For the traveler who wants to see everything he can along the Nickel Plate Arts Trail, making the journey by road is perhaps the most accessible mode of transportation. The road way is not congested and still offers some beautiful views of rolling farmland and gurgling waterways.

The trail starts on Allisonville Road in Fishers, just north of Indianapolis. The beginning of the trail is just a few miles off exit 5 on I-69.

After rolling past Conner Prairie and through historic downtown Noblesville, the trail continues northward on State Road 19 past Noblesville’s Forest Park. Just north of the park is an area known for its many bogs and used to be abundant in peat.

State Road 19 continues through the waterfront community of Cicero, the small town of Arcadia that used to be the home of the Arcadia Glass Factory, the quaint community of Atlanta, and finally ends in Tipton. Here, travelers will encounter the out-of-the-way unique small-town happenings that make this kind of travel so unique.

Talk to the owner of he Cicero Coffee & Tea Co. about his handcrafted American Indian flutes and cajole him into a demonstration while you’re sipping a cup of brew. Enjoy toe-tapping entertainment in two unique music halls featuring local and national musicians performing in intimate cozy settings. Take a class from resident artisans, and shop for unique gifts. Veer just a few miles off to the west and you’ll find award-winning pies like the nationally recognized Hoosier Cream.

Winding through the land where such historic artisans as the Brehm brothers, Granville Bishop, Gordon Olvey, and Norman Norell once lived and worked, the Nickel Plate Arts Trail is steeped in history and tradition as well as the creativity, charm and hospitality of today’s artisans. Take a day (or two) and experience the food, culture, and heritage of the trail for yourself!