Thinking of a vacation? Counting your pennies and coming up short for that dreamed of trip? Maybe this is the summer to try a vacation a little closer to home. The Greensburg Public Library has several books to help you do just that.
Incredible Indiana by Wendall Trogdon offers a list of opportunities every Hoosier should experience at least once in a lifetime. Included is: climbing Mount Baldy in Northern Indiana, walking the trails at the many state parks, watching the Indians play at Victory Field, relaxing on a park bench along the Riverfront Walk in Madison, and marveling at the splendor we often overlook or do not always appreciate. This book is indexed by county and city, offering suggestions of things to do in each one.
A 2 ½ hour drive down US 50 will take you through Seymour and Bedford and land you in Shoals, the county seat of Martin County. Trogdon suggests that you visit Jug Rock. The Martin County website - www.visitmartincounty.org offers this information about the rock: A natural geological rock formation, Jug Rock is composed of sandstone.
It is the largest free-standing table rock formation in the United States east of the Mississippi River. Its overall dimension is sixty feet high and twenty feet in diameter. Jug Rock stands alone with no adjacent ledge, which classifies it as one of the most puzzling formations in the United States.
Jug Rock is only one of the many interesting things to see and do in Southwestern Indiana.
A look at this area on the Indiana 2009 Travel Map shows several state forests, historical sites and also the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. A visit here can include the Lincoln Living Historical Farm. It is a re-created pioneer homestead with a cabin, outbuildings, split rail fences, farm animals, vegetable and herb gardens and field crops. Rangers in period clothing perform a variety of activities typical of the 1820 era. Learn more on the website - www.nps.gov/libo.
If you would prefer to travel north and are willing to make a 4 hour trip you will find yourself on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (www.nps.gov/indu) offers sandy beaches, wildflowers, the Chellberg Farmhouse, Mount Baldy, and more. Mount Baldy is 126 above the water level of Lake Michigan. A hike up this sand dune will bring you to an astounding view of Lake Michigan and a terrific place to swim and build a sandcastle. Close by, in Michigan City, you can visit the Old Lighthouse Museum (www.michigancity.com) which is the only lighthouse in Indiana. If you like to shop, you can spend the day at Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets. This area of the state also boasts of the Wizard of Oz Museum in Chesterton, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor in Portage and much more.
According to the book Watch it Made in the USA by Karen Axelrod and Bruce Brumberg, if you travel to Fort Wayne, you can tour the Aunt Millie's Bakery and sample the products. Reservations are required and contact information can be found at www.auntmillies.com. Dekalb County is also home to Sechler's Pickles (www.sechlerspickles.com) and will hold the 13th Annual St. Joe Pickle Festival from August 13 through August 15. Also nearby are several state parks and the National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States. Visit the website at www.natmus.org. This is a non-profit museum with emphasis on post World War II cars and trucks but with vehicles on display from 1908 "high wheelers" to current production pick ups.
Visiting the Southeastern corner of the state will bring you to the Falls of the Ohio State Park (www.fallsoftheohio.org) The 386-million-year-old fossil beds are among the largest, naturally exposed, Devonian fossil beds in the world. The park features a spectacular interpretive center overlooking the fossil beds containing an exhibit gallery and video presentation. While in this area you can also stop by the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site and Corydon's Historic Civil War Battlefield, the site of Indiana's Only Civil War Battle (www.corydonbattlepark.com.)
If you are looking for entertainment this summer that won't break the budget, stop at the Library and check out our books on traveling Indiana. In addition to the ones already mentioned the Library has: Scenic Driving in Indiana, Reid Duffy's Guide to Indiana's Favorite Restaurants, Driving the National Road in Indiana, and Weird Indiana, just to name a few. We also have copies of the Indiana Travel Map, the 2009 Indiana Travel Guide and the Indiana Festival Guide.
A vacation doesn't have to cost a lot of money – pick up a book or check out a website and enjoy being "back home again in Indiana."