IN the Parks

It's another special Holidays IN the Parks episode! Your shopping list, wish list, and holiday events are all taken care of! Listen now and you'll be in the know for the best gifts, activities, and family traditions. Holiday Gifts 1. Purchase a 2026 state parks pass 2. Subscribe to Outdoor Indiana magazine HOT TIP: Purchase the state parks Holiday Gift Pack (while supplies last) 3. Buy all the sta...

Get ready for an early Giving Tuesday and amazing examples of generosity and gratitude! You'll hear from Indiana Parks Alliance about how they support all the state parks and nature preserves. They also share practical ways you can support parks. To support Indiana Parks Alliance, visit their website . They're also on Facebook and Instagram . You'll learn from the Friends of Charlestown State Park...

Whitewater Memorial State Park was created to honor WWII veterans and be a place of solace for them and their families. Decades later, the park still offers peace for veterans, their families, and the entire state of Indiana. You’ll find options for camping, water activities, hiking, bridle trails, and events that specially honor veterans. Look for information about Shine a Light On Our Veterans n...

Brown County State Park is the first episode to come in at over an hour, although just barely! Once you listen, you'll see why these stories had to be told together. You'll hear about the trees and peak leaf peeping time, and you'll also learn about the volunteers who have spent thousands of hours helping the park staff clean up from multiple storms and a tornado this spring. There are so many way...

Get ready to face your greatest fears at O'Bannon Woods State Park! Whether you're scared of heights, snakes, the dark, small spaces, or water, this park will help you find some inner courage to overcome those fears. You can climb the fire tower, see Indiana's venomous snakes from a safe distance in the nature center, take a hike down in Wyandotte Caves, or splash around at the aquatic center. You...

Patoka Lake is a massive property with over 26,000 acres! In this episode, we'll explore all the great water activities you'll find there like boating and their commitment to excellent fishing. We'll also spend time out of the water in the campgrounds and on the amazing trails. I biked on the hilly, paved multi-use trail and hiked several beautiful spots in the woods. You'll be transported through...

Join me at beautiful Hardy Lake where you'll find all the water recreation, hiking, or hunting you crave along with the state's largest raptor program! The Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center was once a place to rehabilitate animals and birds of all kinds. Now, their educational birds can be seen at parks and events across the state. Much of the funding for the center comes from the Friends of Hardy...

It’s my birthday AND the podcast’s one year anniversary! So today’s episode is a little different. My friends Halle and Kelcy are hosts of the travel podcast Love It There , and today they are interviewing ME about myself, the podcast, and the parks. Hope you enjoy this conversational episode and get to know me a little better! Plus, I'm excited that you'll now be able to find IN the Parks content...

It's Brookville Lake's 50th anniversary! So grab some cake and ice cream, put on your party hat, and learn how this reservoir has been thriving for half a century. We'll cover the past (fossils and mounds), the present (bluebirds, sandhill cranes, camping, hunting, boating, walleye, hiking, and mountain biking), and discuss the future plans to keep the park a wonderful place! If you want to learn...

Time to go back to Peru, Indiana, to visit another beautiful reservoir property at Mississinewa Lake! There is so much to do here from camping, fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, and so much more. Plus, the Native American history here is information every Hoosier should learn about. If you’re interested in seasonal camping , be sure to enter the lottery when it opens. My boating fans will definite...

Potato Creek State Park has been many things to many people for hundreds of years, and there is so much to discover here! You’ll learn about how bugs helped this park come to life, hear stories of an integrated community pre-Civil War, and find out about the diverse activities and events the park offers. You'll also get the latest info on the inn being built in the park. All of these experiences d...

Cecil M Harden Lake aka Raccoon State Recreation Area aka the Mansfield Dam. They're all the same place, and the place is amazing! In this episode, we're learning some reservoir history and visiting the Mansfield roller mill while getting a little philosophical about change and opportunities. You'll also learn about the trails, fishing, water, and the beautiful campground! If you need to rent a bo...

Keep enjoying that lake life and join me at Salamonie Lake! The park is big enough you’ll find there’s room for every personality, and I've come up with quite a few people who will love this place: Academic, Zoologist, Horse Lover, Trailhead, Happy Camper, Water Baby, Gardener, Hunter & Fisher, Frolfer, and Volunteer! Yup, you’re all welcome here. At Salamonie, be sure to go to the Pirate’s Co...

Come with me to beautiful Chain O' Lakes State Park in Albion, Indiana! This park is absolutely a small boater's paradise thanks to the 5 mile, 9 lake paddling challenge. But it's also a hiker's haven with almost 30 miles of trails and as home to Indiana's only 100 mile trail race, the Indiana Trail 100. I earned my 9 Lakes Challenge shirt, but still need to come back to hit the trails. The park o...

Come with me to Monroe Lake, home to state recreation areas like Paynetown, Fairfax, and many more! Indiana's largest lake has something for everyone -- boating, kayaking, camping, bird watching, hunting, private weekend getaways, and space for groups and families. With its proximity to Bloomington, this is the perfect place for people who want a mix of time in the city and nature. In this episode...

Cagles Mill Lake was Indiana's first reservoir property! Home to Lieber and Cataract Falls State Recreation Areas, this lake is the perfect place for extroverts and introverts. Lieber has lots to do: camping, a beach, pool, nature center, water activities, events, and more. Cataract Falls has Indiana's largest waterfall, a red covered bridge, and creek stomping. Both sites provide picnicking spots...

Summit Lake State Park is the perfect spot to kick off your lake life summer! The lake is where all the action is -- fishing, bird watching, swimming, and boating. But there are also several nice trails and tons of year-round activities for kids and families. Mark your calendar for the Youth Fishing Derby on June 7. Dates and information about Nature's Classroom are on the park's Facebook page . A...

Get to know the rebel state park -- The Shades! But is Shades actually the rugged, rebel, isolated park I think it is? You might be surprised to learn the real history of the property. Yes, there's lore and murder, but there's also innovation, social movements, and my favorite hike in Indiana so far! Plus, we get into astronomy and why Shades is the best place for star-gazing. If you've never been...

I loved learning about fire towers and lookouts in Indiana and across the country. There's so much history here, and I barely scratched the surface! You can learn tons about fire towers at the Forest Fire Lookout Association site . If you want to see a presentation Teena Ligman did in March 2025 about them, including pictures, click here . You’ll hear much of the same information but get the aweso...

The Civilian Conservation Corps, started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, made our state parks what they are today. Not only did these boys (as they were endearlingly called) work in Indiana, but throughout the entire country developing parks, protecting forests, and on soil conservation projects. White, Black, Native American, and Hispanic -- young men from all walks of life left their fingerp...

Come along with me to Pokagon State Park and let's tackle the 8-mile-long Hell's Point Challenge together! We'll learn all about the park including the Pokagon band of the Potawatomi, the CCC young men, the wide variety of park habitats, the Potawatomi Inn, stable barn, toboggan run, and more. We'll also learn a few hacks for how to get the most out of the toboggan run and how you can cheat the sy...

What do a 200 year old grist mill and an astronaut have in common? Quite a lot actually! We head back to Spring Mill State Park to learn about the cultural impact of the place. You'll get a lesson in physics, history, and space travel as we learn about the pioneer village, the mill, and Gus Grissom. Plus, you'll find out what happened to the mill a couple years ago and how the reopening progress i...

Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, IN, offers everything a state park should -- nature, history, and culture. There's so much going on at this park, I had to make two episodes! In Part 1, you'll learn why old growth forests are important, find out what's hiding in the dark cave systems, and discover how you can explore the caves by foot or by boat. You'll also get the backstory on how an unexpect...

On this special Valentine's Day episode, get ready to fall in LOVE with Indiana state parks! All 24 state parks, 8 reservoirs, 2 state forest recreation areas, and 2 off-roading parks add up to 36 properties! Could you hike them all in one year? Get ready to meet 3 Hoosiers who love the parks so much, they had to take on the challenge! They share their tips and tricks for batching parks together,...

Charlestown State Park is a hiker's paradise and a camper's dream! Full of legends, lore, and even a ghost town, Charlestown has plenty of excitement and beauty. The park's new hiking challenge will take you through every single trail, and this episode will too! You'll hear from the challenge creators, park staff, and even the mayor of Charlestown why each trail is worth hiking as we cover the mys...