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Michiana Adventures

4.8•249 ratings

South Bend, IN, US

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About us

Looking for a way to connect or find new people in the Michiana area? This group is for you. From hiking to meditation, we have an eclectic mix of opportunities to get out and be social.
About us Rick is your organizer and has enjoyed bringing people together since he was about seven years old. His hometown is closer to Michigan City so myself, Rhonda and many other wonderful event organizers will be creating events for this area. I am an introvert who understands the importance of a good balance of social activities and solitude.
Rhonda started organizing in 2018 while working full time and caring for her parents.
We do encourage people to host events if they would like to, there are just a few guidelines for that. We already have several event organizer who offer different events to bring more opportunities to get out and be social. We don’t have a lot of rules just remember to be patient and kind to one another. Be social, ask the members questions about themselves.
When we are in nature, we encourage everyone to make space for silence. It’s about being social but also enjoying nature. Be present.
We are an offshoot of Rick’s group, if you are not already a member. They have a lot of wonderful events.
Check out Rick's Hiking & Fun Group on Meetup https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group

Upcoming events

4

Book Club Discussion & Dinner
Thu, Oct 15 · 5:45 PM EDT
Doc Pierce's Restaurant, 120 N Main St, Mishawaka, IN 46544, USA, Mishawaka, IN, US
Our next book is "The Shining" by Stephen King in honor of October and Halloween even though we are meeting early in the month.

I've noticed our group is getting smaller and I'd like to know if its the day (Thursdays), the time (5:45), or the time of the month, usually around the 22nd. Also, are people still interested in the group? If not, I'd like to know so we can decide what to do with it.
I've enjoyed meeting and discussing various books and having dinner with you but if interest is waning and something needs to be done to correct it, I'd like to know so we can either work to correct the issues or discuss disbanding. I value your opinion.
Btw, we will not meet in November or December due to vacations and holidays.
Thank you!
6 attendees
Warren Dunes Hike
Sun, Oct 18 · 11:00 AM EDT
Sawyer Garden Center, 5865 Sawyer Rd,, Sawyer, MI, US
We will do this hike again since it's a favorite. ✌️ morning hike at Warren Dunes state park on the shores of Lake Michigan.

This is about a 5 mile hike. It is a bit more difficult with the dunes but the pace will be moderate. We can start with the trail entrance off the beach, take that to trail 4, then take trail 8 down to the beach. There we can take a walk along the beach back towards the parking lot at whatever pace you prefer. I usually like to spend sometime on the beach.

We will be meeting at Sawyer Garden Center at 10:30 am and carpool in. Understand that the garden center is wonderful! If you think you might like to look around before we head over, plan for that and give yourself plenty of time. If you are meeting us at the park, understand that we may be a few minutes after 11 so you may have to wait for us. We can meet you near the pavilion at the northernmost parking lot that is open. They typically have only one parking lot open this time of year. My phone goes into sos mode, so I won’t be able to receive any comments when we are at the lake.
Please update your RSVP and remember to be kind and patient.
We can go out to eat after if you have a place you like. I know Greenbush closed down. There is a drive in that has good burgers if they are still open.
14 attendees
Indiana Dunes Find Your Own Pace Hike
Sat, Nov 7 · 11:00 AM EST
Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N 25 E, Chesterton, IN, US
This is 11am ET, 10am CDT

We can meet at the nature center parking lot. Go through entrance and take the nature center exit at the roundabout.

There will be 2 options

Option 1 is an 8 mile hike at a good pace around 3 miles an hour. We will start on trail 8 down to the beach and take trail 9 back to the nature center. There are challenging inclines on this path.

Option 2 is an easy hike through the wetlands, this is a 5 mile hike. The wetlands are around 3 miles and the hike to and from is another 2 miles. This will be a moderate pace with no major inclines.

If you have an Indiana State Park Pass, this works here. If not, it’s $7 for in-state parking I believe.

Please keep your rsvp updated.
Be mindful of your own fitness level, option 1 will challenge your fitness level.

Those who want to go out to eat after, check out the restaurants in the area and see what sounds good. Mention it when we get there.

Give a shout in the comments which hike you are planning on, I’m planning on option 2 through the wetlands 😊
Jonathan will be leading the 8 mile hike 😊

Rhonda
6 attendees
Dunes Heritage hike
Sat, Nov 21 · 12:00 PM EST
Indiana Dunes National Park Chellberg Farm, 709-747 N Mineral Springs Rd, Porter, IN, US
We will join Rick’s group for the Dunes Heritage hike
https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/events/316040356/?eventOrigin=group_events_list

if you can't find parking at the main lot, there is a huge overflow parking area across Mineral Springs rd.

meet near the washrooms at Chellberg Farm at 11 CT, 12 ET

dear hiking friends--

today's hike features a cross section of the history of the region during the 19th and early 20th centuries. we have taken this hike every year since 2002, except for 2020.

please check the weather before departure and have appropriate clothing and equipment https://weather.com/weather/today/l/46301:4:US . bring along a lunch which we will eat on the trail, plus enough water (one quart minimum).

this hike will have a moderate and a longer, more difficult option. depending on which you choose to take. you can make these choices on the spot depending on your endurance, the weather, or your whims, once on the trail.

remember, this is a fee area--you must DISPLAY A PERMIT to park here--so before you come to the lot, make sure you study the rather Byzantine and non-user-friendly fee structure at the National Park website
https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm
i'm not sure how much they enforce this off season, or what the fines are, but be informed and beware.

this is a complex route, with lots of unexpected twists and turns--if you get ahead of Erin or Jonathan, make sure to stop whenever you come to a junction with another trail or road, or in any place where the trail is ambiguous or confusing. also, make sure you know where your car is parked.

i also encourage you all to take and post pictures to the site. if you don't know how to post to the site, text pictures to me, and i will post them.
i decided to tweak our route so that we hit more of the points of historic interest first, and moved the long walk across the prairie, over the river, and through the woods to later in the hike.

we will gather near the restrooms off the parking lot, and wait till 11:20 CT for all to arrive. then we will turn right at the valley's edge and walk a short distance till we come to the Chellberg Farm.

this is a preserved farmstead which was owned by Swedish immigrants to the region, and run in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. there usually are animals in the farmyard and the barn.

after that, we will ascend some bridges and stairs up a streambed and across a road to the Bailly Family Cemetery. it is quite elaborate for a pioneer graveyard, with a stonework mound and a tall wooden cross, and carved gravestones with passages from the Bible and the Apocrypha.
we will tarry there awhile, then return, cross Oak Hill rd, and reach the junction with the Porter-Brickyard trail, where you can make a choice.

if you go right with Erin, we will walk about 3/4 of a mile through the woods, then over a boardwalk, and cross the Little Calumet river on a bridge, then ascend a hill, and cross the Mnoke' Prairie, then back over the Little Cal, and arrive at the Bailly Homestead, where one of the earliest European settlers to the area had his home and his trading post. after looking over this large, preserved complex, we will head back and back to the parking lot for a total day's hike of 4.0 miles.

if you go left with Jonathan, we will hike the Porter-Brickyard trail, that crosses route 12 and accesses the Cowles Bog trail complex.

this set of trails is shaped like a snowman, and you can fashion a trail of various lengths. Jonathan has two versions of this hike, one rugged hike of several mies that goes down to the beach, and re-ascends the dunes to return to the Chellberg Farm and the parking lot, and a shorter version that cuts off a mile of trail, and the beach descent for a gentler return to the beginning. if you''d like to skip the each descent and take the gentler hike, tell Jonathan after you crosss rt 12, and he can alert you when it's time to turn back.

Both versions start out on an easy wooded path that goes behind the Dunes Park headquarters, and at the 1st mile mark, crosses HW 12 on that huge yellow bridge.

A short walk down Mineral Springs Road, and we'll reach the tiny Greenbelt parking lot, and take the Greenbelt trail to the west. This leg of the hike is level and runs besides lakes and marshes for a mile or so. The next mile and a half runs through the woods and includes some significant ups and down, terminating at an amazing overlook on the lake nearly 200 ft below.

After descending we'll be at the wide and grassy lakeshore. It's beautiful. We'll take a break and enjoy the view. I recommend bringing a snack.
The biggest challenge is climbing 200 feet up the dune to get off the beach. Once back on top of the dunes, there 1/2 a mile of hilly terrain, and then we settle down for 2.5 miles of mostly level hiking back to the cars.

hope you can attend this year,

Rick

directions:

from US 12, turn south on Mineral Springs rd; enter the parking lot marked "Chellberg Farm"; if the parking lot is full, there is ample overflow parking across the road; try to arrive by 11:00; we will wait till 11:20, then depart on foot.

from US 20, turn north on Mineral Springs rd; enter the parking lot marked "Chellberg Farm"; if the parking lot is full, there is ample overflow parking across the road; try to arrive by 11:00; we will wait till 11:20, then depart on foot.

to view photos of previous hikes by this group at this location, see below.
our group has actually been doing this hike since November 24, 2002, but photography was in its infancy then, so i don't have albums for those years. : )

2009 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/765778/

2010 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/1167250/

2011 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/4540442/

2012 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/11801082/

2013 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/events/130537162/

2014 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/25755614/

2016 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/26705361/

2016 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/27435567/

2017 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/28364881/

2018 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/29430687/

2019 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/30513495/

2021 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/31585359/

2023 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/32434940/

2023 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/33702266/

2024 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/34993307/

2025 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/35698384/
5 attendees

Past events

172

Organizers

Rick Malkowski and 8 others

Rick M. and 1 other are Super Organizers

Members

1,877

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Outdoor Adventures

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