Journal Travel | Your local e-newspaper

While Illinois styles itself "Land of Lincoln," Indiana rightfully can make a similar claim. Abraham Lincoln lived in Spencer County in southern Indiana from age seven until his 21st year.

Learn more about the formative years of the man who would become 16th president at sites that include Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln State Park, Lincoln Pioneer Village and Buffalo Run Farm (where Lincoln's cousin, Denis Hanks, once lived). View its herd of bison---some weighing as much as 2,400 pounds---and try a grilled bison burger (leaner than even chicken or turkey).

Another well-known gent makes his home in this undulating, wooded country along the scenic Ohio River Valley. That would be Santa Claus, who lives in the hamlet that bears his name.

It acquired that name in 1852 when, as the story goes, a group gathered around a wood-burning stove on Christmas Eve to discuss the prickly subject of naming their community. Suddenly, the church door blew open and tinkling sleigh bells were heard. "It's Santa," said the children. Though the source remained a mystery, the community now had its name. Every year, around the holidays, about 500,000 pieces of mail are received at the town's tiny post office. Each holiday season, a different picture postmark is offered by the nation's only "Santa Claus Post Office."

Theme parks were barely a gleam in Walt Disney's eye in 1946 when Evansville industrialist Louis J. Koch opened at Santa Claus the forerunner of Holiday World. Koch had planned to debut his park in the early 1940s, but World War II intervened. After the war, he opened the park with the help of son Bill, naming it Santa Claus Land. Included was a toy shop, toy displays, themed children's rides, restaurant and, of course, Santa.

Over the decades, the park flourished as children from across the country came to sit on the real Santa's knee. As the park expanded, it created Halloween and Fourth of July sections. With its broadening themes, its name was changed to Holiday World. Larger rides were added and Splashin' Safari waterpark debuted in 1993. Today, Holiday World is home to a trio of wooden roller coasters, including The Voyage, ranked best on the planet.

Holiday World/Splashin' Safari offers a scaled-down, manageable theme park that, family run for three generations, is an ideal family destination. Instead of occupying a slab of sun-baked concrete, the pretty park is tucked into rolling countryside planted with oaks, maples, and hickory that provide plenty of leafy shade. It is kept immaculately clean and offers stations with free soft drinks, water and sunscreen. Even the food is extraordinary---such as well-made taco salads at a Mexican stand with umbrella-shaded seating. It probably is the only theme park with Lincoln's signature permanently on display.

Should you miss out on this season's fun (though Holiday World is open weekends until Oct. 12), you might plan a visit in December. While it is too chilly for water rides, it is ideal weather for Santa, who is feted at the Santa Claus Festival (Dec. 13-14).

For a large helping of Lincoln lore and legend, travel to nearby Lincoln City. There, alongside Little Pigeon Creek, is the homestead where Abraham Lincoln spent his formative years, from 1816 to 1830. The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial includes museum, orientation film narrated by Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, the gravesite of the president's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Five sculptured bas-relief panels illustrate the stages of Lincoln's life that carried him from cabin to the White House. During summer months, log buildings at a living history farm are staffed by interpreters who allow visitors to try their hand at breaking flax, splitting wood and making butter.

You'll learn how "Milksick" struck the pioneer settlement, as it did many frontier communities. Milksick is poisoning that develops when a person drinks the milk or eats butter made from the milk of an animal that has ingested a plant known as white snakeroot. Most often, the illness was fatalÑas it was for Lincoln's mother.

In the deep green woods of Lincoln State Park is a just-modernized amphitheater. It is scheduled to reopen in June 2009 with the world premiere of a new production focusing on Lincoln. Plans are to package the show with a pre-curtain dinner.

At Rockport, Lincoln Pioneer Village has 14 replica Lincoln-era cabins, including one that Lincoln lived in as a youth. A newly remodeled museum displays period clothing and includes a hutch built by Thomas Lincoln (Abe's father), a skilled cabinet-maker. Rockford is where Lincoln, as a teenager, won his first court case, representing himself. Hollywood came calling in 1955 and used the village extensively in the movie, The Kentuckian (with Burt LancasterÑwho also directedÑand Walter Matthau). Check out a huge mural depicting scenes from the film.

Try dinner at The Chateau at Mariah Hill, but don't be misled by the grandiose name. This is your basic tavern with a companionable bar, flavorful steaks and good fried chicken. Find family-friendly accommodations at the Comfort Inn & Suites at Rockford, which offers a pool and a complimentary breakfast buffet (with boiled eggs and do-it-yourself waffle-making).

IF YOU GO...

Information: Spencer County Visitors Bureau (888) 444-9252, www.LegendaryPlaces.org; Indiana Tourism Hot Line (800) 884-4612, www.enjoyindiana.com.

Mileage: Santa Claus is approximately 360 miles south of Chicago.