Indiana is home to a lot of unique small towns and cities. From the eclectic vibe of Nashville to the breathtaking sand dunes of Chesterton, all the way down to the gorgeous riverside cities of Evansville and Madison, we’re pretty spoiled with an abundance of amazing small towns here in Indiana. While bigger cities like Indianapolis, Bloomington, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Lafayette may be the most well-known to out-of-towners, there is one small city in Indiana that has been quietly becoming the coolest place in the Midwest. Let’s explore Columbus, Indiana!
Anthony/Flickr Columbus is a small city located in southern Indiana that has a whole lot to offer both Hoosiers and out-of-towners.
wplynn/Flickr Art and architecture lovers will especially appreciate the town’s artistic appeal. This small city is a mecca for architecture and even offers bus tours of the city’s finest buildings. Check out the famous North Christian Church, First Christian Church, unique fire stations, city hall, and much more for a mix of historical and modern architecture. This is a great activity for both tourists and residents!
management/TripAdvisor The city’s downtown area is extremely walkable and filled with public art. Check out the sculpture in front of the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library for a real treat. It’s stunning!
Jeff Hart/Flickr The city even has a free indoor playground in their Commons building that inspires creativity within children. It’s a play area unlike any other with climbing areas and unique shapes and structures. Please note: The Commons is temporarily closed; please refer to their website for updates and more information!
Chad M./Yelp A wonderful mix of modern and classic, Columbus has some charming, historic places you’ll definitely want to visit. You’ll find a very popular ice cream parlor and museum at Zaharako’s. This early 1900 themed eatery offers great historical memorabilia and some of the finest ice cream in the entire state.
management/TripAdvisor You’ll also find the fascinating Kidscommons Children’s Museum nestled within this tiny city. Here you’ll find educational exhibits, wall climbing, and even the world’s largest toilet (that happens to be a fun slide).
Matthew M./TripAdvisor Don’t worry - Columbus has plenty of gorgeous outdoor areas to explore too. This park houses incredible architectural structures such as a covered bridge, observation tower, and amphitheater.
Anthony/Flickr From inventive public art to incredible architecture to beloved restaurants and experiences, Columbus, Indiana is a small city with a laid-back community feel that offers some of the best glimpses of midwestern life.
Isn’t Columbus the coolest place in the midwest? It really has everything, and is a totally unique place to live and visit. In fact, the more you explore The Hoosier State, the more you’ll find that our small towns really are the coolest!
Anthony/Flickr
Columbus is a small city located in southern Indiana that has a whole lot to offer both Hoosiers and out-of-towners.
wplynn/Flickr
Art and architecture lovers will especially appreciate the town’s artistic appeal. This small city is a mecca for architecture and even offers bus tours of the city’s finest buildings. Check out the famous North Christian Church, First Christian Church, unique fire stations, city hall, and much more for a mix of historical and modern architecture. This is a great activity for both tourists and residents!
management/TripAdvisor
The city’s downtown area is extremely walkable and filled with public art. Check out the sculpture in front of the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library for a real treat. It’s stunning!
Jeff Hart/Flickr
The city even has a free indoor playground in their Commons building that inspires creativity within children. It’s a play area unlike any other with climbing areas and unique shapes and structures. Please note: The Commons is temporarily closed; please refer to their website for updates and more information!
Chad M./Yelp
A wonderful mix of modern and classic, Columbus has some charming, historic places you’ll definitely want to visit. You’ll find a very popular ice cream parlor and museum at Zaharako’s. This early 1900 themed eatery offers great historical memorabilia and some of the finest ice cream in the entire state.
You’ll also find the fascinating Kidscommons Children’s Museum nestled within this tiny city. Here you’ll find educational exhibits, wall climbing, and even the world’s largest toilet (that happens to be a fun slide).
Matthew M./TripAdvisor
Don’t worry - Columbus has plenty of gorgeous outdoor areas to explore too. This park houses incredible architectural structures such as a covered bridge, observation tower, and amphitheater.
From inventive public art to incredible architecture to beloved restaurants and experiences, Columbus, Indiana is a small city with a laid-back community feel that offers some of the best glimpses of midwestern life.
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Address: Columbus, IN, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Coolest Place In The Midwest May 23, 2021 Sarah What are some of Indiana’s tiniest towns? There are small towns, and then there are tiny towns, the latter of which is much smaller and approaching ghost town territory. Indiana has both, including some super teeny-tiny towns that you’ll miss if you blink! Westphalia, Spurgeon, Patriot, and Macy all have populations that hover right around 200, making them some of The Hoosier State’s tiniest towns. What are the best small towns in Indiana? Indiana truly has some of the best small towns in the midwest, places that allow residents to slow down and enjoy what’s most important in life. In our opinion, some of the best small towns in Indiana are places like Lowell, a safe and scenic little community located in the northern part of the state; Zionsville, a winsome little town with low crime rates and the most adorable downtown area; and Fishers, a small town that’s won many accolades for being one of the best places to live in Indiana. Where can I find the coolest small towns in Indiana? The small town of Columbus, Indiana, may indeed be the coolest place in the midwest, but it’s definitely not the only cool city in Indiana! You’ll find cool little towns located all across The Hoosier State, just waiting to be explored. If you’re a foodie, you’ll definitely want to start with Alexandria, Westville, Converse, and Knightstown; these towns have some of the coolest restaurants, diners, and hole-in-the-wall gems! Nashville, Indiana, is a small town that’s effortlessly charming and cool, with its downtown full of funky shops and restaurants like Trolley’s, a tiny BBQ joint that is out of this world. Nashville is also home to the Story Inn, a famous bed and breakfast that is rumored to be haunted. Pretty cool, right?
The OIYS Visitor Center
Coolest Place In The Midwest
May 23, 2021
Sarah
What are some of Indiana’s tiniest towns? There are small towns, and then there are tiny towns, the latter of which is much smaller and approaching ghost town territory. Indiana has both, including some super teeny-tiny towns that you’ll miss if you blink! Westphalia, Spurgeon, Patriot, and Macy all have populations that hover right around 200, making them some of The Hoosier State’s tiniest towns. What are the best small towns in Indiana? Indiana truly has some of the best small towns in the midwest, places that allow residents to slow down and enjoy what’s most important in life. In our opinion, some of the best small towns in Indiana are places like Lowell, a safe and scenic little community located in the northern part of the state; Zionsville, a winsome little town with low crime rates and the most adorable downtown area; and Fishers, a small town that’s won many accolades for being one of the best places to live in Indiana. Where can I find the coolest small towns in Indiana? The small town of Columbus, Indiana, may indeed be the coolest place in the midwest, but it’s definitely not the only cool city in Indiana! You’ll find cool little towns located all across The Hoosier State, just waiting to be explored. If you’re a foodie, you’ll definitely want to start with Alexandria, Westville, Converse, and Knightstown; these towns have some of the coolest restaurants, diners, and hole-in-the-wall gems! Nashville, Indiana, is a small town that’s effortlessly charming and cool, with its downtown full of funky shops and restaurants like Trolley’s, a tiny BBQ joint that is out of this world. Nashville is also home to the Story Inn, a famous bed and breakfast that is rumored to be haunted. Pretty cool, right?
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are small towns, and then there are tiny towns, the latter of which is much smaller and approaching ghost town territory. Indiana has both, including some super teeny-tiny towns that you’ll miss if you blink! Westphalia, Spurgeon, Patriot, and Macy all have populations that hover right around 200, making them some of The Hoosier State’s tiniest towns.
What are the best small towns in Indiana?
Indiana truly has some of the best small towns in the midwest, places that allow residents to slow down and enjoy what’s most important in life. In our opinion, some of the best small towns in Indiana are places like Lowell, a safe and scenic little community located in the northern part of the state; Zionsville, a winsome little town with low crime rates and the most adorable downtown area; and Fishers, a small town that’s won many accolades for being one of the best places to live in Indiana.
Where can I find the coolest small towns in Indiana?
The small town of Columbus, Indiana, may indeed be the coolest place in the midwest, but it’s definitely not the only cool city in Indiana! You’ll find cool little towns located all across The Hoosier State, just waiting to be explored. If you’re a foodie, you’ll definitely want to start with Alexandria, Westville, Converse, and Knightstown; these towns have some of the coolest restaurants, diners, and hole-in-the-wall gems! Nashville, Indiana, is a small town that’s effortlessly charming and cool, with its downtown full of funky shops and restaurants like Trolley’s, a tiny BBQ joint that is out of this world. Nashville is also home to the Story Inn, a famous bed and breakfast that is rumored to be haunted. Pretty cool, right?
