Aurora, Indiana, is a hamlet (population 4,000) on the Ohio River, in the southeastern corner where Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky converge. Its tri-state location means that parks in Ohio and Kentucky are nearby. Another popular spot is Versailles State Park in Indiana, which is also a few minutes drive from town. The recreation areas listed here are in Aurora, or within a 25-mile radius of the town.
Shawnee Lookout Park is about 12 miles from Aurora, in Hamilton County, Ohio. It sits on roughly 1,400 acres and offers a range of recreational activities. The Shawnee Centre has archeological exhibits, including an old-fashioned school and log cabin to recreate the life of early settlers. Other amenities include boat ramps, an 18-hole golf course, hiking trails and fishing spots. Kids can enjoy playgrounds. The Oxbow Wetlands, a 300-acre wildlife habitat, is adjacent to the park.
Shawnee Lookout Park
2008 Lawrenceberg Rd.
North Bend, OH 45052
513-941-0120
http://www.greatparks.org/parks/shawneelookout.htm
About 22 miles to the west of Aurora is Versailles State Park. Home to the Versailles Lake and Laughery Creek, the park is a popular place for fishing, boating and paddling. A park highlight is the Busching covered bridge, a Howe truss bridge constructed in 1885. There are also a variety of hiking, bridle and mountain bike trails.
Versailles State Park
Box 205, U.S. 50
Versailles, IN 47042
812-689-6424
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2963.htm
Big Bone Lick State Park is in Boone County, Kentucky, about 15 miles from Aurora. Pleistocene fossils and the remains of wooly mammoths and other prehistoric animals have been found at the site. The museum center features the skull of a 1,000-pound mastodon and fossils. It is also home to a small bison herd. The Outdoor Museum with Discovery Trail recreates woolly mammoths, mastodons, giant sloths and bison in a marsh bog.
Big Bone Lick State Park
3380 Beaver Road
Union, KY 41091-9627
859-384-3522
http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/recparks/bb/
Located in the heart of Aurora, on Park Street near Manchester Street, this small park is a place for people in town to picnic, stroll or get some fresh air. Local bands perform at the park in the summer. Civic groups hold community events at the park's central pavilion, including arts-and-crafts fairs and rummage sales.
