May 23, 2008

Vacation/Travel Supplement

Get back to nature: Outdoor activities abound in Bloomington area

The Europa cruise ship is docked on the banks of the beautiful Blue Danube River in Budapest, Hungary. Most sea-going cruise ships offer all the amenities of luxury hotels—fabulous dining, entertainment, sometimes a swimming pool, on-board lectures and more. Cruise ships are available on many of Europe’s rivers—the Danube, Rhine, Mosel and others. These ships aren’t as large as the luxury liners. (Submitted photo/Bill Heck)

The beauty of southern Indiana’s colorful fall foliage surrounds Lake Monroe and two kayakers paddling across the reservoir in southern Indiana. Tourists can go on a kayak ecotour to explore the far reaches of Lake Monroe and its wildlife. (Photos courtesy Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau)

By Mike Krokos

With apologies to new head basketball coach Tom Crean, head football coach Bill Lynch and anyone else associated with Indiana University, there is a lot more to Bloomington than the college and its athletic programs.

Just ask anyone who has spent a warm spring, summer or fall day water-skiing, boating, swimming or fishing at nearby Lake Monroe, or people who have taken advantage of other recreational activities like camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, snow skiing and snowboarding in the area.

If you’re into extreme sports, Bloomington can be a recreation destination for you, too. The greater Bloomington area offers opportunities for rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, skydiving and even caving.

Pick almost any time of the year, and there is something recreational to do in or around Bloomington.

As one popular outdoor Web site at www.hikercentral.com explains, if you live in or near Bloomington and you like the outdoors then you’re in luck.

Another tourism Web site, www.visitbloomington.com, also touts Bloomington as a great place for outdoor excursions. It cites the area’s abundance of natural beauty and its three lakes, the state’s only national forest, and its variety of city and county parks.

For Hoosiers hoping that the area’s compatibility for outdoor adventure can remain a well-kept secret among Indiana residents, that is no longer a possibility.

Recent recognition that Bloomington received from National Geographic Adventure Magazine supports a high rate of visits for outdoor recreational purposes, according to Tosha Daugherty, director of marketing and communications for the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“In 2007, we were recognized as one of the top 50 adventure towns in the country [by the magazine],” Daugherty said in a recent e-mail interview.

She said visitors account for more than $258 million in economic impact to the Bloomington area each year.

“Nearly 65 percent of those visitors are on a ‘short trip’ of one to three nights in length,” Daugherty explained. “Another 11 percent were on a longer vacation. About 40 percent of visitors to the Bloomington area are on their first trip to the area, with the remaining 60 percent being repeat visitors [many with a connection to Indiana University]. Overall, visitors to the area have taken an average of four trips to the Bloomington area per year.”

This abbreviated list features some of the things that make the Bloomington area a recreational haven for people who love to be outside:

• Lake Monroe, a man-made reservoir just southeast of Bloomington, is the largest lake in Indiana.

Boats with water-skiers in tow are a common site this time of year as people of all ages take advantage of the warmer temperatures to enjoy the outdoors.

You will also see fishermen casting their lines, and kayakers getting a good workout in the water. Swimmers are no strangers to the water this time of year, too.

Camping is available at private, state and federal campsites or at nearby private campgrounds. Boat rental companies, bait shops and two resorts are located on the lake’s shores.

Several state recreation areas provide visitor information, nature centers and picnicking options. The Interpretive Nature Center is located at the Paynetown State Recreation Area. For more information, call 812-837-9546 or 812-837-9967.

• Griffy Lake Nature Preserve is a 1,200-acre protected wetlands area located just minutes from downtown Bloomington and the Indiana University campus.

Originally designed to supply the city with drinking water, Griffy Lake is now a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. The lake is 109 acres and has an average depth of 10 feet.

Great hiking is available on several moderately difficult trails that wind through the wooded ridges and ravines around the lake.

Rent a canoe, kayak, rowboat or launch your own boat. Fishing is another option, but no swimming is allowed at Griffy Lake. Call 812-349-3700 for rental and boat-launching information. Boats with gas-powered motors are not allowed on the lake. Privately owned boats may be launched from the ramp located near the boathouse for a small fee.

• Hoosier National Forest is just off State Road 446 in Bloomington. This 200,000-acre national forest encompasses nine counties in southcentral Indiana.

There are more than 230 miles of hiking, horseback and mountain-biking trails in the forest. Trails vary in difficulty and length.

Campgrounds are located adjacent to large lakes, and in conjunction with some trail systems. Five private horse camps are located adjacent to the forest. Call 812-275-5987 for more information.

• Bluespring Caverns Park, located on U.S. 50 southwest of Bedford in nearby Lawrence County, offers spelunking tours that explore the underground world of caves. Tours are available every day from Memorial Day through October. Call Jim Richards at 812-279-9471 for more information.

• Annual events like the Hilly Hundred Bicycle Tour draw thousands of people to the Bloomington area each fall, Daugherty noted, adding that these special recreational activities bring “between 4,500 to 5,000 people to the area.”

Sponsored by the Central Indiana Bicycling Association Inc. and based in nearby Ellettsville, the 41st annual race will be held on Oct. 17-19. For more information, call 317-767-7765 or log on to www.cibaride.org.

(To learn more ways to enjoy outdoor activities in and around the Bloomington area, log on to www.visitbloomington.com or call the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 812-330-4303.) †

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