The Ultimate Trip To Ferdinand, Indiana: Parks, Art, & Antiques
Ferdinand, Indiana, is a small town of just over 2,000 people, full of history, charm, and beauty.
It sits in Dubois County in Southern Indiana, about 2.5 hours from Indianapolis and 1 hour from Evansville.
Nearby larger towns include Huntingburg (6,500+ people) and Jasper (12,600+ people).
Ferdinand is a perfect place to stop for a day, or to camp nearby and spend a few days to a week exploring not just what it has to offer, but what the surrounding areas have to offer as well.
4 Best Things to Do in Ferdinand, Indiana (Plus Worthwhile Stops Nearby)
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Take a stroll around Old Town Lake
I didn’t look at pictures of this short one-mile hiking loop before we arrived. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much, so I was blown away by how beautiful this little park is.
The lake is big on beauty for its small size. When we went, it was a beautiful, calm spring day, with fluffy white clouds in the sky reflecting on the still blue lake waters.
The lake does have a place to launch a kayak, as well as a fishing dock. There is a covered picnic area off the parking lot as well as restrooms. It appeared the restrooms aren’t open at all times (so if ya gotta go, you might want to find another place before you take this hike).
The hike is really more of a stroll on a mix of paved and gravel paths. There is no real elevation. You will wander in and out of wooded areas, across the lake on a boardwalk section, enjoy views of the local farmland, and if you are as lucky as we were, have a wildlife sighting (we saw a deer just off the trail)
And depending on which direction you take your walk, you will see a few of the brick buildings on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Benedict.
2. Tour Sisters Of St. Benedict Grounds And The Monastery Immaculate Conception Chapel
Jack and I are not Catholic, but we do enjoy church architecture of various Christian denominations.
They offer tours of the church and grounds, but visitors can visit the chapel outside tour times as long as they check in at the office first, to make sure you won’t be disrupting a service or event.
As we entered, we both let out a quiet gasp of awe. The sanctuary is stunning. We each took a seat in a pew and spent several minutes in silence, looking in all directions and soaking up the little details; there are thousands of little details.
No wonder this church is affectionately known as the castle on the hill! It was completed in 1924 and is best known for its 87-foot-high dome. The church is on the National Register of Historic Places.
After viewing the chapel, we did walk around the grounds a bit. We also visited the gift shop to pick up a magnet for our collection.
We didn’t stop by the craft brewery on the nunnery grounds, but you might want to while you are there. It is called St. Benedict Brew Works and is known for its German and Bavarian-style brews, which you can enjoy with pizza or soft pretzels and beer cheese.
If someone in your crew loves antiques, vintage items, and homemade goods, we suggest spending at least an hour at Ferdinand Antique Emporium.
This place has over 80 vendors and fills 18,000 square feet with one-of-a-kind treasures.
This is where I picked up the book Little Indiana: Small Town Destinations. Although it was written in 2016, I found plenty of places to check out during our future Indiana adventures. If you decide to buy it too, you should know that, sadly, many of the restaurant locations are no longer in business, but the museums and other places of interest listed are still open.
Jack got an antique tool to add to his workshop display.
We spent a few minutes talking to the worker at the checkout and learned a lot about the area and places we need to check out next time we travel through that part of Southern Indiana.
If you are a creative person who loves working with your hands and gets inspired by what others have made, Traditional Arts Today is a must-visit while in Ferdinand.
If you love filling your home with local art from your trips, this is the place to find it! They also offer classes.
Check their websitefor store hours and class times. You might be able to combine your time exploring Ferdinand with a class on creating stained-glass art or weaving potholders.
Places To Eat In Ferdinand:
We go into each town we visit with a food budget and, of course, a time limit -you can only fit in so much delicious local food before you are too stuffed to eat another bite.
That said, our articles don’t cover all the best places to eat in one town; they cover only the ones we ate at and liked.
A quick “places to eat in…” search will give you more options should you want to try out a different type of food or have more meals to assign to restaurants in the area than we did.
Main Street Bistro
Located in the Historic Wollemann Home, this is the place to go for a sandwich with a side of soup or salad.
This house was the first home in Ferdinand to have indoor plumbing and was built for Dr. Wollemann and his family. More information about the family and the home is on the restaurant walls.
Six Places Within 30 Minutes Of Ferdinand
1. Ferdinand State Forest -10 minute drive
We stayed in the small primitive campground within Ferdinand State Forest during our time in the area.
There is a modern campground as well, but it was still under construction while we were there.
The park has hiking and biking trails, plus a swimming beach and boat rentals.
One of only two active archabbies in the USA. Take a self-guided tour of the grounds and visit the bookshop. For times, check their website.
3. Holland, Indiana – 15-minute drive
See a replica Dutch windmill at the entrance to Holland Memorial Park. While you’re there, stroll along the trail that passes the primitive campground, lake, and various playgrounds.
Replace the calories you burned on the walk and more by going across the street to Windmill Chill for an ice cream treat. I tried the ice-cream nachos, and they were oh-so-good! Soft ice cream served with pieces of waffle cone (your nachos) and your choice of dipping sauce; I had caramel.
And before leaving town, drive down Main Street and check out the cow statues in Holland Commons and the mural across the street.
4. Lincoln Boyhood Home National Memorial – 18-minute drive
Visit the site where President Lincoln spent his boyhood years (age 7 to 21).
5. Lincoln State Park – 18-minute drive
Across the street from the Lincoln Boyhood Home National Memorial. Learn even more about Lincoln and the people who shaped his life. Also has a campground, hiking trails, a lake with a swimming area, and boat rentals.
6. Santa Claus, Indiana -12 minute Drive
In Santa Claus, Indiana, it is Christmas all year long. Explore the shops, or if it’s summer, cool off at Holiday World, Splashing Safari.
Plus, don’t forget the beautiful Yellow Brick Ravine Nature Preserve, where you can hike to one of only a handful of natural stone arches in Indiana. Depending on when you visit, you might see a waterfall or two here, too. It is well worth the 30-minute drive from downtown Ferdinand.
Whether you are hunting for vintage treasures, local art, or incredible church architecture, Ferdinand is the ultimate launchpad for a classic Southern Indiana road trip.
So, what are you waiting for? Map out your route, pack your bags, and get ready to fall in love with this tiny town and its castle on the hill.
Oh! And if you are a Harvest Host member, like we are, there are not one but two Harvest Host farm locations near Ferdinand that offer up to 3 nights each with hookups.
