IN the Parks

The Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site is one of the most impactful places I've visited in Indiana. Their home was a stop on the Underground Railroad where 1,000 to 2,000 freedom seekers stopped on their escape north to freedom. Levi was called the President of the Underground Railroad by a slave catcher, an honorific he humbly accepted. The historic site provides insights to the Co...

Vincennes, Indiana, is the perfect spot to learn about the birthplace of Indiana! What I learned in 4th grade Indiana history pales in comparison to the trove of information I received! The Indiana State Museum has several historic sites in Vincennes you'll definitely want to visit. I got tours of the Territorial Capital, the Old French House, Jefferson Academy, Elihu Stout Print Shop, Thompson Ho...

I am so excited for Season 3 where we'll be visiting the Indiana State Museum's 11 historic sites around the state. So many of these sites are just a stone's throw away from a state park, AND the historic sites were once managed by Indiana DNR. Today we'll hear from Cathy Ferree, the president of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. She shares her background, her passion for Indiana histor...

Come with me to one more national park, the Grand Canyon! This park definitely lives up to the hype. We loved walking along the rim to look down into the canyon, but I especially loved hiking down part of Bright Angel Trail! You'll also hear about Monument Valley and finding a place where Forest Gump was filmed, plus seeing all sorts of wild animals (hummingbirds, California condors, and elk) in t...

Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, was our 5th stop in Utah's Mighty 5. We took on strenuous hikes and kid-friendly adventures! Arches has a spectacular entrance, accessible and back country hiking, a sizable nature center, and hundreds of arches. We loved spending a day and a half here! (Note: there are a TON of ravens in this park, and they will definitely come around if you have food. And even...

My family and I are hitting our 4th of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks. We’re going to Canyonlands National Park, not far outside Moab. It was certainly a wilderness playground between the hiking, canyons, and offroading opportunities. We hiked trails at Grand View Point Overlook and Mesa Arch before taking on the famous Shafer Trail. Driving the Shafer Trail means managing switchbacks, passing car...

Join me and my family on a trip to Capitol Reef National Park near Torrey, Utah. We stayed in Conestoga wagons at Broken Spur Inn before spending the day in the park. The park's geology is very interesting and to truly understand it, be sure you stop at the visitor center. Our "must do" trails include Goosenecks Overlook, Sunset Point, and Hickman Bridge. Plus, be sure to stop and see the petrogly...

On my family trip to the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks, our next stop is Bryce Canyon National Park. This park left a lasting impression on all of us; it was definitely a favorite! We got to enjoy Astronomy Fest events on our first night there, taking advantage of the park’s Dark Sky status.  We were in awe of the hoodoos, unique rock formations all throughout the amphitheater. (Note: Bryce Ca...

Join me and my family in Zion National Park! We hike the trail to The Narrows, Emerald Pools, and Court of the Patriarchs on our day in the park. I’ll give you our park strategy, tips, mistakes, regrets, and memories while sharing some info about the park. There are thousands of resources online about Zion from people who have spent considerable time there. Don’t get lost in all the options; just...

It's time for Season 2, and I'd like to invite you to join me and my family on a road trip! We're headed to Utah's Mighty 5 National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches. Plus, we'll finish at the Grand Canyon. While there are no National Parks staff interviews, you'll hear from my family what we did, what we wish we'd done, and what we learned. I'll share information a...

On this Season 1 wrap-up episode, you’ll hear from me about ALL the parks. I’ll share my park “stats” and give you my top recommendations for the ideal parks for hiking, paddling, animal lovers, kids, and more! You’ll learn about the 4 things that make hiking horrible and hear about my 5 favorite experiences. Plus, I’m sharing my Top 20 lessons learned from the Indiana State Parks. Finally, you’ll...

Come discover what may truly be Indiana State Park's hidden gem: Trine State Recreation Area. The beautiful property is just minutes away from Pokagon State Park, and we have a woman named Helen Swenson to thank for the personality and style at each park. Helen's hand-drawn maps of each property still exist. Her attention to detail and intention in every design choice reflect a deep love for natur...

Let’s go for a ride or walk along the Monon South, stopping in 6 small towns along the trail. We’ll get breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks, and plenty of activity along the way! And best of all, you’ll be close to several state parks, so consider adding in these communities to your visit to Spring Mill State Park, Deam Lake, or Patoka Lake! Below are events or places I visited and recommend...

Indiana Dunes State Park is our most visited park and has been loved for over a hundred years! But do you even know what a dune is? Or why they're important? Or the people we have to thank for the park's creation? What about the shipwreck offshore? And how many birds migrate along Lake Michigan every year? You're about to discover there's a lot more that makes the dunes special than you know! If y...

It's my 50th episode! Hooray! To celebrate, we're hearing from Brandt Baughman, the Indiana State Parks Director. Brandt grew up going to Spring Mill and spent time working there, at Ouabache, and at Indiana Dunes before moving into management roles. After 36 years, he's now the director of all Indiana's state parks. I loved learning about his deep family connections to Spring Mill, what he's exci...

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area is an intimate, beautiful property where it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture! The lake perfectly reflects the trees and rolling knobstone escarpments. The lakefront camp sites are highly sought after, and the trails and access to neighboring Jackson-Washington State Forest offer exciting challenges for hikers. What's really special about this park and s...

Come with me to Tippecanoe River State Park where there is so much to discover! Hear about the history, fire tower, diverse ecosystems, wildlife, camping, generous community, and activities at this beautiful park. I learned about the Works Progress Administration (later renamed Works Projects Administration) on several sites: Britannica , PBS , the state of North Dakota , Indiana DNR . Go for a ri...

Shakamak State Park is a park for campers: group camps, cabins, campgrounds, primitive camping, and even deluxe duplex cabins! You'll hear from some of the park's camp hosts (who are also Friends group volunteers) about how they developed a community in the campground and created their family by choice! Check out the Friends of Shakamak site to save the date for Christmas in July and the October H...

The extended Knobstone Hiking Trail is Indiana's 160-mile long trek through the southern part of the state. It includes the original Knobstone Trail, the Pioneer Trail, Hoosier National Forest Trail, and Tecumseh Trail. These four sections wind through the hilliest parts of the state to show off the amazing beauty of Indiana. Ready to hike parts (or all!) of it? Get maps, tips, segment ideas, pict...

Redbird Off-Road State Recreation Area in Dugger, IN, is another epic spot for driving, riding, and hiking! This park provided me with a chance to be a little braver than I wanted to be, but was I ready to take advantage of it? If you visit Redbird to ride, don’t forget the park fees are a little different. You’ll need to pay a different (but still small) fee if you plan to take a motorized vehicl...

Turkey Run State Park may be Indiana's best-loved park! It was cherished by the Lusk family, the white settlers who owned the land in the 1800s. Later, the community fought to keep it as a park instead of letting a lumber company get their hands on it. The creator of our state parks system, Colonel Richard Lieber, also had a very strong connection to the property. There's something about the rugge...

Head to Southern Indiana to visit Deam Lake! You'll enjoy time on the water and discover it's the gateway to more trail systems than you'd expect! Horse riders and hikers can camp at Deam Lake and access Clark State Forest, for more miles of exploring. The Knobstone Trail's southern terminus is at Deam Lake, and the Monon South has a trailhead here too. You'll also learn that Deam Lake is named fo...

Get ready for an off-roading adventure at Interlake, one of two off-road state recreation areas in Indiana. Interlake OSRA offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-roading, fishing, kayaking, hunting, and more! It's a stunningly beautiful park whose history is literally visible on the land. Learn how this property went from surface coal mining to an exciting off-road experience! I did...

Before he was the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln was a kid growing up in southern Indiana. From ages 7 to 21, he was shaped by his experiences in the forests and farmlands of our state. Those formative moments from his childhood developed him into our country's leader. Learn a few stories from Abe's childhood and consider how your own childhood has influenced you. Learn about the events and proje...

Travel to the southwest corner of Indiana to visit Harmonie State Park! We'll learn about their big trees, the park's features, how several groups tried to create harmony on earth here, and the charming town of New Harmony. We also discover how Harmonie is part of the story of Indiana's state insect, Say's Firefly. (Here's a ton more info about fireflies!) In New Harmony, I highly recommend a visi...