Welcome to Richmond, Indiana!

Sydney and I are always up for a road trip. It is such a fun way to travel. Right now with COVID-19 we are finding that road tripping is a fairly safe way to travel. Obviously, consider the outbreak situation in the area you want to road trip to. Also, use a mask, wash your hands frequently, and practice social distancing to help make yourselves as safe as possible. Putting these things into practice, Sydney and I feel fairly safe road tripping.

This road trip took us to Richmond, IN. There were so many fun and safe activities that we found to do, along with some amazing places to eat.

We will start with all the things we did in the Richmond area, then jump to all the yummy food we ate and finish up with where we stayed.

Richmond, IN Activities

Richmond Rose Gardens

We were able to catch the end of the peak bloom season at the Richmond Rose Gardens. They will have another peak bloom in September. If you are into gardening and horticulture, then this is a definite must stop for you. The Richmond Rose Gardens is located at the 2300 block of E Main St., Richmond, IN.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Richmond Convention & Tourism Bureau. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are our own and not influenced by the developing company and/or its affiliates in any way.

Abbott’s Candies

We went on a private tour (great for those practicing social distancing) of Abbott’s Candies. During the tour you learn the history of Abbott’s Candies, get to watch a candy making demonstration and, of course, try some wonderful deliciousness. It was so much fun (since we are foodies, this was right up our alley)! Children and adults alike will enjoy spending some time here.

Abbott’s Candies is located at 48 E Walnut St, Hagerstown, IN. They were established in 1890 and currently have 23 employees. Their busiest times of the year are Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day. Their famous handmade caramels are what they are the most notorious for. They make around 26,000 pounds of these caramels each year!

Thistlethwaite Falls

If nature is your thing then you will most definitely want to visit Thistlethwaite Falls on Waterfall Rd, Richmond, IN. It is so beautiful and peaceful here. We could have sat for hours and just soaked in the beauty of this spot.

This is a great place to let your kiddos blow off some energy. They can skip around, play in the shallow water, and maybe even find some living creatures on their exploration!

Cope Environmental Center

Cope Environmental Center was such a great place to visit and we learned so much. They promote the sustainable use of the earth’s resources through education, demonstration, and research. There are so many hands-on activities and kid-friendly things to do here.

The employees have indoor friends they will introduce you to and show you a demonstration on composting. Love the outdoors? You can go on a wetland adventure or do some hiking. There are so many different programs and tours offered at Cope Environmental Center. You can find them at 1730 Airport Rd, Centerville, IN. This is a great social distancing place that the whole family will enjoy. You can contact them about a private tour.

Richmond Art Museum

The Richmond Art Museum at 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond, IN is another fun place to visit. They have some amazing exhibits to view. The Richmond Art Museum offers year-round art instruction, programs, events, and exhibitions. They are and always have been admission free! Don’t forget your masks!

Cardinal Greenway

We cannot begin to tell you how much we loved bike riding on the Cardinal Greenway. This 62-mile-long paved trail system runs from Richmond, IN to Marion, IN. This trail is absolutely gorgeous and the perfect family fun activity which supplies all the social distancing you could want.

No bike…no problem! Do what we did. The Cycling and Fitness Warehouse offers FREE bike rentals and is located right across from the Cardinal Greenway at 213 N 3rd St, Richmond, IN. It doesn’t get any better than this!

Levi & Catharine Coffin State Historic Site

If history and culture is your thing, then you will want to be sure and make time for Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site. The Levi and Catharine Coffin House is an eight room home located at 201 U.S. 27 North, Fountain City, IN. It was a haven for hundreds of people as they fled slavery and made their way to Canada.

Levi and Catharine were Quaker abolitionists who helped over 1,000 freedom seekers to reach safety! They were considered the “Grand Central Station” of the Underground Railroad. You can tour their actual home and the Interpretive Center. The Interpretive Center was recently named by Smithsonian.com as a top new museum to visit. The Coffin’s story is one of love and bravery for and on behalf of the freedom seekers. (Masks are required to enter the buildings.)

Antique & Boutique Shopping

There is so much antiquing to be found in the Richmond area, along with some really cute boutique shopping. We loved the small town vibe of all the surrounding downtown areas!

These were all of the activities we were able to fit in during our short stay in Richmond, IN. Some of the places we didn’t have time for were the Hayes Arboretum, Highland Lake Golf Course, the Sculpture Garden, Middlefork Reservoir, disc golf (2 challenging courses), and pickleball at Clear Creak Park. You can learn more at visitrichmond.org or give Nancy Sartain at the Richmond Convention & Tourism Bureau a call at 765-935-8687. Nancy can help you with any questions you have or put together a personalized itinerary for you and your family. She did an amazing job putting ours together!

Richmond, IN Restaurants

We obviously worked up quite an appetite with our busy and fun schedule of activities. We will share with you below where and what we ate (no judgement on how much, remember we worked up big appetites several times).

Legend’s Southside Tavern

We enjoyed a yummy lunch at Legend’s Southside Tavern at 401 S 5th St, Richmond, IN. We started with their famous fried green beans that were served with homemade curry ranch and homemade ranch dipping sauces. I had the What the Cluck Chicken Sandwich with homemade kettle chips. Sydney ordered the Legend’s Burger with french fries. Everything was so delicious. This tavern has such a fun atmosphere and some great history to it. A must eat here for sure kind of place!

Galo’s Italian Grill

Galo’s Italian Grill was absolutely amazing. We started with the Tuscan Sunset Mimosa and their delicious bread. For dinner, we had the Chicken Parmesan and Spaghetti & Meatballs. Wow! Everything was way beyond amazing! Such a beautiful restaurant and great dining experience. We would absolutely come back here!

AJ’s Diner

We had breakfast one morning at AJ’s Diner. Such a cute little place! The pancakes were delicious and huge. Such a yummy start to our busy day. You can find AJ’s Diner at 1600 E Main St, Richmond, IN.

King’s Cafe

If you need a great breakfast, lunch, or dessert place may we recommend King’s Cafe in Cambridge City, IN. Whether your love is carrot cake, cinnamon rolls, or chicken salad…you will find the most delicious choices here. Their shop is so cute on the inside! A great place to meet up with friends and family.

Lumpy’s Cafe

Lumpy’s Cafe at 20 S. Foote St, Cambridge City, IN, is a busy and happening cafe. As the orders kept being delivered to other customers it was easy to see why. The food all looked so wonderful. Check out the size of this Tenderloin Sandwich! Way more than plenty for Sydney and I to share! It was unreal!

Their top three sellers are their tenderloin sandwich (easy to see why again), their club, and their famous biscuits and gravy. Breakfast is served all day for you breakfast lovers out there.

Ullery’s Ice Cream

What kind of a road trip would it be without some ice cream? Ullery’s Ice Cream in Richmond, IN is amazing! They opened a storefront in the historic Depot District of Richmond in 2013 after almost 10 years of selling their ice cream from concession trucks.

Their best selling ice cream is their cookies and cream. Their best selling seasonal ice cream is their raspberry cheesecake. We ordered the Affogato (this is a MUST if you are a coffee lover) and orange sherbet in their homemade waffle cone (Sydney said this is the best orange sherbet she has ever had). These were so yummy!

You can get some of this yumminess for yourself at Ullery’s which is located at 168 Ft. Wayne Ave, Richmond, IN. This cute ice cream shop is a must for a yummy summertime treat!

The Cordial Cork Wine Bar & Restaurant

The Cordial Cork Wine Bar & Restaurant located at 911 N “E” St, Richmond, IN is such a neat place! The atmosphere, drinks, and food are all so awesome! We started with their wine slushies and notorious Breakin’ Bread appetizer. The Taco Trio (*only served on Taco Tuesdays) and Bavarian Pretzels with Beer Cheese followed next.

In all seriousness, we said the next time we come we are making a meal of the wine slushies and the Breakin’ Bread. They were that good!! Such delicious food!

5 Arch Brewery & Restaurant

5 Arch Brewery & Restaurant has the neatest architecture. There is so much history in this beautiful building. Along with the most amazing craft beers, Cotton Candy Wine (Urban Vine), and delicious food…they are all set to meet your need for food and fun!

Sydney and I had two of their amazing salads: the Cherry Apple Salad and the Quinoa Salad. They were way beyond delicious! So many goodies happening in these two salads.

The vibe here is so much fun! If you are ever in the area you will want to stop here for a visit. 5 Arch Brewery & Restaurant is located at 129 E Main St., Centerville, IN. You will have to stop in and see why they are called 5 Arch. 🙂

Bismark Donuts

Now, if you thought we went on a road trip and didn’t stop at a donut shop, you would be so very wrong! We cannot travel and miss out on a local donut shop…not us, no way!

We are so excited to share with you that we found Bismarck Donuts at 1241 N.W. 5th St, Richmond, IN. This donut shop is worth a visit to Richmond, IN just for donuts (we have been told that we might be a little donut crazy). They are truly that scrumptious!

Their best sellers are their Apple Fritters and their Pinecones. They make between 50-55 different types of donuts. Bismark Donuts are open 7 days a week from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm. They were established in May 2019. We couldn’t get over how much deliciousness they have accomplished in just over a year. Their iced cookies and donuts are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat!

Richmond, IN Places to Stay

We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Richmond, IN. They are located at 455 Commerce Road, Richmond, IN. They, like many other hotels, are taking measures to insure safety during this time of COVID-19. For breakfast, instead of their normal dining room breakfast, you receive a breakfast box. This helps with social distancing from the other guests. They also have appointment only gym times. After you are finished with the gym, it is cleaned and sanitized and ready for the next guest’s appointment. We thought this was a wonderful idea! Currently their swimming pool is closed to provide extra safety.

During this time of social distancing you may prefer to stay at a campground. The Richmond area is home to several campgrounds that you may want to check out.

We can’t thank Nancy Sartain with the Richmond Convention & Tourism Bureau enough for all her help in putting together this fun outdoor adventure package. She is available to help you with any travel needs or questions you may have.

If you are looking to get away and still be safe, we highly recommend a road trip to Richmond, IN. We had such a great and yummy time while still feeling safe!

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