtub gin.

There are so many other things to do in Nashville/Brown County...vineyards, music, theatre, shopping, art, horseback riding, swimming, camping, hiking, mountain bike riding...check it out and take a trip sometime.

***I love to make chipotle mayo at home. So easy: cut up 1-2 chipotles in adobo (depending on how spicy you like things) and combine them with 1-2 cups of mayo (I like to use reduced fat to be a little healthier). Lasts a long time in fridge. Is simple, but feels sort of fancy.

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