Holiday Weekend in Hamilton County, Indiana

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This time of year seems to fly by and the month of December is always a race to squeeze in all the twinkling lights, hot chocolate, Christmas music and festive fun that one person can manage. That's why I was so excited for the opportunity to head down to Hamilton County, Indiana for a weekend packed full of holiday magic. Read on to discover all my suggestions for exploring Carmel and Noblesville. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Visit Hamilton County. The itinerary was created by me based on personal research and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

---

A Merry Prairie Holiday 

Conner Prairie is one stop that simply can't be missed during your holiday weekend in Hamilton County. Enjoy glittering lights, take a spin on Kringle's Carousel or zoom down the 150-foot Polar Bear Plunge sledding hill. Visit Santa at the North Pole Workshop and take a photo in his sleigh. This year all the activities were outside so be sure to bundle up and wear your walking shoes to enjoy all five magical areas. Holiday treats, hot cocoa and adult beverages are available for purchase. Masks are required at all times throughout the grounds and timed tickets must be purchased online in advance.

---

Ice Skating at Federal Hill Commons

Strap on your skates and hit the ice at Federal Hill Commons. Skate rentals are available on site as well as skate trainers for younger children. No advance tickets are required but there are capacity limits in place for how many people can be on the rink at one time. Once you've purchased your skate rentals you can skate, take a break and come back later in the day for no additional charge. In addition to the ice skating rink, visitors can enjoy a walking light tour, carriage rides, and holiday market as part of Holidays at the Hill. 

---

Stroll the Lights on Monon Blvd. 

Head to the Carmel Arts District for a night full of fun. In addition to great shops and restaurants, be sure to take a stroll down Monon Blvd. to check out the various light displays including a magical lighted tunnel. The area is very walkable and also features some festive music and areas to sit and enjoy the scenery. 

---

Hand Pour a Christmas Candle 

After strolling Monon Blvd. stop at Penn and Beech to create your own holiday scented candle. This is a great activity for small groups and couples and allows you to be very hands on in creating and naming your candle. The staff will walk you through each step and you'll be able to choose from your favorite holiday scents from the fragrance bar including mistletoe, hot cocoa, peppermint bark, Christmas tree, and more! I recommend booking a reservation online in advance and you'll also need to plan for two hours to allow your candles to harden. We came back the next day to pick ours up. 

---

Shop till you Drop 

Whether you're looking to check some people off your shopping list, or just want to treat yourself, shopping local is more important this year than ever before. Both Carmel and Noblesville offer so many unique places to shop, you're sure to find something for everyone. We spent the afternoon in Noblesville wandering around downtown. My top picks are: 

• ​Corner Cottage - a true Christmas Wonderland with a wide variety of home goods, ornaments, candles, signs, and so much more. 
• Wild Bohemian Boutique - I loved the style of this store so much and they had a great selection of unique women's fashion. 
• Bash Boutique - A more upscale shop with a great selection of jewelry and accessories. 

---

Sip on a Festive Coffee

Before you begin shopping, be sure to stop by Noble Coffee Company to start your morning with a festive holiday drink. This adorable coffee shop had all your coffee classics in addition to a variety of speciality drinks. I tried the Carmel Vanilla Frost which was a frozen drink and honestly one of the best coffees I've ever had. 

---

Visit the Cake Bake Shop

Even if you're not dining here, a visit to the Cake Bake Shop is a must during the holiday season to see their gorgeous Christmas decor (it's even better at night). Trust me, there is a reason that it's been named the most beautiful restaurant in the city. If you do want to dine here, be sure to make a reservation well in advance. Or stop by their bakery counter to grab a slice of cake to go. 

---

Where to Eat

Divvy 

If you're a fan of small plate dining - this is the place to be! The have a huge menu and everything I tried was out of this word. I really enjoyed Divvy’s selection of chef inspired boards which paired some of their most popular dishes and took all the stress out of choosing from their extensive menu. I went with the savor board with a side of their stuffed hush puppies with buffalo sour cream. And of course don't forget to try a few of their mini morsel desserts! 

---

Grindstone Public House

During our afternoon shopping in downtown Noblesville, our original lunch destination was closed so we stopped at Grindstone Public House on a whim and am so glad we did. Not your typical bar food menu with a great brunch selection on the weekends. I'm not typically a salad gal but this salmon salad might have changed my mind. And the side of zucchini bread was a great added touch! This was the half salad and I didn't even finish it all. My husband had the chicken tenderloin sandwich (Hamilton County actually has a tenderloin trail) and honestly still talks about how good it was.

---

Pint Room

Our first stop of the trip while exploring the Carmel Arts and Design district was the Pint Room for dinner. If you're a craft beer lover, they have 124 different beers on tap including several from our favorite Michigan breweries. They are also known for their burgers with a rotating "burger of the week." The honey pretzel sticks with queso and mustard for dipping sounded so good I got them as my meal. 

---

Where to Stay

Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel

The Renaissance was our home base for the weekend and was a great place to stay. In addition to being beautifully decoded for the holidays, it was centrally located to all of our activities, was very clean, and made us feel safe the entire stay with strict mask policies in place. Like most hotels during COVID-19, they didn't have in-room housekeeping (which I prefer) and their restaurant was closed for breakfast. However, they did offer a grab and go bagged breakfast and free coffee for guests.