Moraine Nature Preserve

 Moraine Nature Preserver is located in Valparaiso Indiana.

DIRECTIONS

From Valparaiso, travel north on S.R. 49 to U.S. 6. Turn right (east) and continue approximately 0.5 mile to Calumet Avenue and turn right (south). Continue traveling to C.R. 750 N (Meska Road) and turn left. Travel roughly one mile to the end of the road and park at the bottom of the hill. Parking is limited; please be considerate of private property and the preserve when parking.

This is a hidden treasure. The mystical feel of the woods bring a sense of calm immediately when entering the trail. his trail was at the end of the street. There is limited parking but worth the try. Its a mild walk winding around the woods. 

In early January 2017 there wasn't much wildlife to see or hear or at least not the day I visited the preserve. I could imagine in the spring this preserve would be a wonderful place to bird watch as well as listen to the woodland creatures. There was a nice seating area halfway through this trail that offered a break and the opportunity to take in all the beauty nature offers.

The mighty oak, which is one of my favorite tree, is just one of the many trees of this natural wilderness. The Oak was designated the official national symbol in 2004. The oak has inspired many poems and spiritual writings.



With many ponds and wetlands, the Moraine Nature preserve hosts several species of birds and wildlife.

Previously in the week Indiana, specifically Porter county had a severe ice storm. Everything is covered in ice. This made the trail slippery but nature looked beautiful. Branches and old leaves left from the fall were covered in ice. 



These cute little berries were covered in ice.

Towards the end of the trail, I noticed many more journeys to discover at Moraine nature preserve. I will most certainly be back in the spring for a full day of hiking through these beautiful woods. 



I am Jen Lamb the "Outdoor woman" and founder of Fit Forty outdoors. Over the course of 2017 I will be hiking and blogging about the outdoors right here in Indiana including great places to eat and drink.  

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Trails to restaurants-Duneland Trail

Here we will discover some great stops off the Duneland trail that begins in Hobart and ends in Chesterton Indiana. The trail is fully paved for bike riding or walking. 

Prairie Duneland Trail http://www.indianatrails.com/content/prairie-duneland-trail

The trail itself starting in Hobart and ending in Chesterton Indiana is a really nice walk or bike ride. With several stops along the way you wont be bored. The first stop I always enjoy is a nice little restaurant located in portage Indiana. The food is outstanding and the price is great as well. Tates place  in Portage is always a nice stop.

The next great stop for rest is Imagination Glen in Portage Indiana. With shelters and a playground for the kids, its a great place to drink some water and catch your breath. It also has some great wooded trails to hike through before getting back on the paved trail towards Chesterton.

Hitting toward the end of the trail in Chesterton Indiana, you can continue to the town of Chesterton. There are many spots in Chesterton to shop, walk, sit or eat. Whenever I am enjoying these long days of walking I like to stop for healthy meals along the way. One stop I enjoy is the Octave Grill in Chesterton. The food will refuel you for the journey back and tastes excellent!. Visit their FB page Octave Grill

These are just a few stops along the way to make either your walk or bike riding experience an overall great day. The trails are a safe and at times police supervised way to navigate from town to town. Stretching from hundreds of miles, there is always a new stop to discover. 

I am Jen Lamb the "Outdoor woman" and founder of Fit Forty outdoors. Over the course of 2017 I will be hiking and blogging about the outdoors right here in Indiana including great places to eat and drink.  

Instagram: fitfortygirl

youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC83fKpVqrxiQHupOrYZ40BQ

twitter: fitfortygirl

blog : http://www.fitfortygirl.blogspot.com

pinterest : jenlambvalpo

Healthy living Club: http://www.facebook.com/groups/healthylivingstateofmind

OUTDOOR WOMENS CLUB https://www.facebook.com/groups/1224157817621610 

Indiana Dunes State park in the winter.

Indiana Dunes State park located at 1600 N 25 East, Chesterton, IN 46304 is a beautiful escape for long walks on the shoreline. With over 2,182 acres to discover, Indiana Dunes State park will provide an entire day of adventure and discovery. Today we will discover the shore line in January. The winter freeze provides many benefits that make walking a pleasurable experience. 

With all the renovations the park has made, the convenience and beauty begins in the parking lot at the pavilion. With the added bathrooms and changing stations it is clean and well maintained for an overall comfortable experience. The future plans of the pavilion will bring another positive aspect to visiting the park.

In January it is nice to walk for miles down the shoreline. The difference between winter and summer is in the winter the sand is frozen and your feet do not sink in. This makes it very easy to continue walking for miles. When you head down towards Michigan city there are many hills to climb up for extra excitement. this makes The dunes a top pick for physical activities.

Walking down the shoreline it was interesting to see how the sand froze into beautiful shelves of sand ice. It was quite a view but be cautious because slipping and falling could cause some serious harm. 

Indiana dunes state park has an amazing skyline that on a clear day you can see Chicago. In the winter the lake is frozen for quite a long distance before the waves break on the shelf ice. The shelf ice however is very dangerous and should not be walked on. It might be tempting to want to walk out on the lake but its unpredictable on exactly where the ice is frozen or where it appears to look frozen but is not. 

As a woman hiker and life long resident to this area, I find the dunes a very peaceful place to spend time all year round. The improvements that are continually made year after year make the Dunes a constant for  physical activities. On this particular day I stuck to the shoreline walking further than I have in the summer. As I walked down towards Michigan city the shelf ice became smaller and the waves were beautifully crashing withing eye distance. I spotted one poor fish that didn't make it out before the deep freeze of January. Poor little thing was frozen in the sand like a Popsicle.

All in all the Indiana Dunes state park is great escape from the stresses of everyday life. Whether you're just going to listen to the waves or to enjoy the multitude of hiking experiences I highly recommend visiting the dunes on a regular basis. Nature is good for the soul. 

for more information about the Indiana Dunes State park Visit: 
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2980.htm

http://www.indianadunes.com/

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Deep River Park-Fit Forty outdoors

Deep River park is located in Hobart Indiana. 

For the park's historic area travel U.S. 30 to Grand Blvd (Rt. 51) then north to the first stop sign (Old Lincoln Highway). Turn right (east) onto Old Lincoln Highway then 2&1/2 miles to the park. Located at intersection of Old Lincoln Highway and (Lake and Porter) County Line Road.

For Big Maple Lake area: From I-65 and Rt. 30 travel east about 4 miles to Grand Blvd (US 51) then north 1.2 miles to Ainsworth Road (just north of the train tracks) then east for ½ mile.  Entrance is on the left. 

The river provides a scenic and peaceful stroll to lookout points located along the river. These lookout points are excellent stop to take beautiful photographs. This picture was an early more shot with the sun peaking through the trees. 

The trails at Deep river park run through the woods all across the park. Once you leave the riverside, you are on an entirely new journey through the woods.

Its hard to get bored strolling through such a beautiful wooded area full of  creatures scurrying through the woods making noises that capture your ear. 

There are so many options at deep river park if you have children. This was the point where you can cut off the trail and take the kids to the park for a nice picnic and play day.

the kids will enjoy looking out at the river from the comfort of a safe bridge. The view is outstanding even for the youthful. The play ground is not far from this point.

My name is Jen lamb and I created fit forty outdoors. you'll come to know me very well through this wonderful journey through nature. I hope you will also check out my facebook page for healthy eating and living a healthy natural lifestyle. Healthy living state of mind!

Heading back towards the river there is a nice stop to rest by the old sawmill. they provide plenty of seating to enjoy a picnic or just relax and listen to the river.

This old building is a part of the historic beauty of Deep river park. have your family sit in the chair in front for a photo opportunity and a little relaxing time.

In the gazebo Deep river park hosts weddings many times a year. Its a beautiful place to get married or just  read a book. At night the lights shine and it looks stunning from a distance.

There is a wide open fiend where the kids can play while the parents wind down from the hike. They also offer a very adorably country store that sells local maple syrup and plenty of souvenir to remember the day by. For a few dimes you ca pick up some great tasting candy sticks and maybe even a rabbits foot.

Thank you for viewing the blog about Deep river park and I would highly recommend enjoying a day here yourself.

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