Imagine this: you’ve been driving for a long time. It’s been, what, eight hours? Ten? Longer? Ugh. No matter how long it’s been, you’re tired and you need some rest. And then, you see it: a shining beacon on the horizon. A beacon that says “you’re home,” or maybe “if you lived here, you’d be home now.” Is it what you think it is? Yep: it’s the WELCOME TO INDIANA sign (it doesn’t matter which one), and it’s one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever see, especially after a long, exhausting cross-country journey.
Just what does the “Welcome to Indiana” sign mean to us? Well, lots of things.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr For one, it means you’re entering a place of surreal beauty marked by many different awe-inspiring landscapes. Everything from plains and prairies to woodlands, forests, and even swamps are represented in the beautiful Hoosier State.
It means coming into contact with golden sunsets casting a stunning orange light over all of those places, and then some.
Trevor Klatko/Flickr There are even some truly breathtaking sand dunes in Indiana you absolutely need to see before you die.
It means you’re entering a world where everything around you is lush and green in the warm seasons, a winter wonderland in the cold season, and ablaze with color every autumn.
cubby_t_bear/Flickr It’s hard to find a place in Indiana that isn’t outrageously green and like something out of a science fiction novel instead of sitting right here in the American Midwest.
It means you’re approaching places like you’ve never seen before - and won’t see outside of Indiana’s borders.
Norm Hoekstra/Flickr Some of the most amazing state parks in Indiana are truly otherworldly, like Shades State Park, Turkey Run State Park, McCormick’s Creek State Park, and so many others.
This sign means you’re making your entrance into one of the most beautiful, underrated states in the U.S.
Jim Hickcox/Flickr Way too many people dismiss Indiana as a “flyover” state, but we all know they’re simply wrong. Indiana is filled top to bottom, north to south, with incredible things to do, see, and experience. You can have all kinds of “days” in Indiana, from beach days to hiking days and camping days and shopping days and everything in between.
…and besides, there’s just something so very special about sunsets over some of the most beautiful lakes in Indiana.
Tom Gill/Flickr So, when you see that inviting sign, no matter where you are, you’ll know a few things for certain: 1. You are about to enter a place so beautiful it doesn’t feel real, 2. You are about to enter a place that’s unlike any other in the world, and 3. You are home.
What is it about living in Indiana that you’re hopelessly in love with? Tell us your thoughts – and your favorite things about living in the Hoosier State – as well as what the “Welcome to Indiana” sign means to you in the comments!
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
For one, it means you’re entering a place of surreal beauty marked by many different awe-inspiring landscapes. Everything from plains and prairies to woodlands, forests, and even swamps are represented in the beautiful Hoosier State.
Trevor Klatko/Flickr
There are even some truly breathtaking sand dunes in Indiana you absolutely need to see before you die.
cubby_t_bear/Flickr
It’s hard to find a place in Indiana that isn’t outrageously green and like something out of a science fiction novel instead of sitting right here in the American Midwest.
Norm Hoekstra/Flickr
Some of the most amazing state parks in Indiana are truly otherworldly, like Shades State Park, Turkey Run State Park, McCormick’s Creek State Park, and so many others.
Jim Hickcox/Flickr
Way too many people dismiss Indiana as a “flyover” state, but we all know they’re simply wrong. Indiana is filled top to bottom, north to south, with incredible things to do, see, and experience. You can have all kinds of “days” in Indiana, from beach days to hiking days and camping days and shopping days and everything in between.
Tom Gill/Flickr
So, when you see that inviting sign, no matter where you are, you’ll know a few things for certain: 1. You are about to enter a place so beautiful it doesn’t feel real, 2. You are about to enter a place that’s unlike any other in the world, and 3. You are home.
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