Indiana

Indiana has been called the 'Crossroads of America', a reference to the major roads cutting across the state. These highways and rail lines connect the major mid-Western cities of Chicago, Cleveland and St. Louis. Indiana itself, though, has never been considered a particularly thrilling destination for travelers. Much of Indiana's southern half is agricultural, with cornfields sprawling across hilly plains, while to the north gloomy, industrial towns like Gary hold little interest for visitors. Those who do visit the state usually head for two places: the capital city of Indianapolis and the beaches along Lake Michigan.

Indianapolis was chosen as the state capital because of its location in the center of the state, a compromise between Indiana's northern industry and southern agriculture. The fact that it was not built near a major waterway prevented it from becoming a major city in the 19th century. Today it is one of the largest landlocked cities in the world. For many years, it had nicknames like 'Nap-town' and 'India-no-place' because of its quiet atmosphere.

Indianapolis is known best for hosting the Indianapolis 500, the most famous car race in America. And over the last 20 years, new shopping centers, museums and sports arenas in the city have helped make it a more vibrant place. Its residents are unusually passionate about its basketball team, the Indiana Pacers. The other cities that attract visitors are two college towns: Bloomington, which is home to the Indiana University, and South Bend, where the famed University of Notre Dame is located.

The most popular destination in the lakeshore area is the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, which covers 20 miles of the Lake Michigan coastline. Beaches and dunes cover most of the area, and visitors can hike along trails and marvel at the wide variety of plant life. Also along the coast is the Indiana Dunes State Park, which has a similar landscape.