Top 10 Must Grab Gifts in Indiana’s Cool North
Posted on November 26, 2022 by Dina Miller
Need to grab those gifts for the hard-to-shop-for individuals, or that unique gift for a special person? Northern Indiana is full of awesome shopping opportunities. From authentic, locally made treasures, to eclectic experiences you’ll only find in the Cool North. See our Top 10 list that includes foods, pottery, passes to the Dune's parks, and the unique finds at artisan markets.
Indiana's Cool North Museums – Discover a Rich Past and Lively Present
History has left its mark here, and our museums bring that past to life.
South Bend has a complex of museums, including The History Museum, displaying how the J.D. Oliver family made plows that greatly influenced agriculture in Indiana and throughout the world. Tour their Victorian mansion and a worker’s cottage both at the site. The Kidsfirst Children’s Museum gives youngsters a chance to find out what it was like to learn in a one-room schoolhouse. The stunning Studebaker National Museum is next door where you can see Conestoga a wagon as well as the carriage that took Abraham Lincoln to his fatal night at Ford’s Theatre.
Hall of Heroes SuperHero Museum in Elkhart has a collection of comic books and super hero figures from favorite TV and films. The RVMV Hall of Fame, also in Elkhart, shows eight decades of RV and Mobile Home models, including Charles Lindberg’s travel trailer. Learn more about the area’s Amish-Mennonite story at Menno Hof.
Historical Museums in Porter County and LaPorte County show more history of our area. Lake County’s “Grand Old Lady” Courthouse now houses the Lake County Historical Museum. Whiting is the home of the Mascot Hall of Fame, an interactive children’s museum. Hesston Steam Museum not only displays the history of railroads, but also offers train rides.
