With a name like Santa Claus, the Indiana city automatically brings visions of sugar plums, sparkling snow, and sleigh rides. Sure, that’s the case in winter, but during warmer seasons, it’s still a great place to visit for outdoor activities and family-friendly fun. From comfy cabins to old school movie theaters, here are some super fun summer activities in Santa Claus, Indiana.
A couple of years ago, I took a road trip to Santa Claus, Indiana, with my family. During our visit, we mainly hung around Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari for a couple of days and we had a very pleasant experience. We stayed in a family-style cabin at Lake Rudolph and took the shuttle back and forth to the park. And that visit made such an impression on me that I’d visit again anytime. Truly.
So, I wanted to know what else was around the park and campground for families that are visiting for more than a couple of days. Here’s the scoop on summer activities in Santa Claus, Indiana, to help you plan your next visit.
Hike Lincoln State Park
Named in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Mary (he spent some of his younger years there), Lincoln State Park has two pretty lakes and 10 miles of hiking and walking trails. If you want a respite from the summer heat, there’s a cool nature center with some interactive exhibits to check out as well.
As for camping, the park offers everything from campsites to rental cabins.
Take a Horse Ride through the Woods
Santa’s Stables is just over four miles from Holiday World and it’s a fun experience for both seasoned and new horse riders. Two trail riding experiences (20 and 45-minutes long) and pony rides are a great way to spend a couple of hours while offering safe guidance by trained guides.
Right now you’ll need to make a reservation ahead of time, so please check out the official Santa’s Stables website for the scoop.
See a Movie Via the Comfort of Your Vehicle
Remember drive-in theaters? In my neck of the woods we still have one but, honestly, I haven’t been for years. This year, you probably won’t catch me in a traditional movie theater, so a good movie in a drive-in is exactly what this girl is going to do.
Holiday Drive-In is special in the fact that it offers SIX SCREENS playing nightly. Each screen seems to cater to a different movie genre (family-friendly, the classics, thrillers, etc.), so you could go every night for almost a week and see different movies.
It is worth noting that Holiday Drive-In is a cash only venue even at the concession stand. Also, you are allowed to bring in coolers with food and drink, but grills and outdoor cookers are not permitted.
Another cool feature? You can bring your pet as long as you stay with it the entire time.
Check Out A Nineteenth Century Tribute to Our 16th President
Abraham Lincoln lived in the area from 1816-1830. To honor his presence, Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum offers insight into what life was like for the young boy. Called a piece of living history (and I agree), the village lets you walk through cabins and around the grounds, chat with “residents”, and even see a hutch made by Lincoln himself. Of course, his father helped him, but it’s still a fun sight.
All photos courtesy of Visit Santa Claus, IN!
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