When your destination has so much to offer, how do you choose what to do first? In Southern Indiana (Floyd & Clark Counties) the visitor guide offers up a quiz to help you choose your own adventure. For me, it was the Time Traveler Adventure and believe me there was no shortage of things to do, including dipping in to some of the other adventures along the way.

(During my time in Sothern Indiana I was a guest of SoIN Tourism. All the opinions in this piece are my own.)

Walk around the grounds of the Howard Steamboat Museum and Mansion and you’ll find many items from steamboats including a paddlewheel and a jail cell.

Full steam ahead

Picture yourself in the 1800’s living in luxury along the Ohio River. The steamboat building industry and trade along the river have fueled a bustling economy and the construction of many grand mansions. A visit to Southern Indiana can transport you back in time to a gilded age in this part of the country.

Period furniture lines the walls below large windows inside a mansion — From the fireplace to the woodwork and windows, every square foot of the Howard Mansion was catered to the tastes of this ship building family.

When you see a steamboat rolling down the river, Tina Turner’s voice might pop into your head, or you might think of a calliope performance in NOLA. Steamboats once ruled the waterways including the Ohio River. Today, a Richardsonian Romanesque style brick mansion in Jeffersonville helps you learn the role the city played in the steamboat industry.

a model of the Big Sandy steamboat sitting in a glass case — This model of the Big Sandy Steamboat is one of many on the top two floors of the Howard Steamboat Museum.

The Howard family ran one of the world’s most prestigious ship building companies just yards away from the 22-room mansion now housing the Howard Steamboat Museum. Visit the first floor and marvel in the lifestyle enjoyed by the family then head up to the other floors and explore the history of the steamboat (and a few other rooms enjoyed by the Howards.)

An italianate Tuscan Villa home — The Victor Pepin House is an example of Italianate Tuscan Villa architecture. It’s one of several dozen stately homes in New Albany’s Historic Mansion Row.

Making your way along Mansion Row

At one time, New Albany was the largest city in Indiana. Vestiges of the city’s boom days line up along East Main and Market Streets in an area known as “Historic Mansion Row.” This collection of more than four dozen stately homes became the city’s first designated historic districts and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Second Empire style mansion painted a brownish yellow. Above it are pillowy white clouds — One member of the Culbertson family (Samuel) served several years as the president of the famed horse racing track on the other side of the Ohio River, Churchill Downs.

The crowning jewel along Mansion Row is the William S. Culbertson Mansion. Completed in 1869, this three-story French Second Empire style house has 25-rooms covering 20,000 square feet and a full basement. Culbertson made his fortune as the owner of a dry goods company and spared no expense in the construction of the home.

an ornate seat and table sits in a brightly lit room inside the Culbertson Mansion. On the table is a stereoscope viewer. — One of the rooms inside the Culbertson Mansion showcases a popular form of entertainment at the time, the stereoscope. You can even take a look through the viewer.

Today, you can tour the mansion, which is part of the Indiana State Museum system. Step inside the massive front doors and be ready to be astounded. The curved staircase and elaborately painted walls catch your attention quickly. Proceed through the rest of the home and marvel in the exquisite handiwork of the chandeliers, fireplaces and period furniture and learn more about the people who called this place home.

Triangle shaped pieces of french toast glazed with caramel and pecans — Dishes like caramel pecan French Toast at Leaven Bakery in New Albany provide fuel for a “journey” through Mansion Row.

Touring the Culbertson Mansion and walking through Mansion Row can make you hungry. Luckily the Leaven Bakery & Bistro is just a few blocks away. Grab some fresh bread and pastries from the case or sit down and order something scrumptious from the menu.

a large room filled with historic firefighting equipment — You can trace the history of firefighting through a large collection of items, including old firetrucks, at the Vintage Fire Museum in Jeffersonville.

Traveling back through firefighting history

Protecting mansions, homes and businesses from fire is a practice that’s evolved over time. On display in Jeffersonville is a collection of firefighting equipment you won’t find anywhere else. The Vintage Fire Museum contains equipment dating back as far as the mid 1700’s.

The man who started this collection helped develop a firefighting tool himself. Back in the days before 9-1-1, each town had unique phone numbers for fire calls so it wasn’t always easy to remember the number during an emergency. Fred Conway came up with the idea to make labels with those phone numbers to place on the phones. The idea caught on quickly and became the norm across the country. His story and hundreds of pieces of firefighting history are all on display in the museum.

fossils at the top of rocks near the Ohio River in Clarksville Indiana — Fossil hunting is easy at the Falls of the Ohio River State Park in Clarksville.

Millions of years of history all in one place

A handshake along the Ohio River in Clarksville launched a legendary partnership for exploration. Today, that bond between Merriweather Lewis and William Clark is immortalized in a statue outside of the Interpretive Center at Falls of the Ohio State Park. And while you can learn the history of the two explorers and the area’s settlement, the real history is in the exposed riverbed itself. Take a stroll and you’ll find thousands of fossils in the rocks dating back 390-million years.

Visitors to the Rose Island Resort near Charlestown came by boat. Today a short hike from a parking lot gets you to this unusual trip back into time.

The ruins of a lost resort

During the Roaring 20’s people flocked to a resort along the Ohio River near Charlestown. Rose Island had a dance hall, cabins, restaurants and many other amenities that kept the resort hopping until 1937. An historic flood submerged Rose Island leaving little behind. Decades later you can trace the history and some of the ruins of this place at Charlestown State Park.

When history and food collide

Traveling through time can definitely work up an appetite and there are plenty of options in Southern Indiana. That includes places where history is served up in some delicious ways.

a large blob of melted red hots ready to roll out on a table — This specially crafted table plays a crucial role in the making of hard candy at Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jeffersonville.

Crafting confections for more than a century

If your store’s been open for more than 130 years, it’s probably okay to say your business is “red hot.” And in the case of Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jeffersonville you’re not only “red hot” you’re also crafting thousands of Red Hots (and many other sweet treats) every day.

Schimpff’s makes dozens of varieties of hard candies and chocolates, and the best part, you can watch different generations of the Shimpff family create the treats right in front of you, several times a day. It’s a truly memorable experience. While you’re visiting be sure and check out the candy museum and grab a bite to eat at the lunch counter.

Hearty helpings at Geraldine’s

a yellow plate filled with strips of crispy bacon, over easy eggs and diced potatoes — The Big Daddy platter at Geraldine’s should definitely fill you up.

Another option, if you’re hungry is Geraldine’s, a popular breakfast and lunch spot. The menu was inspired by a Louisville woman who heavily relied on her Ladies Home Journal Cookbook to prepare meals for family and friends. I promise, the servings are quite hearty and it would be difficult to leave Geraldine’s hungry..

Big history and barbecue

Driving down 10th Street in Jeffersonville, a massive brick structure resembling a fort will likely catch your eye. This is the Quartermaster Depot, originally built as a military warehouse, it is now a collection of businesses and restaurants. At the center of it all is a small round building that was at one time a segregated restroom.

What was once a military installation now serves as a center for government and commerce in Jeffersonville. The small building on the left is home to a Big Ben’s D&M Barbecue and is the start of the Indiana African-American Heritage Trail.

Today, Gary & Janice Leavell operate Big Ben’s D&M Barbecue out of the building. It also happens to be the beginning of the Indiana African-American Heritage Trail, a project Gary was instrumental in developing when he worked for the state. Janice is a retired school teacher. Both are a wealth of knowledge and are generally eager to carry on a conversation. The BBQ is pretty darn good too! So, what better way to soak in local history than with a plate of pulled pork, sides, and a few history lessons from the owners or the displays on the wall.

Bottle your own slice of history

Have you ever bottled your own bourbon? It’s something you can do at Starlight Distillery (part of the Huber Farm and Winery) in northern Clark County. The tour starts with a lesson about the Huber family and how this distillery came to be.

As spirits age in barrels at Starlight Distillery distillers place special tasting notes on them. It’s something you get to see on the Bottle Your Own tour.

In the mid 1800’s Simon Huber came to Southern Indiana from Germany. At that time the area was known for its wine and brandy production. The Hubers planted roots and plants to become the largest fruit farm in the state. However, until laws changed, the dream of carrying on the Huber family tradition of distilling didn’t become a reality until the early 2000s.

Starlight spirits are available for purchase in more than a dozen states and one province in Canada.

After learning about the Huber history you take a look at the distillation process and a few other parts of production before heading to the barrel house. There you’ll taste bourbon whiskey right out of the barrel before heading back to the still house to pour and label your own bottle (which you get to keep).

knoxroadtripper holding a bottle of bourbon whiskey he bottled during a tour at Starlight Distillery — At the end of the Bottle Your Own tour at Starlight Distillery you get to label and take home the bottle you poured.

The Huber farm offers so much more than just the distillery and winery. Shop for fresh produce, grab a bite to eat at the restaurant or go out on the farm and pick your own products.

large brick building with bell tower in New Washington indiana — In the small town of New Washington, it’s hard not noticing the 1894 Lodge, an Old Masonic Lodge and School. Inside is an amazing dining experience worth the drive.

Dining with history all around

In the heart of the small community of New Washington, a three story brick building rises high above the rest of the town. At first glance, you might think it was a church. Instead, the building constructed in 1894 first served as a Masonic Lodge then later as a school.

large pork chop sitting on top of potatoes brocolinni and carrots all glazed with a cherry sauce — It’s hard to go wrong when you order this big pork chop served up on mashed potatoes, broccolini and carrots all toped with a cherry glaze.

Today, The 1894 Lodge serves up delectable dishes and beverages including a Smoky Old Fashioned and a Tomahawk Pork Chop that are not only feasts for the eyes, but the palate as well. The surroundings are quite stunning too, as there are several rooms to explore and/or dine with history surrounding you every where you look.

Back to the Big 80’s

A neon back to the 80s sign glows above a classic Galaga and Pac Man video game at the Rec Bar 812 — Classic video games, movie posters and even an old Toys R Us sign take you back in time to the 1980s at Rec Bar 812.

If the sounds of Pac-Man crunching dots or the sounds of bombs dropping in Galaga make you nostalgic for the 1980s then Rec Bar 812 in New Albany is perfect for you.

This two story arcade and pinball bar can keep you busy for hours with dozens of classic games, a few new ones and dozens of pinball machines. But that is only part of what this place has to offer.

Ever tried bacon cheeseburger totchos (loaded tater tots) or frosted flake chicken tenders? How about a bourbon slusheee or a craft beer to pair with these savory dishes? You’ll find all this and a wide variety of craft beers and other beverages all surrounded by a love for the 1980s.

While you can certainly choose a time traveling adventure in Southern Indiana there are several others to try. Just grab a Visitor Guide at the Visitor Center in Jeffersonville or visit GoSoIN.com, take the quiz and start planning your visit.

This is only a small slice of what there is to see and do in the region. Check out some other ideas here.