Spend a day - or two - with your family in Noble
- Grace Caswell
- Aug 14, 2024
- 4 min read
Whether you visit or take a staycation with the family, fun is close by in Noble County! You will find something for everyone. Let us help you plan your trip! We can help tailor your visit to include local business meetings, to rejuvenate with nature, play with your pooch, or make new memories.
Get started by defining who is visiting to filter the many attractions and recommendations we have to offer for your day - or two - in Noble!
Suggested itineraries:
Day One
1. Begin your first day in Noble in Historic Downtown Kendallville with meal at The Breakfast House. This local diner serves up the best home-cooked plates anywhere!
Local Tip: Have the kids split a meal because there will be plenty!
2. Start working off that hearty breakfast with a walk through one of Indiana's finest, contiguous historic building districts. Historic Downtown Kendallville was named a PreservINg Main Street Pilot Community in 2021 and has been undergoing major facade renovations made possible by a $2 million state grant. Be sure to explore Main Street to spot the recent improvements and to learn about some of Kendallville's notable residents through the years. This tour will appeal to anyone who enjoys learning about the local history, architecture, and shopping local!
3. Next, venture over to the Mid-America Windmill Museum to learn about the unique history of wind power and the local businesses that produced and used windmills in their operations. The Mid-America Windmill Museum is the only museum to have on display all eleven models of windmills that the Flint & Walling Company, located just off of Kendallville's Main Street, manufactured from 1870 to the mid-1950s. The “Original Star” was patented in the 1870’s. It was sold for 40 years and you can see one on display in the historic Klinger barn.
4. Top off your morning with a drive or stroll around Bixler Lake Park to take in the scenic views and wildlife. If you decide to extend your visit here, you can opt to rent kayaks at the campground and paddle the lake! Enjoy a variety of other outdoor recreation at the park, or the adjacent sports complex.
Local tip: Park at the Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex and walk the trails over to Bixler Lake and back.
5. When it's time for lunch, drive the historic Grand Army of the Republic Highway 6 west to Ligonier. This was once the longest highway in the country! Ligonier is home to one of Noble County's most family-friendly and unique destinations, Fashion Farm. There, you can explore Countryscapes and Gardens greenhouse and nursery, and the gift shop. Then take a seat in the Fashion Farm Restaurant to enjoy delicious, home-cooked cuisine. After lunch, park downtown and walk the main thoroughfare, Cavin Street, to take in dozens of unique public artworks in Noble County's City of Murals!
6. Head north on State Road 5 to the Annie Oakley Natural Perfumery, an essential oil-based perfume factory that sells its unique blends at more than 1,000 retail locations across the country! Try your hand at the mixing bar and take home your custom scent creation. Request a studio tour and explore the retail shop to find plenty of goodies to take home.
7. Spend what is left of the afternoon by heading south on US Highway 33, then east towards Albion. Set your GPS to find Black Pine Animal Sanctuary where you can see and learn about the many displaced, captive-raised exotic animals who found their "forever home" here. We recommend you make plans to join a guided tour of the wildlife sanctuary, one of a handful in the nation accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and a member of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance. The experience is sure to have a lasting impact on how you and your family view and interact with wildlife forever after. Black Pine is home to black bears, tigers, bobcats, primates, birds, and many more! You'll also find plenty of souvenirs for all ages here in the expansive Wolf Den Gift Shop.
From Black Pine, head east into historic downtown Albion, home of one of Indiana's most beautiful courthouses! This award-winning downtown district is home to several locally-owned eateries. We recommend dinner at El Mariachi Mexican Grill where the whole family will enjoy choosing from a vast menu of freshly prepared Mexican dishes and a full bar menu. Be sure to explore the square after dinner to see why Albion was voted as one of Indiana's Best Main Streets, ranked #8 on the list. If the kids still have some energy, the free splash pad and playgrounds at nearby Hidden Diamonds Park is a great place to end a summer evening.
Day 2
After a night at your choice of local accommodations, venture out for another day in Noble! We recommend getting rejuvenated with nature - at your own pace - at Chain O’ Lakes State Park. You'll find lots of options at the Chain - hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, camping, and more!
Enjoy 23 miles of trails that connect park assets and wind past multiple natural lakes, through ravines, and over open, rolling hills. You can choose trails ranging from easy to rugged. Rent a bicycle and stick to the main roads; visit the Nature Center; and check out the historic one-room Stanley Schoolhouse. You can also rent a canoe, kayak, or peddle boat (all rentals are located at Sand Lake) to explore the park's nine connected kettle lakes. Set a family goal and complete the 9 Lake Challenge if you want to fill a day on the water!
For more family-friendly ideas that match a variety of individual interests, check out our Explore A-Z page where you can filter Noble's local attractions and amenities and explore all the county has to offer!
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