- Indiana offers a rural sanctuary for couples seeking time away.red barn image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
Indiana has a well-known sporting tradition, including the Indianapolis 500, Hoosier basketball and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In the Hoosier State, enjoy the peaceful outdoors, interesting restaurants, culture, architecture and Lake Michigan. Look closer, though, to find some of the finest and most intimate getaways for couples. Romantic destinations abound in the quiet comfort of this Midwestern state. - Century-old wisteria still blooms on the grounds of the Inn at Irwin Gardens.wisteria creeper violet flowers image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
This 1864 mansion everything needed for a complete vacation without the need to leave the grounds. Choose a picnic in the gardens, with catering from one of Columbus’ best local restaurants or an evening around the firepit with s’mores. A spacious library with bookcases throughout the Inn offer reading from the private collections of the home's previous owners. Numerous small gardens connected by paths that wind around the two-acre property give visitors a taste of nature in an warm and intimate environment. From the expansive garden maze to lakeside cottages and secluded fountains, the entire property is an homage to the romance and beauty of Italy and its artistic tradition. Visitors in spring see pergolas covered in wisteria vines planted in 1911. The adjacent One Body One Soul Spa accommodates your pampering needs, including couple's massages. If you wander beyond the Inn, many attractions lure you into Columbus, including a tour of the city’s world-renowned architectural gems.
The Inn at Irwin Gardens
608 5th Street
Columbus, Indiana 47201
812-376-3663
irwingardens.com - Ornate stained glass decorates windows throughout the Solomon Mier Manor.stained glass circle 1 image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com
For an even more intimate getaway, choose the renovated 1899 Solomon Mier Manor in Ligonier, Indiana. The 4-room inn can accommodate up to 12 guests, who enjoy the Italian/Queen Anne Renaissance architecture and antique furniture appropriate to the house’s original era. Stained glass windows, carved woodwork and hand-painted ceilings add to the charm and romance of this quaint house. Enjoy the shaded porch or curl up with a good book in one of the many bay windows. Nearby attractions continue the theme of intimacy. Authentic Amish bakeries offer homemade pastries and breads, and antique stores dot the landscape in Ligionier. A number of building-side murals depict the history of the town and its settlers, and the annual Stone’s Trace Pioneer Festival features a pre-settlement trading village.
Solomon Mier Manor Bed and Breakfast
508 South Cavin Street
Ligonier, Indiana 46767
260-894-3668
smmanor.com - Guests of the New Harmony Inn walk among gardens, waterfalls and ponds in this tranquil destination.Waterfall image by Masaladosa from Fotolia.com
On the banks of the Wabash River, amidst the rolling hills of southwestern Indiana, sits the New Harmony Inn, a romantic lakefront property with winding paths that lead visitors among the decorative gardens and waterfalls of this peaceful getaway. Romance packages offer champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries in one of their 90 rooms, many featuring lake views and walk-out patios that afford guests magnificent views of the landscape. Peaceful repose is the hallmark of the New Harmony Inn, and every detail was created to make guests feel at ease and relaxed. Enjoy modern and classical food menus in one of the three dining rooms of the Red Geranium restaurant, located on the grounds of the inn and serving wines from the inn’s Fragrant Farms vineyard. Nearby attractions offer the same tranquility as the inn. One of the oldest walking labyrinths in North America, the Harmonist, was built in 1815. Just across the street is an architectural wonder, the Roofless Church, featuring ceremonial gates and gardens for meditation and peaceful wandering.
New Harmony Inn
504 North Street
P.O. Box 581
New Harmony, Indiana 47631
800-782-8605
newharmonyinn.com
The Inn at Irwin Gardens
Solomon Mier Manor
New Harmony Inn
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