story by GLENDA WINDERS

After a winter of walking on treadmills, playing pickleball on indoor courts, and staring longingly at the golf clubs, what people want more than anything right now is to follow their passion outdoors.

While exercise counts wherever it happens, nothing beats doing what you love most in sunshine and fresh air. Especially when you can plan a getaway around these energetic pursuits. Along the South Shore of Lake Michigan, water — naturally — is the order of the day. At Indiana Dunes State Park and Indiana Dunes National Park you can swim, fish, and boat, but there’s lots more, too. Hike the dunes, ride or walk on the trails, go birding, explore the bogs and marshes, and lots more. Kayaking is good on the Calumet River, too.

The water fun continues in La Porte. “In the City of La Porte, there’s a lake for every age, activity and ability,” said Mayor Tom Dermody. “Our beautiful parks and natural resources are what make our community unique and allow the ‘lake life’ to be accessible to everyone.”

Several lakes are located within the city limits – three of which offer their own unique recreational opportunities. Stone Lake is a serene no-wake lake— the perfect spot to kayak or lounge on the beach. Clear Lake is also a quiet place to go for a walk on the surrounding trail or to cast a reel for catch-and-release fishing. Pine Lake is the biggest and sees the most action with speedboats, pontoons, and Jet Skis. Boat rentals are available from local vendors, or you might choose to take in the sights from an adjacent park, walking path, or patio bar.

Safety is key, especially around the water, so before you go, research the conditions you might encounter. Bring and wear life jackets, and have close, dedicated supervision when anyone in your group is in or near the water.

Something new to explore has turned up on the Erie Trail in Starke County. The recently installed Our Solar System in Scale on the popular rail trail depicts with signage the planets
of our solar system at a scale of 1:355 million. Begin your celestial journey at the tailhead on Main Street in downtown North Judson and continue traveling southeast through the countryside for nine miles on foot or by bicycle until you reach Neptune, located south of Bass Lake near the Starke-Pulaski County line.

In Pulaski County the Tippecanoe River State Park offers excellent kayaking and canoeing along with 23 miles of trails. Nine miles are for hiking only, and on the additional 14 horse back riding is also allowed. Lots of options for camping are here — primitive, camper cabins, and youth tents — and be sure to climb the historic 90-foot fire tower that offers outstanding views of the surrounding landscape.

Head northeast to Noble County, who welcomes sports and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the world-class Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex, home to 89 acres of ball diamonds, soccer fields, basketball courts, shuffleboard, and other amenities. The area also has multiple disc golf courses, Great Indiana Golf packages, competitive corn hole, pickleball, and so much more. While in the area, sign up for the 9 Lake Challenge at Chain O’Lakes State Park, a five-mile paddling journey that winds through nine connected kettle lakes.

Lafayette invites you to kayak on several easy-to-navigate waterways. The Bicentennial Nature Area offers a 70-acre pond with convenient spots where you can walk your kayak, paddleboard, or canoe right into the water. Fairfield Lakes Park has four lakes with ramps that make it easy to launch your kayak or canoe, too. Wildcat Creek flows between Kokomo and Lafayette and empties into the Wabash. If you’re looking for a meandering scenic ride, this is the place to go.

Is your preference for staying active the wildly-popular pickleball? The Lafayette Indiana Pickleball Association encourages everyone, regardless of age and experience, to enjoy the sport at McCaw Park, which is currently increasing its capacity to 26 courts. Still worried about your ability? They hold clinics to help you build your skills and confidence. Be sure to bring those golf clubs with you to Lafayette, because there are seven courses here. Among those is the Kampen Cosler Course, considered to be one of the top collegiate courses in the country. This course and the Ackerman-Allen Course are both on the Pete Dye Trail. And some great news for golfers here…a brand new high-end steakhouse has just opened as part of the Pete Dye Clubhouse on the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. Boilerhouse Prime exudes a refined, club-inspired ambiance, and its centerpiece is a breathtaking two-story wine wall, accompanied by a grand 30-seat cocktail and raw bar.

Carmel encourages you to get out and moving with an impressive system of trails where you can hike, bike, or run. Town Run Trail Park is ideal for mountain biking, the Tulip/Pawpaw Trail Loop keeps you in the shade, Central Park West Loop passes by a lake and through forest and grassland, the Beech Trail is universally accessible, and the list goes on. The Lagoon Loop Trail features a sculpture titled “Bison & Calf” by Zimbabwean sculptor Dominic Benhura.

Kokomo offers outdoor recreation for all ages. Tee off at a local golf course, go horseback riding at Wrangler and Friends Farm, paddle a kayak down the Wildcat Creek, or play a round of disc golf. At Kokomo Beach Aquatic Family Center, you’ll find a leisure pool, competition lap pool, high-energy water slides, splash pad, kiddie slides, and relaxing lazy river. In addition, there are miles of paved trails throughout Kokomo for running, walking, and biking. Be sure and take advantage of their Koko-Go Free Ride Bike Share.

Madison County’s disc golf scene spans across three towns. In Pendleton, there’s Falls Park Disc Golf Course; In Anderson it’s Sanders Disc Golf; and in Elwood you’ll find a great course with a mix of wooded and open holes.

Disc golf is so hot in Henry County that they have three courses. New Castle’s Baker Park boasts “The Rock” Disc Golf Course. This free course has 18 baskets for players of all levels to enjoy. The Boondocks Farm Disc Golf Course, located on the Montgomery Creek Ranch in Knightstown, features open fairways to wooded technical holes on rolling terrain with challenging basket placements. Just have time for nine holes? The Montgomery Creek Disc Golf Course is perfect for you. Located in Knightstown’s Sunset Park, it was designed by disc golf hall of famer Jerry Suiter and is suitable for beginners. While you’re in the area, don’t miss Henry County Memorial Park, where you can fish in ponds, hike trails, and picnic outside. The park, on the National Register of Historic Places, was created in 1920 to honor World War I veterans and rededicated in 1923 to all who had seen military service. The park has a Veterans Museum and several war memorials throughout the park, including a “Spirit of the American Doughboy” statue.

Traveling back 445 million years in time, well before the era of woolly mammoths and dinosaurs, Indiana bore a striking resemblance to today’s Bahamas. Today, fossil hunters can explore the Whitewater Valley in Wayne County, seeking out these historic gems around the vertical cliffs along Whitewater River Gorge, stream banks, or the Cardinal Greenway where nature and time have exposed them from the surrounding rock. Another promising location for fossil hunting is Thistlethwaite Falls.

Wayne County is also big on pickleball, with a total of 16 public pickleball courts. Clear Creek Park boasts eight newly constructed outdoor courts with lighting for evening play, while the Richmond Pickleball Club organizes leagues, skill-building sessions, and regional tournaments. Additionally, Earlham College provides four indoor courts accessible to the public. At Richmond’s Glen Miller Skate Park skaters of all styles and abilities can enjoy 11,000 square feet
of concrete with an exciting mix of elements including a thrilling bowl, complemented by an assortment of challenging ledges and rails.

Raccoon Lake in Parke County hosts just about every type of outdoor activity in which you’d like to engage. Bring your boat or rent one here to water-ski, wakeboard, sail, or pontoon. Individual watercrafts are also welcome, and the irregular coastline is perfect for kayaks and canoes. Bird watchers will want to flock to the wooded areas, hike the trails that meander throughout Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area.

Quieter pursuits are on offer at Shades State Park, a nature-lover’s paradise. Canoe here on Sugar Creek through Shades and Turkey Run State Parks, marvel at the steep sandstone cliffs and look for fossils in the sandbars. Waterfalls are many at both state parks from the cliffs.

Hiking and biking are especially satisfying in Franklin County. The Whitewater Canal Trail follows the old towpath for the canal boats along the Whitewater Canal, offering visitors a
combination of authentic canal structures, intact canal-era buildings, and natural scenery along the nine-mile trail. It winds along the Whitewater River, beginning in the town of Laurel and traversing the historic village of Metamora. When it is completed, the trail will be nearly 14 miles long and extend all the way from Laurel to Brookville. Chances are you’ll spot some of the abundant wildlife that includes deer, squirrels, turkeys, and the occasional eagle.

The Brookville Lake State Recreation Area offers 11 trails, four of which are multi-use, with varying difficulties from flat or gently rolling terrain all the way to terrain with steep climbs and rugged creek crossings. The Brookville Lake trails welcome all types of outdoor enthusiasts to experience a hike, run, or mountain bike ride with scenic views and more encounters with nature.

Brown County is an adventure-seeker’s paradise. First, there’s the incredibly popular Brown County State Park, where you can enjoy exploring by hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding along the many miles of well-marked trails. There are around 70 miles of bridle trails, 30 miles of mountain biking trails, and more than 18 miles of hiking trails. They even offer guided trail rides and pony rides at the Saddle Barn. Through eXplore Brown County, you can sign up for paintball, ziplining, treetop canopy tours, and more. Be sure and check out other area activities like disc golf and kayaking.

Peddle your way through Dearborn County, thanks to the River Cities Bike Share Program. Thirty seven-speed Shimano bicycles are located throughout the cities of Aurora and Lawrenceburg, just waiting to be reserved and rented. Bikes cost $3 for the first hour and $2 for every hour after that. Take the 4.5-mile paved Dearborn Trail that runs along the Ohio River and
passes through Greendale, Lawrenceburg and Aurora; then return your bike to the station where you picked it up.

Madison, nestled along the Ohio River, offers a scenic and leisurely biking experience with plenty of opportunities for an energetic outdoor adventure. Ride along the riverfront for stunning water views, explore the charming streets of the 133-block historic district, or cruise past beautifully preserved homes, museums, and bustling Main Street. With a mix of picturesque parks and inviting downtown paths, biking is a perfect way to take in the city’s rich history and vibrant atmosphere. But cycling is just the beginning—Madison’s outdoor recreation options extend far beyond two wheels.

Prefer to explore on foot? Walking is another great way to experience Madison’s historic district while getting in a workout. Pick up a self-guided tour map at the Visitors Center or join an organized tour with an expert guide to dive deeper into the city’s past. For breathtaking views, cross the Harlan and Anna Hubbard Walkway on the Milton-Madison Bridge, which offers panoramic scenery of the Ohio River, Madison, and Milton, Kentucky.

Outdoor recreation lovers will find plenty to do with 220 acres of park facilities maintained by the Madison Parks and Recreation Department. Play a round of golf at the 18-hole Sunrise Golf Course or the nine-hole Eagle’s Haven Golf Course–but be warned, the stunning river views might distract you from your game. Tennis, pickleball courts, and sports fields offer many additional ways to stay active.

Cool off at the newly renovated Crystal Beach Aquatic Park, a perfect spot to beat the summer heat. Nature enthusiasts should visit Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, a 50,000-acre habitat designated as a Globally Important Bird Area. And of course, no outdoor adventure in Madison is complete without a visit to Clifty Falls State Park, where rugged trails, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking canyon views provide year-round hiking and exploration.

For an adventure underground, head to Squire Boone Caverns in Harrison County. Here, you can hike through a living and growing ecosystem deep below the earth’s surface. This cave has rushing streams that carry more than a million gallons of water over rarely seen underground waterfalls.