Outdoor Adventures in St. Joseph County

The St. Joe River is the place to be for aquatic fun. Rafters of all ages can cruise the East Race Waterway, and anglers have plenty of bass and trout fishing. If you prefer pedestrian excursions, jogging and walking paths along the river offer beautiful views, while fishing ladders at the South Bend and Mishawaka points show you the stocks’ migrations in progress. Keep it interesting by mixing up hikes through the river’s woodlands and jaunts into St. Patrick’s Park, one of the Art & Earth Trail’s destinations along the journey through Northern Indiana’s best treasures.

Potato Creek State Park is the perfect place to explore and indulge in your favorite seasonal activities. Choose from bicycling, camping, horseback riding, boating, skiing and mountain biking to keep you active. At the Potawatomi Zoo, marvel at the ever-expanding red panda family, or get an amazing close-up view of the tigers, thanks to a glass divider.

Looking for fresh and exciting ways for kids to learn about themselves and their environment? The bee colonies at Rum Village Nature Center and the hands-on exhibits at Memorial Children’s Hospital’s HealthWorks! Museum make learning fun. And for parents and grandparents, serenity has never been easier to attain than when taking in the fragrant colorful blooms sweeping across the Ella Morris / Muessel-Ellison Botanical Conservatories and the exotic flowers populating Potawatomi Park.