SANTA CLAUS — My wife, 17-year-old daughter and I had been to Florida twice already this year; once for a soccer tournament, the other for Spring Break.

Our vacation time seemed like it had already been gobbled up for the year.

But summer has it own demands. By decree of the season, families must take a break from jobs and schools.

We opted to explore southern Indiana on a three-day midweek getaway. We’d previously been through the Holiday World amusement park and Abraham Lincoln sites but never stayed long enough to get to know the area.

This time we stayed one night at the Lake Rudolph RV camp next to Holiday World and the next at the comfy Leavenworth Inn bed and breakfast along the Ohio River.

We soared as high as 135 feet to slide down the new Pilgrims Plunge water chute and as deep as 200 feet underground to walk through Marengo Cave. We kept the whole drive to about 520 miles and still managed to get back to work on a Friday.

Day One: Logging Lincoln

The two historical figures battling for recognition in this area are the teenage Abe Lincoln and the ageless Santa Claus.

On our first day, we decided to give Abe his due.

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial on Indiana 162 is an efficient memorial honoring the years (1816-1830) that Abe lived on his family farm.

After the four-hour drive from Anderson, kids of any age will be ready to run the half-mile trail from the welcome center to a working historical farm. While there, follow the Trail of 12 Stones with bricks and rocks from various Lincoln-related sites.

That evening, we caught a dress rehearsal for the new play, “Lincoln,” at the Lincoln State Park located across the highway from the national memorial. The play opened to the public June 12. (See accompanying article.)

We traipsed back and forth between the Lincoln sites and the town of Santa Claus, all within five miles of one another.

Santa Claus, the town, was known as Santa Fe in 1852 when locals wanted to set up a post office. But there was already an Indiana designation with that name. As lore goes, townspeople gathered in a church to discuss their dilemma. A wintry wind blew open the doors. They heard sleigh bells and came up with Santa Claus.

That first night, we stayed at Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Resort, checking into a snug rental RV that could sleep eight. The campground opened in 1958 to accommodate Holiday World visitors and now has 216 rentals for families, 200 hook-up sites and 40 tent sites.