The Briar Patch

There’s a rich diverse heritage in Northern Indiana, where deeply rooted arts and the earth allows you to share these nowhere-else-to-be found treasures with you.  Seven loops of the Art and Earth Trail sweep from Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes to areas known for sparkling inland lakes, past the Golden Dome of Notre Dame, and onto roads where horse-drawn Amish buggies seem to outnumber cars.

Discover a genuine getaway where you can shake the hand of the crafter who creates one-of-a kind works and talk to the farmer while you pick his blueberries.  Settle into historic bed and breakfasts and inns, taste foods authentic to the region, and sample our region’s rich bounty from apples to cheese to artisan breads at farmers markets, u-pick farms and festivals.  Northern Indiana is rich in history and you’ll discover trails that Native Americans first walked and the mansions of visionaries whose dreams led them to build entrepreneurial empires.  The past is lovingly preserved throughout the region.

The “Time to Unwind Loop” will definitely find the time to unwind and let the cares of the big city go on a visit to Marshall County, where artisans take the time to talk to visitors, the fruits of the land show up at farmers markets, a nursery where you can also visit farm animals and a Labor Day celebration of blueberries ranked as top in the Midwest.  They don’t forget their history here, and you can trace the pathways of the Potawatomi Tribe who once called his area home, as well as festival what will have you dancing to old-time music and sampling delicious food that showcase Northern Indiana’s best.  Add in a unique tour where huge barn quilts designs are displayed on barns and a country bed and breakfast to end your day.  The 2012-2013 “Time to Unwind Loop” entails:

• Earthworks
• Heartland Artists Gallery
• Marshall County Barn Quilt Trail
• Marshall County Blueberry Festival
• Moon Tree Community Studios
• Opie’s Deli – City Center
• Plymouth Farmers Market
• Scottish Bed & Breakfast
• The Briar Patch
• Yellow River Festival

So join us and plan to linger.  We have the welcome mat and hope you’ll return again and again.

Culver

A world of fun and relaxation away from the city bustle awaits visitors lucky enough to discover the treasures of Culver.  The small Marshall County community stretches along the glistening waters of Lake Maxinkuckee, and 1,800 are spring-fed lake, the second largest in Indiana.

Relaxed shopping in Culver’s downtown business district unveils incredible finds.  Many artists and writers call the community home and you’ll find some works in stores and even displayed in a local coffee shop.  There’s also an array of fine crafts, baskets, antiques, collectibles, two new shops, one offering higher end clothing and the other jewelry, purses, and home decor.  May 13 through September, a local farmers market each Saturday offers fresh-grown product, flowers, and crafts, and more.

The world-renowned Culver Academies, a private co-ed boarding school, connects with the town by path through the woods or is accessible by car.  The 1,500 acre campus with venerable Tudor-Gothic architecture is home the legendary Black Horse Troop, an elite horsemanship group of high school students who attend the academy.  The Troop has ridden in Presidential inaugural parades since 1913, including President Barack Obama’s parade in 2009.

Corndance Cafe in Culver

Culver is know for some of the best restaurants in Northern Indiana, with a wide range of cuisines and decors.  Does a vintage drive-in with carhops appeal to you? How about a swank cafe, a nautical themed restaurant serving crispy fried or a coffee cafe with wireless internet?  There’s a breakfast meeting place with local memorabilia adorning the walls.  After a day packed with activity, you’ll be ready to relax with your choice of places to wine and dine.

The varied choices of where to settle in for the night will suit your bill, where your here for a short stay or a longer one.  Bed and breakfasts, a resort, or an inn by the lake, Culver has the perfect place for you.

Whenever you decide to stay, blissful day of fun and relaxation await in this welcoming community.  It’s a well kept secret to many, but visitors who have come to love it call it special, charming, unique, and peaceful.  Away from the harsh city lights and noise, you can hear the sweet sound of birds singing and count the stars on the moonlit nights.  Make Culver your very own destination.

Rentown Country Store 1522 3rd Road Bremen Indiana

A breeze of fresh country air, welcoming Amish store owners and a fall festival filled with old-fashioned delights await visitors to a tiny spot in the road known as Rentown, three miles southeast of the community of Bremen.  It’s not actually a town, but had visitors from all over the world come to shop for a host of goods at Rentown County Stores, affectionately known as “The Cheese King of the Midwest.”

The cheeses are abundant, with over 80 varieties for sale.  Each year, store owners Dennis and Leah Hochstetler order a 1,000 pound block of mild cheddar cheese.  A ceremony marks the slicing of the cheese in 2.5 pound blocks.  “We sold out last year in a month,” Leah says.

But cheese isn’t the only thing you’ll find here.  The Hochstetlers sell deli meats and a wide variety of bulk foods, including homemade noodles, candies, and granola.  Local growers bring fresh produce to the store in season.  You’ll love the scrumptious baked goods – breads, cakes, pies, and 10 types of cookies.  They bake between 250 and 300 dozen a week during the busy summer months.

The whole thing started back in 1972, when Dennis’ dad, LeRoy Hochstetler, built the store.  In earlier years, LeRoy’s father and a neighbor used to get into their horse-drawn  buggy and teased that they were always rum renna, which means “gadding about” in Pennsylvania Dutch.  They laughed that locals were going to start calling the place “Rentown.”  So that’s why LeRoy named his store.

A visit reminds you of an old-time general store with brooms and other utensils for sale hanging on the walls.  The store’s Snack Den serves breakfast and lunch, and is known for its delicious biscuits and sausage gravy.  “We usually have groups lined up in to eat on Saturday,” Leah says.  “Often local diners will invite waiting customers to join them.  It’s just that friendly around here.”

This fall, Rentown will celebrate its second annual Old Fashion Days, October 5 and 6.  You can enjoy a steam tractor and engine show, train rides and antique swap meets, plus watch wood carving, threshing and horse plowing.  Homemade ice cream, open kettle soup, fried pies and a host of other food round out the festival, which will leave you with the relaxed feeling that you’ve truly spent a day in the country.

Moon Tree Community Studios

Moon Tree Community, is a ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, challenges people to experience mindfulness as they fearlessly explore the interconnectedness of art, nature, and the Spirit within.  The vision began in 1993, when Sister Mary Baird whom is a naturalist as well as an artist identified a poultry barn into a resource.  She decided to turn the space into a workshop and living area.

The environment became condusive to creativity, garden and prairies were planted, and art was formed.  For years, peace and nature grew in this area and this attracted more naturalists and artists.  In 2008, it was decided by the Moon Tree elders with support of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ to replace the failing poultry barn and recycle it, and new plans were draw up.

Today, the brand new Moon Tree studios hosted its grand opening open house on October 22.  The studio consists of three buildings: a two-story lodge for staff residence and work space, a gallery studio with a exhibit as well as workshop space, and shop studio for woodwork and metal arts.  The buildings are completely eco-friendly, using water and wind energy to power the facilities.  The studios are also close to be completing their L.E.E.D. certification, Leadership in Energy and Environment.

Moon Tree is currently offering fall and winter experiences, such as clay, spinning , wood working, as well as painting and drawing.  Please call 574-935-1712 to register or for more information on visiting the art exhibits.

The month of July is prime festival time in Marshall County!  So grab your favorite comfy walking shoes, sunglasses, and gear up for spectacular fun for you and your family!

July starts off with a BANG with the Bremen Firemens Festival, June 29 – July 3.  Hosted in Sunny Side Park, celebrate the 4th of July holiday weekend with a grand parade, Firemen’s waterball, tons of food, antique tractor pull, a carnival,  and signing off with fireworks display at dusk.

Culver Lake Fest

Speaking of fireworks, the Culver Lake Fest held annually the third weekend in July, launches their stunning fireworks off of Lake Maxinkuckee.  This festival is held by the lake in the center of Culver.  Providing entertainment, a car show, tons of games such a Corn Hole and Fishing tournaments, a parade, a two mile walk or five mile road race, arts & crafts, and of course loads of food.  While visiting Culver in the summer, you must visit the Original Root Beer stand for a homemade root beer float.

With all the talk about festivals, the summer would not be quite the same without the Marshall County 4H-Fair, July 10-16.  Located in Argos, at the county fairgrounds with exhibits, antique tractor parade, pig scramble, entertainment, with much more.  Don’t forget, the fair is full of livestock and animals to see and tasty treats to gobble up.

Held on the same day, July 23, Culver is the place to be.  The Lion’s Annual Corn Roast and the Culver Firemen’s Festival have lots to do.  Lions Corn Roast is legendary – with the best local sweet corn you’ve ever tasted! Burgers, soft ice cream, and cotton candy complete the evenings fare! Bring the kids and come by early to help shuck that HUGE pile of corn!  Culver Firemen’s Festival has music, vendors, food, and lots of fun under the summer sun.

So if you weren’t quite sure how to spend your weekends in July, its time to mark your calendars and gear up for all these great festivals!

"God and Country"

Looking for an afternoon activity to enjoy at your leisure?  Well we got just the trail for you, by car or motorcycle, try to the Marshall County Barn Quilt Trail.  This journey involves forty-two quilt block patterns that have been mounted on Marshall County’s barns, homes, and community buildings.

The trail began is 2009, becoming Indiana’s First Barn Quilt Trail which celebrates the history of agriculture, the time honor tradition of quilting, the community’s passion for art, community pride, and Hoosier hospitality.

The art of quilt making has come full circle since the first women settlers brought it from Europe to America’s shores.  Then quilts and quilting echoed the social and economic history of families and communities.

Stop by the Marshall County Visitors Center or call 800-626-5353 today to get your Barn Quilt brochure!  We look forward to seeing you!

June is right around the corner and the season of festivals is here!  Kicking off the summer  is the Yellow River Festival.  This festival commemorates the first thirty years of Marshall County history, from 1834-1864.  It takes you back in time, not only with storytelling, music, and dancing, but also crafts and food that reflect the period.

The festivities begin Friday June 3, with a number a talented performances all over the county, string band, historical ballads, Irish ballads, hammer dulcimer, and a harp.  All the these beautiful entertainers are sponsored by Encore Performing Arts.  June 4, is loaded with fun from 9am to 8pm.  Johnny Appleseed with being joining the Marshall County coward.  Don’t miss a minute at the 2011 Yellow River Festival, located by the LaPorte Street  Footbridge in Downtown Plymouth.

ZOOM ZOOM!  This is a big year for Indianapolis 500, its celebrating the 100th anniversary of 500 this weekend, but not the running of the race.   During World War I, 1917-1918, and World War II, 1942-1945, the race was discontinue due to the U.S. involvement in the wars.

As exciting as the Indy 500 maybe, you don’t need to take a drive to Indianapolis to enjoy racing this weekend or another weekend this summer.  There is race track in located right here in Marshall County, Plymouth Speedway.  This 3/8 asphalt track located on south of Plymouth, is a perfect way to spend a Friday night.  From late models to street stocks, there a many different races to enjoy.

This thrilling track, offers free parking, with a special motorcycle area and handicap accessible parking, concession stand, photo booth, camping area, pavilion rental, group rates, and so much more!  So for the feel and sound a race close to home, visit Plymouth Speedway this summer, you will not disappointed.

There is no better way to fully appreciate the wonders of nature than by biking the beautiful Marshall County countryside. There are four marked bike routes for your choosing; 16 miles, 31 miles, 41 miles, and 63 miles all beginning at Webster Elementary School in Plymouth.  Three of the bike routes will take you through the towns of Culver and Plymouth.  While enjoying the scenery you can stop and get a delicious bit to eat at the Original Root Beer Stand in Culver or Opie’s Deli in Plymouth. The routes also circle around Lake Maxinkuckee, Indiana’s second largest lake.

Not only is biking a great exercise and a way to become more familiar with your community, its a great way to be “Green.” Biking saves gas, saves money, and helps to save the environment.  You can help celebrate by participating in National Bike to Work Week, May 16-20, 2011 and National Bike Month is also this month.

Also, there is a  fun and exciting biking event taking place this weekend in Culver, called Tour de Max.  This annual bicycle tour through Marshall County allows you to chose from a 10 mile bike route, 30 miles bike route, or 63 mile bike route and all proceeds from the ride go back into the community as a whole.

Great Bike Routes of Marshall County

Ride on into the Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau for my Great Bikes Routes brochure today!

Who doesn’t like a scavenger hunt? Especially a giant scavenger hunt that takes you worldwide with 1, 370,689 items to find? There are millions of people around the world that participate in this game. The name of it: Geocaching. Similar to a scavenger hunt, this is a high tech treasure hunt that uses GPS devices to seek “geocaches”, containers hidden outdoors.  Once a geocache is found then you are able to share your findings online at geocaching.com. 

Geocaching is so unique because its enjoyed by all age groups. You are able to discover a new geocache everyday, no matter where you are in the world, and its loads of fun.  The main objective is to find the geocache, but many take it far more seriously and are on a quest in competition with fellow “Geocachers” to find as many as possible. 

Marshall County has many geocaches! Just set up a free account at geocaching.com, have a GPS device of some sort, enter your zip code, and listings of coordinates for geocaches will appear. If you don’t have a GPS, most smartphones have Geocaching applications you are able to purchase. Or just visit the Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau to borrow a GPS device for geocaching at no cost. Then you are on your way for a exciting game.

This adventure is a great pastime for the summer to get to know your county better and have fun with friends and family. Try it, you just might like it.

GPS used for Geocaching