Tucked in to the Hoosier State's southwest corner along the Ohio River, Evansville is a surprisingly enjoyable weekend getaway for those unfamiliar with the little city. Excellent parks and museums serve up some daytime diversion, while a handful of top performing art venues and a riverboat casino pose some of the notable nightlife options.
See a performance at the Victory Theatre, a 1921 venue that has been renovated. Located at the corner of the Main Street Walkway and Sixth Street, the Victory is home to the Evansville Philharmonic and offers a variety of other live shows as well.
Take a trip back in time-waaaay back-by visiting the Angel Mounds State Historic Site, just outside of town. Noted as one of the most impressively restored ancient Native American communities in the nation, architectural work, and additional discoveries, are ongoing at this eye-opening look into the past.
For a night of delicious dining in a hip and vibrant setting head to The Jungle restaurant on Main Street. A creative menu has something for everyone-including some superb steaks-and live entertainment (upstairs) plus the hip Fat Cats New York Lounge (downstairs) offer some of the city's cooler nightlife options once the dining's done.
Museum lovers will enjoy 'one-stop shopping' at the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science. Frequently changing exhibitions add to the diversity of displays, and those looking to be starry-eyed will love the Koch Planetarium-also on site.
Commune with nature at the Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve which houses hundreds of acres of virgin forest, pretty ponds and open fields. Wildlife watchers will have a spectrum of creatures to view, from whitetail deer to woodpeckers.
Anyone intrigued by spellbinding architecture, or Indiana's history, will savor an hour at the Reitz Home Museum on East First Street. The handsome mansion dates back to 1871 and showcases incredible interior furnishings and decorative arts; a tour discusses the home and its earliest residents, the enterprising Reitz family.
Enjoy an unforgettable night out aboard the 'City of Evansville' sidewheel steamboat, hosting the Casino Aztar. The boat is open to the public and docked at the city's Riverfront Pavilion, a throwback neighborhood designed to look and feel like turn-of-the-century Indiana.
