Discover Vigo: Nature, Culture and Active Holidays

Vigo combines expansive natural areas, water-based activities, cycling trails and culture to create a destination with a wide range of holiday ideas. You can choose a guided tour or explore Vigo County by car. When choosing your holiday apartment, it is therefore worth deciding on your preferred travel style first: active days on paths and trails, peaceful nature experiences by the water, or historical and artistic discoveries.

Nature, Trails and Special Landscapes

Ruble Park offers 11 miles of unspoiled hiking trails through grassland and forests. At Elliott Woods Nature Preserve, the focus is on nature experiences, peaceful hikes and seclusion. Prairie Creek Park also combines landscape and activity: it features a grove of old sugar maple trees as well as a long, moderately difficult continuous trail with numerous access points.

A seasonal highlight awaits you at the Sugar Camp in Prairie Creek Park. From late January to early March, maple trees are tapped there. This complements the hiking experiences with an insight into a regional tradition. The Wabashiki State Fish and Wildlife Area is also located along the Wabash River. The 800 acres of floodplain provide a habitat for native and migratory wildlife. East of Hunt Road and opposite the J.I. Case Wetland Wildlife Refuge, there is also a 23.5-acre undeveloped area that serves as a nesting area for wildlife.

Water and Outdoor Activities

The J.I. Case Wetland Wildlife Refuge offers fishing opportunities, particularly in spring. Its 50.3-acre lake attracts migratory birds in autumn and provides a seasonal focus for nature enthusiasts. At Dewey Point, which belongs to Bicentennial Park together with the Wabashiki Trail, kayaking is possible in spring from a kayak launch.

Fowler Park adds two lakes, a boat ramp and a swimming beach to the range of options. The park is located on Oregon Church Road, half a mile off U.S. 41. Visitors who are also interested in camping will find around 60 modern sites with electricity and approximately 15 basic campsites there.

Those who enjoy planning their holidays on two wheels will find more than 32 miles of trails at Griffin Bike Park. The organizers hold races and group rides there throughout the year. There is also a youth mountain biking team, children’s camps and outings for children. This allows you to vary your stay between longer days of cycling and other nature or cultural experiences.

History, Art and Local Insights

Pioneer Village brings history to life through specific buildings and facilities: the complex includes 20 log cabins, a log house, a gristmill and a covered bridge. In summer, public tours take place on the third Saturday of each month. At the Blacksmith Shop, an introductory blacksmithing course is offered on the fourth Saturday from April to October.

The Irishman’s Covered Bridge is also one of the notable structures. It is the last remaining covered bridge in Vigo County. Another unusual destination is the Kenneth E. Smith Memorial Labyrinth in Hawthorn Park. The circle has a diameter of 80 feet and is based on the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral.

For art enthusiasts, Terre Haute offers the Swope Art Museum. It displays nearly 2,500 works of American art from the 19th century to the present day. Another cultural perspective is provided by the permanent exhibition "Choices: The Holocaust Through Eva’s Story".

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Style

A holiday apartment in Vigo can be a good base if you want to combine different interests: hiking trails and nature preserves for active or peaceful days, water destinations for seasonal activities, cycling options for sporty outings, and museums or historic sites for cultural variety. As you continue planning, consider which of these focuses are particularly important to you and your fellow travelers. Those bringing together different age groups can vary their days between short discoveries, longer walks and cultural visits without dedicating the entire stay to a single activity.

For additional destinations in the region, you can also find out more about Greene County, Marion, Fayette, Parke, Shelby County, Scott and Monroe.

For the main travel overview: Indiana.