Uncover the Beauty of Hamilton County Indiana: A Budget-Friendly Weekend Getaway
If you've read my blogs for any length of time, you know that I am a Disney girl, but also in LOVE with history and can appreciate the big, bold, expensive vacations; however, where I shine is the little weekends away. The piece I haven't always been the most transparent about is how much we spend on vacations. This is a change to that mentality. We go ALL the time, but we're not millionaires or make an absurd amount of money. Simple middle-class people who prioritize travel as a way of living a full life. Just who I am!
Our fall holiday trip to Hamilton County, Indiana, was one of those little weekend getaways that are good for your soul. New tastes, new sights, history to be a part of, sometimes that little drive to a new area does wonders for the hole you might feel stuck in at home. Ok, but I'm getting away from myself here. We decided to go to Hamilton County to participate in the Headless Horseman Festival at Conner Prairie and have a wholesome family weekend exploring the area. It's just so pretty down here.
Hamilton Country comprises four towns: Fishers, Carmel, Westfield, and Noblesville. Each has its distinct vibe, and they are so close together you can drive from one city to the other in about 10 minutes or less, depending on where you are. There is a healthy mix of small shops and businesses as well as larger corporate entities all mixed up together. The highlight is that each city has a square or a district that showcases the glory of that area. For instance, Fishers has the Fishers District, where we stayed. Carmel has both the Carmel Arts District and the Carmel City Center. Noblesville has the town square. All have a different vibe, and truthfully, they remind me of various scenes of a Hallmark holiday movie. All of which I'm here for. Did you even go to the right town if you feel like you are in something other than a Hallmark movie on a Midwest vacation? Just kidding, sort of.
Where we stayed
We, and by we, I mean my husband, daughter, and I, stayed at the Hyatt House Hotel in the Fishers District. Location and space-wise, it was perfect. We had a two-queen room with a separate living room complete with a couch, island, TV, and a full kitchenette. It had a full-sized fridge, a microwave, sink, dishwasher, and an electric stove and was fully stocked with plates, pans, silverware, and Tupperware bowls in case you wanted the option of cooking in your room. The bedroom had two beds, a desk area, a TV entertainment area, a closet, and three separate two-drawer units, making unpacking perfect for us. The view from the room overlooked the Fishers district area, which is a whole center of shopping, restaurants, lounges, and a center area with outdoor chess and cornhole. IKEA was right around the corner, and we could see TopGolf across the street. It was a vibe. A small vacation must is having things right outside your door to get to. This location fits the brief perfectly.
The beds were pretty comfy as well, and honestly, as big as the room was and as close as we were to the elevators, the noise was minimal to non-existent. My family is pretty quiet, so the elevators were a concern initially, but it worked out just fine.
In the mornings, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., the hotel offers a continental breakfast included in your stay. There was nothing special about it, just your basic eggs, bagels, sausage, waffles, cereals, fruit, oatmeal, and coffee/tea, but it is an excellent addition to the hotel's price to offset the food budget. The advantage is if you wanted something different, there is a bevy of options right outside the hotel you can walk to. We walked to Starbucks from the hotel twice. There is also a sidewalk and the cutest dog park you walk by to get to the morning needs of Starbies.
Being the morning routine person I am, I still work out on vacations. In fact, my husband has recently become a stickler for getting things done in the morning, too. The hotel gym didn't disappoint. Four Treadmills, three ellipticals, two stationary bikes, a spin bike, a complete weight set, a rower, the list goes on. It was nice to see such a space laid out with everything we needed to get the daily morning burn before going out into the day. There is also a small, and by small, I mean a TINY indoor pool. We didn't use it, but it was there if you wanted to splash around.
There was also a hopping hotel bar area in the evenings. So many people were down there, hanging out, watching the game. I don't drink, so it's not my vibe, but it was good to see that the hotel had so many amenities for each type of traveler and their needs.
Total Cost for 2 Nights: $535.40
What we Ate
Food can make or break any vacation. I've learned this time and time again. Throw in the wrench that we have three distinctly different food styles in my household, and that can be a recipe for a tough time finding what to eat at mealtime. The beauty of the Midwest is that there are so many choices. In Hamilton County, being so close to Indianapolis and full of diversity in the population it meant that the assortment of food choices was also there for us.
When visiting someplace new, it's nice to hop around a bit in the cuisine attributes. So we ate different food types for each meal; I mean, why not?
Dinner: Jinya Ramen Bar - Fishers District
Arriving in town on Friday, we were starving. There were so many good options in the district, but anything with broth sounds fantastic when you're cold and hungry. Even though Jinya is a chain, it's something we don't have up by us. So we decided to give it a try. Immediately walking in and meeting our waitress, I knew it would be great. She was LOVELY. Kind, genuine, attentive, and meeting the room's energy with every statement. When you go to a restaurant and immediately fall in love with the wait staff, you know it will be a good night.
The whole vibe was a thing from the entry onward. Wood and brick adorn the restaurant, lit by soft Edison bulbs. Chopsticks and matte black spoons for the ramen broth await you on the table. They boast a FULL bar with many choices, but after working all day and driving in, we chose to stick to water and the meal. The edamame was cooked well and salted right, a perfect fresh start to what was to come. When I tell you you haven't had ramen until you've had it in broth that's been cooked for AT LEAST 2 days, trust me, you haven't. Our waitress explained how the broth for each of our bowls is slow-cooked and then seasoned accordingly to compliment the flavors of what is added to the ramen itself. Everything was deliciously hot and comforting, warming you from the inside out. None of us finished our ramen bowls; it was just so much food. Bang for your buck is not an issue here.
If you are not into spice, let your waitress know. Spicy means spicy here. Unbelievably flavorful but still spicy. Mine was not spicy (Fall Harvest Vegan Ramen) and still had a building kick, but I was here for it. It was delicious!
We ordered:
Edamame for the table
The Spicy Creamy Vegetarian Ramen Bowl
The Fall Harvest Vegan Ramen Bowl
The Spicy Chicken Ramen Bowl
Total cost: $67.59
Breakfast: In the Hotel
The following day, we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel. It's right there and was so convenient, plus FREE and included in our room charge. Was it the best? No. Was it sustenance that didn't add to the overall expense of the vacation? YES! So, it works.
Snack: Xchocolat
There's a big difference between grocery store chocolate and ethically sourced chocolate that a chocolatier uses to make treats. While walking around Carmel, we saw a little sign tucked away for Xchocolat and decided, why not? The shop is small and unassuming, but the owner is a gem; her chocolate was to die for! She was just so knowledgeable in explaining the process behind each piece and intriguing us by sharing her chocolate business story. I adored her!
We ordered:
Lucky Charms Chocolate
A chocolate truffle sample box
Hot chocolate with cayenne (Hot chocolate is made with PURE liquid chocolate, no milk. OMG, delicious.)
Hot chocolate with marshmallows
Total cost: $27.82
Early Dinner: Texy Mexy - Noblesville, In
By dinner time, before the festivities of the evening, the desire was to go someplace small, reasonably inexpensive, filling, and TASTY. Reading some reviews, Texy Mexy was the place to go. The owner was there taking our order and seems to have migrated from Texas to Noblesville after a family lineage from Mexico. This meant authentic and perfectly made tacos. The prices were reasonable, and nothing about the meal disappointed me.
Get there before lunch if you want to try their famous tamales; they sell out daily!
We ordered:
A salsa, guacamole, and chips platter to share
3 Vegan Tacos
2 Chicken Tacos
1 Brisket taco
3 Shrimp Tacos
1 Jarrito (Mango)
2 Top Chicos
Total cost: $73.58
Evening Snacks: Conner Prairie
Our main event was the Headless Horseman festival at Conner Prairie, so we had to indulge in snacks there. They have the best food trucks set up to participate in, so we did. One section had Bao buns and mini donuts. Which are warm and cozy-tasting things while waltzing around in the cold; pulling my leg is a must. Then, of course, kettle corn. I have a deep-seated love for popcorn, so this felt natural.
We ordered:
12 mini donuts
1 large bag of kettle corn
2 Portobello Mushroom Bao Buns
Total cost: $28.85
Brunch: The Cake Bake Shop - Carmel, In
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rodgers is the most Disney Princess-inspired restaurant I have ever visited outside the parks. Decorated with ornate crystal chandeliers, pink and white peony sways, custom china, and pale grey French Renaissance-inspired walls, everything about the restaurant is a fairytale realized. I was lucky enough to have eaten here before, just for cake and coffee, but this time, it was about indulging in the entire dining experience. The appetizer, entree, and dessert were impeccable. Full of flavor, rich, and so very filling. I give her a 10/10 recommendation, and I can't wait to see what changes and updates she brings to Walt Disney World when the restaurant opens there!
It's not vegan. There were lots of vegetarian things to choose from, but my meal for sure had cream in it. BE aware of the sensitivities.
We ordered:
The Avocado Stack for the table
The Coc madam
The Mushroom and Leek Pasta
The Spinach Quiche
Ginger Pumpkin Cake
Apple Crisp Cake
Pumpkin Spice Coffee (2)
French Press Coffee Carafe
Total cost: $159.14
What we Did
Shopping around Carmel and Noblesville
I'm always down for a good boutique and small shop shopping day, which is what we did. With Christmas looming just around the corner, it's nice to go on a mini hunt for some things you might not see anywhere else, and small local shops are the best way to do that.
Some highlights include:
The Carmel Arts and Design District, where you'll find my favorite little boutique in Carmel - Silver in the City. They have all kinds of things that are just fun and unique, from candles to books to stickers and, of course, jewelry. You can shop from them online, but visiting in person is so much fun!
The Logan Village Mall in Noblesville is another must-visit. I can't think of another way to describe it. Besides, it's a stuff store with a million little stores inside of it. Stocking stuffers, random big gifts you won't see again, honey, yup, you can find them here. Come through the winding hallways and get lost a little; it's worth it.
Headless Horseman Festival Review
The whole purpose of going to Hamilton Country now was to partake in a little Halloween fun. Every year, one must attend at least one Halloween festival somewhere, just good, clean fun. This was the way since we weren't making it to Oogie Boogie Bash this year! The festival is held at Conner Prairie, a historical village that pays a living homage to the times of the past. During the festival, however, the Victorian village area was closed as that is where the haunted hayride goes through, and the fairgrounds are open.
These grounds had everything a fall festival should. We were able to play some midway-style games, eat from a couple of the food trucks parked on the grounds, dance to some spooky videos of the past, slide down a MASSIVE hill tube slide, go through a corn maze trail of terror, watch a Sleepy Hallow Marionette show, and see an outstanding Halloween magic show and the list goes on. It was a whole night of entertainment, and we had to skip some things for time. Everything, except food, was included in the admission price, making it much more worth the experience—an excellent bang for the buck.
The highlight of the festival is being able to do the Haunted Hayride. There is an upcharge for this attraction, but we purchased tickets WAY in advance for a small discount. It was worth it. In the beginning, the townspeople are singing and telling the story of the man who rides at night, taking the heads of those who come too close and chasing them over a covered bridge. Then we were escorted to climb into the hay ride vehicle, which takes you through the forests and old town that haunts have taken over at night. Then you see him, a LITERAL headless horseman. He circles the hayride, and you stay quiet as he wields his sword. Again, you will encounter him as he chases you on horseback, clambering for your head. It was fantastic. It is even better because a person is riding a real horse chasing you on the hayride as you cross a covered bridge. Sir William Conan Doyle came to life. I would go again without hesitation.
Admission cost: $93 for three tickets, including the hayride
All in all, the weekend getaway was a total and complete success.
Total cost: $985.38.
The things not included in that price are the one tank of gas it costs to get there from our location (roughly 4 hours each way) because gas depends entirely on where you live, what kind of car you drive, and the Christmas gifts we bought. We bought a lot of random Christmas gifts. Would I go again? In a heartbeat! The city's vibrancy while keeping you in your midwestern feels is perfect for this time of year. It's a cozy vacay for a cozy season.
