No Ocean, No Matter!! There’s Plenty Of Water To Keep Hoosiers At Play
Summer means outdoor fun for Indiana residents statewide, even when the temperature’s above a comfortable level. Some Hoosiers opt to beat the heat and get active the old-fashioned way – by heading to the nearest lake, stream, or river.
Here’s a quick list of water-centric Indiana activities, all open to the public, starting downtown and heading away from Indianapolis.
- Downtown Canal & White River State Park – You can skip long drives to a lake or campground and get great views of the city skyline at the Downtown Canal & White River State Park. Power it yourself with pedal boat and kayak rentals, moving at your own pace along the 1.5 mile central canal. Or, experience something incredibly unique – a gondola ride! Gondolier Jeff Hutson and his staff are three of only 600 gondoliers in the entire world (most of whom are in Venice, Italy), are at your service during the summer.
- Eagle Creek Park & Marina – No place embodies fun on the water for central Indiana as much as Eagle Creek. Whether it’s fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, or sailing a Hobie Cat (a small wind-powered catamaran), Eagle Creek Park & Marina offers it. All manners of watercraft dot the lake and reservoir during the summer. On a competitive level, the lake is also famous for being a repeated host of U.S. Rowing’s National Championship as well as several triathlons.
- Lake Monroe – The largest body of water wholly contained in Indiana stretches the border between Monroe and Brown Counties in southern Indiana. The popular marinas along the shore feature pontoon boats, beaches, and one of Indiana’s several spots to try stand-up paddleboarding. If you’ve got your own boat, Lake Monroe’s expanses offer hours of exploration and sights for the motorboat enthusiast. It’s also a popular fishing destination – crappies and largemouth bass abound.
- Brookville Lake – Found in southeastern Indiana near Cincinnati, Brookville Lake is a popular destination for serious and amateur sportfishing, as well as pleasure boating and sailing, and all-day beach gatherings along the shore.
- East Race Waterway – Located in downtown South Bend, the East Race Waterway is the first artificial whitewater rafting and kayaking course in North America, and it’s open to the public during the summer. Grab a friend, rent a raft, and prepare to get wet!
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore - Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore – Enjoy the biggest body of water that touches Indiana – beautiful Lake Michigan. These wind swept dunes along the lake are just a two-and-a-half hour drive northwest from Indianapolis.
It doesn’t matter that we’re without an ocean; there’s plenty of water to keep Hoosiers busy! Enjoy time on the water with friends and family, and have a safe and happy rest of the summer.