Indiana Archives

Natural Wonders Part 13

Wow We are headed into the home stretch on the Natural Wonder’s list! We’re at #45! Only 5 more to go! As the saying goes, so much to see, so little time. We left off at Wisconsin and the Cave of Mounds. Which state is next and what’s the wonder?

#45 – Maryland – Muddy Creek Falls

It’s not as impressive as some of the other falls on the Natural Wonders list at only 53 feet but Maryland’s wonder is Muddy Creek Falls. You’ll find it in Swallow Falls State Park. I think what may be the most impressive thing about this pretty little falls is the surrounding tree growth. The Hemlock trees around the falls are as much as 300 years old. I’ve visited Maryland but not this Wonder.

Muddy Creek Falls | The Muddy Creek Falls in Swallow Falls S… | Flickr

Photo credit- Flickr

#46 Missouri – Cuivre River

Cuivre River State Park | Missouri State Parks

Photo from internet

Looking for the Ozarks in northern Missouri? Cuivre River State Park is one of the state’s largest and most rugged parks!

Cuivre River State Park lends a wilder, Ozarkian flavor to the otherwise predominately agricultural landscape of northern Missouri. Although not far from St. Louis, the park is a nature lover’s paradise. It is an outdoor delight to stroll through the park in the spring when flowering dogwood is in bloom or in the fall when the trees are ablaze with autumn colors. (I stole this description from the Cuivre State park web page. Since I haven’t been there myself I couldn’t think of any better way to describe it to you.)

#47 – Indiana – Indiana Dunes State Park

Now this gets my attention. I missed out on Great Sand Dunes in Colorado so maybe I can see some sand dunes if I get to Indiana. There are 3 miles of dunes along Michigan Lake in Indiana Dunes State Park. And 2000 acres waiting to be explored. Large sand dunes, located beyond the entire shoreline, have taken thousands of years to form, and tower nearly 200 feet above Lake Michigan. FYI, the State Park and the National Park are not the same thing.

File:Indiana Dunes.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Photo Credit- Wikimedia Commons

Next time In our Natural Wonders series

We’ll wrap up. We still have Texas and California and unless I have counted wrong I’m missing one more state. I’ll need to review the list. Did I miss a state or just lose count? What do you think will be the Natural Wonders for Texas and California?

Mishawaka, Indiana

Mishawaka Indiana, have you ever hear of it? It must be known for something because my Timeshare has a resort there. The only resort in the state, Varsity Clubs of America. Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River, in Penn Township, St. Joseph County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. Mishawaka is a principal city of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI. The area became known as the “Peppermint Capital of the World“, since the area’s rich black loam produced great quantities of mint.

Varsity Club-South Bend

My Time share web site describes the Varsity Club:
Varsity Clubs of America – South Bend is an all-suite hotel offering unique and inviting accommodations. Conveniently located for easy access to the University of Notre Dame and all its excitement, the hotel features stylish, sports-themed décor and well-appointed kitchen amenities. Fire up the outdoor grill for a game-day barbeque, or entertain the family at the indoor swimming pool and billiards parlor.

VARSITY CLUBS OF AMERICA - SOUTH BEND $83 ($̶1̶2̶3̶) - Updated 2022 Prices & Hotel Reviews - Mishawaka, IN

In poking around for things to do the most interesting suggestion was the “River Walk“. The Riverwalk – officially named the “River St. Joseph of the Miamis Trail” is a circular system of pedestrian/bicycle trails on both banks of the St. Joseph River. Pedestrian bridges connect the Riverwalk at strategic points such as Central Park, Kamm Island, and the new Robert C. Beutter Riverfront Park. A footbridge connects Beutter Park on the south shore to Battell Park on the north. All told it’s about 2.5 miles long.

Mishawaka River Walk In Indiana Has The Best Scenic Views Of The St. Joseph River

Things to do

Trip advisor had some suggestions but they didn’t really excite me. Mostly sports stadiums, The Studebaker Car Museum, galleries and so on. There is a zoo. That might be fun.

Maybe Indiana would be more interesting if I don’t use the timeshare option. Find some things that interest me and then find a location. Moving this to the 2nd tier of vacations.