Bloomin' Quilts!

If anyone is traveling around the northern Indiana area, you may be interested in spending a day touring the Heritage Trail and experiencing their Quilt Gardens.  This annual event is a free, flexible, self-guided tour available from May 30 through October 1.  Not only was this trip voted a Reader's Choice by USA Today, it was also named one of the nation's "Most Scenic Drives" by the editors of LIFE.

The Heritage Walk is a clockwise loop around central Northern Indiana starting at the Elkhart County Visitor Center (219 Caravan Drive, Elkhart, IN at exit 92 off the I80/90 Indiana Toll Road).  When you get there, be sure to stop and pick up a FREE audio CD that tells you the history of the area along with personal stories and fun facts.  You can also pick up an Amish Country Travel Guide and map at the same time.  Communities include Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee, Shipshewana and Wakarusa.



There are 19 constantly changing quilt-inspired gardens consisting of more than 1,000,000 blossoms and 18 handpainted quilt-inspired murals and even a flower carpet.  This year they will be producing the first and only autumn season flower carpet made of mums encompassing 6,500 square feet.  The carpet can be viewed from September 19-29, 2012 along the RiverWalk in Downtown Elkhart's Arts & Entertainment District.

You don't have to rush through the area.  You can take several days to travel through the area.  There are 1,200 hotel rooms available.  The people at the Visitor Center will be more than happy to advise you about your visit.  While you are there, you can visit the free quilt exhibit in the Center.

Enjoy!  Make several trips to see how the quilts change appearance.