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Health & Fitness

Road Trip Carmel, IN

As part of the Memorial Day excursions, I traveled to Carmel, Indiana, to visit with family.

As part of the Memorial Day excursions, I traveled to Carmel, Indiana, to visit with family. With three birthdays all in that weekend and having not seen them since my grandfather's funeral in December (which, let's face it, doesn't really count as "visiting"), a trip down was much needed! I even brought the boy since my family lovingly joked that he must not exist if it's been a year and they haven't yet met.  

So, the two of us piled into the car on that wonderfully cold, Chicago, Saturday morning and headed out! We didn't even have to worry about traffic as an 11:00 a.m. leaving time helped ensure we bypassed traffic! We figured either everyone left Friday or earlier that morning because the roads were quite clear.

I'd become accustomed to the I-65 scene, driving down multiple times a year when I went back to school at Miami, OH.  It's, let's see, flat...flat...and yup....even flatter.  The only "excitement" is the windmill field you pass through around exit 200. Plus, I don't think that stretch of drive is ever truly sunny. It's always cloudy and gloomy, like if you depress your driver enough they won't actually leave Indiana because they just don't want to drive through the gloom. As a result, you'll need something to keep you interested since the scenery will definitely not do that for you! Music anyone??

Sadly, we forgot ours. Yup. Aren't we smart? Instead we actually had to talk to one another (eek! Shocking... remember that old art called 'conversation'?) We actually had a really good time and made a few pit stops along the way.  

Note #1:  Coffee right before road trips is not the best of ideas.  
Note #2: A road trip to Indianapolis from the Chicago area really does not require very many pit stops.

We did however, stop at the following places. Exit 230. We picked up some coffee and a bathroom at the Marathon right there. It's right next to a trailer park which is right next to a "waterpark," which is a waterslide into a lake located behind the gas station. In all my travels, that's a stop I had never made.

Exit 220 is the "Fair Oaks" stop at Winamac, or the "Look at how we milk cows and make all your favorite products" stop.  It wasn't open when we went, and we only needed gas, but word to the traveling, do NOT stop here if you want a deal on gas. They are practically the same price as the suburbs of Chicago. I'm pretty sure they know people will stop there anyways so they can charge whatever they want.  

If you need gas, go to the "waterpark" Marathon or any of the stops further south of 220. It's not worth it. My boyfriend did however find it funny it's called Winamac. (Win. A.  Mac. ... in case you didn't get it at first either.)

Exit 130 is my favorite exit. I stopped there religiously as I traveled to and from Miami. As the midway point, it was perfect for a quick bathroom break and gas fill-up. However, it also houses a Starbucks. (*insert angelic "aaaah" sounds here*) Love, love, LOVE this stop! It's the Zionsville exit, in case you're more familiar with names of towns and not exit numbers, but still. YAY!  

And lastly, you take 865 over to 465 to make the loop around Indianapolis to Carmel. The Keystone exit is the closest stop to my aunt's, and I recently discovered Carmel is now famous.  

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It is the "Roundabout Capitol" with the most roundabouts of any city. They have transformed that town into an amazing winding rollercoaster. The ones on Keystone avenue are beautifully done, but the side street ones, while keeping traffic moving, cause more motion sickness than help to passengers. Take a dramamine if you have a weak stomach.  

But, in all honesty, it was wonderful to see my family. Three hours is a brief moment in the car now. When I was younger I needed a break every hour or so, but now, with some good music and great conversation, three hours is almost a nice break.

Now, we just have to talk to Mother Nature about making that stretch of Indiana a little more "sunny."

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