Meet us for a forums rally in Columbus, Indiana
 

Join us the weekend of May 12 and 13 at Ceraland Park, less than 8 miles SE of Columbus, Indiana. Columbus is around an hour from either Louisville or Indianapolis, a little over 2 hours from Dayton, and 90 minutes from Cincinnati.

Ceraland (Ceraland.org - Home) is a self contained park with a wide variety of free or inexpensive activities, including playgrounds, driving range, boat rentals (rowboats & paddleboats), fishing, miniature golf, horse shoe pits, a driving range, go cart track (karts not provided), etc. It's spacious, convenient to IN SR 46, yet far enough from town and major highways to be quiet at night. It is fenced off from the rest of the county and we've found it a good place to take kids.

Camp fees are $18/night for water & electric, or $21 for water, electric, and sewer. The sites are surprisingly roomy for a private campground, and except for a few right on the water, fairly level. Pets are allowed. The park does not take reservations, per se, but they will save a block of sites for a group so make sure to let us know if you can come!

Looking for something else to do during the day?
I probably shouldn't mention it, but practice for the Indianapolis 500 is the preceding week, and pole day is Saturday the 12th (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) If you would like to come early for this event or any other reason, that can be arranged.

For the rest of us... there is a local Parks & Rec bicycle ride, the Tour de Trails, It's 12 miles, nearly all on multi-use paths (People Trails in our fair city) with numerous stops and door prizes. No idea what it will be like this year, but last year the prizes were nice (camp chairs, shirts, Indianapolis Zoo passes, that sort of thing). The pamphlet says, "The ride will be a road rally format with various stops playing games and solving riddles, causing the rider to spend part of the time off the bike." ...."with a total ride of about 12-13 miles."...."WIN great prizes".
Registration is $15 for anyone 15 years old or older and includes a t-shirt. Additional shirts are $10. Get the Tour de Trails pdf file at
Columbus, Indiana - Parks & Recreation Department and click on the registration link at the top of the page to pre-register for the bike ride if you're so inclined. They also gladly accept day-of registrations. I did the ride last year on an old English 3 speed and had a great time. We're taking the kids this year.

Also...
The city of Columbus Visitors Center website (Columbus, Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureau) has more information about the town. If it sounds like we're proud of it, well, we are. After all, we have a Starbucks AND a Chihuly now! Actually, the city is regionally known for its architecture (there is a nice bus tour). More info may be found on the Visitors Center's website above.

Google Maps link to Ceraland (awkward link, but gives a nice view of the place): columbus, in - Google Maps

Looks and sounds like a great place for a rally...Chihuly, impressive. We have a trip planned for Nashville but might be able to swing by there first to attend the rally.

Any idea if we could pull our Burley bike trailer behind mom or dad's bike for the Parks and Rec Ride? Or are they prohibited? Didn't see anything about it on the brochure...could have missed it. We have a ten year old that could handle the distance and a four year old that would rather enjoy books in the trailer.



Randi

I contacted the Tour de Trail organizers today and they said bike trailers were no problem.

We do hope you can join us!

I've added this rally to the "Upcoming Rallies" section of the forums so anyone can let us know if they plan to come! It is titled Columbus, Indiana - Camping, Fun & Bikes

Thanks for checking!
 

Good to know. Our travel plans are beginning to take shape...will let you know in the next week if we will be attending. Thanks for putting it together. Looks like a fun place...you have a right to be proud!


Randi

Shame this wasn't put out sooner, we already have some plans for around then brewing......:sad:

Shoot. Sorry, just came to me last week. Catch you next time!:)

I was hoping to make it, however the youngest daughter graduates college that Saturday. Maybe next time.

Sign us up!
 

RedSHED, we are planning on making your Columbus Rally. Let us know if there is something we can help with or if you need anything else (deposit, etc). We will be arriving on Friday night. And hope to participate in the bike ride.

We've been perusing the links you provided for the area...can't wait to check it out in person and looking forward to meeting you and whoever else might be able to attend.

Randi and Tim

Great!
 

There are no deposits to worry about. We just need to keep the park updated on the number of units we expect.

Our kids will be glad to hear that you are coming. They are 5 and 9 years and love to make friends.

The gate closes at 10:00 pm, however if you think you'll be in later than that, let us know and we'll make sure we get a key.

Mrs. RedSHED

You all know Herb Shrinner?

Herb, doesn't ring a bell.

I don't know if Herb had an Airstream but he had a midget that used to holler
"Call For Phillip Moriessssse"

Thanks for the offer...
 

I don't think it will be that late...we hope to be there before sundown. Tim works on Friday, but we will have the Airstream loaded and ready to roll whenever he gets home.

Other kids at a rally...woo hoo! We have two girls.


Randi

Dog-gone-it
 

Won't be able to attend this year, previous comittments at the Redwood Foerest during your Rally. Keep me in mind for next year. This would have been a quick trip for me since I'm real close to Cloumbus, here in Indianapolis.

Next year then!

Bumpin' up this thread! Join us the weekend of May 12!:)

Hi RedSHED,

Less than three weeks and counting! We took our bikes out today to *train* for the bike rally.

Just spent a few minutes checking out the Ceraland link...this seems like quite a place. Something for everyone...can't wait to check it out in person.

Any idea about the background or history of this place?

Randi

Okay...just saw the *about us* link:o...that answers a few questions.

Randi

Ceraland is pretty nice. The website makes it seem almost like an amusement park without rides. It's no Kings Island but they do have some fun stuff going on and have venues for a big variety of interests. It is a very nice company or multiple company owned park and they have some nice amenities. Over July fourth they have fireworks and a sort of fair. People start dropping off their campers several weeks early and it always fills fast.

The park itself does see some good use on weekends, especially the sports areas, and the pool gets a fair number of moms and kids during the week.

The playground nearest/next to the campground is the newer variety with the colorful plastic climbing/play area and slides. There is also one next to the pool (pool won't be open 'till school lets out) that has several older metal pieces but they seem to be fairly safe. We let our kids play on it and we are kind of safety nuts.

RedSHED,

Coincidentally, I just heard a blurb on tv this morning about Columbus, IN. Sounds like you Columbusites...Columbusians(?) are quite proud of your town, especially your mayor. What a spokesperson!

Also, I figured it couldn't hurt to BUMP this thread.

Randi

Columbus is great place to raise a family. Southwest Ohio was home to us previously and we still love the lay of the land and in a lot of ways it still seems like home. However, we've been in Columbus for 11 years now and it is so nice we just stay. Columbus is known for it's architecture, there is a nice mix of people from different lifestyles and ethnicities, it's pretty safe, the Parks and Rec Dept does a wonderful year-round job, there are lots of people interested in the arts and their "promotion" on a variety of levels, the city does a good job of providing services and encouraging an enriched lifestyle that is not normally found in a city of this size. The mayor does have a good personality for the job. He came to a neighborhood picnic we had a few years ago. Our daughter was two, had just finished her meal and her face was coated with yummy foodstuffs. My husband held her up, the mayor saw the face, he got a good laugh and politely declined.

Mrs. RedSHED

redeagle and redshed are thinking campfire dinner on Saturday evening! Anyone else care to join us for the weekend?

Columbus, IN Rally - We had a good time!
 

Though only two units participated in the Columbus, IN Rally in May we enjoyed the activities and the company very much! The RedSHED family rode bicycles in the Tour de Trails on Saturday while the redeagle313 family learned more about Columbus and it's architecture on the Visitor Center bus tour. We got back together at the Ceraland Campground that evening and had nice time talking and eating around the campfire. redeagle313 mom put a new twist on the smore...fudgestripe cookies with a roasted marshmallow in between...mmmmm good. The kids played follow the leader (at varying speeds) and found that gumballs from the sweet gum trees burn pretty hot.:brows: