Outsiders might not associate the Crossroads of America with scenic beauty, but get beyond Hoosiers’ Midwest modesty and Indianapolis residents will point you to some truly inspiring views in their home state.

You can drive from Fremont in far northeast Indiana to Mount Vernon in the state’s southwest in less than six hours, and there are ample day trips to be had in the spaces between. While not an exhaustive list of Indiana’s most treasured places, these sites offer varied experiences that are all breathtaking in their own right.

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Brown County’s fall colors from Bean Blossom Overlook

A day trip to scenic Brown County is a fall rite of passage for many Hoosiers. With acres of wooded hills, Indiana’s “Little Smokies” offer a unique rural refuge only an hour’s drive south of downtown Indianapolis.

From Nashville’s quaint shops and restaurants to Brown County State Park’s numerous trails and views from its 90-foot fire tower, there are relaxing options for all abilities and interests. A five-minute drive north of Nashville on State Highway 135 will take drivers to the Bean Blossom Overlook, one of the best vistas for fall foliage peeping in the county.

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Brown County offers year-round cultural and recreational activities, but peak visiting season comes between October and early November when leaves from the region’s American beech, sugar maple, black walnut, shagbark hickory and white ash turn vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red.

Things to do:

• Pull off at the Bean Blossom Overlook, 3.7 miles north of Nashville on State Highway 135, and soak in the views from the easily accessible roadside stop.
• Visit Brown County State Park for miles of hiking, horseback riding, or even an overnight stay at the park’s historic Abe Martin Lodge. Brown County State Park offers a variety of free and paid activities, which visitors can research on its website. The daily entrance fee is $7 for Hoosiers and $9 for nonresidents.
• Tour downtown Nashville’s eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and historical landmarks. From fine dining to ice cream, artisan shops and a pioneer museum, Nashville can offer a fun break and fuel for further outdoor exploration.

Indiana Dunes National Park’s expansive Lake Michigan vistas

With sand between your toes, Lake Michigan gently lapping at its southern shore, and abundant birdwatching, Indiana Dunes National Park brings Hoosiers beach vibes without the full-day drive to Florida or the Carolinas.

Dedicated as a national park in 2019, this 15-mile stretch of sandy beaches, rising dunes and wildlife-filled marshes is unlike anything else in Indiana. Today’s dunes, a 2 ½-hour drive north of Indianapolis, are the result of more than a century of struggle to preserve this ecologically diverse stretch of lakeshore from development and decline.

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Park explorers can learn about the dunes’ shifting sands, Great Lakes ecosystem and more through interpretative offerings, or just kick back and enjoy some sand and sun on a hot summer day.

Things to do:

• Take a hike. The park’s 1966 Hiking Challenge is inspired by its 19 hikes covering 66 miles of trail. Ranger-led hikes are held at 8 a.m. Saturdays from late April through August. Those who complete all 19 treks, with a ranger-led group or on their own, can earn a commemorative sticker.
• Plan a beach day. Most of the park’s beaches are open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., while West and Porter beaches close at 9 p.m. West Beach offers locker rooms, showers and lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend.
• Contemplate the cosmos. The park’s Kemil Beach is open 24 hours, allowing stargazers a chance to enjoy dark skies afforded by the park’s remote nature and nearby Beverly Shores’ designation as an International Dark Sky Community.

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Indiana Dunes charges a $25 entrance fee per vehicle. America the Beautiful pass holders can enter for free. Learn more about the park, fees and activities at www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm.

University of Notre Dame’s majestic campus

Few university campuses can claim to match the instantly recognizable grandeur of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. The golden dome of the Main Building towers over a campus filled with iconography of the Catholic faith, Hoosier history and college football tradition.

Campus explorers can find the Gothic-inspired Basilica of the Sacred Heart next to the Main Building, reflect at the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes, take in the famous mural of “Touchdown Jesus” on the Hesburgh Library and circle legendary Notre Dame Stadium on their own, or as part of one of the university’s guided tours.

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Things to do:

• Tour Notre Dame Stadium. Football junkies can schedule a paid tour, ranging from $10 per person to $300 for a private group of 10. The private tours and $20 North Tunnel Experience include a stop at the iconic “Play Like a Champion” sign.
• Shop at the bookstore. The Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, 1 Eck Center, is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Sure, it sells college essentials, but the wide variety of Fighting Irish memorabilia is the real draw for visitors. Pro tip: Notre Dame is a cashless campus, so be ready to break out your debit or credit card.
• Dine on campus. Exploration is hungry work, and Notre Dame has numerous options for visitors seeking a step up from the dining halls. Legends of Notre Dame and Rohr’s are both open to the public and take reservations. Legends pub is just south of Notre Dame Stadium, while the more upscale Rohr’s is located in Morris Inn.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, right before the Indy 500

You didn’t think we’d forget “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” did you?

You don’t have to be here on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend to enjoy Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A newly renovated museum, the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, and IndyCar Experience two-seat race car rides are among the diverse options to take in racing’s hallowed grounds.

But there’s nothing else in the world like the moments before the Indianapolis 500, as more than 300,000 fans gather for “(Back Home Again in) Indiana,” the national anthem and military flyover, and the unmistakable roar after “Gentlemen, start your engines!”

Race fans can enter the grounds and browse the IMS Museum’s gift shop for free outside of event days, or pay to attend any number of events on the track. Outside of the Indy 500, the annual IMS schedule stretches into October, with NASCAR’s Brickyard 400, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, and the Indy 8 Hour Intercontinental GT Challenge among the late summer and early fall offerings.

Things to do:

• Kiss the bricks: Recreate this Indy 500 tradition by kissing the bricks at the track’s finish line. The track’s “Kiss the Bricks Tour” runs $15 for adults with discounted rates for kids and seniors. Museum admission is required for all tours and costs $25 for adults.
• Take in a race: Visit indianapolismotorspeedway.com/season-schedule for a full schedule of upcoming events and plan a visit around a day of racing.
• Grab some gear: The official IMS shop is attached to the speedway’s museum, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, though hours vary in May. Race junkies need to be prepared for impulse buys, though, as everything in the store is an eye-catcher. The museum is at 4750 W. 16th St., in the track’s infield.

Eric Larsen is IndyStar’s executive editor. Reach him at ericlarsen@indystar.com