64 San Diego Reader February 25, 2016 38 San Diego Reader February 25, 2016


42 San Diego Reader


Gather No Moss TRAVEL STORIES AND TIPS FROM OUR READERS


Red Barn Antique Mall in Corydon, IN. The shops aren’t afraid to look Midwestern here.


Southern Indiana:


Small-town USA By Tamar Fleishman


Just across the Ohio River from Louisville (so you can still get your “big city” fix) is a collection of quiet Southern Indiana communities, including historic Corydon: not only Indiana’s first capital but also the boyhood home of James Best, The Dukes of Hazzard’s Rosco P. Coltrane. This part of the state is the oldest, so it’s a good place to celebrate Indiana’s bicentennial in 2016. Southern Indiana also boasts Mauckport, named last year by Oreo as one of the “sweetest” small towns in the U.S.


Imagine enjoying the afternoon at a winery, listening to local bands play... and staying. Scout Mountain Winery in Corydon has the Hideaway Bed and Breakfast. It’s a guesthouse on the prop- erty — what people in the biz call an “unhosted” B&B — that sleeps six. A full kitchen and laundry room make you feel right at home. Complete with fire pit, outdoor hot tub, and Asian pear trees ripe for the picking, you get the serenity and privacy that your soul craves. History and adventure come together at Squire Boone Caverns. Daniel Boone and his brother Squire discovered the underground caves in the 1790s. Later, Squire was able to save himself from violent Indians by hiding in them. He is buried in the caves; the public can see his tomb. Wear secure shoes and take a little jacket, as the caves are 54 degrees year-round. The staircase going down is long and winds tightly. There are also historic log buildings on the grounds.


Indiana used to be our country’s frontier, a chain of forts and military outposts before it became our 19th state in 1816. Corydon has kept its original capitol building, governor’s headquar- ters, and other historic buildings in a square. Tours cost a small fee. I learned that the first Indiana settlers were not


like the first Ohio settlers: New England Congregationalists given land parcels for Revolutionary War service. Instead, Indiana was settled from the south by early Kentuckians and Tennesseans. However, they sup- ported the Union during Indiana’s only Civil War battle, in Corydon. Several blocks from the pub- lic buildings, on an unassuming residential street, stands an odder tourist attraction. It’s the bricked- up tree stump from that time: “the Constitution Elm.”


Corydon is also the site of the Harrison County Fairgrounds — Indiana’s oldest, over 156 years old — where you can see harness racing. You’ll no doubt also find pork-ten- derloin sandwiches, an Indiana thing. Fall’s the season for Deere Farms, which looks just like you’d imagine a classic Midwestern family farm would. There are some mod- ern touches in this world of corn mazes, pick-your-own, and pig races, though: they grow pink pumpkins to benefit breast-cancer research. Mauckport officials think there are about 40 people still living in town, the rest being chased out by Ohio River floods. People flood back from all over to the Riverbottom Inn for Southern-style plate lunches Tuesday through Thursday, beans and cornbread every day, and rockin’ live bands on weekends.


Joe Huber’s is practically a local landmark rather than a restaurant. After you reach the restaurant/farm market/gift shop on a series of wind- ing roads, you’re in for pure country. Simple original family recipes are served family-style to your table, as much as you care to eat.


Other Adventures


Read before you go SDReader.com/Travel


San Diego Outdoors with the Museum Canyoneers SWEETWATER RIVER TRAIL AND INTERPRETIVE LOOP


ROAM-O-RAMA Hike over a historic steel bridge then along an interpretive trail for a panoramic view of the watershed.


Distance from downtown San Diego: 15 miles. Allow 25 minutes driving time (Rancho San Diego). From SR-94 E/Campo Road, exit west (right) onto Singer Lane, then take an immediate left into the parking area. Limited parking can be found on Singer Lane. The trailhead is at the south end of the historic Sweetwater steel bridge. Hiking Length: 1.5-mile loop with longer options avail- able. Difficulty: Easy. Elevation gain/loss less than 200 feet. Equestrians, bicycles, and dogs (on leashes) allowed. No facilities or water.


The trail loops around the refuge. T


he Sweetwater River is the main artery of the Sweetwater watershed. Its headwaters are in


the Cuyamaca Mountains, flowing into Sweetwater Reservoir and emptying into San Diego Bay at the Sweetwater Marsh. The Sweetwater Interpretive Loop is on the south side of the river corridor. The trail is within the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Start the walk by crossing the steel bridge to


readerphoto14: For I long time I wanted to go Whale Watching off of Maui in February. I went this month and the whales put on a fantastic show. This is from the second of two whale watching trips we took with the Pacific Whale Foundation. This one,we were on a sailboat.


Win $25 for your travel tips or a Reader T-Shirt or hat for the best travel photo of the week. Go to SDReader


.com/travel for more information.


the south, turning west onto the trailhead between the boulders. Take a moment to look at the Parker Truss triangular patterns made of steel girders on the top and sides of this bridge that were built in 1929 during the time when truss bridges were popular. The refuge property doesn’t start until you reach the wooden informational kiosk. Continue into the wooded riparian area, where a small bridge goes over the creek bed. Be on the lookout for poison oak; it’s easy to avoid if you know what to look for, and if not, just don’t touch any plants with leaves of three. Although there are many side trails, the interpretive loop follows the fence along the riparian area as the river flows southwest. There is signage along the trail describing many of the rare and endangered plant and animal species found in this refuge, includ- ing least Bell’s vireo, Cali- fornia gnatcatcher, Quino checkerspot butterfly, and San Diego ambrosia. The willow, sycamore, cotton- wood, and oak woodland provide nesting sites and habitat for many resident and migrating birds mak- ing this a favorite area for bird-watching.


At 0.64 mile, the trail continues straight, or makes a sharp turn back along the flank of the hillside, traveling through continued on page 43


Find maps for the hikes and more Roam-O-Rama columns online at SDReader.com/roam


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