06/03/10

Seven Northern Indiana counties are gearing up for a season of bustling activity spurred by a new cultural trail that features authentic area attractions. On Thursday, June 3, the

“Everyone wants to discover a place that is truly unique. In a world of chain stores and replication we hear requests over and over from both local folks and those visiting the area for recommendations about places that reflect truly local flavor,” says NITDC Executive Director, Dan Bearss. “The Art and Earth Trail provides a guide to places people might otherwise overlook.”

The Trail is an initiative of the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission (NITDC) and its seven Convention and Visitors Bureaus. These entities have come together to make it easy for visitors and residents to discover places unlike anywhere else by creating a trail guide of carefully selected, authentic Northern Indiana attractions.

NITDC followed strict criteria when identifying stops along the trail. Each place had to be authentic and unique to the region. The resulting Trail Guide features galleries and shops that emphasize art or crafts produced in Northern Indiana. Specialty growers, farms, and nurseries sell specialty products such as indigenous native and heirloom plants. Restaurants and Inns featured along the Trail are all locally owned, non-franchise establishments. There are no chains or cookie-cutter businesses listed, just one-of-a-kind shops, farms, restaurants, museums, and Inns.

When planning summer activities, the best place for Northern Indiana residents to consider may be right next-door. For Trail recommendations and information visit

The Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission is a regional partnership of the Convention and Visitors Bureaus in seven Northern Indiana counties including Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart, Kosciusko, and LaGrange. NITDC is the leading regional economic development authority focusing on sustainable tourism through effective partnerships.


Northern Indiana Art and Earth Trail officially opens to the public. Over 150 artisans, craftsmen, farmers, chefs, and innkeepers in Northern Indiana have been selected to participate in the 2010 Art and Earth Trail, a network of seven trail loops featuring the rich and diverse heritage of Northern Indiana.www.artandearthtrail.com.