I have been thinking about the purpose of this blog. Sharing recipes and covering food-related events has always been at the forefront of my editorial endeavors – but is there more to it? While I do document the growth of my family and our shared experiences (here, here, here, here, here and here), I always do it indirectly, under the “disguise” of covering food, lol. Maybe it’s time for a change 🙂
This reflection was triggered by our recent trip to Indianapolis for the Sweets & Snacks Expo. As I was visiting places I had previously checked out in 2024, I became emotional while thinking of the passage of time and our children growing up. I realized that this is why the Sweets & Snacks Expo means so much to me – it’s not just about the sweets and the snacks, but about all the memories I made with my loved ones over the years. In a way, this Expo and our children have grown up and blossomed together.
Subsequently, I thought I should compile this post covering non-food local destinations your family might enjoy as much as we did, while making memories to last a lifetime. Have you visited any of these places before? Let me know in the comments 🙂
- Holliday Park
Holliday Park is a 94-acre park located on the north side of Indianapolis “where you can explore the nature center, play on one of the city’s best, hard-to-leave playgrounds, hike more than two miles of picturesque trails or walk down to the banks of the White River.”
We fell in love with Holliday Park in 2024, when we discovered it by accident, while driving around Indianapolis. The park has ample playgrounds and sitting areas, the latter perfect for enjoying your lunch while absorbing all the peace and tranquility.
The nature-inspired murals are gorgeous:
The playground was closed for construction when we visited this year, which they do mention on their website. This aside, there are ample opportunities for the children to play and for the adults to relax in other areas of the park, observing the impeccably maintained vegetation: “The wooded ravines contain natural springs and wetlands, a pond, a long stretch of the White River, a beech-maple forest, and over 400 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers.”
There is a lot to see in terms of birds and animals, too. As stated on the Holliday Park website, “Bird watchers have spotted more than 200 species while hiking the 3.5 miles of trails that wind through the forest. In addition, deer, fox, beaver, rabbits, squirrels and many other native animals reside in or pass through the park grounds.”
So beautiful and serene!
The Holliday Park Runs are a major point of attraction for veteran environmentalists and casual tourists alike. Their fascinating history can be found here.
- Fort Harrison State Park
This 1,700-acre park features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, fishing access to Fall Creek, and two national historic districts. The former Citizen’s Military Training Camp is preserved around the park office in what was once known as Camp Glenn.
“An oasis of green in an urban landscape, Fort Harrison is one of the hidden gems to be found in the state, just minutes from home for many visitors needing contact with nature.” I couldn’t agree more!
We loved exploring this park during our recent visit in May. The nature was in full bloom, the green was everywhere, and all spaces were brimming with life.
We said hello to many earthworms 🙂
- Kemil Beach
Even though we live reasonably close to Indiana Dunes, we only started exploring this place recently, thanks to various school activities and our own desire to get fit and to walk more.
There is a lot to see at Indiana Dunes (15 miles of coast, over 50 miles of trails, and 16,000 acres!) and we have barely scratched the surface, but one place that has stood out from the very beginning has been Kemil Beach.
This beach offers everything: pristine sand…
…clear blue waters…
…stunning views of Chicago’s skyline in the distance…
…and last but not least, limited foot traffic.Â
Kemil Beach is rated dangerous for its rip currents, so we kept an eye on our children at all times and didn’t venture far into the water.
There is a fee to enter Kemil Beach, but we got free entry with an Every Kid Outdoors pass.
- Gabis Arboretum
The Purdue University Northwest Gabis Arboretum is located between Valparaiso and Merrillville, Indiana, and “serves as a living laboratory for education, research, conservation and engagement with the natural environment.” Featuring 300 acres of landscapes featuring a restored prairie, display gardens, wetlands and miles of hiking trails through woodlands, this arboretum was a wonderful new discovery.
We visited on a Saturday and checked out the model trains at The Railway Garden.
Seeing the trains in action and learning the stories behind seminal moments in US railroad expansion was an amazing experience that will stay with us forever.
Highly recommended!
We also had a lot of fun going on a (rather challenging, lol) scavenger hunt.
So much fun in the summer sun!
Entrance to Gabis Arboretum is fee-based, and you need to pay extra to access The Railway Garden. I purchased an annual membership which includes free entry to the Railway Garden – a much better value for frequent visits, in my opinion. The Arboretum has an extensive calendar of events, and we look forward to checking them out without paying entrance fees every single time. Last but not least, the Arboretum participates in American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admission Program, which provides discounts and even free entry to hundreds of gardens across North America – adding to the savings we could benefit from over time 🙂
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