Author: missyfraze

When we arrived in Indiana, my sister handed me a book. It was titled “100 Things to do in Indiana before you die” by Jamie Ward. This book started our adventures and given us many ideas on things to do when we have a free weekend. It’s filled with cultural, food and drive, music and entertainment, sports and recreation, main street and neighborhoods, and shopping ideas.

#27 Get Artsy at the Bob Ross Experience

Of course, on our first adventure from the book we checked out was the Bob Ross Experience. Did you know that Bob Ross lived in Alaska? He was stationed in Alaska while serving in the Military. His gold pan paintings can be found all over the state.

Stepping into the Bob Ross Experience is like stepping into a time machine. We immediately felt like we were inside a living room in the 1980s. The rotary phone was a perfect replica. So was the yellow and brown couch. It looked just like an all-American 80s living room. The experience is family-friendly and hands-on. You can get behind the screen and pretend to be Bob Ross. Sit on the couch and pick up the phone. Relive your nostalgic childhood of watching Bob Ross on PBS.

The Bob Ross Experience is located in Muncie, Indiana. It’s a short drive from where we live, making it an ideal day trip. Admission is reasonable gets you access to the The Oakhurst Experience, The Bob Ross Experience and the Center Building exhibitions.

Fresh produce is something we love and picking your own strawberries was on the agenda today. We drove a short distance to Cedar Creek Produce for a u-pick option. With the mild winter and early Spring, the picking started early this year and we were at the tail end of the picking.

We swept the entire field, finding small berries here and there, and left with a small (both size and volume) haul of fresh berries. What the berries lacked in size, they made up for in flavor! The berries were very sweet and delicious. It didn’t take long for the family to devour the entire quart.

Picking fresh produce is a fun, easy way to get outside with the kids. There are a number of small farms around Northeast Indiana, Southwest Michigan and Northwest Ohio that cater to families. Here is a small list of u-pick farms in the areas. This fall we will spend some time in the pumpkin patches and apple orchards. Lincoln Ridge Farms is top of our list for this fall. They have a fun fall festival that includes the yummiest pumpkin donuts!!!

1. Lincoln Ridge Farms (Convoy, OH)
2. Hilger Family Farm (Fort Wayne, IN)
3. Harvey’s Farm (Tekonsha, MI)
4. Spencer Farm (Noblesville, IN)

We did not envision living in the Midwest for our future, but we couldn’t be happier with our new home. We left behind a natural beauty that is unsurpassed. If Alaska isn’t on your bucket list of vacations, it should be. However, the Midwest has surprised us with its own beauty. The lakes, historical architecture, parks, preserves and endless roads to everywhere can keep you busy 365 days a year.

I was born in the Midwest but moved to Alaska when I was in high school. I spent my entire adulthood in Alaska until we decided to move closer to my family. My husband was born and raised in Alaska. It took some convincing for him to make the move. However, we realized the quality of life and opportunities we wanted for our kids were not available in Alaska. 

In May of 2023, we packed up our lives and traveled in our camper across the country. I’ll share more of that trip in another post. Here we are in front of the iconic Alaska Highway sign in Dawson Creek B.C.

We settled just outside of Fort Wayne, Indiana in Allen Country. This city has come a long way since I left in the early 90s. The investments that have been made in renewing the downtown area are remarkable. We can catch a Minor League baseball game at Parkview Field. We can kayak on the local rivers. We can walk around to window shop the boutique stores. We can also grab drinks at any number of local restaurants and bars. A newly passed DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area) now allows patrons to explore a wide area of downtown. Patrons can sip their favorite adult beverage while they explore.

We also love all the recreational opportunities for our kids. Both are competitive athletes, playing travel sports. We have found the opportunities for their development to be far greater (and more affordable) than we had in Alaska. It is also nice to have an outdoor baseball season that is warm and longer than 6 weeks! I have spent far too many baseball seasons layered up with hats, gloves, sweatshirts and down jackets. I am loving the sunshine and hot weather.

Our family loves adventure. We enjoy sharing all the unique and fun things we find to do in our region. Stay tuned for more adventures!