Things to do

70 acres, walkthrough rainforest exhibit, never too crowded. Half-day visit.

Three floors of hands-on exhibits in a beautifully renovated historic building downtown.

Third-oldest professional baseball park in the country. Summer evening tradition.

175-acre regional park with playgrounds, splash pad, lake, paved trails, dog park.

Aquatic center, hiking trails, disc golf, mini golf, picnic shelters.

Paved multi-use trail network through Newburgh — biking, running, strolling.

Mile-plus paved walkway along the Ohio River downtown.

20 minutes south in Kentucky — hiking trails and a small museum.

Paved trail running through the heart of Evansville, connecting parks.

Trailhead and scenic spot in northern Evansville.

Best downtown burger — full bar, lively scene at the old Greyhound depot on Sycamore.

Downtown steakhouse — wood-fired everything, South American influence, dark-wood room on Main Street.

Wood-fired Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizza, plus scratch gelato. East Side institution.

Brewpub on the near west side with a real kitchen — try the scotch eggs. Family-friendly.

Evansville's homegrown doughnut chain since 1967. Drive-thrus open before sunrise. Cinnamon twists and the apple fritter are the move.

Middle-Eastern fusion in a bohemian space on Jennings Street; the deck overlooks the Ohio River.

Frying catfish 'fiddlers' on Hwy. 662 since 1943, paired with corn sticks and a fishbowl of beer.

Breakfast, brunch, and scratch pastries with an Ohio River view from Jennings Street.

Downtown on the riverfront. Rotating art + transportation gallery + planetarium.

Beautifully preserved Victorian mansion; one of the finest in the Midwest.

Galleries, studios, and First Fridays art walks.

Broadway tours, comedy, conferences, concerts.

11,000-seat indoor arena — biggest national tours. Hockey, basketball, family shows.

Frontier League baseball, summer evenings.

Division I hoops at the Ford Center.

SPHL team plays at the Ford Center.

Second-largest street festival in the country. Food, music, parades.

Riverfront — air shows, fireworks, hydroplane races, country music headliner.

Riverfront festival, live music, carnival, fireworks.

Luminaria, parade, lit storefronts. Hallmark-movie material.

One of the biggest classic car gatherings in the Midwest.

About 45 minutes north in Santa Claus, IN. Top-rated wooden coasters, free sunscreen, free unlimited soft drinks, and the largest splash park in the country. Plan an early start — the parking lot fills by 10 AM on summer Saturdays.

Where Abraham Lincoln grew up from age 7 to 21. Free, easy half-day visit. ~50 minutes from Newburgh; combines well with a Holiday World day.

Largest lake in southern Indiana. Boat rentals, paddleboards, fishing, hiking, marina restaurants. ~1 hour northeast.

Just across the river in Kentucky. Hiking trails, a small museum, river views. ~25 minutes south.