I've been making an effort to experience my home state of Indiana a little more these days. From…read morestate parks to roadside attractions to smalltown diners, I've been trying to simply slow down and enjoy Indiana. Chain O' Lakes State Park is one of Indiana's state parks. Located in Albion, a small city of under 2,400 in northeast Indiana's Noble County (think Kendallville), Chain O' Lakes State Park has as its main feature, you guessed it, a chain of lakes. The park has a chain of nine "kettle" lakes (13 lakes total, 9 connected). Kettle lakes are glacial lakes that were formed out of melting ice blocks. Chain O' Lakes offers small boating, 23 miles of forested trails for hiking, a hillside family cabin, a Nature Center, campground, swimming beach, picnic shelters, and the historic Stanley Schoolhouse - a historic one-room schoolhouse. Chain O' Lakes has 426 campsites, 18 cabins, waterfalls, great fishing spots, and you can rent watercraft. This is far enough from Indy that I kind of recommend making it a weekend trip rather than a day trip. There's much to do in Noble County (which also has a decent-sized Amish community). You can canoe a great five-mile path through the park's nine connected lakes (This used to be an official "challenge," though I don't know if it is anymore). There are even canoe camping sites (more isolated than the traditional camping sites). Chain O' Lakes is one of Indiana's under-appreciated gems. It's definitely less accessible than some of the parks, though it has improved somewhat over the years. It's more rustic and natural. It emphasizes outdoor experiences and its just over 2,700 acres feel like you could just get lost in them. The park is only 19 miles northwest of Fort Wayne (Indiana's second largest city), however, it feels like a world away. As someone who typically goes to Fort Ben State Park, I have a major love for these parks where you get there and forget there's a world outside the gates. If you're not the camping type, I'd probably head to Kendallville rather than Albion for the overnight. However, Chain O' Lakes has everything from primitive to more comfortable camping. So, it's easy to find something that works. I hadn't been to Chain O' Lakes in a while. Returning, I was reminded just how much I enjoy the place and how relaxing it is. A few other basics - This is a state park, so there's a fee to enter unless you've gotten the State Park pass (which I recommend for Indiana's 24 state parks). Also, fishing requires the state license and it is enforced. Finally, a couple semi-fun facts. There's a "re-entry center" located directly in the state park with a capacity of 140 incarcerated individuals. It offers educational and treatment programs designed to help people transition into the community - it also helps maintain this park, Pokagon, and the surrounding communities. It's been here since 1967 (and yes, it is safe.). Chain O' Lakes State Park also hosts The HUFF 50k Trail Run/Relay, the 12th largest ultramarathon in North America. Doesn't all this make you want to visit? I'll admit that I tend to stick in the 4-5 star range for most state parks. I love them. In terms of accessibility, I'd go 4-star for Chain O' Lakes. Because it offers so much and is really under-appreciated (in my opinion), I'm bumping it up to 5-stars. The trails, occasionally accessible, really do require someone with mobility issues to have assistance and some simply wouldn't work. Word of caution, as well, with so much water you had best plan for mosquitoes. They can be really serious around here!

Great camping spot! It's always quiet and beautiful. The boat rental closes at 4 ( I couldn't find…read morethe hours) and we didn't know that and got there at 4:05 :( only downside. The trails are good and the Dairy Queen in town is always a nice backup if the hot dogs aren't enough for your hunger

Not taken care of, bees hives and ground bees everywhere we went. Tried to take some ute pictures…read morebut kept getting attacked by bees. So we left.

Great place to have a picnic. The sunken garden area is a little hidden gem in indiana. Areas to…read morewalk and eat. Disc golf course is nice too. Open pickle ball and tennis courts too. Wish there was something like this closer to Fort Wayne!

This is a nice little nature park with parking and bicycle parking. You can walk the nature trails…read moredown to the creek or take the paved bicycle trail to the Indiana State Line. About 3 miles. This trail goes right by South Firemans Park as well.

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.

I love to go to this garden when I need some peace and quiet. Or to pray. Or even just to eat lunch…read morealone, in silence. It's located right on the lake, so you can can hear children playing in the background and city noise but there is something tranquil about it. And the fountain nose drowns it out. Plants and flowers are marked to indicate what they are for anyone interested in walking around and checking out the garden. It's a smaller place but really pretty. They have weddings here and events, the space can be rented. It's free to visit.

Good park Pool is clean…read more Bathrooms are eerie Fun for kids and adults Lots of stuff to do

it was OK, but in the main part, there were writings of peoples names and peoples name ship…read moretogether, but the main problem is that there were a lot of writing bad things about people and the park is really dirty easy spot so your kids in the park. The park is a little too big. You can lose your child really easily if you take your eyes off then, be careful, the giant slide has a bunch of sand and is easy to slip in the back by the giant hill. There's the blueberry vegetable and the added the new part in the back, which is really nice for the little kids that don't wanna be by the older kids way easier to watch your kids in the bath and you do not want to lose your kids in the back. There is a zip line which is a little scary cause it seems to fling you and you might wanna hold onto your kids because it flings them if they are really light

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.

Highland Park is a huge community park in Kokomo with lots of green space, recreational spaces and…read morea historic covered bridge. What I like best about the park are the mature trees that provide lots of shade. Some of the trees are over 400 years old. There is a huge colorful playground with climbing structures, swings and slides. The base is a mix of mulch and soft matting. Benches line the area for parents to sit and watch kids . (The equipment could use a good cleaning from the trees.) There are two ball diamonds with bleachers within the park. A beautiful stream that meanders through the park attracts fisherman. Tree-covered picnic areas are scattered along the creek. The Vermont Covered Bridge spans the creek and is open to pedestrian traffic. There are restroom facilities near the playground. There are several parking areas throughout the park and you can drive along the creek. Highland Park is a great place to bring the family.

This is a large park in Kokomo that truly has something for everyone. We were originally drawn here…read moreby the largest sycamore tree stump that is on display and the largest steer that is not alive, but a stuffed version is on display. There is parking right next to these attractions and easy access for those who need it. They were both behind glass so the glare made it hard to see both, but they were amusing. Right next to the display was a playground suitable for all ages. The slide is a bit high, and it seemed old, but in good condition. There are also covered picnic tables in the area. Down the ways a bit in the park is a red covered bridge that was fun to walk through and take some photos with. Lastly, there is a large pavilion stage area what was having an orchestra concert, free to attend, and the audience was partially shaded with some picnic tables in the back as well.

Sweet ride. Mostly flat and "smooth" by Michigan standards. I can imagine how beautiful it would…read morebe in the fall with the foliage. It runs 10.1 miles one way and the parking lot is a further drive if you use the trailhead on Yelp. On the other end there are restroom and a portable. Although there are many bodies of water as you ride across, there are no waterfalls as the name might suggest. Midway there is a nice cross breeze as it cuts between a lake. Today there was a horde of teenagers walking to the lake and was oblivious to anyone else around them. Hopefully, this is not a regular occurrence as it was difficult to navigate around them.

The Falling Waters Trail in Jackson County, Michigan serves as a great recreation spot for…read morebicyclists, joggers and walkers in the central part of the Mitten State. The trail is a beautifully paved 10.4 mile pathway linking the west side of the City of Jackson with the picturesque Village of Concord, Michigan with its many Victorian homes. The trail was once an old Michigan Central Railroad route and was converted to a Rails-to-Trails recreation area in 2007. The trail runs through rural countryside and beautifully shaded woodlands with only a handful of road crossings. The trail's name reflects the area's natural beauty and the region's native Potawatomi Indian tribe..."The land of Falling Waters". The Jackson trailhead at Weatherwax Drive and Park Road provides plenty of secure parking as does the trailhead ten miles to the west in Concord. Today we rode the full 21 miles out and back in beautiful Michigan summer weather before rewarding ourselves with Orange Creamsicle Milkshakes at Arby's on the way out of town....definitely a 5-star biking experience all the way.

Amazing park just outside of New Buffalo. Beautiful, clean, fun. Tons of playground equipment and…read moreeven trails in the woods to explore. Lots of parking. Basketball courts. Bocce ball courts. Public bathrooms and drinking fountains too. Splash zone: The last time we visited, it wasn't quite warm enough to play in water, but WOW is that an awesome feature worth mentioning in its own paragraph. If we lived in the area, you'd better believe that we'd hit this park up several times a week in the summer to cool off. Bravo, City of New Buffalo. Bravo. This is the small town park that lots of big town parks aspire to be.

This is amazing for toddlers and children. Amazing age appropriate playgrounds with safe rubber…read moreflooring directly next to cute splash pad/sprayground. Plenty of picnic tables with pavilion. Such an amazing find for the family.

What a great hike! So calm and peaceful. And the elevated walkways by the canopies are awesome…read more Try and come here if you can. So close to New Buffalo!

What a beautiful spot! The trails aren't very long but provide a great view of the river and the…read moremarshland. One takes you down the hill from the parking lot out onto a boardwalk through the marsh area, which is full of plants, flowers, and animals in the summer, and out onto an overlook to the river. Heading up takes you to a 60 foot high marsh overlook that sways just a little bit and gives you a great view of the area. Fishing is permitted from the lower deck. The park is free to enter. A very enjoyable walk.