This was actually so much fun. I discovered them on tiktok. We did the behind the scenes package…read morewhich is about $250 for five people it includes Museum, walkthrough, and drive through access. So one thing to remember with this package you are already going to the kangaroos and you are able to put them so you don't need the encounter for the kangaroos with this package. The owner realized that we purchased all three animal encounters and he was kind enough to refund us the kangaroo encounter. For their animal encounters it's like $10 each and I did like the scaly and cuddly encounter it was consist of bunnies, Hedgehog, sugar glider, a gecko, and a turtle and python. The other encounter I didn't like so much it was more of a learning about the animals which I think would easily be included with the behind the scenes instead of making it an encounter because they were just talking about the birds they were pretty birds but you don't really have an encounter with the animal the only thing that they did have an encounter with was the armadillo. I would definitely come back even though it's 3 hours away because it was so much fun and I definitely know what I want to get the next time I want the ATV Drive Through Safari package because that was so much fun and that was so worth it. They had huge camels horses zebras it's honestly an amazing experience and you need to try it.

We had a fantastic time! My kids had fun, great grandparents had a great time and perfect weatherread more

We recently went to Illinois to visit family and planned to go to Kickapoo to do some fishing and…read moregrilling. It was a pretty warm day, so we found a spot with some shade, flat ground, benches and access to the pond for fishing. We didn't have much luck with the fishing, but neither did the folks who had been in the same spot before us. The park has several ponds with multiple access points. Some have docks where you can fish off of them and others have boat launches as well. A very large area with lots of picnic tables and stationery grills was roped off/closed. We weren't sure why. They also have paddle boats as well as kayak and tube rentals. Entry was free (which was surprising to me) and I was sad to see so much litter strewn about. People should take better care of our green spaces. Hopefully, they have someone who cleans up and maintains these areas.

Beautiful park! Been coming since I was a kid- and probably still come as an old man. Lots of…read moretrails and places to enjoy nature. Park is always clean and well maintained.

Very nice little park with tables and grills! We enjoyed the playground. I'm sure we'll be back…read morenext time we visit.

I used to come to this park often when I lived in Champaign, IL. Some friends and I used to play…read morebaseball in this park. I also brought my girlfriend to this park to talk about what was bothering her. Before moving to Champaign, IL I used to come to this park often. Later when I had moved away to another town I came back to this park with my new puppy before going on to move back into my parents home for awhile. Years later I brought a new girlfriend to this park to show her where I used to park to think things over. I also showed her a tree that had grown into a huge shade tree. I told her that many years ago it was only a sapling not much taller than me.

Beautiful, fun place to take the kids for summer!!! We had an absolute blast & can't wait to go…read moreback again. Perfect day!

Hi just finishing up camping this weekend and obviously too hot in this area, words the wise if you…read morewant to go and take a shower and cool off there's no adjustment in the heat the best thing to do if you want to cool shower as when you notice a whole bunch of people are using a shower go then cuz the lukewarm water gets slightly cooler instead of a 9:00 a.m. shower that the water's almost hot and for me I don't like a hot shower when it's 100° out, and if you're handicap obviously use the handicap shower it's got a two little room a bench inside a bench in the second room and plenty of body room to get dressed

What a wonderful place to get out of the city and just slow down! My honey took me here 4/26/26…read moresince we've had some nice weather lately. Pleasantly surprised they have many picnic tables, the cover bridge to see and of course the Falls. Just be careful when walking to the lower fall as you are pretty close to the ledge of the falls. Plenty to enjoy here. Next time we shall have a nice picnic and enjoy the scenery. You can swim too.Parking is easy but i'm sure it gets crowded in the summer time!

Cataract Falls is a geological wonder worth visiting and only an hour west of Indianapolis. These…read moremagnificent Falls were created over millions of years as ice and water carved into the ancient limestone resulting in Mill Creek and two sets of falls. The Upper Falls drops 20 feet and can be viewed near the entrance to the park at several overlooks. We visited this week on a bright summer day. The waters were loud and rapid after recent rains. This is one of Indiana's most beautiful sites. There is a large parking lot near the Upper Falls along with picnic tables, grill, pavilion and small playground. We brought a picnic lunch so we could enjoy the Falls. There are pit bathrooms near the playground in a second parking lot. The Lower Falls are a short drive through the park. A nearby lot provides plenty of parking. The short path to view the falls is not paved, but an easy walk. These falls drop 18 feet with incredible views of the layered limestone exposed west of the falls. I was envious of a lone kayaker below the falls. There are marked trails through dense woods descending near the creek. You'll want to wear good hiking shoes and bug spray if you are up for the adventure. The property was donated by Agnes Stuckey in memory of her mother, Agnes Steiner. The Park is maintained by the Indiana DNR. There was no admission during our midweek visit.

During a recent trip to Turkey Run State Park for a meeting, I had some extra time to explore a…read morebit. While you might think that's what led me to Shades State Park, to be honest I landed here because I got lost. So, I figured "What the heck?" and decided to snag a second Indiana state park in one day. Located about 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville off SR 47, Shades State Park is an ideal location for camping, hiking, and canoeing. As Katy E. notes in her review, Shades is less popular than the pretty close by Turkey Run. With sandstone clicks overlooking Sugar Creek, this is the place for those who want more nature and less activity. You can also check out the Pine Hills Nature Preserve while here. Shades is definitely not built necessarily for someone like me (a wheelchair user) precisely because it's not "built." It's a pretty natural setting, though it does have a picnic area with shelters, a 6-ravine hiking challenge, 10 trails (plus a backpacking trail), fishing, interpretive naturalist services (seasonal), and it's a favorite spot for a number of astronomy groups due to its dark skies. While I found the entrance to Turkey Run (which I love) a little too developed, such is not really the case here. There are 105 non-electric camping sites, 7 backpack camping sites, 10 sites for canoe camping, youth tent areas, and a dumping station. For hikers, the trails range from about .5 miles to about 2.5 miles. A couple of these trails are genuinely rugged, and probably not best for beginners. There are a couple shorter trails that are considered easy, though obviously "easy" means different things - especially for wheelchair users. Trail #7 is currently closed due to recent rains/floods. A few fun facts: Shades State Park opened in 1947. It was the state's 15th state park. This area was originally known as "Shades of Death" due to its darkness and deep forest. In the 19th century, there was a mineral springs resort here. Joseph Frisz, the owner, actually sold the land to the state for a park to preserve the area. Shades does not have a hotel or inn, however, you're close to Crawfordsville. Turkey Run Inn is about eight miles away for those not into primitive camping. I'm a big fan of this park. While there are certainly trails here I can't really do in the wheelchair, there's enough places to go that I can easily still spend the day here. Including Pine Hills, Shades covers about 3,000 acres.

What a serene and beautiful state park! Went during memorial weekend which was the perfect…read moretime/weather. We brought 2 dogs (small and medium size) with us. Recommend bringing plenty of water, bug spray, a packed lunch/snacks, a bag for trash because you must pack in and pack out - leave no trace behind. Wear hiking boots for ample ankle support and when you cross creeks/streams of water. For hiking - we hit up trail 2, then 1 and ended with 9. I'm glad we did it in that order because we did the most challenging trails in the beginning and ended with a nice walk. Easily hiked ~6 miles. We went when it wasn't crowded so we were fully immersed into nature without big groups. This park doesn't have much foot traffic compared to Turkey Run, which is what we enjoyed the most here. We went around noon and left before it got dark. PROS: $7 for Indiana residents, modern restrooms, playground for kids and benches for lunch. CONS: No trash cans

We visited the Salt Fork River preserve for an outdoor wedding, and then popped next door to the…read moreSalt Fork Center for the reception. The preserve itself is lovely and looks well-managed. The Salt Fork Center is an aging A-frame building, and the A/C was NOT working. After being crowded inside a few hours, guests began to figure out that the exterior temperature had come down enough that it felt slightly cooler outside. Putting aside the A/C problem, this place offered an easy-to-access water-and-woods escape from Champaign-Urbana, just 15 to 20 minutes away.

I feel like I left a beautiful fairy land that should not exist in this world…read more The lake here blends beautifully with the smooth grass that surrounds it. The way the sun hits this lake is comparable only to pictures that I have seen in story books of lands far away or that have only existed in our imaginations. When the sunsets over it colors are displayed on this iridescent canvas that have no name. The trees are simply gorgeous with amazing diversity in variety. They supply ample shade for picnicers and families enoying the peace and beauty here. There are many ancient trees that appear to be hundreds of years old deep in the woods. Homer Lake as the people who live near here call it also bosts many amenities such as a look out tower, various trails, play grounds, and a very educational nature center. I left here feeling at peace. What a beautiful place!

Unless you are a skilled hiker, I recommend going to this beautiful nature preserve when the…read moreweather has been dry. There is about 90 feet of elevation change on the 0.8 mile loop that can be a bit slippery if you pick a time when mud/rain can be a problem. I only explored the north end trail during my visit. After parking in a shaded lot, I went into the park where I had a choice of left or right. The right side has a steeper descent than the left. Fortunately, there is a hand rail for stability. I figured it easier to go down the steep side than up, so I stayed on the right hand path. There is a fairly level area before you reach the "stairs". The stairs are mostly natural, so they aren't evenly spaced. Just keep focused and you should be alright. Once the trail reaches the bottom of the gorge, there are places where elevated paths keep your feet from trekking through the mud. Depending upon how much rain has fallen, you may get some mud, but my feet stayed dry the entire loop. At the base, there are deep ravines where the trees catch the sunlight and light up in brilliant yellow greens. The rocks are layered and take on a rusty color that can make for some great photos. The highlight of the loop is finding the "arch" through the ridge of rock. It was just a bit taller than my head (I would say most folks won't need to duck going through.) After that, you will start working your way back. Although I traveled the same distance up, it was gradual and not nearly as challenging as climbing steps. I didn't see much wildlife there, but there were squirrels and butterflies that showed themselves. I like a short hike that features a destination and great scenes along the way. If you like that too, then seek out this park. Review #2840

Great trail among beautiful landforms. It's a nice hike that makes for a good day trip along with…read moreWilliamsport Falls, Attica, and the courthouse murals on Covington.

Great nature preserve, you can hike, ride bikes, walk trails or climb the observation tower. Nice…read morepavilions to rent or buildings with heat or air conditioning. For parties or gatherings.

This is a great 11 mile trail. I'd highly recommend it for someone looking to step-up from shorter…read moretrails to something closer to a full-day hike. It's located conveniently close to Champaign-Urbana, and closer still to Danville. At a good pace the trail can be finished in just over five hours. Slower hikers, or those who stop at the observation tower for lunch can take up to six and half hours. With plenty of up and down, and a few very steep hills this is good trail for anyone training or practicing. Bring waterproof boots as there are many stream crossings; also, portions of the trail itself become a bit of a quagmire during "mud season". Cool breezes come off the Vermilion river, and will cool you off when crossing the trail's river-side ridge lines. While most of the trail falls under a canopy of deciduous trees, there are portions of open prairie, and even a stretch alongside a corn field (very appropriate for the Corn Desert Hikers, huh?). There was only one spot where you might get lost, after coming out of the forest onto an old dirt (or mud) road, you follow the road up the hill. We crossed the road and were lost in just a few feet. The rest of the trail is very well blazed though. Large bread dogs will do well on this trail, but will get wet and muddy. I'd say it's a bit too long and too challenging for first-time hikers or children. There is a campground, enclosed and open shelters, and a lodge in the park, fees vary. The 11 mile backpacking trail required pre-registration one week before hiking, but that's not enforced too strickly. Unless you bring them with you, post-hike libations maybe a bit hard to come-by. The tiny near-by Westville doesn't feature any establishments that offer both (good) food and beer. The taverns feature modest viddles like microwaved hot dogs, frozen pizza, or popcorn, (seriously popcorn?). Up U.S. Route 150 in Beligum are a few Family Restaurants, basically road-side dinners, they have impressive menus, but no brews. Once you get to Westville, keep an eye out for the brown signs pointing towards Forest Glen. The turn off is at the intersection of State and Main.

This is another great rail trail in Indiana that straddles Sugar Creek. Finding the trail is…read moretricky, winding pass farmland, through a golf course and around some tight curves. There is plenty of parking and a porta potty at the entrance we used. There was no phone connectivity, so I could not check in. This is wilderness! This was my third visit to the trail. There is short hike up a hill to access the trail. The tree lined trail is nicely paved with occasional benches and pet clean up stations. There are lots of wildflowers along the path and some picturesque views including and old train bridge across Sugar Creek. There were lots of birds chirping so a good place for bird watching. On the weekend, there are many people out walking, running, riding bikes and more. Rock hunters look for fossils under the bridge. The trail itself is accessible and navigable in a wheel chair but I don't know how a wheelchair could climb the hill to get on the trail. Perhaps there is another area with easier access. The trail closes at dusk.

This is a 4 and a half mile trail of wilderness on the outskirts of Crawfordsville. It's…read morewell-maintained and peaceful, great for walking, jogging, or biking. It's mostly paved with a short gravel section. Although it is technically part of the trail I would skip the section by Crawfordsville High School and start by Donnelly's, its more nature-y. I don't think there's any water fountains so definitely bring a water bottle. It's rural and seems very safe, I've never heard of any crime on it, but I would still recommend normal safety precautions because it is very isolated.