Indiana’s ultimate kid-approved Road Trips

story by GLENDA WINDERS

Discover Indiana’s ultimate kid-approved road trips! From caves and water parks to historic trains, let your children help plan the fun.

Every parent and grandparent knows that if the kids aren’t happy on a family vacation, no one is happy. Children who are bored can take away from everyone’s fun, but there’s a solution to this dilemma. Why not invite the children to join in the planning? If they’ve had a say in where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, every member of the group can look forward to a great time.

You can’t go wrong if you head to Conner Prairie in Hamilton County, where all kinds of experiences await. “1836 Prairie Town” invites families to see what life was like in the 19th century by visiting a one-room schoolhouse, watching tradespeople at work and talking to residents of the community. The Museum Experience Center offers six new indoor experiences, including an interactive art space, exploring the science and culture behind food., and following the flow of the White River.

Spend time tromping through the forest, climb up to the tree house and ascending in the tethered balloon. Depending on what day you come, you can go on a guided nature walk or take part in forest therapy.

Nearby Indianapolis is home to the Indiana State Fair each August. Look for animals and farm-grown produce on display as well as carnival rides and headliner shows. Also in Indianapolis is the Children’s Museum, where experiences and activities abound. Travel to Peru, take part in sports competitions, and be awestruck in the Dinosphere.

Also in Indianapolis is a super fun and quirky experience perfect for the whole family. At The Wit Theater, which is home to ComedySportz, you can experience two types of fun and laughs. ComedySportz is interactive, playing off audience suggestions for improv comedy, while the Wit Theater features live performances.

Head to Kokomo and cool off at Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center featuring water slides, lazy river, pool, and splash pad. While you’re in town, be sure and head to Highland Park, home to two quirky, oversized roadside attractions: the Giant Sycamore Stump and “Old Ben,” the world’s largest steer.

Muncie is full of family-friendly fun, from the Muncie Children’s Museum downtown, to Minnetrista Museum and Gardens located along the White River. Minnetrista provides a mix of educational and exploratory attractions designed specifically for children of all ages.

In Grant County, spend the day at the Marion Splash House, a seasonal water park with a wave pool, winding lazy river, thrilling water slides, and play pads. After a day in the sun, head to Ivanhoe’s Drive In, home to 100 shakes and 100 sundaes.

Find plenty of kid-approved fun in Madison — hiking and waterfalls at Clifty Falls State Park, water play at Crystal Beach Aquatic Park, trolley rides, and the Hargan Matthews All-Accessible Playground on the riverfront. The Madison BBQ Party features a “Kidz-Q” competition, and the Mayor’s Movies in the Park are a seasonal favorite. When it’s time for a snack, make a sweet stop at Chillbilly Treats, Scoops, or Toppers on Main.

Hardy Lake in Scott County is one of three DNR properties with a raptor center. This facility houses permanently injured birds of prey and educates guests about Indiana’s hawks, owls, falcons and vultures. Check out the Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Center to see how the creatures are cared for. September 26 will be the annual Raptor Day, when games, crafts, and park tours add to the fun.

Harrison County is cave country, so plan to include tours through Squire Boone Caverns and Indiana Caverns. The natural sights are awe-inspiring, and while you’re here you can feed goats in the Squire’s Backyard, mine for gemstones, make your own candle, and try out the zipline through the canopy of Squire Boone Forest.

If you plan for a splurge, a stay at the French Lick Resort might be the place to do it. The adults can golf or indulge themselves at the spa while the kids enjoy the West Baden Billiard and Bowling Pavilion, Big Splash Adventure or the horses at the resort’s stable. The whole family will want to go to 8,800-acre Patoka Lake for swimming, boating, hiking and fishing.

Summer isn’t complete without a game of baseball, and the Dubois County Bombers will help you check that box and want to come back for more. The team plays at League Stadium, just as the Rockford Peaches did in the movie “A League of Their Own.”

Nothing beats the pure fun of exploring the woods, and the Morgan-Monroe State Forest is a favorite. Take the Rock Shelter Trail, which leads to an explorable rock feature, or set out on Low Gap Trail and Three Lakes Trail. Bring your fishing gear to drop a line in Cherry Lake or Bryan Creek Lake. When you’re done here, fuel up on handmade chocolates, candy canes, and two dozen flavors of ice cream at the old-fashioned soda fountain in the Martinsville Candy Kitchen. If weather thwarts your outdoor plans, head to the brand-new SpeedZone, an indoor play space that features hot-wheels-style tracks and cars.

At the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, kids can explore hands-on exhibits that inspire curiosity and learning. Outdoor enthusiasts will love Deming Park for its scenic trails, playgrounds, and a pool. For thrill-seekers, the Griffin Bike Park offers challenging courses suitable for riders of all skill levels.

Those same thrill-seekers, ages 18 or older, will want to make a stop at the Badlands Off-Road Park in Attica. Night-riding is available some days, and during the Fourth of July weekend, you can ride all you want for $65.

For entertainment of many kinds, Lafayette-West Lafayette is the place to be. Splashing fun on a hot day is on tap at Tropicanoe Cove and the Prophetstown State Park Aquatic Center. Wolf Park offers kids the chance for an up-close visit with wolves, foxes, bison, and the denizens of the Turtle Garden, while the Columbian Park Zoo is home to 200 animals representing 90 species.

The Farm at Prophetstown within Prophetstown State Park is where you can learn about farm life in the 1920s. This is a training farm for sustainable agriculture, farm-to-table cooking, sewing, and quilting.

Feeling creative? Make your own pottery — and family memories — at All Fired Up. Rose & Wick Custom Candle invites you to create your own scent, and you can watch science experiments at Imagination Station.

Take a ride through history at the Wabash and Erie Canal Park in Delphi. In addition to taking a 45-minute voyage, you’ll be able to explore the Interpretive Center to learn why and how this second-longest canal in the history of the world was constructed. Many of the displays here
are interactive and designed with children in mind.

While White County draws kids of all ages to Indiana Beach, the theme park/water complex that’s celebrating its 100th birthday this year, the area has plenty of family-fun activities. The Lakeshore Drive-In Theatre, Chalmers Community Park Splash Pad, and boating of all types on Lake Shafer and Lake Freeman provide days of entertainment.

Fair Oaks Farms is a family farm resort with educational and entertaining tours where kids learn hands-on about the care and feeding of animals. They also learn how their own food gets to the table. Book a silo suite at the hotel, where the Farmhouse Restaurant and inviting snack bars mean you never have to leave the property.

In Steuben County, kids will love visiting the Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve, where they can view a herd of 250 bison in an open-air vehicle. Their log-hewn bed and breakfast offers unique lodging with warm buffalo blankets, and you can browse their gift shop for hand-crafted items. You can also book a stay at the Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park, where kids will love splashing around on the beach of Lake James

Marshall County is the place to be outdoors. Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver is the largest of their many water features, and several parks include Bourbon Park and Splash Pad and Argos Community Park for walking paths and swings. Potawatomi Wildlife Park is where to learn about the tribe that once made this area its home. Hike five miles through the woodlands and prairie, all the while watching for turkeys, waterfowl, and deer.

Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend provides animal encounters, the opportunity to feed bison and giraffes, and rides on the brand-new train. Zoo camps and classes are also geared to the younger set.

Shipshewana is where kids can feed animals, ride a historic carousel, and bike the scenic Pumpkinvine Trail. Also possible are buggy rides, dairy farm tours, and canoeing the river. Finish your day here with an Amish-style meal: fried chicken, mashed potatoes and fresh-baked pie.