Note to self: do NOT hit the road before making sure kid #1 has a travel cup of water.  On that note – the historic downtown of Lowell, Indiana rocked my socks.  Seriously – there were so many shops and restaurants you wouldn’t believe it!

First: we walked the strip.  What an incredible selection of shops!  Antiques, resale, and gift shops all down the length of the rather thriving and very bustling downtown strip.  No kidding – there was actual traffic!  Well, what I consider traffic in a small town, anyway.

So – yes, there were shops and very few empty or boarded up buildings!  And, I know this will blow your mind, but – most were even open on Saturday!   The only one that wasn’t (and the one that hubs and the kid were drooling over) was a fantastic train shop!  You know it’s a great little place when there are actually people out and about and actually shopping in the historic downtown!  That’s always a really good sign!

The only issue I saw with the downtown – it seemed a little less than handicapped friendly.  Most of the shops had a step or stairs and the sidewalk itself was quite narrow (I did manage to trip on a step and into a shop which is always a great first impression).  With a little help, though, it shouldn’t be impossible – though it was a bit of a bear every now and then dealing with our stroller.

Did I mention food yet?  This wouldn’t be little Indiana without mentioning the restaurants – and Lowell, Indiana had quite a few!  We received a few recommendations: McVey’s Restaurant and Bar, the new CornerStone Restaurant, and Athens Grill.

Anyway – stay tuned for a more detailed peek into Lowell’s historic downtown shops, that awesome Victorian architecture, the decaying and incredible old public school, and – where we ate (and where you definitely should, too)!

As always, check out my Flickr page for more Lowell photos — seriously, this little place has lots of detail!
Lowell, Indiana; Lake County

View Larger Map

Related posts:

1. Lowell, Indiana: Tish’s Antiques
2. Lionel, American Flyer Find a Home at Spike’s Railhead in Lowell, Indiana
3. Lowell, Indiana High School: Incredible and Crumbling
4. Cornerstone Mansion in Lowell Indiana: My Cup of Tea
5. Athens Grill in Lowell, Indiana: Great Greek