Leisure Time at Brown County State Park
For four years now I have taken advantage of a great deal that is offered by Indiana's state parks. In the parks that offer lodging, when you stay two consecutive nights Sunday – Thursday in the winter months, you can get two nights for the price of one!
I always take my daughter to Brown County State Park to enjoy the park and the indoor aquatic center at Abe Martin Lodge. While trails and attractions are generally the main reason for park visits, the parks are also a great place to relax, enjoy some quiet time, and have a small getaway with or without the kids.
While visiting the lodge, make sure you bring a good appetite and stop by the Little Gem Restaurant to have a bite to eat. The atmosphere is homey, the food is delicious, and you get to eat with a view. After you've eaten, stroll the halls and learn the history of the lodge. Stop by the old radio and listen to some good tunes, then head just around the corner to the fireplace to enjoy the warmth of the fire and the view into the adjacent courtyard.
The indoor aquatic center at Abe Martin Lodge is a family must-see if you live in the area. If you have a room at the lodge, your passes to the water park are included in the price of your room. If you are not staying in the lodge, just make sure you call ahead to see if they are selling individual bands for the day you are wanting to visit. The day pass band is $15/person for the day.
This year's trip was in cold, rainy weather, but that did not deter us from having fun and getting out into the park for short periods of time. The good thing about bad weather is that we had the whole park practically to ourselves! We visited both the North and the West Lookout towers where I got the chance to take some good pictures, dropped by the nature center where Livi had a staring contest with a squirrel in the viewing window, and stopped to take advantage of a fallen tree and its climbing possibilities.
This trip is something that both my daughter and I look forward to every year. I wanted to share in the hopes that this article might encourage you to start a tradition of your own at one of our State Parks.
Published: 01/18/2013
