Family Cabins at Brown County State Park

So you scored a gift certificate to one of the Indiana state park inns or lodges, eh? You must have been on Santa’s nice list this year. I’ve stayed at many of the state park properties and have enjoyed them all. They’re clean, comfortable, and just steps away from all the amenities that each park offers. Plus, most have a restaurant and gift shop that you can also use your gift certificate toward. The food is great, down-home Indiana comfort foods and the shops have a good selection of Indiana treasures that you can’t find anywhere else.

But last week, I had my favorite state park lodging experience to date. We had one of those gift certificates to use before 2012 came to a close, and booked a family cabin at Brown County State Park. I wanted to let my kids have their fill of the indoor aquatic center inside the Abe Martin Lodge in the park, but also wanted to have a little more space and separate bedrooms to put them to bed at night.

These family cabins are ideal. Tucked away in the woods, but within walking distance of the lodge itself. Bedrooms upstairs, so its easy to put little ones to sleep but stay up and watch movies or enjoy the wood burning fireplace in the living area below. There’s a full kitchen (which is stocked with cookware, plates and glasses) and beautiful patio overlooking trees as far as the eye can see.

While I enjoyed waking up to a snow covered fantasy in the winter, I’d love to go back in the spring, summer or fall and grill out, hike, or play with my kids on the playground just steps away.

At just $156.99 per night plus tax in the off season, or $176.99 plus tax during peak season, these family cabins are reasonably priced particularly considering you get all that space, plus access to all the amenities at the lodge and the park itself. Reservations can be made online here.