Of Madison Indiana

We started going to Madison, Indiana, to study about my grandfather, John Aaron Coombs. He spent some of his growing up summers with family there, and was related to the rich and famous that made up the high society of Old Madison. My grandmother visited many of the cemeteries there, learning more about a past that was not much talked about. My grandfather’s family were not big talkers.

Some of the nicest places to stay are the Indiana State Parks. When I was younger, my family would go tent camping all over Indiana, exploring Turkey Run, McCormick’s Creek, Chain of Lakes, Spring Mill, and Pokagon, where my parents had their honeymoon. As I got older and my mother’s health got worse, we traded in our tent for cabins and inns at State Parks, and soon Clifty Falls, located right outside of Madison, became our favorite.

I remember trips with Grandma were she would bring a bag of presents from the dollar store, and she would let us (Anna and I) pick one each day. Normally our trips to Madison would involve cemeteries (my grandma would put flowers on everyone related to us), visiting historical landmarks like the Lanier home, learning new stuff at the library, and exploring trails in the state park. One evening we’d get to stay with grandma while mom and dad went out on a date.

When grandma passed away, the tradition stuck. They redid the inn with a new pool and hot tub, and a game room where dad would get a bag full of quarters if we were good. There was the marble game in the hallway, the gift shop, the lounge with a fireplace, and the lookout windows. Big poufy chairs sit in front of huge windows that take up most of the wall where you can look out and see the Ohio River and Kentucky. In that big room there is also one of the racing boats from the Madison Regatta, as depicted in the movie “Madison,” a big stuffed bear, and carved antlers.

Some of our favorite Winzeler traditions are Hinkle’s Hamburgers (hinkleburger.com) , where Anna and Dad had their famous 3am run for home fries, the old movie theater, where we were often the only ones there, and Whimsy’s, my favorite store. We love to walk down Main Street, peeking in antique shops, book stores, craft stores, and coffee shops that have mango milkshakes.

Our trip is never complete without trips to the pool, slipping across the hardwood floors, making microwave kettle corn, and exploring some of the great trails at Clifty Falls State Park. But most of all, it is a time to be together and enjoy being a family.

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