Indiana Pokagon State Park for Camping

 We spent a couple nights ate the Pokagon State Park in northern Indiana.  Named for Chief Pokagon, it features a large lake, Lake James.  It also has a toboggan run for the winter, which is refrigerated so always available in season.  There is equestrian barn where you can go on a horse ride for $30.  A lodge with a couple restaurants.  There is a nature exhibit and several playgrounds.  They also have many campsites.  Ours had an outhouse type toilet close and a modern bathroom with showers a bit farther away, showers were free.  We saw a raccoon lurking around camp seeking anything not stored.  They did get some grease left out from cooking.  

mushrooms

historic entrance gate

CCC pavilion above the lake

the beach

smore time

toboggan run

equestrian barn

lodge

McNaughton Park: Elkhart, Indiana

McNaughton Park is along the river where the St. Joseph River bends at Bridge St and East Boulevard.  Bridge turns into Arcade Ave and then you turn onto Galbrett Drive to follow the park.  The park borders the Elkhart General Hospital.  There is much to see and do at this park.  There is the bandstand which is the home for the elkhart band.  There are many tennis courts.  There is a boat launch and you can fish along the river.  There is a pavilion and a very extensive playground.  There is also a new exercise area.  There is a pavilion, and an extensive spray park with water slides for which you must pay to attend, $2.  There is a large horse shoe area with twelve pitches.  There is a large playground and a bandstand.  

Elkhart Bandstand Mural

 The Elkhart Bandstand in McNaughton Park is painted with murals.  The Elkhart band presents concerts at the bandstand every Tuesday during the summer (unless there is too much rain.  

Elkhart County Historical Museum

 The Elkhart History Museum is in Goshen.  It is very interesting and a building which appears to have been The Waashington Township High School and then used as a county building.  There is a door marked county jail inside.  Upstairs there are rooms decorated like when the Rush family lived there.