This is the classic Japanese-style garden. It was a gift from Mishawaka's sister city, Shiojiri,…read moreand unlike anything else in the city. Upon entering the park, one will notice how this garden sends off quite a different "vibe" than western-style gardens do. Typical of Japanese design, it was thought out quite a bit, and there is a reason behind every little detail within. Every changing month seems to bring its own charm to the park. An excellent park to go to for feeling closer to both God and nature. This has got to be the loveliest acre of land in Mishawaka.

This park celebrates the sister city status of Mishawaka and Shiojiri, a city in Nagano, Japan…read more Niwa is Japanese for garden and this park takes on many of the characteristics of a Japanese Garden. Some of those characteristics include: Water - renewal and calm Stone - longevity and forces of nature Yukimi-gata Lantern (a snow lantern) Bridges The park has all these but the water/pond which would ideally contain fish /koi. Of course, the weather here would necessitate wintering of the fish elsewhere, so it is probably a cost management issue. The park is well kept and is filled with plants, small trees, and gardens. There is also a bronze sculpture to the right of the entrance that commemorates the relationship between the two cities. Review #3099

This was one of our first state parks to visit as new campers and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay!…read more They were so welcoming! Our campsite was well equipped and perfect for our family. The dump site was brand new and especially user friendly! The scenery was gorgeous. We were there a little late in the season, but the lake was still beautiful and we enjoyed watching all the wildlife.

Incredibly disappointing that their boat rental is only open on Saturdays and Sundays. Wish that…read morewould've been mentioned on their website. Not everybody has time on Saturdays or Sundays to come out here to rent on top of having to pay $7 to get into this park.

I thought this was a great park! There's a beach, zoo, and more…read more The beach was beautiful! The boardwalk was nice to walk along the beach. Plus there were lots of picnic and seating areas. The parking is nice and there's plenty of it. But I ended up having to pay twice since each lot had a different zone code even though we were in the same park.

Ideal late summer beach! we found free parking, decent washrooms, plenty of space with a nest…read morelittle lighthouse instead of the awful cooling tower. Surprisingly shallow for a ways out, water is cool in mid September but comfortable.

Deep River County Park simply put is beautiful. My family and I tend to visit in the fall when we…read morecan ooh and aah over the foliage. The trails for hiking are decent, but made pretty tough after a lot of rain. Especially near the river. They do a fair amount of educational presentations at this county park. It is neat to see the maple syrup process, and to be able to purchase some of the good stuff afterwards. The historical buildings, such as the grist mill, are as educational as they are a beautiful backdrop for weddings and pictures. This is a great county park, but I do suggest visiting in the fall...that's the time this park really shines!

Great place to visit if you need a little nature. Be sure to look up the hours before you go if…read moreyou want to get the full experience.

This is a great park for beginning hikers or those short on time. The park, while beautiful is much…read moresmaller than State parks, with trails that are harder to get lost on. There is small playground, a "Sensory Garden" area that has a pond with running water & frogs (for sound), highly scented flowers (for smell) and even some safe to taste herbs (for taste). There is a covered picnic area that can be rented out for parties. It can also be used freely when no parties are booked. One could make a day of this place but it's not a requirement to see everything.

such a beautiful park, i love the trails available very pretty views and everyone that travels is…read morenice. good for walking and biking.

This is a very very small garden. Although many of the plants are labeled, they don't seem to be in…read moregood health. I was expecting something more grand for a biblical garden.

What a great little spot. I would totally love for this to be my backyard. I will say there are…read moreBiblical references in the choices of plants if you know them. If not, there's truly not much Biblical about it. It is a great spot to slip away and connect with nature, pray, read or journal. The walking track is super short. More a quiet respite than a place for exercise. Maybe a good spot for some stretching, tai chi, meditation, or prayer.

State park is $7 per car for Indiana residents and $20 for all other. Great nature views. Dunes…read moreare fun to climb and run/walk down. Beaches are beautiful and water is cold early in the season. The day I went there was a high wave advisory so they didn't let people in the water. Best views of the lake are from observation tower located west of the pavilion. Waves are loud if the wind is blowing from the north. You can see the City of Chicago skyline from anywhere on the beach when it is clear weather conditions. No pets on the beach and it does tend to get crowded when the weather is nice. Walking/hiking paths are available and some go the the highest points in the park where the views are breathtaking.

Indiana Dunes State Park was the first stop on my road trip across America, and unfortunately, it…read morewas a pretty disappointing experience. I came here really excited and ready to hike, but visiting in the summertime meant dealing with an unbelievable number of mosquitoes. I expected bugs, but I have never seen anything like this! My friend and I were completely covered in mosquito repellent, and it honestly felt like we were walking through a fog of mosquitoes. We were literally trying to run down the trail to get away from them. There was hardly anyone else around, which we quickly understood because the conditions were so difficult. We kept going for about 20 minutes hoping the bugs would eventually clear up, but they never did, so unfortunately, we had to turn around. The beach itself was nice, but I didn't come here for the beach I came to hike and experience the trails. I was really disappointed that we couldn't actually enjoy the hike because of the mosquitoes. Maybe it would be a completely different experience at another time of year, but based on our summer visit, I can only give it

Has anyone ever told you to touch grass? Well, if they have or haven't, this is where you need to…read morego to do that. The size of these gardens are amazing and the time it takes to walk them took my family and I nearly two hours. It is a relaxing place to visit if you want some time away to read, write, or think. This place is sacred and I wish I lived closer because I would be visiting this place all the time. An absolute hidden gem.

This place is amazing! Highly recommend. If you are a resident of Elkhart county admission is free…read moreon Tuesday. Non residents and any other day admission is $10, so very worth it.

The views here are spectacular. We've often seen the platform as we drove past on Red Arrow. It's…read morea great place to chill and pass some time. There are a few short trails that you can hike and high and low platforms where you can get a good look at the Galien River marshlands. Free to the public with lots of parking

Very nice and accessible friendly park. It's a short stroll but peaceful and beautiful. Great place…read morefor fishing and bird watching. Only thing is that parking is very limited.

This was a beautiful Botanical Garden! There was plenty of street parking right in front of the…read moreentrance. The property was full of beautiful flowers, lush greenery, and bright colors. There was so much to take in! It's a great place for a photoshoot, relaxation, or just enjoying nature! There were a few groups relaxing around the gardens on benches or in the gazebos. Over the small bridge was a stream and a small pond with koi fish & turtles. I wasn't able to see any of the fish in the pond. The water was pretty murky, but a few did pop up. I was able to spot a few turtles! I had a fun time exploring the botanical gardens. The property was very clean and well maintained. It was extremely peaceful & a nice escape from the normal day to day to experience nature's beauty!

This is a very nicely kept area. Very relaxing walk, beautiful flowers and greenery. It took about…read more15-20 mins to walk around the park.