Choosing what to do first can be difficult at Winona Lake, just over 40 minutes from Goshen.

Treat yourself to shopping at the Beaded Peacock, BELOVE, The Mucky Duck, or The Olive Branch. Paint pottery with the whole family at Pottery Bayou, or hit the lake with fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing.

Maybe what you really like to do is stay dry but still be in the great outdoors. If so, you’re in luck: Winona Lake is a certified “Bicycle Friendly Community” with greenway paths for beginners or mountain bikes trails for more experienced bikers. When the day is done, experience surf ‘n’ turf and new American style dining at Boathouse Restaurant or venture to Cerulean for pan-Asian fusion and a creative take on meat and seafood classics.

South Bend’s Potawatomi Zoo has a 120-year history as Indiana’s first zoo, and today is home to more than 400 animals. Among its most popular exhibits are the Amur tigers and leopards, the African lions, and the snow leopards. Other featured animals include red pandas, kangaroos, monkeys, and the North American river otters.

Through the zoo’s partnership with KultureCity, the staff is trained and ready to accommodate individuals with sensory processing needs to make the zoo a more inclusive space.

The Potawatomi Zoo is open April 1 through October 31, closed during the winter months. Check their days and hours online before you visit.

Amish craftsmanship coupled with community heritage makes Nappanee a unique destination. Start by visiting Coppes Commons, a former kitchen cabinet manufacturer repurposed into shops offering locally made, handcrafted items, along with fresh baked goods.

It’s a history lesson and a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. It’s easy to shop locally in Nappanee. There are more than 200 shops in the Nappanee countryside, with crafters offering woodworking, leather goods, woven rugs and so much more! A map of the countryside shops is available online here.

Looking for something old that’ll be new to you? Nappanee is home to several antique shops, including Dutch Lady Antiques. If the antique fever is still burning back home in Goshen, visit Goshen Antique Mall along Main Street. The shop features items from nearly 40 dealers and is listed on IndianaAntiqueTrail.com.

The past is lovingly curated at our region’s many outstanding museums. Have fun seeing how many you can visit in a day! Tours are available at Elkhart’s historic Ruthmere Museum and its sister site two blocks away, the recently restored Havilah Beardsley House.

From Ruthmere, it’s not far to the Midwest Museum of American Art, a showcase of 19th- and 20th-century American artwork, and the New York Central Railroad Museum. Founded in 1987, the railroad museum preserves the legacy of the New York Central railroad network.

Head north to Bristol to visit the Elkhart County Historical Museum, which includes 10 permanent galleries and two temporary exhibit spaces. From dinosaurs to old-time schoolhouses to the modern day, the exhibits tell our rich and varied story.

Venture back south to learn the story of The Maple City at the Goshen Historical Museum downtown. The museum is run by the Goshen Historical Society, formed during the city’s 1981 sesquicentennial celebration.