We had Vivi as our tour guide and she was very educational for my husband and my first cave tour…read more It lasted close to an hour and the average temp was a very comfortable 54 degrees on a summer day! We saw a transparent cavern fish that you can see their spine and a frog and a bat.

It was the day before mine and the wife's 30th anniversary and I was looking for something fun and…read moredifferent to do. Enter Bluespring Caverns Park. So on our Anniversary Eve I told her what time we needed to get up and what time we needed to leave to make the drive from Louisville to the park. She had no idea where we were going. When we pulled in to the parking lot she said "Well, this looks fun!". We were fortunate enough to arrive about 10:45 am and were the last two booked for the 11:00 tour. The entre fee is around $25 per person, but being a Veteran I was able to get a $4 discount (I'm also told that the Veteran discount is the only discount they offer any more). The tour starts with a walk down a hill that I couldn't help but think would be GREAT on a sled in the winter. It's a helluva walk (both down and up), but VERY scenic. As you descend you can feel the air cool. On a 90° degree day it felt REALLY nice. Once you're down to the bottom you board a boat and start the tour. Sam was our tour guide and he was Most Excellent. Sam has been doing tours at Bluespring Cavern for about 9 years and he shared all kind of facts and trivia during out tour. As I recall our tour was about 5/8 of a mile at a very leisurely pace. Caverns are such amazing, wonderful places. They're their own little, secret underground world. No matter how many I my brain goes into overdrive trying to imagine how it was hundreds/thousands of years ago, how incredibly still and quiet it must be when empty, and how completely isolating they can be. Sam educated us as we went along and entered different "rooms" in the cavern, giving us history and safety tips (DO NOT drink the water) along the way. We even got to see a few bats on our journey. Our boat tour got over a lot sooner than I expected, then it was time to walk back up the hill I think it'd be a blast to sled down. No worries, I'm in pretty good shape. A quick visit to the gift shop and we were on our way. (I added another shot glass to my collection of over 700). We did the boat tour, but they also offer kayak tours and have an overnight room where groups can actually sleep overnight in the cavern. That would be SO freakin' cool! The staff was friendly and funny, the tour was great, and the gift shop wasn't overdone or kitschy. Bluespring Caverns is SUCH a cool place, and we will absolutely visit again.

Beautiful, untapped, natural gem…read more Came here for lunch today and got in a couple miles my advice to senior or maybe not so experience climbers would be to take the stair steps down that are just down the trail about 100 yards

We were in Bloomington for a wedding and had a few hours to kill. this park had everything…read moreincluding a waterfall, caves and scenic shaded trails. Parking lot was small, we came early and no one else was here, 2 cars when we left.

If you've ever looked at a rock and thought, "Wow, that looks like a giant ceramic moonshine jug,"…read morethen congratulations--you may be spiritually connected to Jug Rock. Nestled in the scenic hills of Martin County, Jug Rock is exactly what it sounds like: a big ol' rock that somehow defied gravity, erosion, and logic to become Indiana's most charming geological oddity. It's nature's version of a middle finger to physics and a beautiful one at that. Getting there feels like a mini adventure--you'll drive through a peaceful little town, maybe wave to a few cows, and then boom: there it is, standing tall like it's just waiting to be Instagrammed. You don't climb it (please don't climb it), but you do stand in front of it and try to make serious faces in photos next to something that looks like it belongs in a Looney Tunes desert scene. Is it just a rock? Technically yes. Is it also a hilarious and majestic reminder that nature sometimes gets weird? Absolutely. Bring a camera, bring your sense of humor, and prepare to be humbled by Indiana's finest jug that isn't full of cider. 10/10 would rock again.

Tony and I was driving the back roads of Indiana and we saw the sign for Jug Rock Preserve and we…read morehad to stop to check it out. The rock formations was amazing! It's Free to check out and close to the road. I definitely recommend you to check it out so stop!!!! There's also a great diner near by...Velma's!

High quality ingredients and delicious! My mom used to make me delicious fried egg sandwiches when…read moreI was a child. Cordry makes an even better one!

Nestled 60 minutes south of Indianapolis in the north east corner of Brown County are man-made…read moresister lakes, Cordry and Sweetwater. These lakes are one of the best kept secrets in Indiana. The lakes are for the private use by the landowners of the properties within the district. Currently there are over 1000 homes and cottages surrounding the lakes. The Conservancy governs lake and wilderness of the district ensuring preservation of the natural beauty of the area. The lakes are among the clearest in the state. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, swimming and hiking. The is a small playground and beach near the Sweetwater dam. Amenities include a library, clubhouse, volunteer fire department and recycling center. There is no commercial business in the district except for one real estate business. The closest grocery is about a 30 minute drive except for a convenience store about five mikes north. The lakes are patrolled daily by safety patrol boats. The lakes have regulations to ensure guest safety. We have caught bass, blue gills and perch in the lake. There is a small hiking trail. Unfortunately there are no running or biking trails although runners and walkers frequently walk on the roads encircling the lakes. The area is also ideal for bird watching. Summer season is the most active with residents enjoying a multitude of water sports including water skiing, tubing, wake-boarding and swimming. The fall season offers spectacular color shows of changing leaves characteristic of Brown County. Winter is quiet and particularly lovey with snow on the lakes. Historic Nashville, Indiana is a short 30 minute drive.

Very nice park with a 1800s walking tour of a grist mill (currently being restored), the stables,…read moreblacksmith, school etc. Nice history and no dogs allowed in the village. Plenty of walking trails, the summer offers a huge pool and some sad looking tennis courts. Camping available with newly added row of full hook ups ( worth the extra money). There is an inn and a restaurant on site too.

Spring Mill State Park has well maintained trails, facilities, and campgrounds! All the employees…read morewe encountered were incredibly kind. I loved how unique and well preserved Pioneer Village is. I bought freshly ground cornmeal so that I could take home a little piece of the park to make cornbread with! The park is dog friendly (other than pioneer village where dog's understandably are not allowed).

While exploring Greene County, I saw that there was a moderate 1.6 mile hiking path inside the…read moreDilcher-Turner Canyon Forest. So, I crossed the railroad tracks (heading west) and pulled into the small lot at the south entrance. There is the usual wipe your feet before you enter and the sign in to let someone know the park is getting used. The park is a bit on the primitive side: no restrooms, natural trails, and only a few benches. There aren't actual trail markers, but during the right conditions, it seemed the painting of white patches on trees to help the hiker orient on the paths seemed to work. I could see this being a necessity after the leaves have fallen and covered up the dirt path. Note that there were several dry creeks that I crossed along the way, but because of the 60' elevation change, I could see the need to cross over water or at least muddy ground after a rain storm. The trail does have a short cut for those not wishing to hike the entire distance. After walking up a mild incline for .2 miles, there is a split in the path with a laminated map showing you where you are and the distances around the paths. I recommend snapping a photo of this since there is only one other map posted on the trails. The outer trail to the left (West) is the one with the best views of the canyon. Deep greens and rocky descents are seen and there is a bench to relax and just listen. No immediate access is available here to the canyon floor. However, the trails do gradually reach the lower portion of the canyon to the east, though never quite reaching the bottom, and certainly not near the viewing area on the west end. Along the way, there are a lot more rock outcroppings that have shallow caves. While observing a squirrel who had run into a fallen log, a deer ran by me within 30 yards to the crest of the hill, and then back to where it came from as I followed the path upward. Note: I wouldn't recommend going off trail here unless you have some high tech equipment or are just a bit crazy. The white trail patches are small and are only painted on the side that you can see them from the trail. If you wander off, you will need a lot of luck to find the markers again. If you are unsure, just stop and look to see the next marker before proceeding. They are there....just use patience. Overall, it was an enjoyable hike. I made good time on my trip, including stops to take photos, taking about 45 minutes. Review #1587

I was looking for something fun to do on a sunny afternoon and came across this nice walking path…read more There is a nice sized parking lot at the trail head. There is a water fountain and a waste can where you first get to the path. One of the main things I loved about this trail is the fact that it is wheelchair friendly. I have a difficult time finding suitable trails to take my daughter on. This trail is not paved but it is very well packed and does have gravel in some spots. I would think that if it was wet from rains it may not be as suitable to walk on. We passed several runners, walkers and bikers. We did not make it the entire length of the trail but the length we did walk was so peaceful. There were no leaves on the trees yet and no green grass but hearing the running water in the creek along part of the trail was very relaxing. I can easily see how this would be a great place to come and get away from city life for a short time! I'll definitely be coming back when I'll be able to walk the entire path. And hopefully see some wildlife and maybe some wild flowers along the way!

I have been during the day and night. It can be a little dangerous at night. There is a homeless…read morecompound that stays out in the woods, so be sure that you're not alone and that you're prepared for danger. But it is absolutely gorgeous at night. I didnt see anything sketch on my night hike and highly recommend going. Just better safe than sorry. The day time is also really nice. It can get crowded, but thats all parks here in Bloomington. It is usually filled with runners and speed walkers. I dont see many kids. It is a trail, not a full size park. And it doesnt have the art that the B-line has so it may not be well suited for some kids. I would have loved it when I was a kid...but I was a nerdy outdoorsy kid. Definite spot for locals interested in getting off the B-line and out of the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life quickly. I wouldn't really recommend for tourists. We have much better spots for you.

We enjoyed fresh air and a long relaxing hike along the creek. There was a nice little Sandy Beach…read morewhere the kids played and built castles. Can't wait to come back in the Spring.

This is more surprising than that scene in Garden State. Yeah, that one! Gasp! Takes your breath…read moreaway. Get a local to walk you there from parking at the commune lake. That's the top view. Needmore Commune was started by Kathy Canada, the grand daughter of Eli Lilly. Yeah, that Eli Lilly. It's not a tourist attraction. Locals don't bite. Ask and you'll find it. Bring wampum and trade beads. Flashbacks to 1969 are common in these-here-parts. Aaron Levy Property infamously reverted to family and was later purchased by Sycamore Land Trust. Google 'Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve' on the Sycamore Land Trust Site, for two maps so hard to read they scare people away. Prepare to be alone. Not crowded, except when morels poke out.

great park nice lake need to do something about family of raccoons before someone gets hurt!…read moreincluding my tent i know of 2 others that the raccoons tore into with campers inside of them also left with a bunch of stings and bites from the red ants after raccons tore the hole in my tent!

This weekends experience was awful thanks to the camp hosts. Not only were they verbally and…read morephysically abusing their two small children the whole time, they were using power tools all day making a racket. Totally not the relaxing experience we usually have here.

According to the mill's website, it was idle for 50 years and then restored to working condition…read moreled by a local non-profit and some generous donations. The mill is now only open weekends and is run by volunteers. Unfortunately, there aren't enough Yelp visitors to have kept the hours updated, so I attended on a Friday only to find out they are open exclusively on weekends. Still, they have a convenient parking lot across the road and even though the mill waterwheel was not spinning during my visit, the water was flowing down the waterfall and hill which made for some cool photos. It appears that there are some trails behind the mill as well, but I haven't found much information about those other than that there are multiple paths. The mill was originally built in 1807, and then restored just over 200 years later, being completed in 2008. The site is a bit of a drive from downtown Salem, but if you happen to catch them during open hours, you should have a better chance of enjoying your visit. Review #2650

This old mill was established more than two centuries ago, set up by a creek running out of the…read morerock. It lay dormant for 50 years, but it's up and running again, thanks to a tenacious non-profit and grants adding up to more than a million dollars. Worth the $5 admission to get a glimpse of the frontier economy. Be sure to see the old wool picker machines they keep upstairs too. The mill itself is not as big and perhaps not as impressive as the larger one that is preserved just west of here at Spring Mill, but it's every bit as authentic and arguably set in a more idyllic setting. I think that explains the billion mosquitoes that call this place home. The best part? In the summer, the Garden Table Market across the road uses the mill's grist in their corn muffins. Definitely make it a two-for-one. Also noteworthy are the couple miles of hiking trails through the surrounding wood. They will give you a map at the entrance.