This time of year, you gotta have heart … sugary hearts and hearts of chocolate-covered candy goodness. Miles and miles and miles of heart, if you take the old musical about love and baseball to heart.

Fortunately, Hoosiers have miles and miles and miles of chocolate makers and candy shops where they can find just the right kind of sweet to win the heart of their sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. Each has individual stories as unique as the candies and flavors they produce.

Many, like Charlie’s Caramel Corn and Candy Shop in Vincennes, began simply in home kitchens and by word of mouth. Then there’s Ghyslain Chocolatier on the opposite side of the state in Union City. Its chief chocolatier and namesake, Ghyslain Maurais, is an internationally-trained pastry maker and chef.

Indiana Connection has reconnoitered some of the best places all around the state from where Cupid can aim his love-tipped, candy-covered and creme-filled arrows. No matter if you live in northern, central or southern Indiana, we hope you’ll jump aboard our “Candy Land Trail.” Chart your own course to sample the wares of some of the best Hoosier-based chocolate and candy makers.

We invite you to check out the websites of all the chocolate and candy makers to learn more about their individual histories and stories. And if you discover other Hoosier-based candy and chocolate makers along the way which we missed, drop us a note at info@indianaec.org, and we’ll add them to our website.