story by Glenda Winders
It’s easy to get outdoors in Delaware County. With the Prairie Creek Reservoir just south of the city and the Cardinal Greenway running nearby, the scene is already set for a myriad of ways to explore and have fun outside. How about a day on your bike for a start?
Plan for an overnight stay at Prairie Creek by reserving a campsite or cabin. They fill up quickly, so be sure and stake your claim early. Enjoy dining al fresco at the reservoir by putting together a full meal from some of the area’s best local purveyors. Lahody Meats and Fisher Meats can provide plenty of options for a charcuterie board or something to cook on the grill, and for a bottle of wine to match your entree make a stop at Tonne Winery. Do some tasting there to help you pick just the right one.
As long as you’re in town, make sure your bike is tuned up and ready to go at Kirk’s Bike Shop, Hardin’s Bike Shop or the Greenway 500. While you wait for them to make any repairs, grab a coffee at The Caffeinery, Rosebud Café or Tall Timber Coffee.
The next morning, start your ride at the Gaston Trailhead after breakfast at the Mill Street Inn. Remember this spot for later because the ice cream at the Barking Cow in Gaston is also excellent.
Your ride will take you past the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens. Strolling through the gardens to see the flowers and smelling their aromas might be enough, but if time allows, go inside to see the ever-changing exhibits and browse in the Orchard Shop. Then peddle on to the historic Wysor Street Depot, where you can learn some of Muncie’s railroad history and pick up a T-shirt to commemorate your ride.
“You’ll ride by farm fields and through tree canopies, and you most likely will see birds and squirrels scampering along,” said Angie Pool, CEO of the Cardinal Greenway. “As you enter one of our many suburban areas of trail you’ll start to see more houses, but you will still feel like you are in a magical oasis because of the way our trail system traverses along the historical rail-line.”
By the time you reach Downtown Muncie you might be ready for lunch, and you’ll have lots of locally owned options from which to choose. If you enjoy sampling unique craft beers with your burger, the Elm Street Brewing Co. might be your best bet or perhaps The Clubhouse Muncie, where you can play games while you wait for your food. The owner here uses the proceeds to help make improvements in the city. And at the Guardian Brewery, you can enjoy classic pizzas with beer-infused pizza sauce.
The menu at 1925 Pubhouse is a bit more varied, offering full meals and cocktails, but a favorite here is still the iconic Indiana tenderloin. Baryo is the place to go for authentic Pilipino food.
Whatever you decide, finish it off with a sweet treat from Charmed Cupcakes. Ride on to the Red-Tail Nature Preserve at the southwest tip of the reservoir, and plan to spend time exploring 105 acres of diverse habitats. Experience the grasslands and wildflowers while you watch for hawks, osprey, and eagles.
With your bike trip finished, you still have the 3.3 miles of aquatic recreation to enjoy at the reservoir and 750 acres of natural landscape to explore. Save time to hike, swim, boat and fish while you’re here.
With all that behind you, what will you do tomorrow? Consider spending some time on the White River in a kayak, canoe, or innertube. Canoe Country can outfit you and launch you on an adventure through green spaces that can last for a few hours or all day. Delaware County also has more than 30 city parks with amenities such as basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, baseball fields, disc golf courses, walking trails, playgrounds, a new skate park, and plenty of places for picnics.
Between now and then, though, fire up the grill, open the wine you selected and
savor the meal you planned yesterday. You’ve earned it.
For more information visit: DestinationMuncie.org
