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View Comments | Filed under: Announcements, Indiana

Indiana Tourism welcomes today’s guest blogger, Stacy Quasebarth:

Stacy Quasebarth is a Hoosier native who currently resides in Whiteland, Indiana. Stacy blogs for Squirrel Chatter and Confessions of a Design Junkie, two personal blogs that narrate her adventures in life as well as her design inspirations. Stacy is a Marketing & Communications Manager for LMV Consulting as well as a freelance designer specializing in social media, branding, website and print design. Beyond work and blogging, Stacy dabbles in cooking and crafts and loves being a tourist in her own state – venturing out to do new things and visit new places.

This time of year it’s hard to convince yourself to move off the comforts of your warm and delightful couch and meander into the freezing temps and gray skies of winter. This is also the time of year that cabin fever starts to set in – with the antsy boredom always nagging in the back of your mind. Ready for blue skies, green grass and a warm breeze – Spring is so close yet still so far away.

To break out of those Winter Blues – why not pack your bags and hop into your toasty car for a quick weekend retreat and venture just a little south of Indianapolis on I-65? A warm and cheery bed and breakfast has just debuted in Columbus, Indiana and is the perfect excuse to plan a little cabin fever getaway. The Inn at Irwin Gardens is picturesque and quaint with it’s old time charm, yet comfy and accommodating with modern amenities like free wireless internet and flat screen televisions.

The Inn at Irwin is a historic property that includes several incredible gardens with five “outdoor rooms” and five water features for guests to meander and enjoy.  There’s a separate herb garden, an elevated tea house, impressive sculptures, and wisteria bushes that were planted in the early 1900’s.

What I love about a good bed and breakfast is the breakfast! The Inn at Irwin Gardens boasts a scrumptious breakfast menu that varies, of course, but may consist of eggs benedict, Belgian waffles (YUM!) with fresh fruit and cream, blintzes, or homemade bagels and quiche. Breakfast is served in the formal dining room with an ornately detailed ceiling from 8:00 to 9:30. And for all those not-so-early-risers – don’t worry – a continental buffet breakfast can be made available before 8:00 and until 10:00.

Complimentary fruit, snacks, juice, milk, coffee, and soft drinks are available throughout the day in the Butler’s pantry. Guests will also find freshly brewed coffee on the second floor for easy access in the early morning.



View Comments | Filed under: Columbus, Romantic Retreats, Rural & Small Towns, South Central, Unique Accommodations

Welcome to our second weekly Three On Thursday. Each week, we’ll give you a head-start on your weekend and show you three offers that you can take advantage of or events you can attend this weekend. Here are this week’s Three On Thursday:

Discounts:

• Buy One Get One Admission – Childrens Museum of Evansville (cMoe) – Evansville, IN (through 12/31/10)
• $2.00 Off Admission – Marengo Caves – Marengo, IN (through 12/31/10)

Event:

• National Maple Syrup Festival – Medora, IN (3/6 – 3/14) – See an Indiana Insider Post about the festival.

You can always find more discounts & packages and festivals & events on VisitIndiana.com and you can plan your next trip to or within Indiana using our interactive Trip Planner.

We also send out Discount and Event focused emails every month, so if you want to receive those in your email, click here to subscribe and sign up for the Big Idea (our trip ideas email), the Big Deal (our discounts email) or the Big To Do (our festival and events email).

View Comments | Filed under: Climbing, Deals & Discounts, Evansville, Family Activities, Festivals & Events, Indiana, Outdoor Adventures, Places To Go, Rural & Small Towns, South, South Central, Things To Do

The registration for the 2010 Indiana Senior Games is now open!  Dates for this event are June 17-20.  This action-packed four-day event will give senior athletes the chance to compete and qualify for the 2011 National Senior Games.  Anyone over the age of 50 as of December 31, 2010 is encouraged to participate in any of the 20 sports offered.  For more details including; registration materials, volunteer opportunities, contact information and a full list of sports visit IndianaSeniorGames.com.

Get a look “behind the scenes” of the 2009 Indiana Senior Games here.

View Comments | Filed under: Announcements, Central, Hamilton County, Indiana, Sports

If you know even just a little bit about Indiana, you know that basketball is a BIG DEAL here in the Hoosier state. Not only is the movie Hoosiers all about Indiana High School Basketball, but Indiana is also home to 9 of the 11 largest high school gymnasiums in the country (Wikipedia)! Although Indiana is known for high school basketball, Larry Bird and the Pacers, we’re also Big Ten fans.

The 2010 NCAA Men’s Final Four will be in Indianapolis this year, but before that, Indy will also host the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Women’s tournament runs from March 4-7 at Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever (WNBA). The Men’s tournament runs the following weekend, from March 11-14.

2010 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament – March 4-7

All-session tickets are available for $65. Single-session prices follow.

Session 1 (First Round; 3 games beginning at Noon) – Thurs., March 4 – ($12)
Session 2 (Quarterfinals; 2 games beginning at 11:30 a.m.) – Fri., March 5 – ($14)
Session 3 (Quarterfinals; 2 games beginning at 6 p.m.) – Fri., March 5 – ($14)
Session 4 (Semifinals; 2 games beginning at 5 p.m.) – Sat., March 6 – ($16)
Session 5 (Championship Game; beginning at 4:30 p.m.) – Sun., March 7 – ($16)

2010 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament – March 11-14

Sideline Balcony ($220) and Corner and End Zone Balcony ($165) all-session tickets available. Single-session prices follow.

Session 1 (First Round; 3 games beginning at 2:30 p.m.) – Thurs., March 11 – ($30-$40)
Session 2 (Quarterfinals; 2 games beginning at Noon) – Fri., March 12 – ($40-$55)
Session 3 (Quarterfinals; 2 games beginning at 6:30 p.m.) – Fri., March 12 – ($40-$55)
Session 4 (Semifinals; 2 games beginning at 1:40 p.m.) – Sat., March 13 – ($45-$60)
Session 5 (Championship Game; beginning at 3:30 p.m.) – Sun., March 14 – ($45-$60)

A special discounted rate of $50 for men’s tournament tickets is being offered for the first time for students of the 11 Big Ten Universities. Details on this special offer and distribution of tickets are available only through university ticket offices. The deadline to obtain student tickets is Friday, Feb. 26.

Check out the Indiana Sports Corporation website for more information about the events and how to order tickets.

If you’re in town for either of the Big Ten Tournaments over the next few weeks, there are officially designated bars/restaurants for each team in the Big Ten.

| Illinois – The Ram (140 S. Illinois; 317.955.9900)

| Indiana – Kilroy’s Bar & Grill (201 S. Meridian St.; 317.638.9464)

| Iowa – Claddagh Irish Pub (234 S. Meridian St.; 317.822.6274)

| Michigan – O’Reilly’s Irish Bar and Restaurant (36 S. Pennsylvania; 317.974.0674)

| Michigan State – Slippery Noodle (372 S. Meridian; 317.631.6974)

| Minnesota – Alcatraz Brewing Co. (49 W. Maryland St. @ Circle Centre Mall; 317.488.1230)

| Northwestern – Buffalo Wings & Rings (111 W. Maryland St.; 317.822.8400)

| Ohio State – Champps (49 W. Maryland St. @ Circle Centre Mall; 317.951.0033)

| Penn State – Harry & Izzy’s (153 S. Illinois; 317.635.9594)

| Purdue – Scotty’s Brewhouse (1 Virginia Ave.; 317.571.0808)

| Wisconsin – Buffalo Wild Wings (7 E. Washington; 317.951.9464)

View Comments | Filed under: Big City Activities, Casual Dining, Central, Family Activities, Festivals & Events, Food & Drink, Indiana, Indianapolis, Sports

Kick Cabin Fever - Think Spring

We’d like to thank everyone who entered the Kick Cabin Fever – Think Spring contest during February. With the help of some of our partners in the tourism industry in Indiana, we were able to give away three prize packages worth more than $4,000 each! Check out this post for details on the prizes.

Congratulations to our three winners:

Tina M. – Hope, Indiana

Michael G. – South Bend, Indiana

Laura J. – Springville, Indiana

View Comments | Filed under: Announcements, Indiana