Pokagon State Park and the Potawatomi Inn are an Hour's Drive from the Fort

Pokagon State Park in Steuben County is a real jewel. Sitting on the shores of Lake James and near Angola and Fremont, Indiana, the park and lodge have lots to offer.

Citizens of the county raised funds in 1925 to buy 580 acres of land and then donated it to the state of Indiana. More land was purchased or donated over the years, and now the park includes 1260 acres of trails, woods, and beaches. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the lodge and other structures beginning in 1927.

There's so much in this park. Camping facilities, a staff of full-time naturalists, paved bicycle trails, hiking trails, a nature interpretive center, playgrounds, a swimming beach, a marina with boat rentals, cabins, meeting and conference facilities, a camping general store, a saddle barn, and the fabulous toboggan run. Part of the toboggan run is pictured above.

The refrigerated toboggan run hosts about 90,000 riders every winter season. There is a vertical drop of 90 feet over a quarter mile. Sled speed can reach 40 miles per hour for a 20-30 second total ride. Operation hours are usually November 29 through March 1. Sled rentals are $13/hour and the park entrance fee is $7 for in-state vehicles.

We recently went to stay at the Potowatami Inn. It was the perfect time to be there - during the week after the Memorial Day holiday weekend, there were very few guests. The lodge tends to get booked solid during peak summer periods and during toboggan season, so make your reservations far in advance during these times. There are 137 guest rooms in the lodge. We ate in the quaint lodge dining room, and had an excellent meal for a reasonable price. I had some barbecued ribs, and the portion was big enough for me to box up for a couple of more meals. My partner had the soup and salad bar, and he said it was excellent - a good revue, because his standards are high.

We also enjoyed the indoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Chlorine smell, especially around the hot tub, was pretty strong, but overall we enjoyed these spaces and I had a nice swim. There are some fun recreation rooms in the lodge with games and equipment for kids. I also saw a neat craft room that wasn't open the hours we were there, but looked like fun. The outer porch decks on two levels with a lovely overlook of Lake James are really scenic and relaxing. I saw several people with their dogs walking around as well - even in the dining room!

The highlight of my trip was a ride at the saddle barn. Only open in the summer, I got to go on a lovely trail ride through the woods. I saw the historic spring cabin with fresh spring water (I was told it is tested weekly and is clean to drink). I saw dogwood trees, redbuds, wildflower plants and so much greenery. Birds were chirping, and I saw my horse scouting the woods (perhaps for deer). I had a nice conversation with my horseback guide. Being there during an off-peak time, it was very quiet, relaxing and secluded on the ride through the woods.

There's lots to offer at Pokagon and the Potowatami lodge. It's a perfect getaway from Fort Wayne. Just get on I-69 and head north. Let's hope there are always local, state and national parks to enjoy. I think they are all so special and beautiful - some of the sweetest things in life.

Baymont Inn & Suites was a Nice Stay Off the Beaten Path Near DuPont and I-69

I needed a break. A break from my job, and also a break from the mundane tasks of doing dishes, cleaning floors, and washing bedsheets. Spring is popping out prettily here, and I really enjoy looking at all the beautiful blossoms coming out everywhere. Magnolias, redbuds, tulips, vinca, etc., are here for our viewing pleasure.

But there's also a bit of craziness that has been going on. The transition from cold to warm earth causes so many changes. Pollen erupts from plants, river water warms up, bugs hatch out. We are biological beings and we feel the tug of earth's forces. Sometimes there are some rough patches along the way, just as there are cracks in the roads and new potholes.

I chopped out old landscaping. I uncovered, then handled baby bunnies while doing so, and put them back in the nest. I shoveled mulch. And then, I just wanted a break, from worrying, caregiving, solving problems and doing chores.

So, I did this thing I do every few years - I booked a hotel room just for myself, to have some quiet "me" time. For me, the site has to have a pool so I can swim a little - it loosens up my sore hip that occurs when I stand at work too much. Bike riding and floor stretching are good for me, but somehow nothing helps like doing strokes in a pool.

So, I looked at prices online for nearby hotels, and chose the Baymont Inn & Suites at 2881 Dupont Road. By looking at websites, I found a price below the posted rate and called the local number for the hotel. Some of these prices really don't work or they require more than a one-night stay, or joining a plan, or meeting some other special conditions. The staff person was kind and helped me find a matching rate I could live with. I also asked for a AARP member discount, and there are many point systems, AAA deals, and other promotions available if you work at it. The site not having a lot of bookings for a Sunday night (the hotel was pretty empty) helped too.

One side of the hotel, the east side, is pretty close to Interstate 69, so I was afraid it might be noisy. But, luckily I was booked on the west side of the hotel, and it was surprisingly quiet. My room looked out onto what I believe is an office park, and there were no office workers there Sunday night. The room was small, clean, and tasteful. The shower was easily ergonomically accessible and the small fridge was cold. The in-room coffee maker worked. The bed was firm yet very comfortable. I was happy.

The person with whom I made the reservation told me the pool had recently been redone, and I was not disappointed. Windows let in natural light, and although small, the pool had lovely blue tile and seemed very clean and clear. I liked it. The water was a little cool but not bad - swimmers who are really trying to get a workout will tell you they don't want lukewarm water. I was by myself, which was fortunate - after hearing lawnmowers running all weekend and kids screaming in the neighborhood, I wouldn't have liked a ton of splashing and noise in the pool.

And then - it was back to my room for a little HBO and Game of Thrones. I like seeing the repeats of previous weeks' episodes before the new show - I always seemed to have missed something. This is really "wind down" time for me. I don't know all the details of all the stories, but after a few years, the main characters are like soap opera friends of mine - Jamie, John Snow, Cersei, Brienne, Arya, Stansa, Daenerys and Tyrion could almost all be drinking buddies of mine.

I enjoyed the GOT episode - I'm tempted to say something more specific but I've been warned by friends so no spoilers here. The hotel was quiet through the night. Breakfast was pretty standard yet perfectly suitable - the usual - cereals, sweets, breads, yogurts, eggs, sausage, a waffle maker, juices - all perfectly fine. I liked the paper flowers and decorations in the dining room, and realized it had just been Cinco de Mayo, so maybe that's why.

What I didn't like - the parking lot and bushes outside were pretty dirty. Trash scattered around, also it looked like people had dumped their car ashtrays with cigarette butts on the ground. No thank you. Perhaps the lot gets a little dirtier because of its proximity to the highway. But the staff were nice, and helpful, the pool clean and relaxing, the bed comfortable, the room quiet, and the brief stay did me a lot of good. It's a 'thumbs up' from me.