Plan A Trip To Aurora, One Of Indiana's Best Small Towns
By Tori Jane|Published July 20, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
If there’s something fun to do in Indiana that doesn’t involve heading out and getting dirty, it’s visiting the delightful small towns you can find just about anywhere. There are TONS of small towns in Indiana that are 100% worth a day trip or, in many cases, a whole weekend or more. One of our favorite escapes is a particular small town in Indiana with plenty to do and see jam-packed into it like the plentiful cookies in your favorite cookies n’ creme ice cream. And, much like ice cream, this little town – a tiny place called Aurora located in Dearborn County – is a sweet surprise.
Aurora, Indiana, goes way back: originally platted in 1819, it was named after the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology of the same name.
It's pretty fitting, too, because this beautiful little piece of the heavens is a day trip worthy of a goddess. It's the perfect mixture of scenic, quaint, charming, and fun, and we think you might love it so much you'll want to live here (same).
It's easily got one of the downright cutest main streets in Indiana and here you'll find countless shops, historic buildings, and other fascinating treasures.
You'll also discover some truly delightful public art installations like the gorgeous Gabbard Riverfront Park Mural, which is truly one of a kind. You won't find this anywhere else in Indiana; it's 100% Aurora, and it's 100% fun.
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History buffs will be intrigued by the old homes and historic buildings, like the Hillforest Mansion, built in 1855 in the Italian Renaissance style.
In addition to the Hillforest Mansion, at least a dozen other buildings in Aurora are on the National Register of Historic Places. Who knew this lesser-known gem was so significant? Well, now you do.
The town has a real sense of camaraderie and a strong feeling of community.
There are always events, festivals, and all sorts of fun stuff going on, especially on the weekends. You'll find some delightful new annual traditions here, and you might just make them yours, too.
Thanks to its placement on the Ohio River, there are lots of water-based adventures to be had, too.
Check out Aurora's splash pad, swimming, marinas, boating, biking, and more! There's so much to do here that you might just need more than a weekend to do it all (we won't judge... can we come too?).
If you're looking for a beautiful, charming small town in Indiana that's worth your time and then some, plan a visit to Aurora ASAP.
It's located just a stone's throw away from Cincinnati, Ohio, in far southeastern Indiana.
Anyone looking for the best small towns in Indiana should start their exploration in Aurora. We promise you won’t regret a minute of it! It’s definitely one of the cuter places we’ve found if you ask us.
