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WHAT: Sugar Valley Canoes

WHERE: Marshall, IN

LOGISTICS: 1 hour 21-minute drive

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (approximately)

WHY: If you’re heading to Turkey Run State Park, why not enhance your experience in Marshall, IN and canoe in Sugar Creek? This is a chance to paddle down the river the Piankeshaw Indians called “Pun-go-se-co-ne” or “Water of many sugar trees.” In addition, you can choose to peacefully drift down the river in a canoe or a kayak. Although it isn’t the most riveting boating experience, canoeing in Sugar Creek is a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery and soak in the quintessence of spring.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Sandals or water shoes (When you step in the water, you don’t want your sneakers and socks to be soaking for the entire ride home.)
• Sunscreen
• Extra pair of clothing (If your canoe or kayak flips over in the water, you’ll be happy you brought an extra change of clothes.)
• Camera
• Money (Whether you choose to go on the 3.5-mile course, the six-mile course or any of the other courses, each boat costs a certain amount. For more information on the prices, click here.)

*only times for weekdays listed

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WHAT: Turkey Run State Park

WHERE: Marshall, IN

LOGISTICS: 1 hour 21-minute drive

WHEN*: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

WHY: This local park not only gives you an opportunity to enjoy the new spring climate, but also it offers a wide spectrum of different activities. Some of these include hiking, horseback riding, camping and fishing. Although the park doesn’t operate any canoe services, Sugar Valley Canoes, a local canoe livery, offers canoeing in Sugar Creek, a river that flows right through the park. (More information on Sugar Valley Canoes below.) In addition, the hiking trails range from “easy” to “very rugged.” Some of these trails wind through the deep canyons nestled in the shadows of sandstone cliffs or along the edge of the river. For more information on what else Turkey Run State Park has to offer, click on the hyperlinks above.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Mosquito repellent/bug spray
• Hiking boots
• Waterproof jacket/extra clothing (The climate in the park fluctuates frequently. From hiking along the cascades of tiny waterfalls to exploring the sandstone cliffs along the river, you must be prepared for it all.)
• Camera (You’ll want to capture the beautiful scenery of your trip.)
• Money (There is an in-state entrance fee of $5.)

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Spring break has officially begun. Although many people have already left for their one-week break/escape from school, many others have nothing planned besides relaxing and waking up at noon to the luxury of their homes. If you’re just sitting at home with nothing to do and have an odd craving for adventure, these places could be the perfect last-minute destinations for you to truly experience spring.

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Hi! Ellen here. Today I just left for Fort Lauderdale, FL, and it is GORGEOUS! I've missed seeing the sun shine these past few days, so being in sunny and warm Florida is just the thing I need. :) Today, aside from being on the plane for about half the day, we (my family and I) didn't do much except for stroll around the resort we're staying at and buying groceries at Publix (basically like the Kroger of the South...or something like that).

Anyway, tomorrow we're going out to shop around town which should be great since around here there are wonderful outlet malls and stuff. :DDD Yay, ok, I'll just get to posting some pictures. :)

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epeng@hilite.org

and

szhang@hilite.org

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WHAT TO BRING:

• Mosquito repellent/bug spray (Trust me, you do not want to be bitten by any of the bugs up in the mountains. Those bites itch like crazy.)

• Hiking boots/sturdy pair of shoes (The trails in the mountains can become very rugged and steep, so be careful.)

• Layers of clothing (The temperature can fluctuate a lot: the morning starts out cool, then it gets progressively warmer throughout the day. By the end of the day, though, the air begins to chill again.)

• Camera/anything that can take pictures (The mountains provide a great backdrop for any selfie or group photo, and there will be so many gorgeous and cool things that you’ll need to take a picture of to commemorate your trip.)

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REVIEW: I had the chance to visit the Great Smoky Mountains a couple years ago during fall break, and the scenery was absolutely stunning. Early sunrises up in the mountains among the clouds and fog, nature trails for beginners and pros, and cool, rushing waterfalls are just a few lovely attractions at the park. I’ll give some quick run-downs and anecdotes about these features.

The nature trails and waterfalls are some of the best parts of the park. Once you finish climbing from start to finish and back, you feel like Hercules: you’re invincible, a real champion. Simply walking around is already invigorating at a place like the Great Smoky Mountains, and when there are waterfalls that you can stop at and dip your feet in, the exercise becomes all the better. During one of the walks that my family and I took, we had a close encounter with a black bear! Being the proactive and cautious family that we are, each member of my family picked up a fairly large stone from the ground as a weapon. Fortunately, we weren’t attacked, and my dad snapped some pictures of the bear.

There are also cabins up in the mountains that you can rent, but by this time it would be tough to rent a cabin in locations offering a spectacular view. Our rented cabin contained an outdoor hot tub, an arcade and billiards table in the basement, and two bedrooms, one of which had a glass ceiling that you could look through to gaze at the stars. These were some of the nicest accommodations that I’ve ever resided in away from home.

The Great Smoky Mountains was probably the nicest national park that I have ever been to. It’s clean, beautiful and has a nice, temperate climate. I would highly recommend staying as long as you possibly can: there are just so many activities to do, it would be a shame to have your wonderful time there cut off abruptly. But the park is a nice place for a two to three-day vacation. It provides you with a greater appreciation of the natural world, and it definitely deserves a rating of five out of five stars for being a bucket list-worthy destination.

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WHAT: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

WHERE: Tennessee and North Carolina border

LOGISTICS: There are three entrances to the park: Gatlinberg, TN, Townsend, TN and Cherokee, NC.

Gatlinberg, TN — 7 hour 15 minute-drive (from central Indiana)

WHEN: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, certain buildings may close due to weather conditions.

WHY: Not only is the park a wonderful chance to immerse yourself in nature’s beauty, but also it provides you the chance to witness the beginnings of spring. Around this time of year, early spring flowers are beginning to bloom, such as the showy orchis and the blue phlox. In addition, some animals are awakening from a winter of hibernation: don’t be surprised when you see black bears or white-tailed deer. There are many other activities to try, and you can click on the hyperlink above to find what else Great Smoky Mountains National Park has to offer.

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As winter finally begins to wane and the grass starts to green, everyone knows that spring is on its way. With the passing of the first day of spring on March 20, it’s about time to take a break, step outside and enjoy some fun places that scream “spring.” Especially if you haven’t already planned to go somewhere during spring break, this locale is perfect for a last-minute, long-distance trip where you can immerse yourself in the essence of spring.

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WHAT: Starbucks Coffee Company

WHERE: It seems to be ubiquitous in Carmel. Near CHS: Clay Terrace and 146th Street. In east Carmel: 131th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway. In west Carmel: US 31 and Carmel Drive.

LOGISTICS: Near CHS: 5-minute drive. In east Carmel: 7-minute drive. In west Carmel: 6-minute drive.

WHEN: Store hours differ

WHY: If you missed out on Starbucks’s holiday drinks during the holidays, it’s not too late to get your share of the holiday cheer. Different drinks—including Gingerbread Latte, Eggnog Latte, Toffee Nut Latte, Orange Mocha, Peppermint Mocha and Caramel Brulée Latte—are still available for purchase and will surely bring back the winter spirit.

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WHAT: Carmel Ice Skadium

WHERE: Carmel, IN

LOGISTICS: 4-minute drive

WHEN: Times are subject to change. Here is their calendar.

WHY: Whether you’re looking for a fun way to hang out with your friends or just interested to try a new activity, definitely check out the Carmel Ice Skadium. There are ice skates rentals, public ice skating, ice skating lessons and hockey lessons.

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WHAT: Perfect North Slopes

WHERE: Lawrenceburg, IN

LOGISTICS: 1 hour 40 minute-drive

WHEN*: Sunday—9:30 am to 9:30 pm | Saturday—9:30 am to 11 pm

WHY: It’s definitely worth the drive. There’s skiing, snowboarding and even snow tubing. Since we’ve all watched the Winter Olympics, this is the perfect place to check out and get first-hand experience on the slopes. And if you’re a first timer, there’s even a 50-minute lesson you can take to help guide you.

WHAT TO BRING: Hat, waterproof gloves, goggles or sunglasses, jacket, layers, snow pants, socks, snacks, extra clothes, lip balm, money, of course, and anything else you think you’ll need.

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Still Clinging on to the Last Essence of Winter

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Still Clinging on to the Last Essence of Winter

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Quite frankly, this winter has been freaking amazing. I mean, the polar vortex and the addition of the extra snow week attached to winter break, not to mention one or two other snow days and two-hour delays sprinkled here and there across the past few months, have shown mother nature has truly been very generous to us in letting it snow and snow and snow and snow.

Yet, now that most of the ice and snow has melted, I’m not sure if I’m ready to jump into warmer weather quite yet. If you’re like me, still clinging onto the last essence of winter, check out this list of wintery activities you can do on the eve of spring.

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In this column, we post anything that we see on our own trips, or just anything that isn't on one of our "legit" blog posts. Enjoy ^^

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WHAT: DeBrand Fine Chocolates

WHERE: Fort Wayne, IN (Headquarters and several shops in the area)

LOGISTICS: 119-minute drive

WHEN*: Saturday—10 am to 10:30 pm | Sunday—12 pm to 6 pm

WHY: What could be more enticing than a morning or afternoon surrounded with chocolate? At its headquarters, you can take a tour of the chocolate-making process and consume delicious chocolates, desserts and drinks.

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WHAT: Wick’s Pies, Inc

WHERE: Winchester, IN

LOGISTICS: 83-minute drive

WHEN*: Saturday—6 am to 2 pm

WHY: First, who doesn’t love fresh-baked pie? Second, who isn’t curious about the elusive art of pie making and baking? Tours can be made by appointment, and you can witness how the professionals make pies and pie shells.

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WHAT: Warm Glow Candle Co. Store

WHERE: Centerville, IN

LOGISTICS: 67-minute drive

WHEN*: Saturday—9 am to 7 pm | Sunday—9 am to 7 pm

WHY: Home of the fragrant, long lasting and cost effective “Warm Glow” candles. It offers home décor, gourmet foods, chocolates and a café, as well. Plus, if you’re in need of a restroom break, the store offers “the nicest restrooms in I-70.”

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For the trip out of town:

WHAT: Zaharakos

WHERE: Columbus, IN

LOGISTICS: 65-minute drive

WHEN*: Saturday—11 am to 8 pm | Sunday—11 am to 8 pm

WHY: Not only a Mechanic Music Museum containing a rare Welte orchestrion (a self-playing pipe organ), but also a historic ice cream parlor with a soda fountain.

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WHAT: A Corner Cottage

WHERE: Noblesville, IN

LOGISTICS: 17-minute drive

WHEN*: Saturday—10 am to 5 pm | Sunday—1 pm to 5 pm

WHY: A Corner Cottage offers vintage furniture and home décor for those looking to redecorate. It also sells clothes, jewelry and gourmet foods.

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For the quick jaunt around the corner:

WHAT: Kolache Factory

WHERE: Carmel, IN

LOGISTICS: 8-minute drive

WHEN*: Saturday—6 am to 2 pm | Sunday—7 am to 2 pm

WHY: It’s perfect for breakfast, and the store also offers coffee, cinnamon rolls, croissants and strudel niks. The only thing you need to know is that a “kolache” is a pastry made of soft, fluffy dough that envelops fruit or meat.

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Any reviews in these posts are based on the opinion of the author(s). Also directions/logistics are based on CHS as the starting point.

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As an introduction, the goal of “The Itinerary” staff is to cater to all travelers. Our blog looks at tourist spots—both popular and obscure—as well as basic information that we believe to be necessary in planning and enjoying one’s trip. So whether you love the beach, yearn to ski down snowy slopes or prefer to stay close to home, we are here to find the adventure in places here, there and everywhere.

I'm Ellen!

And I'm Stephanie!

We hope you enjoy our blog :D

Note: Anything Ellen writes will be in regular text. Anything Stephanie writes will be in italics. Anything that the two of us collaborate on will be in bold! Sometimes bolded words are also meant to emphasize some important points.

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http://hilite.org/archives/category/blogs/the-itinerary

and

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/zeitinerary

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For the next two months, there won’t be any long breaks in which we can kick back at some resort 600 miles away. However, this is the perfect time for a weekend getaway dedicated to shopping and eating. Whether you are interested in food, clothes or everything vintage, there is at least one store in Indiana that offers what you want. Check out this list of one-day adventures close—and not so close—to home, divided into categories based on travel time.