I was born in a log cabin in a small town in Indiana. I lived on 60 acres of family property in the middle of nowhere. I went to a teeny, tiny high school where I knew pretty much every person in the school. And I hated it. Whenever I finally graduated high school, I ran as fast as I could away from Indiana, even if it was just across the river to Kentucky. At the time, I thought living in Louisville was a serious luxury. Now that I'm back in Indiana, I'm realizing that it really is not as bleak as I had thought. Here are some of the reasons why I think Indiana is actually pretty nice.

1. The most amazing and fun coffee shop in the whole USA is located here

Coffee Crossing! Their staff is amazing and hilarious. It is rumored that the staff all turned down offers to be on "Saturday Night Live" because they just loved their jobs as baristas too much.

2. The people are extremely friendly

When I lived in Louisville, I was a tiny bit afraid to run down the street because I knew that at least once, someone was going to holler something weird at me. In Indiana, I can run down the street at night and no one will say a thing, not even a deer

3. The Harvest Homecoming Festival in New Albany

They have this HUGE (fake) pumpkin you can look at, if you're into that kind of thing. They also have a heck ton of beer that you can purchase. If you're like me and your 21st birthday is less than two weeks before Harvest, then it is your lucky year and that is cause for celebration! Drink all of the beer!

4. The Charlestown State Park

It's a beautiful park located in the wonderful city of Charlestown. Don't believe anything you've heard about this city! The only thing you need to believe is that the park is gorgeous. There are 6 trails, varying from easy to rugged. Honestly, any free time you have from the fall to the spring should be spent hiking at this park.

5. The Big 4 Walking Bridge in Jeffersonville

It's literally a giant bridge that you can walk across if you ever have a longing to not be in Indiana anymore. You walk across that bridge and you are suddenly in Kentucky. Wow, what a world we live in that we can walk across bridges without getting hit by a car.

6. The Maple Syrup Festival

Do you like maple syrup? I hope so, because you can purchase even more than a year's supply at this festival in Salem, Indiana. They have sheep and llamas and pretty much everything you have ever dreamed of. You can even make candles, throw a tomahawk, and use a saw to cut a log. If you've ever dreamed of being a lumberjack for even a second, this is your place to go.

I hope now you're thinking, "hey, this Indiana place really is not so shabby. It is kind of neat. It's making me really wish it was fall, though." If that is what you are thinking, then I have been successful.