Hotel at a Glance: Cornerstone Inn

The inn was opened in 1993 to honor six generations of their Brown County ancestors, naming each of the 37 guest rooms after a member of the family.

• Prime location: The inn is just one block off Main Street.
• Antique furniture adorns each individually decorated guest room.
• A hearty breakfast with homemade hot entree, pastries, coffeecake, fresh fruit bar, and granola is served every morning in the dining room.
• Complimentary coffee, tea, spiced cider, fruit, and popcorn is available 24/7.
• Have your cake and eat it too: The innkeepers set out homemade dessert every evening from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Award winner: The inn received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2014.

Nashville, Indiana: Small Town with an Artistic Temperament

Rolling hills and valleys lead the way to Nashville, Indiana, a country town just half an hour east of Bloomington. Charming bed and breakfasts line the streets here, and the rugged beauty of central Indiana is just a stone’s throw from Main Street.

The town may be best known for the Brown County Art Colony, which once included membership from established painters such as T. C. Steele and Gustave Baumann. Today, the former colony has evolved into the Brown County Art Guild, which maintains a permanent collection of works from the guild founders, as well as rotating exhibitions from local artists.

Just 5 miles from the inn is Brown County State Park, Indiana’s largest state park, which sprawls across the region’s undulating topography. Occasional spikes in elevation provide excellent hiking opportunities, as well as sweeping views from lookout points. Winter is a nice time to visit, when the park feels quiet and secluded; the bare trees also make spotting wildlife much easier.

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