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In this special episode, I interview Eileen Baker-Wall, the great-great-granddaughter of William Bush, a Black man who escaped slavery and made his way to Indiana. William stayed in Fountain City his entire life where he used his skills as a blacksmith to live in freedom. He was an active member of the community, even working with Levi Coffin and likely helping with Underground Railroad activities. To learn more about William Bush, visit the Levi & Catharine Coffin Historic Site website. Be sure to visit their home to learn more about William Bush, the Coffins, and other members of the community where were part of the Underground Railroad. You support IN the Parks when you buy an Indiana state park hat or sticker! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site is one of the most impactful places I've visited in Indiana. Their home was a stop on the Underground Railroad where 1,000 to 2,000 freedom seekers stopped on their escape north to freedom. Levi was called the President of the Underground Railroad by a slave catcher, an honorific he humbly accepted. The historic site provides insights to the Coffins' lives and also highlights the way Black Americans found freedom for themselves. Along with tours of the house, there's an engaging museum that provides more context for the Underground Railroad. You'll definitely want to plan ahead for this site because guided tours are scheduled and are the only way to see the home and hear the stories. Visit the Indiana State Museum's site to plan your visit. While you're in the area, swing on over to Summit Lake State Park or hike Hoosier Hill, the highest point in Indiana. (Which is nowhere near as daunting as you'd expect.) Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks on Instagram and Facebook. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vincennes, Indiana, is the perfect spot to learn about the birthplace of Indiana! What I learned in 4th grade Indiana history pales in comparison to the trove of information I received! The Indiana State Museum has several historic sites in Vincennes you'll definitely want to visit. I got tours of the Territorial Capital, the Old French House, Jefferson Academy, Elihu Stout Print Shop, Thompson House, Fort Knox 2, the Old State Bank, and Sugarloaf Mound. Not all locations have regular guided tours, so plan ahead to get the best stories! While you're in Vincennes, you'll want to visit the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park and learn from the National Park Service interpreters. Plus, the grounds and river walk are beautiful. I would also recommend a visit to William Henry Harrison's home, Grouseland. The tour guides are great, and you'll learn so much about our ninth president. The Vincennes/Knox County visitor's bureau is a helpful resource in finding historic places to tour as well as current events and activities to enjoy on a visit. Don't forget to buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Follow @intheparksonline on Instagram and Facebook.  Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am so excited for Season 3 where we'll be visiting the Indiana State Museum's 11 historic sites around the state. So many of these sites are just a stone's throw away from a state park, AND the historic sites were once managed by Indiana DNR. Today we'll hear from Cathy Ferree, the president of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. She shares her background, her passion for Indiana history, and why museums and historic sites are even more valuable today, especially for kids. I loved this conversation with Cathy! Be sure to plan a visit to the Indiana State Museum or any of the 11 historic sites. You can learn about hours, costs, and memberships on their website.  Learn more about what to do at White River State Park and plan a visit.   Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.  Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come with me to one more national park, the Grand Canyon! This park definitely lives up to the hype. We loved walking along the rim to look down into the canyon, but I especially loved hiking down part of Bright Angel Trail! You'll also hear about Monument Valley and finding a place where Forest Gump was filmed, plus seeing all sorts of wild animals (hummingbirds, California condors, and elk) in the park. I wrap up by sharing the hiking gear we were thankful for, our rankings for the six national parks we visited, and which pie from Gifford's was the best! Plus, you'll hear a little about what's coming up next for IN the Parks. Season 3 starts in TWO WEEKS! Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, was our 5th stop in Utah's Mighty 5. We took on strenuous hikes and kid-friendly adventures! Arches has a spectacular entrance, accessible and back country hiking, a sizable nature center, and hundreds of arches. We loved spending a day and a half here! (Note: there are a TON of ravens in this park, and they will definitely come around if you have food. And even if you don't.) In this episode, you'll also learn about the Junior Ranger program and why 4th graders get in free. We hiked: Delicate Arch, Double Arch, Balanced Rock, Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, The Windows, Turret Arch, and Park Avenue. If you have a 4th grader (or will one day!), you'll want to learn about the Every Kid Outdoors program. Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.  Apologies for my froggy voice in the episode. I'm on the other end of a cold, and my voice is not quite back! Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My family and I are hitting our 4th of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks. We’re going to Canyonlands National Park, not far outside Moab. It was certainly a wilderness playground between the hiking, canyons, and offroading opportunities. We hiked trails at Grand View Point Overlook and Mesa Arch before taking on the famous Shafer Trail. Driving the Shafer Trail means managing switchbacks, passing cars on narrow gravel trails with steep dropoffs to the side, and making it 1,500 feet down to the bottom of the canyon. Then you have to come back up! An amazing trail! One thing of note: from what I could tell, Canyonlands only has pit or vault toilets. Even the bathrooms at the nature center were outdoors, so be mentally ready for that! Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.  Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me and my family on a trip to Capitol Reef National Park near Torrey, Utah. We stayed in Conestoga wagons at Broken Spur Inn before spending the day in the park. The park's geology is very interesting and to truly understand it, be sure you stop at the visitor center. Our "must do" trails include Goosenecks Overlook, Sunset Point, and Hickman Bridge. Plus, be sure to stop and see the petroglyphs. The trails we wish we had done include Cohab Canyon and Cassidy Arch trails. We also drove along the Scenic Drive and Grand Wash and got great pictures of Chimney Rock and Capitol Dome. Capitol Reef is also known for the Fruita settlement's orchards in the park. Be sure you stop at Gifford House to buy some pie! And learn more about the orchards from the National Park Service. Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On my family trip to the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks, our next stop is Bryce Canyon National Park. This park left a lasting impression on all of us; it was definitely a favorite! We got to enjoy Astronomy Fest events on our first night there, taking advantage of the park’s Dark Sky status.  We were in awe of the hoodoos, unique rock formations all throughout the amphitheater. (Note: Bryce Canyon is not technically a canyon). And if a little kid can hike Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail, so can you! Learn more about hoodoo formation from the NPS site. Buy an Indiana state park hat for yourself or a friend! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel, which now includes the podcast with rotating pictures from the park. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me and my family in Zion National Park! We hike the trail to The Narrows, Emerald Pools, and Court of the Patriarchs on our day in the park. I’ll give you our park strategy, tips, mistakes, regrets, and memories while sharing some info about the park. There are thousands of resources online about Zion from people who have spent considerable time there. Don’t get lost in all the options; just go and enjoy this truly stunning park! Want your own Indiana state park hat? You can buy one here! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. I'm also posting podcasts on YouTube with very basic video so you can see pictures related to the episode. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for Season 2, and I'd like to invite you to join me and my family on a road trip! We're headed to Utah's Mighty 5 National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches. Plus, we'll finish at the Grand Canyon. While there are no National Parks staff interviews, you'll hear from my family what we did, what we wish we'd done, and what we learned. I'll share information about each park and what makes each one special! Buy IN the Parks hats and stickers here! Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.  Interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Season 1 wrap-up episode, you’ll hear from me about ALL the parks. I’ll share my park “stats” and give you my top recommendations for the ideal parks for hiking, paddling, animal lovers, kids, and more! You’ll learn about the 4 things that make hiking horrible and hear about my 5 favorite experiences. Plus, I’m sharing my Top 20 lessons learned from the Indiana State Parks. Finally, you’ll get to hear what’s next for IN the Parks! Buy your Indiana state parks hat and show off your love for the parks! Be sure to buy stickers on my website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for updates on Season 2 and 3! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come discover what may truly be Indiana State Park's hidden gem: Trine State Recreation Area. The beautiful property is just minutes away from Pokagon State Park, and we have a woman named Helen Swenson to thank for the personality and style at each park. Helen's hand-drawn maps of each property still exist. Her attention to detail and intention in every design choice reflect a deep love for nature, color, and purpose. Today, Trine is still an oasis for people who love fishing, bird watching, quiet mornings, and scenic trails. If you want to see some of Helen Swenson’s art and read more about her, visit the ACRES Land Trust website. Podcast Listening Feedback Needed! Want to give input on your favorite park, what topics you want to hear about on the podcast, and more? I’d love it if you could take my listener survey Open through July. Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast! Interviews edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s go for a ride or walk along the Monon South, stopping in 6 small towns along the trail. We’ll get breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks, and plenty of activity along the way! And best of all, you’ll be close to several state parks, so consider adding in these communities to your visit to Spring Mill State Park, Deam Lake, or Patoka Lake! Below are events or places I visited and recommended. There are even more restaurants and shops mentioned in the episode! Borden:  -Broken Town Granola -Norma Jean’s Ice Cream (didn’t eat anything but stopped by) Pekin: -4th of July Festival -Silver Fox Cafe Salem -John Hay Center -The Depot Railroad Museum -Born Boutique -El Maguey (didn’t eat here but wanted to!) -H&R Bakery Campbellsburg:  -Cave River Valley (didn’t make it but looks awesome!) Orleans: -dogwood festival -El Compadre Mitchell: -Mitchell Opera House -Gus Grissom’s boyhood home (did a drive-by) -Main Street Raceway Slot Car Racing -Spring Mill State Park If you want to learn more about the Monon South, here's trail info and check out Magnificent Monon South and Discover Southern Indiana to find even more fun activities in this part of the state! Podcast Listening Feedback Needed! Want to give input on your favorite park, what topics you want to hear about on the podcast, and more? I’d love if you could take my listener survey Open through June. Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast!  Edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indiana Dunes State Park is our most visited park and has been loved for over a hundred years! But do you even know what a dune is? Or why they're important? Or the people we have to thank for the park's creation? What about the shipwreck offshore? And how many birds migrate along Lake Michigan every year? You're about to discover there's a lot more that makes the dunes special than you know! If you’re interested in attending the Indiana Birding Festival, be sure to follow Indiana Audubon. The Indiana Dunes tourism site is where you can find that great app, learn about all the events in the area, and check out the 3 Dune Challenge map. Support the Friends of Indiana Dunes by becoming a member, even if you don’t live nearby. Podcast Listening Feedback Needed! Want to give input on your favorite park, what topics you want to hear about on the podcast, and more? I’d love if you could take my listener survey, open through June. Check out the IN the Parks website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Buy IN the Parks stickers and support the podcast! Interviews are edited for length and clarity. Any mistakes are my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.