Making Merry in Madison Indiana

I just love visiting small towns. Especially at Christmas time!

Strolling down quaint streets. Popping in and out of festively decorated shops. Lounging in cafes as Christmas music plays.

It really gets me in the holiday spirit!

Madison, Indiana is one of the small towns we enjoy visiting several times throughout the year, but it is particularly charming during the holidays.

Instead of fighting the traffic at the malls this year on Black Friday, we got a jump start on supporting Small Businesses with a day trip to Madison in southeast Indiana.

First There Will Be Wine

The Lanthier Winery is one of my favorites! Then again, I love most wineries! This one has a variety of fabulous wines, but they also have great ambiance.

During the holidays every nook and cranny of the 2 story winery is decked out with themed Christmas trees. Santa and his elves really go berserk at Lanthier Winery!

The trees come in all different shapes and sizes with every theme imaginable. From a Colts tree to an Elvis tree to a farm animal tree to a circus-themed tree.

Interspersed among the festive trees you will find several tables where you can relax and enjoy a glass or two of wine.

You may even be joined by the winery’s friendly cat.

I named him Tipsy. (That isn’t his actual name, but after I enjoyed some wine myself, I thought it was fitting!)

The wine selection at Lanthier Winery includes several options for every kind of wine palate. I generally stick to the sweeter wines, and I honestly liked everything I tried.

Free tastings make it easy to explore the full range of options.

Since I was in the holiday spirit, I started with their just-released, limited holiday wines: St. Nicholas Blush, Snowflake White, and Rudolph Red.

The holiday wines all fall in the sweet category, so they were right up my alley. And with their decorative holiday labels, they make the perfect hostess gift.

I also sampled 3 or 4 of their standard sweet wines, and then ordered a glass of St. Nicholas Blush to savor while taking in all the colorful trees.

It’s always a good idea to stock up on wine over the holidays, so we went in on a case of wine with my in-laws.

We were able to mix and match to get a variety of bottles that pleased everyone’s palates, and we got the case discount.

Wine and saving money…both high on my list of priorities!

Chow Time

After all that wine, we decided it was a good idea to get some food in our bellies.

With a few football fans in our party of 4, we opted for a restaurant on Main Street where we could catch a bit of the game while we fueled up for shopping.

Shooters provided just the right atmosphere and a wide range of pub style food. I thoroughly enjoyed the buffalo chicken sliders and waffles fries, while the rest of the table raved about the burgers.

Tis the Season for Shopping

Now it was time for some serious shopping! And Madison provides numerous boutiques, antique stores, and confectionaries along several blocks on Main Street. Ideal for browsing and checking items off your holiday gift list.

I was thrilled to see that red Christmas trucks were still very much in fashion. So at The Floating Cow, I let my husband buy me this adorable magnetic Christmas countdown!

After roaming in and out of dozens of shops, we relaxed for a bit as we enjoyed some hot beverages at The Red Roaster Coffee & Eatery.

Then, with tired feet and a bit of damage on our credit card, it was time to hit the road and head home.

Next Time

We will definitely make it back to Madison, Indiana again next year. I hear there are some wonderful Bed and Breakfast’s in the area, so I think a weekend getaway sounds perfect.

I toured the Lanier Mansion several years ago, but my husband has never been. So that is also on the Madison to-do list.

The Lanier Mansion was the 1840’s home of a wealthy and influential financier. It was very extravagant for that time and continues to be an iconic Indiana landmark.

We hear The Red Pepper Deli is the eatery locals love, so we may have to check that out as well. And while we are in Madison, a return trip to the winery is a must!

What small towns do you love to visit during the holidays? Comment below to share your favorite small towns.

Happy Holidays!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

P.S. Be sure to subscribe to my email list (at the top of the screen) so you will never miss out on any of Traveling Tanya’s exciting excursions or travel tips!