By Glenda Winders

Travelers often make their plans around cities, but sometimes the real feel of a region turns out to be in communities a few miles away. My husband and I found this to be true during a recent trip to Indianapolis. Instead of turning east from the airport into the city we went a few miles west and found ourselves in Hendricks County, whose smaller towns gave us immediate access to Indiana culture.

To get a taste of the area's past we headed first for the Hendricks County Historical Museum in Danville, which wasn't like any other museum we'd ever visited. The building was formerly the sheriff's home and the county jail. We got to experience what being incarcerated here between 1866 and 1974 would have been like, and then we toured the adjoining home, where the sheriff and his "matron" wife lived. Here some of the rooms are decorated as they would have been in the 1940s and '50s. Others house special exhibits and displays about local groups and events.

The museum is just a couple of blocks from downtown, so we spent some time poking through several unusual locally owned shops that surround the courthouse square. Sage Home offers elegant home accessories, and at Seize the Night were unusual and affordable custom-made pieces of jewelry. Gallery on the Square is a co-op owned and operated by 31 local artists.

It is also possible to make art here. One of our favorite places was Hot Blown Glass, a "humble little hot shop," according to artist and owner Lisa Pelo. Here we were able to choose our favorite colors and make our own glass pumpkins and gourds under the careful instruction and watchful eyes of Pelo and her assistant. This is a working studio, shop and gallery, so visits and lessons must be booked ahead.

Another fun local spot was Beasley's Orchard, where a third generation of the family picks and packages 22 varieties of apples and other produce in their Civil War-era barn. They open each spring during strawberry season and wind up in the fall with hayrides and apple cannons. At that time their pumpkin patch and corn maze are open, and they host the Heartland Apple Festival with local arts, crafts, food and music.

"Doctor Who" fans will find another unexpected gem here in central Indiana — Doctor Who North America, now the only store in the world that exclusively sells licensed merchandise related to the popular show. They can also enjoy a museum filled with items related to the 50 years of its production.

If we thought we were sacrificing good food and interesting places to eat for this brief peek at down-home Hoosier life we were very much mistaken. Breakfast one morning was at the Oasis Diner, where they say their dishes come with "a side of history." This '50s-era cafe is decorated with old license plates, vintage lunch boxes and a juke box. They claim to have the best tenderloin in town, and they craft their own soft drinks to make sure customers don't get any high-fructose corn syrup. Flavors include butter beer and red creme soda.

Two very different lunch spots also delivered what they promised. For sheer entertainment along with good food there's the Mayberry Cafe, where dishes such as Floyd's Fish Sandwich, Goober's Chicken Sandwich and Aunt Bea's Sugar Cream Pie top the menu. Waitresses wear sheriffs' badges and write out tickets for infractions such as not cleaning your plate. Old TV sets run episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show," walls are covered with posters and a vintage squad car parked outside completes the fantasy. The show was owner Brad Borne's favorite, and he and his wife, Christine, moved to Danville because they thought it seemed as simple and decent as the fictional North Carolina town.

A completely different but equally enjoyable breakfast and lunch spot is the Bread Basket Cafe and Bakery. Their focus is on fresh and locally grown food, with offerings such as Orchard Salad, Chicken Salad Croissant and Apricot Pistachio Granola. Their homemade breads, pies and pastries are beautiful and delicious. I confess to trying the decadent Cinnamon Roll French Toast — so good.

Locally made libations are also part of the scene. We sampled beers called Nuttercup and Milkshake at Brew Link Brewing and finished off the evening with a visit to the Chateau Thomas Winery. Fortunately it was within walking distance of our hotel!

WHEN YOU GO

For more information: www.visithendrickscounty.com

Glenda Winders is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.