Planning Your Next Vacation With CDPL Resources

The Crawfordsville District Public Library invites our patrons to explore our National, State, and Local Parks during their summer vacations and support our local resources by being natural tourists. Did you know that the Indiana State Parks system manages 24 state parks, 7 small satellite locations, 8 reservoir properties, 2 state forest recreation areas, and 2 off-road riding areas? This includes over 7,000 campsites, 700 miles of trails, 17 swimming pools, and 15 beaches as well as playgrounds, shelters, marinas, and nearly 3,000 buildings. CDPL has several resources to help you plan your visit and to mindfully prepare you for outdoor fun.

In the “National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the United States” (917.3 Nat) you can learn about the best state parks in the nation, including the nearby Turkey Run State Park. Nat Geo is famous for having the ability to highlight the “best of” any subject in its colorful and informative publications. You may also find delight in the “Smart Travel Guide to 18 National Parks in the Midwest & Eastern U.S.” (917.9 Sim) by Rob J. Simms. This guide’s design is arranged in an outline form and is straight to the point in regard to locations and distance.

If you are interested in straightforward information that can enhance your experience and help you easily organize your trip, check out “Live Your Road Trip Dream” (910.2 Whi) by Phil & Carol White, or “How to Hike the A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Hike” (796.51 Ra) by Michelle Ray. Marnie Hanel & Jen Stevenson’s book “The Campout Cookbook” (641.578 Han) is packed with knowledge about selecting a prime campfire location, the necessary equipment needed for cooking outside, 99 ways to use a thermos, several recipes, as well as campfire songs and a template for a Mad-Libs style ghost story.

Travel can be more than just going somewhere. Create your own themed vacation with the “Lincoln Road Trip” (917.3 Amm) by Jane Simon Ammeson and explore Lincoln’s path across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan. Love the Great Lakes? Plan a trip north with Jim DuFresne in the “Off The Beaten Path Michigan” (917.74 DuF). DuFresne explains how to enjoy four of the five Great Lakes’ waterfronts, and where to explore some of the best dense forest sites used by locals. This book includes addresses and phone numbers for each county’s attractions, as well as location-based trivia.

If you like to stay close to home, consider starting at one of our nearby parks. Stop by CDPL and read the “Hiking Indiana #1 Shades State Park” (RA 917.724 Pat) or “Hiking Indiana #2 Turkey Run State Park” (917.72 Bla) by Randy R. Patrick & Charesa M. Blair. These helpful guides provide details about the hiking trails and other services offered by the DNR. The “Best Tent Camping, Illinois: Your Car-Camping Guide to Scenic Beauty, the Sounds of Nature, and an Escape from Civilization” (917.73 Sch) by John Schirle is a great option to plan a nearby nature-themed trip in less than a day’s drive, and it is far enough away that your family will feel like they traveled to a remote location.

For those of you seeking an activity more than a destination, we have outstanding books that can provide informative and educational opportunities for all nature lovers. You do not need to leave your yard to have the opportunity to explore nature. Check out the “National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Night Sky” (520 Faz) by Andrew Fazekas. This book is another example of Nat Geo’s ability to produce a beautiful and readable instructional book.

We also have a new borrowing option from our Library of Things that includes many items that help you start your local adventure. In the “Explorer Adventure Backpack” (Lot BKPK), you will find one Indiana State Park day pass, a DNR recreational guide, a pair of binoculars, a compass, a flashlight, a field notebook with a pencil, and 5 nature books; “Tree Finder”, “Birds of Indiana”, “Trees of Indiana”, “Trail Grazing,” and “The Hike”. Patrons may check out one of these five backpacks for seven days.

Stop by the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor for assistance with finding any library materials. Explore our extensive collection before you plan your next adventure. If you are interested in searching our catalog in advance, signing up for an upcoming program, or reserving a meeting room, please visit our website at www.cdpl.lib.in.us. CDPL is open Monday-Thursday 9a-9p, Friday-Saturday 9a-5p, and Sunday 1-5p.

Toni Ridgway-Woodall is a Library Assistant in the Reference and Local History department at CDPL.