1. Food Row

As soon as you get off of I-70, one of the first things you notice are all the restaurants going down US-41. It’s a fast food extravaganza. Did you accidentally miss your favorite restaurant? Don’t worry, there is probably another one two miles down.

2. The North/South Rivalry

After a few months, you start learning about the surrounding Vigo County School System. One of the more electrifying events for Vigo County is the North/South Football Game. Terre Haute goes wild in the days leading up to the game. Choose a side!

3. Trains

There’s a reason why John Dillinger refused to rob banks in Terre Haute: Trains. There seems to be tracks everywhere you go. In all seriousness, it’s only a matter of time before you get railroaded. If you do get railroaded, pray that the train doesn’t come to a full halt.

4. Diesel Fest

The Scheid Diesel Fest: the bane of Terre Haute. There are many cool things that happen at Diesel Fest. Unfortunately, this event comes with hundreds of alcohol-related arrests as well as some interesting people such as “Bottle Girl.”

5. The Winter Crows

In the winter, Terre Haute becomes the pit stop for all crows on their way South. During the day, they hide out across the Wabash in the Wabashiki Swamps. At night, they cross the river and head to the warm buildings of Terre Haute. Be careful when you are walking, you may end up getting crapped on.

6. Music Festivals

Terre Haute is surprisingly a hub for music festivals. From jazz to blues to contemporary classical music, there is bound to be something that will pique your interests.

7. The Shadowlands (West Terre Haute)

Right across the river is West Terre Haute, a place where a lot of students try to avoid (and for good reason). But don’t take my word for it. Take some time and explore the area before you make some judgements

8. Bar Lane

Wabash Avenue offers a wide variety of places to wet your whistle. On the average Friday or Saturday, it’s pretty chill. But on homecoming, it’s a completely different animal. The Walk happens and from 7 AM to noon, all the drunks you can imagine bar crawl all the way to the stadium (which is about three miles away). Want to know what it would be like to live in a post-apocalyptic zombie nightmare? Just get a chair and watch everyone make their way to the stadium.

9. The Wabash River

The Wabash has had a very interesting history. In the 1800s, the Wabash was a huge transportation hub for flatboats carrying supplies and merchandise. Then, it became the source of the most precious freshwater pearls in the world. Nowadays, it’s tragically another contaminated waterway. That separates West Terre Haute with the rest of the city.

10. College Kids

There are so many of us, it’s not even funny. Between Indiana State University, Rose Hulman, Ivy Tech, and St. Mary of the Woods, there are a lot of college students in Terre Haute.