Canyon Forest Nature Preserve
The Sycamore Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation group that protects land, restores habitat, and provides nature preserves to hike around Bloomington, Indiana. They own and maintain more than 10,500…
Paynetown State Recreation Area
Paynetown State Recreation Area is near the northern section of Lake Monroe and has a lower and upper section. The upper section is accessed from highway 446 behind the visitor's…
Car Top State Recreation Area
One of our close to home spots to explore in Bloomington is Car Top State Recreation Area (SRA) on Lake Monroe. This is our go-to spot for launching our kayaks…
Leonard Springs Nature Park
Leonard Springs Nature Park in Bloomington, Indiana is one place I never took Karlie. Not because I didn't think she would love it, but because the description said there were…
Wapehani Mountain Bike Park
Another one of Karlie's favorite Bloomington adventures was hiking at Wapehani Mountain Bike Park, which was the first mountain bike park in Indiana. It consists of nearly forty-six acres of…
Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula
Another one of Karlie's favorite Bloomington adventures was hiking at Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve. The preserve extends out into Lake Monroe and is on a portion of the former…
Griffy Lake
A place that Karlie and I enjoyed visiting in Bloomington, Indiana is Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. Griffy Lake is actually a reservoir and the smallest lake in Bloomington. Until the…
Liberty Station
Liberty Station in San Diego became a go-to location for us to take adventures, especially during COVID in 2020. It has retail, restaurants, art galleries, and a public market on…
Canine Adventures
Karlie and I took an adventure at least once a week for the last three years of her life. Sometimes my husband, Art, joined us, but often it was just…
Jackson Trail at Olcott Park
One of Karlie's favorite places to hike in Bloomington, Indiana was Jackson Trail in Olcott Park. The funny thing is this is not a dirt path through the woods, but…