Posted on January 5, 2024
What is there to do during these long, cold, and sometimes dreary winter days? A LOT when you’re visiting Santa Claus, Indiana, and sites throughout Lincoln’s Indiana Boyhood Home!
Though some attractions in the area are currently closed for the season, others are ready to welcome you for a fun winter getaway.
Want to stay indoors and avoid the blustery cold? Or would you rather get outside and feel that chill? Either way, you’ll find just your kind of fun!
Let’s Go Shopping
A great cure for cabin fever? A little retail therapy, of course!
Find a cozy new outfit at Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop or a fun educational toy for the kids at Santa’s TOYS. Shop for meats, cheeses, crafts, and other locally made products at Pumpkins & More Farm Market, and Steckler Grassfed Farms. Or find the perfect gift to celebrate a special occasion at Beverly J. Ellen, Darlena’s Holiday and Gift Shoppe, or Saint Meinrad Archabbey Gift Shop.
‘Wine’ Down
Raise a glass and toast the fact that this area has not one, but two, amazing wineries!
Monkey Hollow Winery and Distillery and Pepper’s Ridge Winery both boast an extensive list of wines and offer complimentary tastings. Try the appropriately named seasonal offering, Winter Warmer, at Monkey Hollow. Or indulge in the Lakeview Peach (aka “cobbler in a glass”) at Pepper’s Ridge!
Learn the Local History
When the temperatures take a plunge, staying indoors become a lot more tempting. And spending a little time exploring a museum is a perfect cold day activity.
At the Santa Claus Museum & Village, you can learn all about the town's magical and merry past, explore the town's original post office and historic church, snap a photo with the 22-foot-tall 1935 Santa Statue, and even write a letter to Santa himself.
Stop in the Visitor Center at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial to see museum exhibits that tell the story of Abraham Lincoln's fascinating life, including the 14 years he and his family lived in southern Indiana.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
If a dip in the temperature isn’t enough to keep you indoors, here are the best places to bundle up and enjoy a little outdoor recreation.
At Lincoln State Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, you can hit the hiking trails any time of the year—and walk the same paths that Abraham Lincoln did as a boy and young man.
And if you’re a die-hard golfer, then you know winter golfing is still great golfing. Hit the links at Christmas Lake Golf Club and The Rustic Golf Course… then hit the onsite restaurants at each to reward yourself and warm up!
Eat Up to Warm Up
Everyone knows winter calories don’t count… right? So, it’s a good thing you’ll find “good eats” all throughout the area, including some amazing comfort food favorites!
Before you visit, it’s always a good idea to check hours of operation for attractions, businesses, and restaurants. Our convenient What’s Open page is updated monthly, so you always have the most current information.