Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fairmount
This small town, north on Hwy 9, is the birthplace of James Dean, one of the original
icons of cool. Fans should head directly to the
Fairmount Historical Museum
(
765-948-4555;
www.jamesdeanartifacts.com
;
203 E Washington St; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, from
noon Sun Apr-Oct)
to see Dean's bongo drums, among other artifacts. This is also
the place to pick up a free map that will guide you to the farmhouse where Jimmy grew
up and his lipstick-kissed grave site, among other sights. The museum sells Dean posters,
zippo lighters and other memorabilia, and sponsors the annual
James Dean Festival
(
late Sep)
, when as many as 50,000 fans pour in for four days of music and revelry.
The privately owned
James Dean Gallery
(
765-948-3326;
www.jamesdeangallery.com
;
425 N Main St;
9am-6pm)
has more memorabilia a few blocks away.
Columbus
When you think of the USA's great architectural cities - Chicago, New York, Washing-
ton, DC - Columbus, Indiana, doesn't quite leap to mind, but it should. Located 40 miles
south of Indianapolis on I-65, Columbus is a remarkable gallery of physical design.
Since the 1940s the city and its leading corporations have commissioned some of the
world's best architects, including Eero Saarinen, Richard Meier and IM Pei, to create
both public and private buildings. Stop at the
visitor center
( 812-378-2622;
www.columbus.in.us
; 506 5th St; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat year-round, noon-5pm Sun Mar-Nov, closed
Sun Dec-Feb)
to pick up a self-guided tour map ($3) or join a two-hour bus tour (adult/
child $20/10) departing at 10am Monday to Friday, 10am and 2pm Saturday and 2:30pm
Sunday. Over 70 notable buildings and pieces of public art are spread over a wide area
(car required), but about 15 diverse works can be seen on foot downtown.
Hotel Indigo
( 812-375-9100;
www.hotelindigo.com
;
400 Brown St; r $135-180;
)
, downtown, offers the chain's trademark mod, cheery rooms, plus a fluffy white dog
who works as the lobby ambassador (he even has his own email address). A few blocks
away you can grab a counter stool, chat up the servers, and let the sugar buzz begin at
11am-8pm)
, a 1909 soda fountain.
Nashville
Gentrified and antique-filled, this 19th- century town west of Columbus on Hwy 46 is
now a bustling tourist center, at its busiest in fall when leaf-peepers pour in. The
visitor
