[ Destination Lafayette-West Lafayette ]
Highlight | Great Galleries
Sometimes the best art encounters we have while traveling are those that leave us with a piece of art to take home. In the twin cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette, groups will find a number of great galleries that offer locally made art products for sale.
Inspired Fire Glass Studio and Gallery is home to artists who create blown glass and other glass art. Groups can see a demonstration and then browse the on-site gallery for glass ornaments, sculptures and artwork in other media as well.
At Lala Gallery Studio, visitors will find art by numerous local and regional artists, as well as a clay studio and gift shop. The company also offers hands-on pottery workshops for groups.
While you’re there: Many groups visiting the Lafayette area stop at Clay Critters, a workshop where employees handcraft clay figures of wildlife, fruits and flowers and turn them into refrigerator magnets. Wolf Park, a fascinating sanctuary with packs of wolves, foxes, bison and coyotes, is another popular itinerary item.
[ Destination Amish Country ]
Highlight | Quilt Encounters
In the northern reaches of Indiana, the areas around Nappanee and Elkhart are known for their traditional Amish communities. And while the Amish practice plain clothing style, their heritage of quiltmaking showcases a distinctive artistic style.
The convention and visitors bureau in the area offers a quilting program exclusively for groups that features an Amish quilt historian. The historian displays numerous Amish quilts and explains the patterns found within and what they communicate. Groups of active quilters can also arrange to have quilting bees with local Amish residents.
Throughout the area, local businesses take up the theme of the Amish quilts by planting large “quilt gardens” that use colorful flowers to replicate the patterns found on the Amish quilts. Groups can tour the various gardens in the area when the flowers are in bloom.
While you’re there: Beyond Amish culture, northern Indiana is known for great shopping. The Old Bag Factory in Goshen is an artisan complex where numerous crafters, quilters and furnituremakers work and sell their wares. The town of Shipshewana also has numerous shopping options for groups.
