Yes, I climbed to the highest point of Indiana today with an elevation of 1257 feet above sea…read morelevel. The site is called Hoosier Hill and is promoted by Wayne County. (There really is no hike as you can easily drive up to the site). We drove pass miles of beautiful Amish farmland in Wayne County to find the marker. There is a small gravel drive into a wooded area that is marked by a second rock as the highest point. A picnic table and bench are available for those who want to enjoy the beauty of the site. A mailbox invites visitors to sign the guest book. I must confess that the site did not feel that much higher than other points in the otherwise flat state, but I trust the geological survey that conducted the survey. Parking is limited. There are no restroom facilities or amenities other than the bench.

The highest natural point in the entire State of Indiana, Hoosier Hill has an elevation of 1257…read morefeet above sea level. It is on private property but amazingly open to the public thanks to the local land owner. A small forested area next to farmland but a small picnic area is at the end of the short trail from the small parking area. I've been to Britton Hill (Florida) and Ebright Azimith (Delaware) and Clingmans Dome (Tennessee) among others, so now I'm adding Hoosier Hill to my list of highest points. Indiana's highest point is the 44th highest point of the state highest points. Way down the ladder but IT STILL COUNTS. [Review 1316 of 2024 - 192 in Indiana - 22339 overall]

This is a fantastic 4.9 mile loop trail for a day hike. I don't normally give much credence to…read moretrail difficulty ratings in the Midwest, but the "expert" trail definitely isn't easy on foot (I imagine it would be super challenging on a mountain bike). The trail weaves through old timber, dipping and diving between marshes that flank the White River. The trail actually divides at various points into easy, intermediate and expert legs. To get the full 4.9 miles, you have to take all of the expert loops, but they are the fun ones anyway. The trail was not heavily trafficked, even on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The loop is one-way traffic, so you won't likely see anyone else unless you overtake them or vice-versa. That also means no turning back once you start. Take water and a snack. The full 4.9 will take over 2 hours to hike. Also, with all of the marshes, there are lots of bugs in the summer months. Make sure to apply plenty of deet.

If you're looking for a peaceful getaway, Grand Mere State Park is a hidden gem that delivers on…read moreall fronts. The park offers several trails that take you through dense forests and towering sand dunes which lead to some stunning overlooks and beaches of Lake Michigan. It's a bit of a trek to get to the water, but once you do, the lakefront is beautiful and less commercialized than other spots. Definitely recommend Grand Mere State Parkin for anyone in the area looking for a peaceful outdoor escape.

Path to Lake Michigan was flooded, water over your ankles. No easy path to Lake Michigan. A…read morehiker would love the up/down sand dunes.

Wonderful visit, warm sunny day. Greatly enjoyed chatting with the head miller. He was full of…read moreinformation about the mill itself and expanded our knowledge of multiple grains while discussing bread making tips n tricks. We strolled a shorter bath but forgot our bug spray so didn't adventure into the woods. The gardens around the mill were picturesque and the mill store had a great variety. I would recommend a visit and be sure to engage the miller for all your questions !!

Well done tours of a genuine mill. Fascinating story behind the original owner! Great place for a…read morepicnic or a stroll - the grounds are beautiful. Check online for hours - not open every day (for tours).

Tucked in off a street in Bristol, IN, is a place for serenity and a short walk through beautiful…read moregardens. The stone path leads to one of the 26 area heritage trail quilt gardens. Along the pathway, you will be shaded. These gardens include a huge ornamental lifelike mushroom with short sidekicks. Another photo worthy decoration is a wood carved cardinal next to a blue life sized Dutch windmill. The little park contains flowing water, a koi pond, scented roses, and multiple flora, as it winds up and down stairs on a stone pathway. Many artistic metal structures adorn the pathway. Definitely a place to visit!!!! I wish I lived closer.

For those who are fairly new in my world, you likely don't know about my long history as an…read moreactivist in the area of violence prevention with a strong emphasis on child abuse and sexual violence prevention. Since 1989, I've traveled over 6,000 miles in my wheelchair and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a wide variety of organizations. I spend a lot of my wheeling time in Indiana - my home state and lifelong home. Among my favorite places to go in Indiana is Elkhart County, a Northeastern Indiana jewel filled with magnificent trails, a strong Amish community, a number of historic peace churches, and a vibe that just really clicks with me. My favorite trail in Indiana is the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail that winds its way through four Elkhart County communities and runs a bit over a marathon in terms of length. You get to visit a variety of cool small towns and will likely see some Amish folks on their bicycles. Quite honestly, it's awesome. If you stop in Middlebury, and I always do as I have multiple friends there, you can take a break along the trail here at the Krider World's Fair Gardens. For once, this is not small town braggadocio. Krider World's Fair Garden started out its life as a 1934 World's Fair exhibit and has been meticulously maintained ever since. I won't say it's "the" pride of Middlebury, but it's certainly one of the things of which the community is most proud. This is a botanical garden that weaves together gentle walking paths, a quilt garden exhibit, iconic structures, and facilities that include waterfalls, picnic tables, viewing benches, a gazebo, and a swing arbor. The park itself is really only about 2.4 acres. It's not a huge place, but it's a beautiful place. It can be rented for special events, weddings, and photography needs. If you're on the Pumpkinvine, then you'll run into this area as a perfect place to stop and rest and enjoy a beautiful part of Middlebury. The biggest city in Elkhart County is, in fact, Elkhart itself. But, a visit to Elkhart County isn't complete without visiting places like Goshen, Middlebury, and Shipshewana. Yes, I'll admit that it can get a bit touristy but it's a friendly community and a place I absolutely love to visit. This part of the state has about 2 dozen quilt gardens. A "quilt garden" means that they lay the quilts out in a pattern that changes each season. You can also see "Garden With a Cause" here, a garden devoted to charities and local organizations improving the lives of the people of Middlebury. They have a replica of the "Sunrise Bench," a bench that was included in the World's Fair Exhibit and there's a Statue of Hebe and a Water Wheel House among other attractions. If you're in Elkhart County, a stop at Krider World's Fair Garden just really needs to happen. I have some photos, but I'm still trying to find them from past tours. When I do, I'll post my own photos but you can definitely capture the garden's vibe in the available photos here.

I really enjoyed my visit to this park. First, I don't think many people know about it and so I…read morehad the entire park to myself. I was able to grab one of the limited street parking sites on Bunch Blvd near the north entrance to the park. Second, there was a small plaza with informational signs describing the park, the folks involved with getting it built, and general wetland information that was brief, but helpful. Next, most of the pathway for visitors is slightly elevated on a boardwalk. Even though there was disturbance in the area during the construction, the wetlands have now recovered and the elevated trail makes for easy walking without damaging the surrounding wildlife. The rest of the trail is equally broad and hopefully gives good enough views that visitors won't wander off into the prairie area of the park. Note that during my visit, the wetlands appeared mostly dry but green. About half way through the trail, a large wooden shelter was constructed with a slightly elevated observation deck that offers great views over the lowlands of the park. There are more benches available there and lots of shade in an otherwise open area of the park. I really appreciate that the area has been preserved as a beautiful green area that can accommodate both humans and nature. Review #1053

Located on 72 acres in Wabash, Indiana, Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run is owned by Acres Land Trust…read moreand offers a remarkable experience in nature including a spectacular gorge with waterfalls, reef fossils, exposed bedrock, and vertical cliffs that go as high as 75 feet. There's stunning wildflowers and mature oaks - some are noted to be over four feet in diameter. There's a modestly difficult 2-mile hiking trail, though it's very doubtful anyone in a wheelchair could actually trek the full two miles. That said, I gave it a good shot and enjoyed what I was able to experience. Acres Land Trust acquired this preserve in 2007 and it remains pristine and wondrous. I first experienced it during one of my Tenderness Tour events in Wabash, but periodically will return when I have speaking engagements in the area. If you're going for the trail, it's worth noting that the trailhead doesn't have restrooms or water available. So, plan ahead. There are creek crossings within about 1/2 mile or so of the trailhead. The trail does offer benches. If you don't know Ross Run, it's a Wabash River tributary and while this trail is short it has some beautiful views about 3/4 of a mile in. There's a fork not far from the trail's parking area - if you go right, you're definitely heading toward a more difficult trail. However, again, the whole thing is only a couple miles. So, you can't go completely wrong. At about the 3/4 mile mark, the trail becomes much easier with a primarily well maintained grassy area. The trail is clearly marked and maintained. There's also a wetlands area with a boardwalk. While the boardwalk is relatively wheelchair friendly, be aware that it's still rustic and some of the boards are uneven. This also may impact someone with gait or mobility issues. There are ways to shorten your journey including taking the outer loop, though doing so means you'll miss the most scenic part of the trail. The entire trail is relatively flat. In my case, the first stage of the trail is by far the most difficult. Once you hit the halfway point, it's pretty much a cruise. If you're in a wheelchair and have inflated tires that can pop, you may want to think about no-flat inserts or planning a different option. Since this is a relatively small nature preserve, I'm not sure I'd call it a destination spot. Wabash really isn't that far away and the town itself is a joy to visit and friendly to tourists, but I'm not sure I'd make an entire day out of this preserve alone. Wabash is a great day trip, but I'd plan other activities. However, if you're in the area it's definitely a beautiful place to visit and a tremendous place to go hiking. It's a definite thumbs up from me.