1. The Cardinal Greenway and Monon Trail
These two trails are perfect for people who are setting physical goals for themselves for the new year. Both trails cater to runners, bikers, hikers, skaters, and cross country skiers and can be accessed in all 4 seasons. Being active outdoors is far more satisfying and offers a better change of scenery than staying inside and going on a treadmill or stationary bike. Plus, it’s free! The Cardinal Greenway runs 62 miles from Converse to Richmond (though not always by that name), while the Monon trail runs 26 miles from Sheridan to Indy.
2. Ziplining (various locations)
Looking to conquer your fear of heights this year? Ziplining is a great way to do just that because you’re taken through a course with a guide and are harnessed and clipped in for maximum safety. There are over a dozen different ziplining options throughout Indiana, with some options offering unique attractions. For example, some zipline courses also offer rope bridges/wood pathways between trees or ziplining from tree to tree. You can even go to Indiana Caverns and zipline underground! Most zipline experiences will set you back at least $50, so be prepared to spend some money.
3. Trivia Nights (Various locations)
If you’re looking for more of an intellectual challenge, try attending a trivia night on a regular basis! Trivia competitions work differently depending on where you go, but the idea is that teams are asked random trivia questions, and the team to get the most right wins! Sometimes, trivia nights can be themed (TV shows, History, Pop Culture, etc). Bars and Breweries are the typical locations for trivia nights, and you will usually find these places in larger cities like Indy, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, Muncie, and so on. Certain chains like The Stacked Pickle and Wings Etc. each are known for doing trivia as well.
4. 3 Dunes Trail Challenge (Indiana Dunes State Park)
Another great physical challenge would be to complete the 3 Dunes Trail at the Indiana Dunes. The trail has, you guessed it, 3 large dunes to climb up (and down) on a 1.5-mile trail that is marked as “rugged” on park maps. The dunes are 176 feet, 184 feet, and 192 feet in height, and at times the trail has a 40-degree slope! What’s nice about this challenge is that it is not timed, so you can go at your own pace. Also, once you complete the challenge, you can stop at the Visitor’s Center and get a free sticker!
5. Cooking Classes (Mostly Indy, some in Bloomington and South Bend)
Food is amazing. It’s even more amazing when you can make delicious food on your own without having to go out to eat! A good resolution for the new year could be to better learn to cook for yourself, and there are plenty of great cooking classes available to help with that. Some classes are specific about what you’ll be making (Macarons and Marshmallows from sweet shops), while other places like Nestle Inn B+B or Chef JJ’s BackYard offer different foods on different nights. Depending on what you’re making, classes can range from an hour to 5 hours and cost anywhere from $10-$150. Below is a link of some great options in Indianapolis:
https://www.indystar.com/story/life/food/2013/05/30/14-cooking-classes-in-indy-can-you-handle-the-heat/28936311/
Just a heads up, that article is from 2013, so it’s likely not all of those places offer classes anymore.
6. Swing Dancing (Fountain Square Theatre, Indianapolis)
Learning to dance well is most certainly a way to challenge yourself this coming year. There are many types of dance and many different places to learn how to dance, but I’m just focusing on one particular place that friends of mine have checked out and liked. Fountain Square Theatre offers swing dancing on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month. If you come from 7:30-8:30, you can get lessons on how to swing dance. Then, from 8:30-11:30, there is a live band and open swing dancing. According to my friends, an activity like this is fun to do as a group, where you can learn together and switch off partners throughout the night. It costs $14 for the lesson and dancing or $12 if you come just to dance.
7. Run a Race (various locations)
One of the more common challenges people give to themselves for a new year is to be able to run a race of some kind, whether that be a 5K or full marathon. Luckily, Indiana is host to over 390 races of various kinds throughout the 2020 calendar year. A 5K (3.1 miles) is the most popular race to find, and even the smaller towns put those on throughout the year. The bigger races are typically held in bigger cities, like the popular Indy Mini Marathon (half marathon). If you don’t like the idea of being timed, there are plenty of fun races that happen throughout the year as well, with the Color Run being a prime example. For a list of races in Indiana this coming year, visit this website:
https://www.runningintheusa.com/race/list/map/in/upcoming
