2015's Top Ten Summer Travel Destinations

Travel and Leisure has chosen this year's Top Ten Summer Travel Destinations, as follows:

Number 10 - Rome, Italy

With their free museums, fountains, and The Pantheon, Rome has a number of free things to see while traveling to the ancient city.

9. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen has beautiful white sand beaches that offer free admission

8. London, England

London has more museums than most any city, and the majority of them offer free admission.

7. New York City, New York

The first time you step into New York City the sight alone is breathtaking! Some amazing free things to see include the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and much more!

6. Paris, France

Although there's a fee to climb to the top, you can a view of the Eiffel Tower is free.

5. Punta Cana, Domican Replublic

4. Cancun, Mexico

3. Orlando, Florida

2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Plan your trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina around one of their free festivals, the city has almost 50!  The Annual Cruise to the Coast Car Show is one of my favorites.

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

Ranked #1 in TravelandLeisure.com's Listing, Las Vegas has a number of free things to do and see!

Feel free to list your favorite vacation destinations and where you'll be traveling this year in the comments below.

FREE to See Virginia Beach

Interesting fact about Virginia Beach: The Guinness Book of Records lists Virginia Beach as having the longest pleasure beach on the planet.

Virginia Beach is also the largest city in Virginia.

FREE Music Festivals:

• PANorama Carribean Music Festival
• SonRise Music Festival
• Last Night on the Town
• Salute to Summer

Cape Henry Lighthouse

The Cape Henry Lighthouse at Fort Story is free to see, however they do charge admission if you want to go inside and climb to the top. One thing to keep in mind, since it is inside of a military base, be prepared for a complete vehicle inspection upon arrival and have photo id, vehicle registration and proof of auto insurance with you.

Museums and More offering free admission:

• Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum - located inside the 1895 De Witt Cottage
• Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment
• Beachstreet USA - free entertainment during the summer

Virginia Legends Walk

What else is FREE to See:

• Virginia Legends Walk
• Grommet Island
• 14 miles of Free public beaches
• King Neptune Statue - intersection of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and 31st Street

Budget Travel in Virginia Beach:

• Old Coast Guard Station - Adults $4/Children $2
• Ferry Plantation House(1740) - Adults $5/Children free
• Adam Thoroughgood House (1680) - Adults $4/Children $2
• Lynnhaven House(1725) - Adults $4/Children $2
• Francis Land House(late 1700s) - Adults $4/Children $2 

Other Attractions:

• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
• Military Aviation Museum
• False Cape State Park
• Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• First Landing State Park

Free to See Richmond, Virginia

Interesting fact about Richmond, it is one of 38 Virginia cities that are considered to be independent, and not located within a county.

Monument Avenue is a must see Richmond, Virginia. Monuments include:

• Robert E. Lee
• J.E.B. Stuart
• Jefferson Davis
• "Stonewall" Jackson
• Matthew Fontaine Maury
• Arthur Ashe

Monument Avenue is the only street in the U.S. to be designated a National Historic Landmark.  Visit Branch House and the other mansions on Monument Avenue from Birch Street to Roseneath Rd.

Visit the Federal Reserve Bank for The Fed Experience, an educational tour which includes simulations and interactive exhibits.  Admission is free.

Tour Virginia's 18th Century Historic Capitol Building.

Hollywood Cemetery is the resting place of over 18,000 confederate soldiers, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, President James Monroe, President John Tyler and several Virginia Governors.

Pedestrian Bridge to Belle Isle

What else is FREE to SEE:

• Canal Walk
• Browns Island
• Belle Isle
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  - includes a sculpture garden
• Virginia Historical Society
• Maymont - 100 acres of gardens, a wildlife exhibit, and more

Festivals:

• Richmond Bluegrass Jam
• Annual Mardi Gras Parade
• Innsbrook's St. Paddy's Palooza
• Richmond Jazz Festival
• Richmond Folk Festival

Budget Travel Nearby:

• New Kent Winery - $8 Tasting and Tours
• Chesterfield County Museum and Old Jail - Admission only $3
• Fort Stevens Park - The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff
• Chesterfield Virginia is full of historic places to visit, a number of them are free to see!

FREE to See Green Bay, Wisconsin

When we think of Green Bay, Wisconsin, football fans most often think of the Green Bay Packers. As a matter of fact, Green Bay is the smallest city to host a NFL team.

However, there is a lot more to see and do in Green Bay, than just football, even on a budget!

Fun fact about Green Bay: The world's first slinter-free toilet paper was invented in Green Bay in the early 1900's.

What's FREE to See:

• Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
• Oneida Nation Museum 
• Historic Washington House - ice cream sundae invented here in 1881
• Cofrin Memorial Arboretum 

FREE Tours and Trails:

• Historic Broadway District
• The Walk of Legends
• Packers Heritage Trail
• Fox River State Recreational Trail - 25 mile bike trail
• Mountain Bay Trail - 83 mile bike trail

FREE Festivals and entertainment of Green Bay:

• Artstreet - held in August every year
• Waterboard Warriors Ski Show - throughout the summer on Fox River
• Friday Night entertainment on CityDeck
• Fire over the Fox - Festival and Free Fireworks display

Things to Do and See on a Budget:

• NEW Zoo -  admission is only $7 adults/$5 children
• Neville Public Museum - $5 adults/$3 children
• Lambeau Field Stadium Tours - $11adults/$10 youth

Of course, you can't visit Wisconsin without some type of cheese experience. Here are the cheeses of Green Bay:

• BelGioioso Cheese
• Renard's Cheese
• Scray Cheese
• and Nala's fromagerie - gourmet cheese shop

What Else to See and Do:

• Bay Beach Amusement Park
• Comedy City
• Green Bay Botanical Garden
• National Railroad Museum

Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier is an active volcano, ascending 14,410 feet above sea level.  Mount Rainier National Park was established by Congress in 1899. Although the park appears close in distance from Seattle, allow a couple of hours driving time.

Myrtle Falls at Mt. Rainier

The Mount Rainier National Park has a number of hiking trails, ranging from less than one mile to the 93-mile Wonderland Trail.
Short trails include:

• Emmons Vista Trail - .5 miles round trip
• Trail of the Shadows - .7 mile round trip trail
• Nisqually Vista Trail - 1.2 mile loop
• Grove of the Patriarchs Trail - 1.5 miles round trip
• Kautz Creek Trail - 2-miles round trip

Michelle on the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail

If you are interested in climbing above 10,000 feet or on glaciers, you are required to register and pay a fee. Ask at visitor centers for more information.


Visitor Centers in the park include:

• Longmire
• Paradise 
• Ohanapecosh
• and Sunrise

Two of the best views of Mount Rainier can be seen at the Paradise and Sunrise locations in the Mount Rainier National Park. Paradise is the most heavily visited area in the park. Sunrise is only open from July to late September.

Wildlife that can be seen in the Mount Rainier National Park include:

• chipmunks
• squirrels
• marmots
• pikas
• Steller's jays
• Clark's nutcrackers
• gray jays
• ravens
• black-tailed deer
• black bears
• mountain goats
• and elk

For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, visit the National Park Service's web page for Mount Rainier!

Buffalo Trace

The Buffalo Trace distillery sits on over 200 acres in between Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, in Frankfort. The address is 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601.

This distillery has been in business for over 200 years, and offers something for everyone! Each tour lasts about 1 hour and includes a complementary tasting.

Buffalo Trace Distillery offers five different tours:

The Trace Tour:
Monday through Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Sunday (April through October only): 12pm-3pm

Bourbon Barrel Tour:
Monday through Friday:9:30am
Reservations Required

Hard Hat Tour:
Monday through Friday:10:30am - 1:30 pm
Saturday: 10:30am
Reservations Required

National Historic Landmark Tour:
Monday through Friday: 11:30am
Reservations Required

Ghost Tour:
Thursday through Saturday: 7pm
Reservations Required

For more information about Buffalo Trace Distillery Tours, visit their web site at www.BuffaloTrace.com or call 1-800-654-8471 or 502-696-5926.

Free to See Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Searching for something that's free to see as you travel to Lake Havasu City, Arizona?  Search no more.  Moore Free Travel has researched and found these free things to do and see for your budget travel to Lake Havasu City and nearby!

You'll most definitely want to visit the London Bridge!  And the information center doubles as a museum with artifacts, pictures, and even blueprints of how the bridge was moved from London, England to Lake Havasu.  Best of all, admission is free!

Free souvenirs in the desert...or as the locals might call it 'rockhounding'. Collect gems as you wonder around the desert.  We found lots of turquoise during our visit!

A number of people like to hike the desert, and it's easy to find a trail.  Here's a list of some of the best trails.  If you would prefer hiking with someone who is experienced, contact one of the popular hiking clubs in the area.

One rare find in Lake Havasu City is 23 lighthouses. Each lighthouse is a 1/3 replica of a famous lighthouse on the West Coast, East Coast or the Great Lakes.

Annual FREE Events:

• Check out the Havasu Balloon Festival - January
• Buses by the Bridge - VW Bus Festival - January
• Annual Winterfest - February
• London Bridge Model Boat Race - February
• Annual Geocache Desert Bash - March
• Desert Storm Street Party/Poker Run - April
• July 4th Fireworks Show
• Relics & Rods Run to the Sun - October
• Main Street Halloween Fright Night
• Veterans Day Parade
• Boat Parade of Lights - December
• Festival of Lights November - January

Free parks, beaches and fishing docks:

• Rotary Park
• London Bridge Beach
• Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge
• Havasu National Wildlife Refuge/Catfish Pardise
• Havasu Springs
• Mesquite Bay
• Site Six
• Natical Beachfront Resort: Pool is free, non-guests must be 21+

What's close by:

• Visit Oatman, Arizona on Route 66.  Watch as the wild burrows wonder the streets and see a live gunfight.
• Parker Dam 
• Havasu Landing Resort and Casino
• Historic Route 66 Museum -Kingman, AZ 

Free to See in New York City

New York City, ah, The Big Apple!  What an exciting place to visit.  And even though you know you're going to want to pay a few bucks to visit those must see places like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, there are a number of things that are still free to see!

FREE to See:
St. Patrick's Cathedral - on 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets

In the fall, check out the leaf foliage in one of the city's renowned parks:

• Central
• Prospect
• Van Cortlandt
• or Alley Pond!

If you're in the city on Halloween, be sure and check out the Halloween Parade!

New York City is amazing at Christmas time. FREE Things to see include:

• The Tree at Rockefeller Center
• Channel Gardens - between the Empire State Building and Maison Française
• Saks Fifth Avenue - whole first floor is transformed into a Winter Wonderland
• Window Shopping - at Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Fendi, Escada, Henri Bendel, The Disney Store, Godiva, Gucci, Fortunoff and more all within 10 blocks of Rockefeller Center.

Free Admission to Museums and More:

• The Paley Center
• Forbes Galleries
• National Museum of the American Indian
• Sony Wonder Technology Lab
• Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
• Socrates Sculpture Park
• Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
• The Federal Reserve Bank
• The Harbor Defense Museum
• The Bronx Museum of the Arts

District Sculptures, please let me know if you are aware of others:

• Diamond District - Two Torches at 47th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues
• Financial District - Wall Street Bull - Bowling Green Park 
• Garment District - Needle threading a Button - Information booth

Something unique to see if you are an art enthusiast is the over 130 bronze sculptures at the 14th Street/Eight Avenue station. The art is part of the Art for Transit program and the artist is Tom Otterness.

Transportation tips:
If you are flying in to the Newark Liberty International Airport, use the AirTrain Newark Monorail system. The system connects the airport with Manhatten (Penn Station) via the New Jersey Transit lines Northeast Corridor (red) and New Jersey Coast Line (blue).  Visit the Penn Station NJT or New Jersey Transit. Fee at the time of writing this is only $5.50.

Here is a map of the Manhattan Districts, that might come in handy.

Check out TimeOut.com's list of Cheap eats NYC. They've broken it down by neighborhood, categories and even a list of free food deals at NYC bars!

Free Festivals and Parades:

• Three Kings Parade  - January
• Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival - February
• Groundhog Day -Staten Island Zoo - February 2nd - free ceremony admission
• New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade - St. Patrick's Day each year since 1762
• Tartan Week - Celebrating Scotland in NYC - April
• Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival
• Earth Day at Union Square
• Brooklyn Zine Fest
• Bike Expo New York - May - Midtown Manhattan
• Dance Parade - May - ends at Dancefest in Tompkins Square Park
• Ninth Avenue International Food Festival - May
• 4Knots Music Festival - July
• India Day Parade - August
• Washington Square Music Festival - September
• Unicycle Festival - September
• Halloween Parade
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

More FREE to Do and See:

• Winter Village at Bryant Park - free ice skating
• Fusion Film Festival  - Free admission - New York University's Tisch School of Arts - February
• Macy's Flower Show - Visit The Secret Garden the end of March and beginning of April each year
• Metropolitan Opera in the Park
• Shakespeare in the Park - the Delacorte Theater in Central Park - June
• Feast of O-Bon - July - Riverside Park
• Movies in Central Park - August

More to see:

• Concourse at Rockefeller Center - great underground area to visit, especially if it's cold outside.
• Olympic Tower - waterfall, free Hellenic Art museum, Parthenon Marble Casts Collection
• Abandoned City Hall Subway Station
• FREE New York City Tours 

Where to Eat:
Katz's  Delicatesssen - Established in 1888, located at 205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St.), New York, NY 10002
Grimaldi's Pizza - 1 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY (under the Brooklyn Bridge)
Burger Joint New York, 119 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019

Check out Thrillist.com for information on where to eat for free in NYC!


Visit New York City's Official Web Site and NYCGo.com for more things to see and do during your vacation to New York City!

Free to See Seattle

I remember the first time I went to a Sculpture Park, it was in New Orleans.  It was hard to believe such a neat attraction could be free to see....  While you're in Seattle, check out The Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park.  It is free to see, and open daily!

Here's an unusual fact about Seattle.  As you probably know, the Boeing Everett Factory is the largest building (by volume) on Earth.  But, did you know, that before air circulation was perfected in the 1960's, clouds used to form inside the plant and at times it would actually rain, indoors!

What's Free to See:

Snoqualmie Falls 

Frye Art Museum   

704 Terry Avenue

Seattle, WA 98104

Gates Foundation Visitor Center

440 Fifth Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

Free concerts at Benaroya Hall. While there, discover the 26 foot tall, 4,490 pipe Watjen Concert Organ.

See the Fish Ladder at Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known as Ballard Locks.  The locks provide a link for boats (and fish) between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal.  Free guided tours are given from March 1st thru November 30th.

The Carl S. English Botanical Gardens is one of Seattle's best kept secrets!  The gardens houses more than 570 species and 1500 different varieties from around the world.

Pioneer Square - historic buildings dating back to 1852

Pike Place Market

The view from the bar at The Edgewater Hotel.

Jimi Hendrix Memorial Site

View Seattle, Washington in a larger map

More to See:

• Seattle Aquarium
• Space Needle
• Argosy Cruise Harbor Tour
• Pacific Science Center
• The Museum of Flight
• Woodland Park Zoo

Getting Around Seattle/Transportation:

• The Seattle StreetCar fares are a mere $2.50 and only $0.75 for Seniors.
• Metro  - fares range from $2.25 to $3.00 and $0.75 for Seniors
• Taxi - $40 flat rate from airport to hotel district. $2.50 meter drop + $2.70 per mile.
• Seattle Monorail  - $2.25 and $1.00 for Seniors
• More Transportation Tips for you! 

What's close by:

• Mount Rainier - an active volcano ascending 14,410 feet above sea level
• Olympic National Park - Mount Olympus is the highest peak in the park at 7,980 feet, and receives over 200 inches of precipitation each year. 
• Bainbridge Island
• Almqist Family Vintners offers free tastings.
• Cascade Tunnel - longest railroad tunnel in the United States at 41,200 feet.



Free to See Washington D.C.

Washington D.C., our nation's capitol, is full of many things that are free to see.

If you are looking for an outdoor stroll, check out the Landmarks along The National Mall and Washington D.C. Monuments:

• The Jefferson Memorial
• The Lincoln Memorial
• World War II Memorial
• Korean War Memorial
• Vietnam Memorial Wall
• Grant Memorial
• the Washington Monument
• and the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Or how about the Smithsonian's National Zoo!  Set on 163 acres, the zoo features 2,000 animals of 400 different species and is open 364 days a year!  And did I mention, admission is FREE!

Any visit to Washington D.C. would be amiss, without a trip to The Smithsonian Institution.  The complex includes 19 museums and galleries, all of which offer free admission.  Don't forget to visit The Smithsonian Gardens, while you're there.

A number of Washington D.C.'s other attractions are also free to see:

• The White House
• National Archives
• Library of Congress
• Arlington National Cemetery
• The National Portrait Gallery
• National Postal Museum
• The Old Stone House in Rock Creek Park
• National Air and Space Museum
• Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens 

If you enjoy theater and the arts, a few places in D.C. offer free entertainment:

• The Kennedy Center - free performances every evening at 6 o'clock
• The National Theatre - free family-oriented shows Saturday mornings
• National Art Gallery - free gallery admission and concerts Sundays at 6:30pm
• George Washington University's Orchestra - free concerts
• The Phillips Collection Modern Art Museum - free admission Tues - Fri

Meridian Park has a thirteen-basin cascade fountain and a number of finely crafted statues and memorials.  In addition, it is the home of the famous drum circle every Sunday from 3 to 9 pm.

Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House offer free admission as well, however, you'll need to plan your visit in advance as they do require a timed entry ticket.

Washington DC has a number of free festivals throughout the year, including:

• the National Cherry Blossom Festival
• the Source Festival
• and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Visit Washington DC's Visitor Resource Center to find what's free to see during your visit!

Check out the Washington Metro for transportation costs.  It may be cheaper to put a Smartrip card into your travel budget, rather than paying for parking and taxi fares.


View Free Travel Washington D.C. in a larger map


Take note, if you are planning a trip to Washington DC, expect to spend a lot of time, or to take more than one trip if you would like to see all there is to see.  One could easily spend a full day in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, alone!

Euharlee Covered Bridge

The Euharlee Covered Bridge is located at 118 Covered Bridge Rd, Euharlee GA 30120 in Bartow County, Georgia.

This covered bridge was built in 1886 and is of a town lattice through truss design.

The bridge is currently open to pedestrians only.

Nearby:
Cartersville, Georgia

Free to See Atlanta

When most Americans think of Atlanta, they think of the top U.S. cities.  However, as of July 2012, it was ranked only 40th in population, with less than half a million people.  Although, a drive through Atlanta during traffic hour, will make it feel like it is definitely in the top 10!

Regardless of size, Atlanta is definitely on the Top 10 list of Cities to Travel in the U.S.

Here are some free things to see as you travel to Atlanta.

Central Park in Atlantic Station has a free concert series on Friday nights, once a month.

Centennial Olympic Park has regularly scheduled free concerts, free family activities and features the world's largest interactive fountain.  The park was originally built for the 1996 Olympic games and has since been the site for anything from a 8 ton ice sculpture to a picnic for Barnum and Bailey elephants.

Other parks in Atlanta include Piedmont Park, Grant Park and Chastain Park. Each with their own unique free entertainment throughout the year.

Two miles east of downtown Atlanta, take a walking tour of the Inman Park neighborhood.  This neighborhood was home to some of Atlanta's most prominent citizens in the 19th century.  If you happen to be in Atlanta in the Spring, some will open their doors for tours.

Some of Atlanta's museums and sites offer free admission:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Birthplace
• Ebenezer Baptist Church
• Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Oakland Cemetery established in 1850
• Atlanta Contemporary Art Center - free on Thursdays

Just outside the city, is Stone Mountain, one of the area's best attractions.  Admission is free with a daily parking pass.


This photo of Stone Mountain is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a definite must see for any history buff.  There are three Civil War battlefield areas at the park.  Admission is free.

You might like to visit Underground Atlanta while you are there.  View art displays, historic sites and take in a little shopping too.  If you are in Atlanta over New Year's Eve, you can watch the 800 lb. Peach Drop!

Don't forget to visit the Georgia State Capitol and Museum.  Admission is free and exhibits date back to the early 1800's!

Interesting fact about Atlanta's Asa Candler, who is credited with marketing and expanding the Coca-Cola soda pop, Candler had so much faith in the product, he spent his life savings on a brass pot, a paddle for stirring and the recipe for Coca-Cola.

Here's a map of things to see and do in Atlanta, on any budget!

View Atlanta, Georgia Free to See in a larger map

What's Nearby:
Cartersville, Georgia

Brown County State Park

Brown County State Park is located at 1405 S.R. 46 W, Nashville, IN 47448.

Visit Brown County State Park in the fall, and you will find the roads jam packed with people who have come to look at the beautiful fall foliage.

The park is 16,000 acres and full of hills, valleys and ravines.  The roads are tree-lined with many overlooks to stop and enjoy the hills of southern Indiana, which make you feel as if you are just a little farther south.

The hiking trails in the park range from .5 miles to 3.5 miles in length, and from easy to rugged.  There are also bridle trails and Brown County is known for it's mountain bike trails.

Animals in the park range from harmless animals like deer, rabbit and turtles.  But take caution, as copperhead have been known to pop their heads out here as well.

If you enter or exit the park at the North Gate, you'll get the opportunity to cross the Ramp Creek Covered Bridge.  One of the few double lane covered bridges left today!

Onsite:

• fire tower
• hiking trails
• swimming pool
• fishing

Nearby:

• T.C. Steele State Historic Site - $5 admission
• Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana

What's FREE to See!

• Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival
• Architecture of Columbus, IN - free walking tour
• Brown County Winery - free tours and tastings

Visit the Brown County Events Calendar to see what's FREE to See during your visit!

Indiana State Parks

Smith Creek Covered Bridge

The Smith Creek Covered Bridge is located near Lanesville, Indiana in Harrison County.

This covered bridge is a stringer bridge, with a cover. 

The bridge is 79 feet long and 11 feet wide. 

It is still in operation for vehicle traffic today.

Nearby:
O'Bannon Woods State Park

Otter Creek Covered Bridge

The Otter Creek Covered Bridge is located at approximately 933 N County Road 850 W, Holton, IN 47023.  Holton is in Ripley County, Indiana.

The bridge is currently open to pedestrians only.

Built in 1884, the bridge is 113 feet long, 16 feet wide and 13.4 feet high.

The bridge is a Covered Howe Through Truss design.

Versailles State Park

Versailles State Park is located at 1004 U.S. 50, Versailles, IN 47042. 

With a 230 acre lake, Versailles State Park is the second largest state park in the state of Indiana.

Discover fossils from a time when the area was covered by waters.

Also, investigate the Civil War history that tells when the Confederate Army had control of the town of Versailles and the area that is now Versailles State Park.

Trails in the park range from easy to moderate and are from 1.5 to 2.75 miles in length.

Onsite:

• fishing
• boating
• swimming pool
• camping
• hiking
• bicycling
• horseback riding
• birdwatching

Nearby:

• Bluegrass Festival
• Ripley County Museum
• The Damm Theatre

What's FREE to See!

• Versailles Pumpkin Show
• Busching Covered Bridge and Otter Creek Covered Bridge
• Batesville Area Historical Society
• Powers' Winery

Visit the Ripley County Tourism Calendar of Events to find what's FREE to See during your visit!

Indiana State Parks

Turkey Run State Park

Turkey Run State Park is located at 8121 E. Park Road, Marshall, Indiana 47859.

Turkey Run State Park is full of ravines, canyons, gorges, and cliffs.

The Miami Indians walked trails that are still used today.

The park features Lusk Home, which is an early pioneer home and grist mill open to the public.

Also, in the park, a Log Church, constructed in 1871 and the Colonel Richard Lieber Memorial Cabin.

Trails in the park range from easy to very rugged, and from .5 miles to 3 miles in length.

The park features:

• live entertainment
• Turkey Run Holiday Breakaway
• Sweetheart Getaways
• Lusk Pioneer Festival
• Meteor Shower Watch

onsite:

• swimming pool
• horseback riding
• camping
• Inn
• cabins
• canoeing
• fishing
• birdwatching

Nearby:
Bridgeton 1878 House and Cabin
Mansfield Roller Mill


What's FREE to See!
Windy Ridge Winery
Amish Farms
Parke County Covered Bridge Tour - 31 covered bridges

Visit the Parke County Calendar of Events to see what's FREE to see during your visit!

Indiana State Parks

Narrows Covered Bridge

Narrows Covered Bridge is located in Turkey Run State Park, in Parke County, Indiana.

The bridge is dated 1882 on the front, although some argue that it was built in 1883.

The bridge is 121 feet in length.

A covered burr arch-truss bridge.

Tippecanoe River State Park

The Tippecanoe River State Park is located at 4200 N. US 35, Winamac, Indiana 46996.

Whether you like to fish or just float along, the Tippecanoe River is popular for it's canoeing.

The park also has hiking trails, bridle trails and a recreation building, available to rent for special occasions.

The trails range from easy to moderate, and are from .8 miles to 3.5 miles in length.

Onsite:

• canoeing
• hiking
• horseback trails
• camping
• fishing
• boating
• cabins

Nearby:

• The World of Motorcycles Museum
• Area Dining
• Tippecanoe Place

What's FREE to See!

• Francesville Fall Festival
• Kankakee Valley Winery

Check out the Pulaski Journal Events Calendar to find what's FREE to See during your visit!

Indiana State Parks



 

 



Summit Lake State Park

Summit Lake State Park is located at 5993 N Messick, New Castle, Indiana 47362.

Known for it's fishing, Summit Lake State Park has three boat ramps and a large lake on it's 2680 acres.

The trails range from accessible to moderate, and .75 to 2 miles in length.

Onsite:

• swimming beach
• fishing
• cross country skiing
• camping
• hiking
• boating

Nearby:

• Hoosier Park Racing and Casino
• Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
• Boondocks Farms
• Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Museum

What's FREE to See!

• Veteran's Memorial "Garden of Memories" - Washington Street, Knightstown, Indiana
• The Hoosier Gym - unchanged from the 1950's, made famous by the movie "Hoosiers"
• Hoover Hall built in 1875

Visit the Henry County Events Page to find what's FREE to See during your visit!

Indiana State Parks