This is Fidler Pond Park... which is not Illustrated correctly on Yelp. Very beautiful landscape…read morewith a 1.5 mile circumference soft gravel Trail. Plenty of geese honking what the sounds of Harmony of being in any natural habitat. What's unique about this park is their homes surrounding the trail, as well as bird houses spread throughout. Very tranquil and safe for evening or morning walk. There are a few porta johns and Swinging benches along the trail as well. Definitely a lovely place to visit and break the monotony and wine down from a busy day.

A nice place to take the kids to fish from shore. They have fly fishing lessons sometimes. They…read morerent poles, boats, other equipment if you want. Peaceful with lots of wildlife.

Pros: Bonneyville Mill Park's tranquil mornings are perfect for photography. Village Inn serves…read morecornmeal mush, a favorite breakfast item for Amish farmers. Country Lane Bakery is a set in beautiful countryside and is the locals' favorite for cinnamon rolls. I prefer the cinnamon rolls made by the Amish communities of Ohio. Rise n Roll Bakery can be skipped if you are evading the tourist traps. Dutch Country Market makes noodles onsite and the bee hives are fun to watch. Shipshewana host a gigantic flea market on Tuesdays and Wednesdays where the freshness of the produce cannot be matched, especially in that price range. Jojo Pretzels at the Goshen location is the best and least expensive pretzel I have ever had. Cons: Tourist trap galore.

This place was great! We did the wagon ride to feed the animals and it was so fun. Very clean and…read morethe animals look well kept. Can't wait to go back this summer! Hidden gem for sure.

We visited with our grown children and our 8 grandchildren, ages 9 to infant. We had a wonderful…read moretime, the folks who run the park are very kind and helpful. It seemed a bit expensive at first, but later we felt it was well worth it, and would love to come again if we are in the area.

A nice expanse of grassy lawn.. picnic tables, playground area and walking/biking trails.read more

If you know me, then you also know that I'm an avid trail user in Indiana and one of my very…read morefavorite trails in our state is Elkhart County's Pumpkinvine Trail, a trail that is adjacent to this lovely park in Goshen, Indiana. Abshire Park is the second largest park in Goshen. The land was donated to the Parks and Recreation Department in 1986 and encompasses about 75.5 acres. Abshire Park was developed to accommodate primarily passive and interpretive programs along with passive recreational opportunities. It is accessible from the Pumpkinvine Trail. The north end of the park is a managed natural area and includes a prairie restoration, wet lands, and a traditional forest. Rock Run Creek borders the park to the southwest. Abshire Cabin is located at the park - a rentable enclosed pavilion. While most restroom facilities in Goshen are April-October, Abshire Cabin has available restrooms year-round. Abshire Cabin is noted as having an official capacity of 30 people. Rental is $200 (plus tax) with a $100 deposit. It is largely accessible and ideal for small socials or professional meetings, kitchen area, tables and chairs, access to tubing hill, cross country skiing and more. Not for profit rates available Monday - Thursday with copy of non-profit certificate. As noted, this is a fairly laid back park without a lot of hardcore amenities. While it's a well used park, the times I've been here I certainly wouldn't call it a busy park. I've nearly always used it as a rest place during my Pumpkinvine trail use. If you've never experienced the Maple City Greenway trails, I highly recommend them. If you go on the Pumpkinvine, there's a good chance you're also going to experience wildlife, amazing plant life, and probably some of the area's Amish community.

Great park with wonderful hilly green spaces. The cabin is quant and has a lofted area with a low…read moreceiling. I attended a wonderful birthday party for my granddaughter. Great time and the functional kitchen would easily serve up any meal to a crowd that could swell to 50! Seating is good for a crowd of 15-20 people. Nice! Good job Goshen Parks department. I will certainly rent this for a gathering.

Rode the Pumpkinvine Trail from Goshen to Shipshewana and back to Goshen. We stopped for lunch in…read moreMiddlebury and hit the bakery in Shipshewana for a snack. Several interesting food options in Middlebury and lots of Amish shops in Shipshewana. The trail is well maintained and smooth with a mix of crushed stone and paved sections. It's largely wooded, shady, and shielded from the wind. It's mostly flat. I was there on a Saturday and there was plenty of traffic on the trail, but no congestion. Lots of Amish and Mennonites on the trail on a nice late summer day.

I traveled the Pumpkinvine Trail as part of my 25th Anniversary Tenderness Tour, a wheelchair tour…read moreof Northern Indiana raising awareness and funds on behalf of organizations working to break the cycle of child abuse/domestic violence. Among the several trails that I traveled over the course of my 13 days, the Pumpkinvine was perhaps my favorite as it weaved together an absolutely beautiful trail, cultural relevance, friendly people, and the great diversity of nature. Depending upon whom you speak with, the Pumpkinvine either starts in Elkhart's Ox Bow Park Goshen's Abshire Park. However, the Pumpkinvine website (http://pumpkinvine.org) documents the trail beginning in Elkhart and a sign at the end of the trail at County Road 850 (just about .6 miles from Shipshewana) documents your distance at 26.3 miles for completing the entire trail. If you've caught on that the trail is in the heart of Elkhart County and moves on into the edges of LaGrange County, then it shouldn't be a surprise that the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is frequented by members of the area's Amish community who mostly use the trail utilizing bicycles as horses are forbidden on the trail. As I wheeled the entire trail from Elkhart to the end near Shipshewana, I repeatedly encountered members of the Amish community who were likely out enjoying one of the area's last decent days before the Fall chills arrive. The trail is certainly not exclusive to the Amish community and this happened to be one of the few trails where I encountered people from beginning to end even on a day that it drizzled or rained pretty much all day (including a very brief period of snow). The entire trail is paved asphalt with the exception of a 1.75 mile section that includes some country road travel that is comprised of packed limestone. This particular section, as well, is the only section that might prove to be a bit of a challenge for some folks with a mobility impairment. It's lightly traveled by vehicles, but it's a little more uneven and vehicles and buggies do travel on it. That said, my very minor concerns about it aren't enough for me to dock the Pumpkinvine a star (NOTE: IF a 1/2 star were an option, I might go 4.5). For those familiar with the trail's history, it's noteworthy that the beauty of the trail doesn't quite reveal how controversial it was when it was first being developed and how much certain landowners fought the planned usage and, to this day, hang out their "no trespassing signs" along the path to ensure no one stumbles off the trail onto their land. While I encountered no negativity along the route, there was no question that this impacted the ambience just a slight bit. The trail also has brochures that will tell you about various historical places along the trail including information regarding Chief Shipshewana and nearby Amish landmarks including a schoolhouse right off the trail. While the Amish on the whole can be a bit distant, you probably would be too if you were treated as a tourist attraction, I found them to be friendly and personable throughout my 26 mile ride and their presence adds a uniqueness to this trail you simply don't find anywhere else. Motorized vehicles, with the exception of motorized wheelchairs, aren't allowed on the trail. Bicycles, walkers, runners, and wheelers are encouraged. The trail holds events at various times throughout the year and I believe there's even a season for cross-country skiing being allowed. That's probably not in the Summer, eh? There are places to park along the trail especially as you reach the towns of Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, and Shipshewana. Being in a wheelchair, it is definitely worth noting that I ran over a TON of cherry pits. While this didn't do any damage to the chair, it may be possible during the Fall season that hitting a pit the wrong way could potentially slice a tire. It's a fairly light risk, but it's worth noting. Among the many beautiful trails I've traveled over the past couple weeks, it's pretty hard to top Elkhart/LaGrange County's beautiful and well kept Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.

This compact "pocket" park along the St. Joseph River at the base of the Main Street Bridge is well…read morelandscaped and manicured. Massive trees create a large scenic canopy of shade. There are a few mounted park benches to sit and enjoy nature. There are no facilities nor playground equipment -- however -- there is a professionally designed ADA Compliant Canoe / Kayak launch ramp.

This isn't really as much a business as it is a beautiful nature preserve in LaGrange County…read more In the spring, the caretakers tap the trees and make maple syrup with a weekend full of sugaring and education and lots of pancakes! This is a great experience for the family and the only place I will get my maple syrup in Indiana!

I stopped here for a short visit. The visitor center was closed and I didn't have time to explore…read morethe trails. What I noticed is that it has many native plant species and it is a small forest oasis in the middle of agriculture lands.