Winter Hiking Guide for Brown County, Indiana: The Best Trails & Safety Tips
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Winter Hiking Guide for Brown County, Indiana: The Best Trails & Safety Tips

I’ve discovered a secret since moving to Brown County and I want to share it with you…the best time of year to hike is the winter! Past me would be stunned I’m saying this, but it’s true. Once temperatures drop and the leaves start to fall, not only can you see farther in the woods, but there are also fewer bugs to deal with (and spiderwebs to walk into).

Are you ready to join me in my love of winter hiking? If so, check out this in-depth guide to winter hiking in Brown County, Indiana, including my recommendations for the best trails, all the details you’ll need to choose and plan a hike, plus a few safety tips to keep in mind when hiking in the winter.

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Discovering Brown County's Best Brews: A Coffee and Tea Lover's Guide to Nashville, IN
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Discovering Brown County's Best Brews: A Coffee and Tea Lover's Guide to Nashville, IN

Step into the old-timey charm of Nashville, Indiana by exploring the best coffee and tea shops in town! This in-depth guide shares different ‘categories’ of coffee shops - covering the best of everything from cozy vibes, to sweet treats, to work-friendly locations, and more - along with a winner and runner-up in each category and a brief description of each, to help you choose where to start the day.

So, whether you’re ready to slow down and indulge in a special tea or coffee treat while on vacation in Brown County, or if you’re a local looking for a morning pick-me-up, this guide of all the best coffee and tea shops in Nashville, Indiana is for you!

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Brown County, Indiana: A Year-Round Destination Guide - Monthly Activities & Events
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Brown County, Indiana: A Year-Round Destination Guide - Monthly Activities & Events

In case you don’t already know it, I’m here to tell you that there are great reasons to visit Brown County year-round…from serene winter hikes to vibrant summer festivals, this month-by-month guide uncovers the best activities and events for every season.

Whether you're seeking outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, or cozy moments, Brown County has something special for you every month of the year. So dive into this detailed guide to discover the year-round charm of Brown County, Indiana and start planning your next trip now!

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Best Family and Group Board Games: Our Favorites
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Best Family and Group Board Games: Our Favorites

We love playing games together as a family, especially during the winter months and while we’re traveling. Over the years, we’ve dialed in our game collection and currently have about 30 in rotation.

These games run the spectrum from card games and board games, to dice games, group party games, and more. But one thing that’s true about all of them is that they’re sure to be a good time, every time we play. In this post I’ll share all of our current game favorites, grouped by category, with tips on how to play included.

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Celebrating Christmas and the Holiday Season in Brown County, Indiana
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Celebrating Christmas and the Holiday Season in Brown County, Indiana

Discover the enchanting holiday spirit of Brown County and Nashville, Indiana this Christmas season!

From magical light displays to heartwarming events and one-of-a-kind shops, Brown County offers a unique blend of festive cheer and quaint, small-town charm that you won’t find anywhere else.

So check out this detailed guide for the area’s best Christmas and holiday attractions, and you’ll be sure to create unforgettable holiday memories this year!

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Places to Stay in Nashville & Brown County, Indiana
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Places to Stay in Nashville & Brown County, Indiana

If you’re planning a trip to visit Brown County or Nashville, IN and trying to figure out where to stay, this post is for you! I’m going to cover everything you need to know to make the best choice for you and your group, and find the perfect lodging for your next trip to Brown County.

Whether you’re interested in booking an Airbnb cabin, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, campground, or any other type of lodging, I cover it all here.

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Where to Get Donuts (and Other Breakfast Sweets) in Nashville & Brown County, Indiana
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Where to Get Donuts (and Other Breakfast Sweets) in Nashville & Brown County, Indiana

If you're trying to figure out where to get donuts (or doughnuts), cinnamon rolls, or fried biscuits and apple butter while you're in Nashville and Brown County, IN then you're in the right place! This in-depth post includes a short write-up about each location here where you can find these delicious baked treats, along with links to their websites, social media pages, and a map pin to get you there.

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Map of Shops in Nashville, Indiana
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Map of Shops in Nashville, Indiana

Nashville, Indiana is known for a lot of things and shopping is definitely one of them! There are SO MANY small, independently-owned shops in just the downtown area - over 125 at my last count! - but you can’t rely on Google Maps and Business Listings if you want to find all the shops that are here.

In this post I share lots of tips to make it as easy as possible to ‘shop ‘til you drop’ in Brown County, Indiana and you can access my custom Google Maps layer that shows ALL the shops that are in downtown Nashville, IN. I love this small town and its business owners so much, and I want to make it easy for others to do the same.

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FREE Nashville, Indiana Scavenger Hunt Printable
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

FREE Nashville, Indiana Scavenger Hunt Printable

Are you looking for something FREE, EASY, and FUN to do the next time you're in Brown County, Indiana? Then download my free scavenger hunt printable for the Town of Nashville! The download includes a scavenger hunt with 15 items to find (all walkable in the Town of Nashville), plus clues and a map with the locations in case you want to check your answers at the end.

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Best Free  Things to Do in Brown County & Nashville, Indiana
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

Best Free Things to Do in Brown County & Nashville, Indiana

If you’ve done any traveling recently - or have just been trying to get through normal life - then you know things can get expensive quickly!

I’m always on the lookout for easy, affordable, and *actually enjoyable* things to do that are free or extremely cheap. But it can be a lot of work to figure that out, especially in new places.

That’s why I’ve put together this extensive list of my favorite free and cheap activities in Brown County & Nashville, IN. So, whether you’re just visiting or you live here full time, you can always return to this list for inspiration!

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When Are Peak Fall Foliage Colors in Brown County, Indiana?
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

When Are Peak Fall Foliage Colors in Brown County, Indiana?

Well, it’s that time of year again in Brown County - when the very first leaves are starting to change colors, the air is noticeably cooler in the mornings and evenings, and there’s an unmistakable note of FALL in the air.

This is the same time of year when local message boards and Facebook groups start seeing constant posts asking “When will the best fall leaf colors happen in Brown County, Indiana this year?” as people can try to time their visit to overlap with the most intense fall foliage colors.

So if you’re someone trying to figure out when to visit this fall (or any future fall), while maximizing chances of seeing the stunning fall views that Brown County is famous for, here are a few things to consider.

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What to Do in the Fall in Brown County, Indiana
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

What to Do in the Fall in Brown County, Indiana

Brown County is famous for fall - and for good reason! The colorful foliage, combined with breathtaking views and quaint shops, bring people from all over to enjoy the sights, tastes, and feelings of fall.

If you’re planning a trip to Nashville or Brown County, Indiana this fall you might be wondering what the heck there is to do while you’re here? How can you make the most of your time here and what activities are specific to the fall season?

Well consider this post your guide to all things fall in Brown County, and hopefully you’ll soon have the start of a great plan for your visit!

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10 Travel Essentials to Take With You Wherever You Go
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

10 Travel Essentials to Take With You Wherever You Go

Check out this list of 10 travel essentials that we pack wherever we go, whether we’re camping, going on a long road trip, backpacking in Europe, or taking a simple overnight trip closer to home.

There are so many things to plan for and manage when you’re traveling, why not simplify your life by packing things that really work to make your trip a little easier and more enjoyable? These 10 items are firmly on my “Always Pack” list and I’m on a mission to tell everyone I can about them!

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5 Things You Need to Know for Your Next Trip to Brown County, Indiana
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

5 Things You Need to Know for Your Next Trip to Brown County, Indiana

Brown County and Nashville, Indiana are unique. For many, visiting here feels like a ‘step back in time.’ This is part of its charm and appeal as a destination, but it also means some people may not be prepared for what they’re going to encounter once they get here.

So I decided to pull together this list of five random (but important) tips to share with anyone that’s planning to visit Brown County.

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5 Tips to Have Your Best Visit to Brown County this Fall
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

5 Tips to Have Your Best Visit to Brown County this Fall

If you've ever heard of Brown County, IN then chances are you’ve also heard of it's reputation for beautiful fall foliage and amazing views year round. While that reputation is well-deserved, it also means things can get a *little* crazy around here as people flock here to see the fall colors.

I’ve lived here since 2016 and, in that time, I’ve identified some tips and tricks that can make fall in Brown County more enjoyable and will (hopefully) help you dodge the worst of the crowds and traffic. So if you’re planning a visit to Brown County this fall - or if you live here and just want to enjoy the county without being overwhelmed by tourists - here are the five tips I’d suggest.

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About Us & Our Journey to Brown County
Kara Hammes Kara Hammes

About Us & Our Journey to Brown County

Hi there! I’m Kara and I’ve lived in Nashville, Indiana since late 2016 with my husband and our two daughters. Tanglewood Hideaway is where I share our local favorites, trip planning tips, and other recommendations. But before I dive into sharing all the best things about live and travel in Brown County, Indiana, I’d love to share a bit more about us, and how we got here, first.

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