Experience Elkhart
Elkhart, Indiana
We recently visited Elkhart, Indiana, the proclaimed RV capital of the world! I must say, it wasn’t what we expected. Here’s the honest truth… it was much more scenic than we thought it would be, especially for such an industrial town, but maybe that’s because we came from Texas in August where everything was dry, hot, and crunchy. Also, while it’s known for RV production, there were surprisingly few RV amenities. Let’s break it down…
RV stuff:
Of course, the RV/MH hall of fame was first on our list. To us, it was on the expensive side at $20 per adult for admission, but we did appreciate that dogs are welcome and they’re a Harvest Hosts member. We came, we saw, and we took the obligatory photos, but we probably won’t go back again.
If you’re bringing your RV to Elkhart, beware that there seemed to be few campgrounds. The Elkhart Campground was clean, hospitable, and fit the bill for what we needed. They discount rates for Good Sam and Escapees members, so make sure to mention that if it applies to you. Otherwise, check out the local Harvest Host or Boondockers Welcome options, too. If you’re looking for an RV supply store, you might be about out of luck. We could find a few items, but not most. Amazon had to come to the rescue on several occasions.
It became more and more apparent that Elkhart is known for RV production much moreso than camping or tourism. It’s not a knock, it’s just what to expect.
Outdoor Activities:
We were pleasantly surprised with some options in this department and took advantage of several, given the gorgeous weather we had. Check these out:
Wellfield Botanic Gardens: What to expect: botanic gardens :) But also, no outside food and dogs can only enter if you purchase a membership for yourself and an annual dog registration. Hours can vary and they host a variety of events, so make sure to check out the website to get the whole scoop.
Several county parks: you can get hiking maps on their website, which we found quite useful. You can also search All Trails for path recommendations and details.
Linton’s Enchanted Gardens: this place came up in all my searches and honestly, it confused me. It’s Indiana’s largest home and garden center, but it also seems to be an attraction. There was everything from landscaping and display gardens to a décor and fashion shop, and a café. They also offer many activities including koi feeding, a train, pedal go carts, gemstone mining, a petting zoo, and a paddle swan boat. Maybe it’s entertaining if you have little ones, but we found it a bit kitschy. It’s free to enter, but each activity has a separate fee, which can surely add up.
We wanted to check out Island Park and the Riverwalk but we ran out of time. If you make it,
please drop us a comment and let us know how it was!
History and art:
We didn’t have enough time to indulge in these activities, but they looked unique and very interesting! If/when we come through again, I would definitely like to make these stops.
The Ruthmere Campus consists of two historic houses, the Ruthmere and the Beardsley. These are iconic house museums telling the history of Elkhart, with attention to art and architecture. While you can take photos outside, be aware that photography is generally not allowed inside except certain designated areas.
National New York Central Railroad Museum
Heritage Trail-a 21-mile scenic drive and audio tour about Amish life in the area. There are frequent stops for walking or biking trails, local produce stands, 17 quilt gardens, and a variety of arts/crafts/gifts. This is an excellent way to learn about this unique culture and to support the community.
If you’re looking for something unique, head to the Hall of Heroes, the world’s only comic and superhero museum.
If none of these tickle your fancy, and you just want a good, solid art museum, you’ll want to checkout the Midwest Museum of American Art. They showcase 19th-21st century American art and the operation is non-profit. The museum is closed on Mondays and holidays, and they offer non-time talks every Thursday from 12:20-1 PM.
The Food:
Unfortunately, we didn’t find some diamond in the rough in the restaurant department, but we did find a new favorite ice cream! The Vanilla Bean creamery was hands-down, some of the best ice cream we’ve ever had. I’m not joking when I say we went three times and still ordered some more to bring home. They have a few locations, but this is still a family-run, small-batch operation.
Overall, We found that Elkhart was not particularly a destination, but it was definitely worth a stop.
We hope this helps you plan your next stop in Elkhart, Indiana! Please comment below if you have more suggestions!