About This Road Trip
Enjoying Arts & History
Don’t miss Jeffersonville’s newest point of interest, the NoCo Arts and Cultural District, home to artists, makers, historians and inventors. Catch a Broadway musical or lighthearted comedy at Clarksville’s Derby Dinner Playhouse, one of the oldest and largest continually operating professional dinner theaters in the country. After a homestyle dinner, the stage comes alive with lights, costumes, a live orchestra and professional performers. In New Albany, tour the 20,000-square-foot Culbertson Mansion, featuring 25 rooms, hand-painted ceilings, a carved staircase and elaborate plasterwork. Its original owner, William Culbertson, rose from being a dry goods clerk to one of the wealthiest men in the state in the late 1800s.
Wines & Brews
There’s something for everyone at Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyard & Starlight Distillery. You can explore their 650 acres of orchards and vineyards, tour the award-winning winery and distillery, and sample wines and spirits. You can let them do the cooking at Starlight Cafe and have homemade ice cream, many made with their own fruits. Floyd County Brewing is several destinations in one, with a full-service family restaurant, a taproom and a garden bar with wooded beer garden. Pints & Union is a great place to relax over classic cocktails, small plates and comfort beers. The New Albanian Brewing Company’s Public House & Pizzeria features at least 25 hand-selected draft beers and about 250 bottled beers.
Living in Luxury at a B&B
Built in 1851 and restored in 2013, New Albany’s Pepin Mansion offers you elegance and historic charm, as well as a sumptuous breakfast. The home was built by Victor Pepin Jr., a lawyer and banker who was also the son of a well-known traveling circus owner. Jeffersonville is home to Market Street Inn, a three-story Second Empire 1881 mansion located just a block from the Ohio River. All guest rooms have a fireplace and private bath, and the chef prepares your three-course gourmet breakfast at your selected time choice. The home has a storied past, including being the “Old Ladies Home” for Civil War widows.
Exploring State Parks
You can explore the beautiful waterfalls, learn about the area’s history and hunt for fossils at Falls of the Ohio State Park. Way back when, folks traveled to the area to Rose Island Theme Park to play golf, dance, see zoo animals and enjoy the rides before the Great Depression ran it out of business. Today the park lies in ruin on a trail in Charlestown State Park, but you can explore it and read the signs explaining what each of the remains were in their heyday.
Rivertown Dining
You'll love the atmosphere as much as the food at these one-of-a-kind restaurants. In downtown New Albany, try The Exchange Pub + Kitchen for seasonal food, hand-crafted cocktails and 12 rotating craft beers on tap or Brooklyn and the Butcher for small plates and big steaks. Have a Jeffersonville riverview when you dine at Bella Italia, specializing in authentic Italian dishes created with local and imported ingredients, or when you have a backyard bbq while playing games at Union Restaurant and GameYard. You can visit Adrienne & Co. Bakery & Cafe in either New Albany or Jeffersonville for breakfast, lunch and their famous cakes and cupcakes.
