Indiana travelers choose from 29 Best Western hotels.

Notre Dame Football
South Bend, IN

Spring travelers are more than welcome to northern Indiana. Visitors to Fort Wayne may choose from numerous spring activities such as hiking, biking, or jogging along 66 miles of trails throughout the city, plus zoos, museums, and performing arts. Take the kids to Fort Wayne Children's Zoo for the 2012 season starting in April, and don’t miss the free Party for the Planet – the best way to celebrate Earth Day in Summit City. For a more scenic spring, visit Chesterton on the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for outdoor adventure in the Indiana Dunes State Park, or a day at the Westchester Township Historical Museum.

Your spring is looking good in the Summit City. For a chance to stretch your legs during your getaway to northern Indiana, head to Fort Wayne for the 66-mile Rivergreenway – a National Recreation Trail leading guests past the sights and riverfronts of Fort Wayne. For more outdoor adventure, head south of Fort Wayne to Ouabache State Park – just an hour northeast of Gas City along the Wabash River. Choose from fishing, hiking, and picnicking, plus games like basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Enjoy a lengthy walk down the six-mile Ouabache Trail, or gear up for a quick ride down the Ouabache State Park Paved Bicycle Trail.

Set in northwestern Indiana on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chesterton is a scenic city found along the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Although, known as the home of the popular Wizard of Oz Festival in the fall. But Chesterton is not short on spring activities thanks to the Indiana Dunes State Park. Just north of Chesterton, and northeast of Portage along I-94, this state park encompasses more than 2,000 acres of pristine shore land, open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

At the Indiana Dunes State Park, choose from challenges like hiking and biking, or a chance to relax with scenic picnics and lounging on the beach. Bike down the nearby Calumet Bike Trail, or enjoy a stroll along the 16.5 miles of hiking trails within the park. Explore the current exhibits of the Nature Center – including the small bird observatory for you bird watchers – or even bring the family dog.

If you’ve had enough outdoor adventure, check out the Westchester Township Historical Museum – a free exploration of the Indiana Dunes area, available from Wednesday through Sunday. Be sure to visit the historic Brown Mansion – a 16-room brick estate built in 1885, and a great example of Queen Anne style Victorian architecture. For more information, grab a book from the museum store. This staple of Chesterton history has only been open to the public since 2005, so be sure to add this to your spring itinerary during your travels through northern Indiana.

It’s heating up in southern Indiana. Many fascinating cities and state parks await your spring or summer visit to the Hoosier State. Check out Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, and the nearby Lapping Park – home to great golf and hiking trails. If you’re trying to stay out of the sun, be sure to visit Evansville for the Evansville Museum of Arts & Sciences, open Wednesday through Sunday and ideal for family vacations. Families are encouraged to flock to Dale and splash around Holiday World and Splashin' Safari, followed by a visit to the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Enjoy your getaway to southern Indiana.

Set in southeastern Indiana, Clarksville is a small, but fun town found along the banks of the Ohio River. For a real spring or summer treat, head to Lapping Park – a 332-acre mecca of outdoor activity featuring a golf course and volleyball courts. Pack a picnic for Lapping Park, settle in for a game of horseshoes, and look forward to hiking and bird watching along Silver Creek.

If you’re really looking to stretch out, head to the Falls of the Ohio State Park in southern Clarkville, right on the Ohio River and Kentucky border. Known for its exposed fossil beds from the Devonian period, this state park features the Interpretive Center at Falls of the Ohio for you fans of natural history, and the Woodland Loop Trail for the outdoorsy types. Don’t forget fishing in the Ohio River, along with family picnics, and a nearby Best Western hotel in Clarksville – just five miles north of the Falls of the Ohio State Park.

A quick two hours west of Clarksville is Evansville, another summer hotspot tucked away in southwestern Indiana. Ideal for those looking to mix in a little culture, this Indiana city is home to the Evansville Museum of Arts & Sciences. Open Wednesday through Sunday with a donation entrance, this museum features current art exhibits like “Exploring Elements: Stone/Wood/Bronze” through March, and “Beauty, Joy, and Wonder: The Sculpture of Ann Weber” starting in late April. Get in a little history on the area with the exhibition “Evansville: Evolution of a City” through May 13th, and treat the kids to the Koch Planetarium – complete with weekend show times and Free Fridays on June 1st, July 6th, and August 3rd.

Set in southern Indiana just north of the Lincoln State Park, Dale is a lively city ready to spice up your getaway. A must-see in Dale is the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial – open year-round from dawn till dusk, with visitor center hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visiting in the summer? Check out the Holiday World and Splashin' Safari, open for the 2012 season in May. Just one more thing to add to your southern Indiana itinerary.

Monument Circle
Indianapolis, IN

As the temperatures rise in Indiana, so does your desire to visit the Circle City. The Indianapolis metropolitan area is bursting with activity for your spring visit to the Hoosier State, so look forward to great museums, historic districts, and the Indianapolis Zoo. Don’t miss the heavily anticipated 2012 Indy 500 in late May at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway – where you can catch a performance by Lynyrd Skynyrd and maybe get an autograph or two. Then head to Anderson for historic neighborhoods and theaters, and discover the outdoor adventure of the nearby Mounds State Park. Enjoy your spring in Indianapolis.

There’s a good chance spring visitors to Indianapolis are in town for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 – happening throughout the month of May. Located in west Indianapolis at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 2012 Indy 500 lineup includes Opening Day on May 12th, Miller Lite Carb Day – headlined by Lynyrd Skynyrd – and of course, the 96th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at noon, May 27th. Don’t miss the full field autograph session before the race, or Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Join this century-old celebration in Circle City, and rest up at a Best Western hotel in Indianapolis.

After you visit the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, head to the Bankers Life Fieldhouse for a 2012 season basketball game with NBA’s Indiana Pacers. For more family activities, pay a visit to the Indianapolis Zoo – the largest zoo in Indiana – in the White River State Park. Don’t miss the famed Dolphin Adventure Pavilion – where you can check out daily dolphin shows at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – and grab lunch at the Café on the Commons.

For you history buffs, the Indianapolis suburb of Anderson should suffice. Find yourself strolling through the Anderson Downtown Historic District, or enjoy exploring the West Eighth Street Historic District – all found northeast of Indianapolis. Pay a visit to the historic Paramount Theatre Centre & Ballroom for the second annual Blue Revue in mid April, or sign up for Ballroom Dance Class – available every Tuesday night in the Hardacre Ballroom.

A true way to enjoy spring in central Indiana, Mounds State Park is not only a fascinating historic site, but also a hotspot for outdoor activity. Enjoy fishing and canoeing on the White River, choose from a number of hiking trails ranging from easy to rugged, or check out the Historic Bronnenberg House opening for the 2012 summer season in May. Traveling with children? Sign the little outdoorsmen in your family up for Spring Break Day Camp 2012 at Mounds State Park in early April. Open for children aged 7 through 11, the camp is four days of natural and cultural programs on Mounds State Park.