More Daylight, More Indiana Adventures

There’s still only 24 hrs in a day, but the recent time change brings increased opportunities to explore Indiana. Plenty of outdoor adventures await now that there’s more evening light and rising temps. Here are just a few of the ways I plan to take advantage of those extra late-day hours.

I’ve only mountain biked at Brown County State Park once and I can’t wait to go again. The trail network, spanning more than 30 miles, has been ranked one of the best in the country by Bike magazine. After pushing through the rugged terrain, I plan to pull up to the bar at Big Woods Brewing Company in nearby Nashville and treat myself to good grub and a fresh, local beer.

I bike for exercise, but I also pedal for pizza and burgers and ice cream and food of all kinds. Several great dining options along or near the Monon Trail in Indianapolis and Carmel provide plenty of reasons to burn more calories. Favorite trail-side stops include Brics and the Monon Food Company in Broad Ripple and  Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream and Bazbeaux in Carmel.

Indiana has  several destination restaurants worth a drive. A road trip to Bonge’s Tavern has become an annual tradition for my friends and I. The extra evening hours come in handy when tailgating. This year, I plan to treat my mom and dad to the tomato soup and Perkinsville pork.

I’ve kayaked most of Indy’s waterways multiple times. Eagle Creek is a great stop after work now that it gets dark later. Before we fall back in a few months, I’d like to paddle Lake Michigan near the Indiana Dunes State Park and take an overnight kayak trip to one of the remote campsite along Lake Monroe.

These are just a few ways I plan to spend time outdoors. Like the days, my list keeps getting longer.