Planning a trip to Indiana, but not really sure where to start? What to do or where to go? Well I have a suggestion to help you get started. Ever heard of Pokagon State Park? This park has loads of activities for the whole family to enjoy!
Pokagon State Park is located in the far north corner of the state. It is near Angola, Indiana and Lake James. That happens to be one of Indiana’s biggest lakes and that adds to the nature of the park and inns associated with it. The park originated in 1925 and their original name was Lake James State Park. It was changed to show the deep connection to the heritage of the state. It took almost 9 years to completely finish the park, built with the finest hands Indiana had. They built it to give compliment to the surrounding hills and landscapes. As there are lakes around the park, they give out ample opportunity for multiple activities while you are there.
The biggest part of the Pokagon State Park in Indiana is the Toboggan Run. This was built in 1935 as the builders sled run and turned it into an attraction. The track started as only 30 ft., back then in 1984, and now spans a drop of 90 feet! Just one run can take you up to 30 seconds to get the bottom and you can travel over 40 miles per hour! Talk about an adrenaline rush! What’s even better is the price to ride this: for an hour of fun, you only have to pay ten dollars per hour. So it’s not a pay per ride, bracelets, or anything like that. As many times as you walk up to the top and slide back down in an hour, is all you are going to need to enjoy this bountiful ride.
Where are you going to stay now that you have tired yourself out on the toboggans? Why not get the hotel nearest the ride and built off of Indiana’s history as well. The Potawatomi Inn built for Indiana’s connection with the original Native American tribe of the land. The Inn will have a homey feel to it as well as the warmth of something new. Some of the rooms look like an original log cabin and give a wonderful view of the landscape. The Potawatomi Inn is situated next to Lakes James as well as the Pokagon State Park. They even have two separate areas that you can dine in, the historic dining room or the courtyard café. Between both choices you should be able fancy anybodies choice of menus and individualistic tastes. Near the dining area is a conference area spanning 6,000 square feet! This offers plenty of room for a meeting or even a wedding.
As you can see the heart of Indiana has grown through the Pokagon State Park and the accommodations associated with it. You can have the time of your life and experience toboggan races like never before then return your Inn and relax after a full day living like they did when the people of Indiana came up with this park!
Do you have a student that is thinking about Indiana for their future? Or just moved to Indiana but you aren’t real sure where to continue your education? Within Indiana the options are open as there are quite a few in the state. Well here we will discuss some of the different colleges and expanding schools there are in the area.
Ancilla College originates out of Donaldson, Indiana. This is a two year liberal arts school that also has other activities and spiritual development for the college student. Then there is the Brown Mackie College, in fact there are several around the state of Indiana. They have several areas of study and have many different plans for you to look at in regards to your schedule. Since 1846 the Taylor University has been standing in Upland, Indiana. They believe that’s what helps separate them from all the rest, the initial history that started the University.
In Indianapolis, Indiana, there is also Butler University which encompasses 290 acres of land. They sponsor more than 65 different majors and offer programs in the summer to keep students up to date. As for a more religious education there is the Crossroads Bible College. They structure their teaching around the word of God and are also centered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Grace Colleges also centers their teaching and campus on Christianity. They sponsor three to four year degrees, and transform a student for global ministry. Holy Cross College is another Christian based school. When continuing education with them you can travel internationally and even get an internship with the desired choice of employment.
Another accredited college in Indianapolis and several other parts of Indiana is the Harrison College. They pride themselves on making the college more student-based so that you can be productive and make the right decisions for your future. Huntington University is a nationally accredited four year school. They have over 700 programs of study and 14 intercollegiate teams to participate in.
Of course for the most technical of students there is the Indiana Institute of Technology. They have even begun evolving the campus to be more geothermal as each month passes. If you are wanting to further education dealing with technology, you could also schedule a visit to the Ivy Tech Community College. There are actually several of those throughout Indiana, so location shouldn’t be much of an issue. They also support more area of learning including nursing, business, and social services.
As much as I could go on about the wonderful schools within Indiana, I think by now you get the point. There are so many good reasons and wonderful that was manufactured to pique anyone’s interest. It doesn’t matter if you want a more Christian related source or a regular college with less specific relations. It really just depends on what you are looking for and how much or how many different scholarships you have. No matter what area you chose to reside in, there will be a college in the surrounding area.
Indiana has something that is very special to the state and to lots of others around. This is not just for the average person, it’s more than that. Indiana is where they hold the Special Olympics. These Olympics are more than just a sports competition. It is the ability to participate and feel they have achieved at something they haven’t been able to do before.
The Special Olympics is a non-profit event and throughout the year counties hold separate programs to collect donations for Indiana. They also provide the training needed for the athletic competitions; most important is just the thought that they can achieve something, and that they can possibly win. If you are a member of the Indiana community you can participate and share your knowledge with the individuals that will be competing. There are area wide county programs that are developed to raise money to help offset the funds of making this a possibility for the people with special abilities. Some of the spring games are like track and other fields and bowling during the autumn season.
Also provided are athlete leadership programs, to help excel in leadership. They can even help set policies and the direction for the program to make sure it meets everyone’s individual needs. There is even a University in Indiana for the athlete leadership programs to really bring out the abilities needed to help out. Any suggestions that are made are set in front of a committee that meets on a regular basis and plans the activities. Another way for them to show leadership and to raise money is the Law Enforcement Torch Run. This began in 1981 when a police chief saw that the Special Olympics were in need for help with funding. It is an international relays that officers run that end with the summer events. This helps not only the local law enforcement raise money but also the government.
Indiana hosts quite a few sports with this event, coming from all seasons. For some of the winter sports there are; alpine skiing, basketball, figure skating, snowshoeing and speed skating. That seems like a lot but there are even more that are mixed with summer and other specific seasons. Some are sports you would expect like the track and field, and others are not as talked about. Like the event MATP, Motor Activities, for those that are based out of wheelchairs. These events help the people to be strong physically and mentally within themselves. Even the Indiana competition of Ballroom Dancing, it takes a lot to dance like that, but it’s not just a physical sport. The competitors have to believe that they can actually do this, before they can go out and perform at the standards they need to win.
Luckily though, this isn’t just about winning to most of them. It’s more about the idea of doing it, of even performing in these competitions. Indiana gives them the chance they need, to believe they can succeed. To the family and friends around them, that is everything! Letting them see just how special they really are.
Have you ever been travelling through Indiana and just feel like seeing and living in the big cities for awhile? After all don’t the big cities have the most stuff to do? Well then Louisville, Indiana, is just the place for you! It is one of the bigger cities and is in fact right next to Louisville, Kentucky. There are about three cities that are separated by interstates only! Because the two Louisville’s are so close they actually call this place Kentuckiana, as the cross point!
There are so many attractions that you can see there, aside from just the busy traffic. As your driving on the interstates you will notice the beautiful rivers that flow throughout Indiana. Speaking of water, Louisville also has a water park. The Atlantis Water Park has about 28,000 foot wave pool and 6,000 square feet dedicated to anyone under four feet tall! That is a lot of space, even for an outdoor park. Then of course if you have someone watching the kids or if they are old enough you can go to a movie after being drenched all day. The Derby Dinner Playhouse is one of Indiana’s oldest dinner and a movie theatre. So, you can enjoy your meal and be entertained at the same time.
If you are looking to be entertained in other ways then you could start with the Carnegie Center for Art & History. These have some popular exhibits dealing with hand carvings. Also you could visit the Cathedral Gardens, which you can schedule a wedding here if you wanted to. There are fifteen acres that complete this paradise. Ever heard of the ‘Secret Gardens’? Indiana has their own version of this called the Hidden Hill Nursery. The nursery has a collection of rare trees and plants that are rarely seen. While on the subject of the rarely seen, you should also take a look at the Falls of Ohio State Park and Interpretive Center in Clarksville, Indiana. Here you can explore fossil beds that will take you back 400 million years! Talk about a change in history. You will even find a full size mammoth skeleton and informational shows are also shown.
Now of course there are going to be a variety of places for you to stay in Louisville, Indiana. These range from Best Western to the Towne Place Suites, meant for extended stays. There are not near as many, but you could also chose the number of Bed and Breakfast’s in the area as well. They will give you the homier feel and less of the quick stay feeling. Indiana has some the quaintest places for you to stay and enjoy yourself.
When you go looking for more information on the places you have discovered here, you may find that they are in the Clarksville, New Albany, or Jeffersonville area of Indiana. But here’s the secret, they are like little suburbs connected to Louisville, Indiana. The city itself has many hidden features that are waiting to be discovered by you and your family.
When traveling to Indiana, there are many exciting events offered. Regardless of which one you choose, it will be a memorable experience for you and your entire family. They have several different events to chose from and each are in multiple areas of the region.
The Brown County Native Woodlands Project of Indiana hosts the Winter Tree ID workshop. This is to help you identify the different trees and the best for your tastes. Light refreshments will be provided during the workshop. This county also has the largest of Indiana’s state nature preserves. The Chain O’ Lakes state park sponsors a winter hike in January. They hope that during the hike there is fluffy snow covering so that you will be able to see the tracks of Indiana’s wildlife. If this is an activity for you they do suggest that you wear layers of clothing that can easily be added on or taken off depending on your temperature. In addition they have contacts for you to make, ensuring that you have everything you need.
As a lover of birds or bird watchers you will want to visit the Clifty Falls of Indiana. One of the first events they sponsor is the Christmas Bird Count, where you can spend multiple hours in the fields. They also have a Moon Owl Hunt, where you can hear all the natural songs of the owls throughout. Plus, as long as you pre-register you can build a house for the bluebirds that may even visit your house.
At the Indiana Dunes there are a lot of activities for you to join in on. For instance, in the morning they have a Ski-In, where you enjoy a hike and then will ski down. If you didn’t happen to bring your skis with you then you can borrow the lodges as long as they have your size. You can also view reptiles in their natural setting and watch how they cope with the winter effects of snow. If you want to learn about different effects the winter has had on Indiana then you could join the Winter Beach Walk. They have an interpreter that will explain to you about the area and the recent history of it. Speaking of learning, if you have ever wanted to see beavers in action, then this is the spot for you. You can join the group and hike out to their lodge and enjoy the sites as there are no leaves or anything to blind the vision.
These are not the only available events in Indiana. There are so many more, it just depends on what time and what area you are going to visit. This just goes to show that there are so many different things to do within the state itself. Any of these events or combination of events will have the entire family remembering your vacation. Not just through the scope of a lens either, it can become a place that they will want to visit again.