Summer in Muncie: 3 Great Local Attractions You Can Drive to

If you’re looking for some fun summer activities to keep you and the family entertained in Muncie, IN, there are plenty of local attractions to choose from. Let’s discover some of the places on offer.

Cardinal Greenway

If you travel to Cardinal Greenway in the fun-to-drive 2023 Kia Rio, the day out will not only be an adventure but will also be easy on the pocket because the rail trail charges nothing and the excellent cost efficiency of the Rio car means you’ll save on both. This is the longest stretch of trails in Indiana, sprawling over an expansive 62 miles through Muncie from Marion to Richmond in East Indiana.

There are many trailheads dotted along the trails. The nearest for the people of Muncie can be found at 700 East Wysor Street where visitors have access to parking, restrooms, a gift shop, a shelter, and picnic tables. This depot’s grand architecture is made with white oak wood, maple floors, and marble fixtures. The award-winning trails themselves include bikeways, waterways, and magnificent nature.

Ominnetrista Museum and Gardens

There’s something for everybody thanks to the fascinating exhibitions that run throughout the Summer months at the Ominnetrista Museums and Gardens. There is a stunning art exhibition called Indiana Waterways: The Art of Conservation that runs in one of the six gallery gardens until early September. This spectacular exhibit teaches visitors how conservation works while immersing them in the breathtaking charm of local nature, rivers, and streams.

The Center Building in galleries 1-3 is also home to the Girlhood (It’s Complicated) exhibition until mid-September. Initiated by the Smithsonian’s American Women’s History Initiative launched by the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, this stunning exhibit is about the diverse experiences of girls and how they’ve influenced American history. A cutting-edge exhibit that’s sure to enthrall!

Dutro Ernst Woods

Enjoy an exciting adventure at Dutro Ernst Woods, which can be found at 421 South Walnut Street. Dedicated to the Ernst family and local biology teacher Ruth Dutro, this stunning 33-acre urban nature reserve winds its way through a conserved prairie and the shaded cool of bewitching woodland. Thanks to restoration work, visitors are now able to view lots of native vegetation and flourishing wildlife.

Drop in at red-tails’ monitoring station, where you can add a cell phone photograph to a digital time-lapse to help land managers track changes in the ever-evolving prairie. Bask in the beauty of forests and rivers while attending events like the water ecology and quality workshop. Spend a day volunteering with the forest’s staff or enroll the children to work as wildlife warriors where they’ll learn about owls, salamanders, turtles, bats, and survival.

This summer should be an action-packed, fun-filled affair, considering these exciting adventures are literally on the doorstep. Enjoy the summer exploring nature on the Cardinal Greenway, experience the fascinating exhibits at Ominnetrista Museum and Gardens, or join the conservation battle at Dutro Ernst Woods. However you decide to spend your summer, be sure to make time to visit Kia of Muncie to see the wonderful range of cars we have available.

Tags: attractions, gardens, local, Muncie IN, museum, Nature, outdoors, trail, woods
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