I'm a huge fan of the five trails in Plainfield. Their safe, as a trail can be, clean, paved, many…read moreconvenient parking areas throughout Plainfield and not over populated like the Monon. Most of the folks I encounter are friendly and polite with a lot of dog walkers, runners and bikers. Each of the trails intersect with another trail making it easy to explore Plainfield or stay away from the congestion of the world. If you enjoy spending time in nature, you'll enjoy Vandalia Trail. Spend a few hours exploring all the trails to find your favorite route throughout Plainfield. Vandalia Trail replaced the old Vandalia railroad line. As a child my husband played on and around the Vandalia tracks and I love hearing his childhood memories. Most of the 5 trails have points of interest along the way that can distract you. Vandalia Trail has a great bridge at the intersection of White Lick Trail close to the baseball diamonds at Franklin Park. Just across the bridge is a shaded seating area which is great to meet up with friends and a map of the trails if you get turned around. I often find myself stopping to watch a ballgame at Franklin Park on my way to White Lick Trail. The almost 5 mile trail is a comfortable walk, jog or ride with a few hilly areas. The N. East Street and Aquatic Center hill is probably the steepest but still manageable for most. Much of the trail is shaded with sunlight streaming through the trees and I find very peaceful. You will encounter a few road crossings or under passes, and even though well marked stay vigilante. Vandalia Trail connects with White Lick Trail which takes you to Main St., a.ka. Washington St. or US 40, Al's Doughnuts, Oasis Diner, or Dairy Queen if you're looking for a quick snack or meal. From here continue on to Friendship Park and Hummel Park. Both are beautiful parks and each have their own points of interest worth exploring.

I love running on this paved trail in Plainfield...a lot of traffic in most areas but on some parts…read moreof the trail it can seem lonely. Great mile markers. The parks department keeps it mostly clear and easy to access. This is a gem in Plainfield!

Yesterday, I took a walk along the scenic Central Canal Towpath. The history of the failed canal…read moresystem in Indianapolis is interesting. The canal network was designed in the 1830's to provide transportation and promote commerce across the State. Mismanagement during construction caused bankruptcy of the project and, subsequently, the partially finished canal was sold. The canal was never used for transportation nor was maintained until modern times. A towpath would have run along the canal and used to pull (tow) vessels through the narrow waterway. Today, the Central Canal Towpath is part of a seven mile trail system that runs through Broad Ripple and past Butler University campus. The Towpath crosses the Monon Trail in Broad Ripple. I walked the stretch through Broad Ripple which is lined with cafes and gardens. Several interesting traffic bridges cross the canal. The trail is picturesque. I saw kids fishing in the canal. Bikes and runners also passed me during my walk. The Towpath is worth a visit, hike or run. I paid for public parking, but you can probably find free parking along the route.

I saw this and was like we must go see it! I feel like maybe we didn't go to the best part of it…read morebut it was still nice. It was a perfect after dinner stroll. Only bad thing was the ice cream place right there was closed! How do you close for the season in October? Ugh lol. But hey lead to us going to a good chocolate place. Not from the area and just from seeing some pictures I wish we had explored some more.

NEW TRAILHEAD IS NOW OPEN!…read more The Hannah Wilkinson Moffitt Trailhead is officially open on the newest section of the White River Greenway! It's a great new spot to get outside with the kids, go for a walk, ride bikes, or just enjoy some fresh air and beautiful views of the White River. A few mom-approved details Easy access to the greenway Bathrooms WITH changing tables Scenic overlook with views of the White River High Top Tables + chairs to sit and enjoy lunch A spot where you could even get a little work done while the kids enjoy the outdoors 14001 River Rd. Adding this one to our list of places to explore around Hamilton County!

The homeless have taken over the trail south of the zoo all the way to Raymond and made it unsafe…read moreto ride, walk or run. When they reopen the trail, it will be good until it gets past the Elanco HQ and then all bets are off. It is a shame because that stretch used to be a great ride but it is no longer safe. Hopefully, the city will enforce the "no camping on public property" law and clean that atra up.

A great place for a nice leisurely walk. A lot of foliage, alongside a creek, a loop trail, and…read morequiet on a weekend afternoon. It connects to Lion's park.

If you want to get up close to nature and the sycamore trees and not travel too far from home then…read moreCreekside Park is the place to be. This little Zionsville park is located in a former floodplain. Nice trails throughout the park and along the creek now bring you so close to nature that you instantly relax. The park is an excellent place to watch birds or look for native wildflowers. Today we saw a Canadian goose sitting on her nest. There were many people out walking their dogs today. The park offers cleanup bags for your pooch at the entrance. The park also connects to Lions Park through a bridge that goes beneath the highway. There are three picnic tables in the park. The park offers limited parking with only five spaces and one handicap space. The park is totally accessible with nice wide smooth trails.

This is one of my favorite places for a leisurely stroll, run or identifying plants and animals…read more There are such cool sculptures throughout the park and the pollinator flower gardens are so wonderful to walk through when in bloom. There is plenty of parking and it is free. You should check it out for a nice walk, run, birding or picnic.

The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Center is the garden and nature area of the Newfields…read morecomplex. This property used to be owned by the Lily family, of the Eli Lily Corporation. The grounds are beautiful and large. This includes the Lily House, greenhouse, multiple gardens, and an over one mile walking trail. I recommend touring the mansion, it's historic and beautiful with a large number of artifacts including an antique car. The greenhouse gave my husband and I a chance to see flowers in the winter. I highly recommend the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park!

It's been too long since my last review of the Cultural Trail. It can become easy to take treasures…read morelike this for granted after the initial buzz and excitement wears off. The truth is, the Cultural Trail weaves into our city so seamlessly (thanks to the landscaping and design) that it's a natural part of the fabric that makes our downtown so special. I'm thrilled about the latest expansions and can't wait to see how we continue to celebrate and utilize this great win for Hoosier pedestrians.

If you're seeking an inspiring and unique way to experience Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Cultural…read moreTrail is your answer! This trail is a testament to the city's unique character, offering a glimpse into its hidden gems, from serene parks and vibrant playgrounds to eclectic restaurants and cozy coffee shops. The trail offers a sense of empowerment, allowing you to choose the mode of transportation that suits you best. Whether you conquer the 8-mile-long trail or opt for a shorter, more stroll, like my mom and I did, the choice is yours. We explored the downtown part of the trail, close to the federal building, all the way down to the river trail. It was a short distance but a journey filled with memorable experiences. One of the things I loved about the trail was how many interesting sculptures and pieces of art we saw along the way. Each one had a description and information about the artist, which added to the experience. We also stumbled upon some fantastic restaurants and coffee shops that we probably wouldn't have found otherwise. If you're visiting Indianapolis and looking for a fun and unique way to explore the city, check out the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. It's a gem that's worth discovering!

This is Mooresville's main public park and home to many sporting fields, athletic facilities and…read moreactivities. There are a multitude of hiking and walking paths; some paved others more rustic trails. There is a large public pool and splash pad, with restrooms, showers and changing facilities. The pool area has a large multi story water slide as well as two smaller straight slides for younger children. Next door to the pool is a Zip line with a chair for two people to ride together for only five dollars. It is only open during the warmer seasons. There are seven shelters of various sizes and well as playground equipment near some of them. There are two full size basketball courts or four half courts depending on how you visualize them. There are four complete and fenced in baseball diamonds each equipped with full size backstops to protect spectators and they are well maintained. There are at least five, probably more, soccer fields with goals for community practicing and leagues. Shelter No. 1 is located just to the right of the main entrance and has a permanent volleyball net plus horseshoe pits and some swings. The basketball courts are nearest this shelter and a short walk. Shelter No. 2 is the largest with a large parking lot and is located just to the left of the main entrance. It features the largest and main playground. Shelter No. 4 is on the other side of this huge playground and is located very near the equipment. Shelter No. 3 is also located towards the front of the park, but smaller and has a small single piece of playground equipment with a slide next to the shelter. Shelter No. 6 has its own playground equipment but is within a short walk to the main playground visible across an internal road. There is parking for a half dozen vehicles. Shelter No. 5 looks like a gazebo and is the smallest of the seven but a bit more secluded from all the shelters towards the front of the park. There is parking here for a half dozen vehicles. Shelter No. 7 is double the size of an ordinary shelter and located in the back next to the soccer fields. You can see the wooden bridge leading to the rustic hiking trails in the woods. There are permanent restroom facilities located adjacent to this shelter. There is plenty of marked parking spaces here along the road as well as a small parking lot in front of the wooden bridge. If you like to walk or hike, I recommend parking in the lot by the bridge in the back and starting from there. There is also another open soccer field beyond the trails I have used for kite flying.

I have been to this park a few times and it is a mega-park. It is massive, spanning 150 acres. I…read morelove this park It has everything you could want in a park. There is tons of parking available here spread out between a few different lots depending on what area of the park you are visiting. In the front of the park you will find a 4 shelters that are spaced out. Each shelter has picnic tables under them and grills next to them. The largest of the shelters is by the biggest of the parks playgrounds that has nice equipment that includes a huge jungle gym with slides, animals to climb on, and swings. The ground is lined with rubber matting. Also in the front of the park, you will find two decent full basketballs court that are in good repair. Of in the distance, in the corner close to the main road, you will find three horseshoe pits. The pits are not the best, but will do. You will find a gazebo off by itself and a restroom facility up there in the front of the park too. a little deeper into the park, is another playground area by one of the 4 shelters. It consists of a traditional bank os swings and a jungle gym with climbing equipment and slides. You can take the road further to the back and you will pass a gazebo with seating, picnic tables, and a small shelter on your way to the soccer fields. This is a huge green space that has some small bleacher seating and in addition to soccer can be used for other stuff like playing catch, football or frisbees. Back there you will find another shelter with picnic tables under it and grills nearby and a restroom facility. A little further past that you will find a picturesque bridge. If you cross the bridge, it will lead you to another area of muliti-use soccer fields. The bread and butter of this park is its trails. It has miles of very nice paved trails that go all through the park. There is also a storybook trail and a fitness trail that is just to the side of the bridge. The parks has some very nice trails and are very peaceful as well. I love walking the trails and have done a couple of 5K races there. The park has about 4 baseball fields that are decent. They could use some maintenance though. It is primary used by the Mooresville Baseball League. They have a batting cage, and a snack bar over there as well. There is a zip-line in the park somewhere, but it was closed for the season when I was there. The waterpark look decent, but was also closed. In front of the waterpark and right by the park's maintenance office is another small playground area with a medium jungle gym with slides and another shelter with picnic tables under it. This is a first class park that has everything including horse shoes, shelters that you can rent, green space for days, trails for miles, a water park, zip line, multiple playgrounds, a fitness trail, gazebos, and tons of parking. It is well maintained and very clean. This is one of the best parks in the area and it has something for everyone. I highly recommend this park.

I've been spending a lot of time on Indy's westside and particularly in Speedway, Avon, Danville,…read moreand Coatesville. One day, I decided to venture around Speedway a bit as it's an area I grew up close to and I was feeling nostalgic. Meadowood Park is a 13-acre park on Speedway's north side. It's adjacent to Wheeler Elementary. It offers a densely wooded area along with a .75 mile walking trail, baseball/softball diamonds, sand volleyball courts, 3 shelter pavilions (all can be rented) - $75 for residents and $150 for non-residents, Ziegelmueller Pavilion, (can be rented), 2 playground spaces, and an interactive climbing rock area. There's a public restroom, though it's only open April-October. The playground, newly updated in 2010, targets ages 2-12. This is a safer residential area. I always kind of laugh because in a town known for the Indy 500, speed limits tend to be either 25 mph or 30 mph across town. However, that definitely helps keep things safe. The pavilion, or gazebo, has power outlets and can be rented - $100 for residents and $175 for non-residents. Tables are not included. A good number of local concerts are hosted here. Speedway tends to take care of its town. It's an important town since it hosts the Indy 500 and they take that seriously. This is an attractive and well-kept park and a great place where parents can allow children to play while keeping an easy eye on them. The ground of the playground is nicely padded and the park feels welcoming and safe. While I wouldn't consider this a destination park, it's a wonderful neighborhood park and one I'd easily visit when in this area and need a break.

In the shadow of the Speedway water tower sits a lovely little community park that is filled with…read moremajestic trees. The park offers several climbing structures and swings for young visitors to play and a soft matting so they are safe. Parents can sit on benches that surround the playgrounds and watch their kids. The park offers nicely paved pathways making it easy to push strollers or wheel chairs. There is a picnic pavilion and a lovely gazebo on the park grounds. The grounds are nicely maintained and manicured. There is a lot of natural shade from the large trees. It's a great place to read a book or walk the dog. There is a parking lot that holds about 20 cars or people park in the school lot that is adjacent to the park.