What do you like/love about Indiana

[Ravekid]

I have lived in Indiana my whole life. I spent basically 30 years on the east side of Indy/west side of Hancock Co. I lived one summer in Bloomington and one year in downtown Broad Ripple. I have to say that Indiana is an OK state. The cost of living is nice, and the Indy metro area is big enough, though very spread out.

After visiting the mountain west, I really like that area of the country better, but Indiana is the next best thing. I can go to Brown Co., S. Indiana river country, and the Parke County area (Turkey Run SP) and I get that feeling I had when I was traveling out west. The problem is those places seem so far away when you live on the east side of Indy area.

I think the festivals around the state are nice. This year I have taken off all the weekends in Oct. and plan on going to Metamora, Parke Co. covered bridge festival, and maybe, finally, hit up Feast of the Hunter's Moon and Wolf Park up in Lafayette. Of course this is the time of year that picking pumpkins and the apple orchard type places are in full swing.

I also want to hit up the Children's Museum to see that Egyptian exhibit and would like to go and check out the exotic feline rescue center.

I think there is plenty to do, though if you live in Indy, you will need to drive a while. I also like where Indiana is located in the country. The fact we have so many interstates here makes it really nice if you like to travel. You can pretty much be anywhere in the lower 48 with two days of driving. So even if you miss the mountains or beach, you can have that within days if you need a fix.

[bluidmc]

I love the hills (I don't think many of you have visited Southern INdiana if you didn't know we have lots of hills.) It's hard to beat the pretty fall colors. The lakes are great! The whether is moderate, not too many extremes unless you are in the snow belt. The number of higher education institutions are vast. The number of parks are too many to count. I've found wonderful places to eat in each town I've visited and none of them are chains. The great fests, local flavor.
Not sure why so many people who don't like Indiana bother to come to this site. I don't like a number of states I've lived in and don't bother going to those sites, I love the saying, "If you don't like it leave." (or make it better).

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by jc76

Likes:
-Cheap living


Dislikes:
-Majority of the people
-The weather
-Humidity
-No good hiking. A 3 mile trail is not real hiking.
-No mountains
-No alcohol on Sunday...but cigarettes, guns and bullets are ok? Come on, get real.
-Tornados
-Bugs, proof that if there is a god he used Mosquitoes as a cruel prank to ruin the tiny little stretch of "Summer" we have. If not the bugs, the humidity. Lose lose situation.
-Lack of entertainment for the most part
-Conservatism
-The weather
-Lack of Ma & Pop food joints. Take over by Applebees and all those places has killed the independent vibe we once had years ago when I was a kid.
-Too many churches
-It's the 2nd "show me" state as people here don't believe anything no matter how much proof you have of something.
-The weather
-Employers here are allowed to do what they want, no workers rights at all.
-The politics
-The weather
-The drivers. Hey people, green means GO! Not sit and accelerate along side the snails. GO!!!!
-And last but not least, the weather.

I'm sure there's more. I tried optimism for the first 20 years, didn't work here in Indiana.
I'm in the South Bend area (North tip of Indiana) so I can not speak of other parts of IN, but I have noticed it's all really about the same.

I think the OP's topic is what you like/love about Indiana. If you're so miserable, why don't you quit your whining and move to CA?

[domergurl]

Yea, let's keep this to the likes please!

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Yea, let's keep this to the likes please!

I agree.

There is a separate thread for those who want to vent/complain:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/india...ke-living.html

[Southside Shrek]

Notre Dame football when they're rolling.

[jc76]

Cobalt, where in my post did I say I was miserable? Huh? Nowhere at all. Yes my dislikes will always outweigh the likes, but there are plenty of you proud Hoosiers to keep me in line

As far as likes...I can say I like that Indiana is a better place to live than many other states. As much as I dislike it here I can be brutally honest and admit that there are far worse places...but far better places as well.

I also like taking drives out in the country, that's fun

[bethnh09]

I love being close to the Ohio River down here in Southern Indiana. I grew up on the Ohio river in Kentucky and I just love having it close to me since I had to move to IN years ago. [: