This is a nice little park in Batesville. The trails are short and easy to hike. They had a paved…read moreloop as well as some gravel trails through the woods. Two of the trails were closed, maybe due to the rain? There is a map right next to the parking lot, plenty of benches to enjoy the view or rest.

I decided to take a break from driving and stopped by Brum Woods in Batesville. There is a lot to…read morelove about this place: Whether its the contact with nature you get walking through this former farmland turned woods, or you like the beautifully maintained trails, or appreciate the total accessibility of Trail #1 with its wide paved path with practically no elevation change, this park is great! There is a small parking lot for guests on the east side of the park. From there you can check out the information board at the trailhead that lets you know how long each of the loops are. (They even tell the distance for the connection loops!) The park is divided by a road, so Trail #1 (Lena's Loop) is fully paved and wide enough for a vehicle to drive on, but of course, those are prohibited. The loop is 0.6 miles long and goes through the maturing forest and then opens up to a small prairie area on the west end by the division road. Along the way, you can read the story of Lena Brum who lived on the land and was quite a character who insisted the land not be developed when she left it to the city. Across the division road are three more trails (not sure why there isn't a Trail #3). Those trails are a bit longer, but are unpaved. For the sake of preservation, no hikers or bikers are allowed on these trails when they are wet, so you have to watch the sign at that trailhead to see if the trails are open or closed. Sadly for me, they were closed on my visit, so I can't give you much information about their condition / attributes. It would be nice if they let you know at the first trailhead that the other trails were closed before hiking over to the second. Since it was early spring, the trees weren't in their full foliage, so the views weren't as beautiful as I would have hoped, but the next time I am in the area, I will hope it is dry and that I can make a return visit to this park. Review #2454

The playground at Liberty Park reminds me of the playground equipment that I grew up with in the…read more1980s / early 1990s. Just, like, groups of metal bars that require you to use your imagination, because otherwise they're just bleak and cold and hard objects standing in the middle of a field. This park has metal monkey bars and metal slides, a metal geometric dome and a metal merry-go-round -- all of the metal things. I imagine that this playground might be a little hot to the touch in the summer, but when we visited in late winter, it was perfectly pleasant. But only 3/4 of the playground is old-school playground equipment. The other 1/4 is updated plastic. However, for some reason, my children spent very little time in the updated playground area, and opted for the metal area. Very interesting. This park has lots going for it. It has an enormous sheltered picnic area that seems like it would be good for group events. It has a colorful basketball court with four hoops. There's also a baseball field, disc golf / frisbee golf (frolf) course, a gaga ball court, a walking path, a man-made lake, and a little fairy house by the playground parking lot. Liberty feels like a big park but is also a quaint part of the community. We had a good time visiting.

Liberty Park is a good sized park in Batesville with plenty for the whole family to enjoy! The…read moreplayground is pretty large in size and has quality looking equipment for the kiddos. I noticed they even had swings for kids with disabilities! Definitely worth a stop if you have kiddos. There's a baseball field and soccer field in the park, as well as some frisbee golf areas. They do have picnic shelters, two that I saw and both were large. There's also a nice gazebo! There are paths where you could walk in loops, which is what I did with my friend, and there are benches sporadically as well for those who like a place to sit and watch the world go by. The bathrooms over by the baseball field were fairly clean for a park bathroom, too. Still had some spider webs, but it's a park bathroom so... ;) Overall, this park was great and an unexpected surprise!

Fairytale-like house [Cincinnati OH]…read more We couldn't just drive-by this whimsical house without stopping and doing a double take... and staring. This is the Mushroom House in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Cincinnati. The amount of detail is really breathtaking: circular steel steps, deck rails of wood shingles, stained glass windows, tiled ceilings... of course, I had to snap some pics. How often do we come to Cin City. The original owner/builder by the name of Terry Brown has passed away in 2008. The house is currently not on the market and occupied as a private residence as of 2021. Here are the deets in Zillow: 1 beds, 1 baths, 1,260 sq-ft. If you are curious about the inside of the home you can click on this link and watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pVUFwH9Q6fk Review #3885

If you're passing through Cincinnati you have to stop by the Mushroom House. This is the most…read moreunique real house I have ever seen. It is a relatively young house, when it comes to house age. It was started to get built by architect Terry Brown in 1992 and completed in 2006. Terry Brown him self resided in it until his passing in 2008. This house looks like a mushroom from a certain angle, and like an owl from another. It is a fairytale house in the real world. There's so much fine detail, there's no wonder it had taken this genius man 14 years to complete this artistic masterpiece of a home. The spiral orange stair case was chained off not allowing access to the public. There was a car parked in the driveway as well as a surveillance camera. They also had a "no trespassing" sign. The land around, although very minimal is very well groomed and well kept. Something tells me there are people who currently reside here. I don't know how I would feel about living in a home that gets so much attention and that is always being photographed. The Mushroom House is a must see in Cincinnati. Use your fairytale imagination to guide you inside. Happy travels!

Nice place, a few little fishing holes. Overall can't complain kids enjoyed themselvesread more

Use to be an amazing place to go with friends during the spring and summer. This place use to allow…read morebeer in cans (if 21+) and no glass bottles, now they tear your car apart looking for alcohol and tell you that alcohol is not allowed. How are a group of adults suppose to enjoy their off day at this business if they can't simply relax and have a beer? I try to go back to this place every year thinking it's fun, but it's just not how it use to be. Staff are always rude as well. Wish I could go back 5 years when this place was at its peak.

Some parks are beautiful…read more Versailles State Park reminded me why it's worth slowing down. From the moment we arrived, there was something new to discover. The historic covered bridge feels enormous when you're standing beneath it, and stepping into the shade inside was an instant relief from the warm day outside. The weathered wood, years of wear, and little imperfections only added to its character. The waterfall became its own soundtrack for the afternoon. Between the rushing water and the constant chorus of birds, the park somehow felt full of life while remaining incredibly peaceful. A fisherman had found a quiet spot along the river, another visitor was reading beneath the trees, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the park at their own pace. One of my favorite memories came before we even started hiking. While we were sitting in the car looking over the trail map, a smiling gentleman waved from his pickup and asked, "Do you enjoy nature?" Of course we said yes. Grinning from ear to ear, he led us to a tiny opening in the trees and pointed toward the shoreline where a Great Blue Heron was quietly hiding. It's such a simple interaction, but it perfectly captured what I love about state parks. People aren't just there to enjoy nature--they're excited to help others experience it too. Later, while watching a butterfly drift along the trail, I happened to glance down at just the right moment and spotted the tiniest little frog sitting beside the path. He was still there on our hike back, and I couldn't help but smile knowing other hikers would probably get the same surprise. By the time we left, I felt completely recharged. Versailles State Park isn't a place to rush through. It's a place to wander, look up at the towering canopy, look down at the little things you'd normally miss, and let nature slow you down for a while.

Versailles State Park is a little over an hour Southeast of Indy and qualifies as Indiana's second…read morelargest state park. As I get to a new place in my current cancer journey, I'm finding that I am spending a lot of time in nature and doing bucket list items (No, I'm not dying). I've always wanted to visit Indiana's state parks and have been taking the time to start doing so. Despite its size, Versailles State Park is definitely lesser utilized than number one (Brown County). It does have the expected rolling hills of Southeastern Indiana and it has a 220-acre lake. You can rent rowboats, canoes, or kayaks. Versailles has over 20 miles of horse trails along with mountain bike and hiking trails. Located in Ripley County, the park was established in 1943. This area has a lot of historical significance including with the Civil War and the Civilian Conservation Corps. If you know the story of Morgan's Raiders, they actually made their way through this area during the Civil War. Versailles was also briefly under Confederate control. Versailles has a CCC Commemorative statue you can check out. There's quite a bit of camping within the state park. There are 238 camping sites with the majority offering electric. Versailles State Park offers a dam that's cool to visit along with a nature center. There are easy, moderate, and difficult hiking trails - as a wheelchair user, I was rather underwhelmed with accessibility options. However, I was still able to enjoy the park quite a bit. Fishing is available here along with bird watching and a variety of other activities. Versailles is fairly secluded. You're about a mile away from the nearest restaurant but you do have a variety of options within ten miles (including a motel for those who'd rather not rough it). The website has the full list of camping rates. The website also has all admission prices (there are daily and seasonal rates along with discounts for those on disability and veterans). Annual passes are for the most part good at any DNR property that charges a gate fee, though before leaving I tend to check websites just to make sure as there are some special exhibits and such that do charge a separate fee - that said, it's fairly rare. I would note that in-state fee is a bit lower than out-of-state fee (they judge by the license plate). I enjoyed my time here and could easily see some camping options. I loved the lake and did get some time on the easier trails. As I noted, accessibility options are a bit limited but DNR has overall massively improved accessibility statewide in parks. I could easily see making this a weekend trip with a stop in nearby Versailles for antiquing, nature, and history.

For the purpose of making the review easier, I've grouped the municipal baseball diamonds and the…read moreDecatur skate park into the review. The park has about 16 acres of land and another 10 acres for the water that is on the property near the fairgrounds. On the north end, DC Bridge 140 stands out in its pastel blue steel allowing visitors to cross the water safely. On the south end of the park is where you will find the shelters, lots of wooded area, a basketball court, tennis court, and a small playground. Across the street is where you will find the multi-diamond ballpark (closed for the winter) and the skate park (similarly closed). The skate park looks to be in great condition but I'm not experienced enough to tell if they are challenging for riders. They look like they would be, so check out my photos. The park was in pretty good condition with limited parking on the south end, but a bit more on the north end by the bridge. Review #2129

Not enough seating and bathrooms are disgusting. Not cleaned up very well. Trash is in kids area…read moreand cig butts.

An amazing nature trail. Some of the oldest trees in Indiana grow in this thicket! It is very…read morepeaceful and quiet.

We love hiking here. We bring our dog and she even loves it. The trees are beautiful! Can't wait…read morefor all of the paw paw trees to mature, so we can finally see what they look like when the fruit starts to grow.

We visited the conservatory at the park during a recent weekend visit to Cincy. This was my first…read moretime to Eden Park. It's a little nature oasis just a stone's throw from the heart of the city. You'll find the conservatory, great landscaping, a large fountain, natural wetland spaces and views overlooking the city. We also appreciated some of the historic structures found here. It appears to be a popular spot for prom photos and rightly so!

Amazing place to go see fall colors or a short hike. Nearby Krohn Conservatory and museum make it…read moreawesome for a day out!

This is really beautiful park. Huge playground, volleyball, sports fields, and nature trails.read more

It's a little bit rare that I discover a spot previously unknown to me, however, this was the case…read moretoday when I visited Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve. I was between tasks near Castleton and decided to do a Yelp search to see if I could snag a review or two during my free time. As is often the case for me, I searched for "parks" and Oliver's Woods popped up along with a review from the always dependable Nicole S. It's amazing to me that I've driven by this preserve many times without realizing its existence. In fact, even while looking for it today I drove by it a couple of times before realizing the place where I needed to turn. It's not particularly well marked from River Road. As it turns out, this is part of its charm. Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is a 56-acre preserve owned by the Central Indiana Land Trust. It includes 16 acres of woods, 37 acres of prairie-savanna restoration, and a mile of White River frontage. As is true for most preserves under Central Indiana Land Trust, Oliver's Woods is fairly light in development but a fairly nice effort toward some ADA accessibility is noteworthy. It's not perfectly accessible but, let's be honest, nature seldom is perfectly accessible. As Nicole S. notes, this is a rather sublime weaving together of urban and nature. In fact, I really expected this to be more like a pocket park considering it's situated so close to an office park, apartments, and a nearby shopping center along with the highway. Remarkably, this is simply a well preserved area of nature amidst it all. In terms of accessibility, the accessible parking is by the Daugherty house. Oliver Daugherty, who passed away in 2009, donated the property to Central Indiana Land Trust and some unexpected funding received allowed for increased development of it in 2017. The accessible parking spot allowed for access to a .6 mile trail made of crushed gravel. I'm a wheelchair user and had no issues with it. However, it's worth noting that parking in the usual parking lot is more difficult because the gravel isn't quite as crushed. While the preserve is open daily, there are specific times when a volunteer docent is available to give a tour of the preserve. There is a canoe launch available for any craft legally allowed on the water in the city of Indianapolis that you can carry to/from the river from the drop-off area in front of the Daugherty House. The southern half of the Town Run Trail Park also runs through this property with an agreement that was made between Indy Parks and Daugherty himself. Volunteers have helped plant native trees and plants and to remove invasive species. "This special care is allowing native species like wild ginger, Virginia bluebells, waterleaf, wild hyacinth and trillium to flourish," according to the CILT website. Because this is so wooded and you are along White River, seeing wildlife is also a strong possibility. This is not a "recreational" preserve other than the ability to launch a canoe. This is a wonderful preserve for enjoying nature, appreciating White River, and enjoying a short but nicely done trail. There are signs around the preserve explaining the preserve (including at the Daugherty House). Quite honestly, I'd have loved living here. I saw one other vehicle while I was here, though I never saw the person associated with that vehicle. I did hear traffic and the highway, though on a warm and sunny Fall day it all felt really perfect. Now that I know this is here, there's no doubt I'll return!

Oliver's Woods Nature Preserve is truly an urban oasis. You can see and hear the vehicles roar by…read morefrom I-465, just a short distance away. You walk through tall grasses as you walk past billboard signs. I love the city and I tolerate nature, so this place is a great combination of both for me. There are hiking trails here, but they're not clearly marked, so as we were walking and enjoying nature, we encountered several mountain bikers who raced past us. There must have been some sort of mountain biking thing going on, because there were a lot of bikers at the park. We must have been on the biking trail, because we didn't see any other walkers, just bikers. The path is super slim, so we had to duck into the brush whenever we saw a bicycler, which was every three to five minutes. Eventually, we headed back and found an actual walking path. All this to say: If you find a dirt path that is jutted, it's probably not the walking path -- it's the biking path. Once we found the walking path, it was very pretty and peaceful. The hiking / walking path will take you to the boat launch, where you can take your boat out onto the White River. It will also take you to the Daugherty House, which is a house that belonged to the original owner of the property, Oliver Daugherty. You can't go inside the house, but you can look at the outside, and there are signs and QR codes that give you more information about it. We found a lot of native plants here, including wild raspberries that were ripe and ready for picking. We also saw a beaver (!) and trekked across a stream that fed into the White River. This is such a cool place, and it's a true Indianapolis hidden gem.