Thursday, August 30, 2018

CHESTERTON'S EUROPEAN MARKET then stay at songbird prairie inn and spa



Dates: May 05 - October 27, 2018 Time: 8am-2pm (CT) Venue: Downtown Chesterton

An outdoor family/artisanal market held in historic downtown Chesterton every Saturday from the beginning of May through the end of October. #europeanmarket, #officialbestromanticgetaway, #midwestlivingbestbnbs #indianadunes #breakfastwiththebirds, 

The Ultimate And Definitive Bucket List For Everyone In Indiana the Dunes and stay at Songbird Prairie Inn/Spa

There is so much to do in Indiana, especially once it gets warm outside. From sporting events to cultural exhibits, fine dining to the great outdoors, Hoosiers have so much to do it can almost be overwhelming. Don’t worry! We’ve put together a bucket list of all of the best and top rated things to do in Indiana. If you’re lost on what to do this summer, use this bucket list for inspiration. Whether you've never been or haven't been in years, make sure a trip to the gorgeous beaches across the Indiana Dunes is on your list.

Friday, August 24, 2018

No, you’re not too late to enjoy autumn Plan your getaway at Songbird Prairie Inn and Spa
by KKosky on Oct 13, 2015 Posted in DNR,

Fall Color, Family Activities, Food & Drink, Hiking, Biking & Trails, North, NWI Travel, Outdoor Adventures, Romantic Retreats  It seems the fall colors are a little delayed this year in Indiana Dunes Country, with the brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow just now starting their breakout. But the good news is that the colors should last through October and into November. This past weekend I enjoyed the perfect autumn weather with a hike at Indiana Dunes State Park.
 My favorite trail is trail 9, which starts in the woods before making its way to beautiful views of Lake Michigan.


For those who want to take it a little easier, there are two fall drives to enjoy in Indiana Dunes Country, including the Dunes and Lake loop, which takes you through tree-lined roads and along the lake; and the Downtowns and Country Roads Loop, which features peaceful country roads and which passes through Chesterton and Valparaiso for those who want to enjoy some great dining and shopping.

Next on my agenda is hiking some of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore trails, like the Cowles Bog trail and the Tolleston Dunes trail. Looking for a weekend getaway? Indiana Dunes Country lodging features great chain hotels as well as ready-to-pamper-you B&Bs like Songbird Prairie Inn and Spa, which, as the name suggests, features a sitting area where you can see and hear birds, as well as a spa to make your stay even more enjoyable.

I’m glad the fall colors are going to be around for weeks to come. Click here for more information about fall in Indiana Dunes Country.

Indiana Dunes Country is beautiful in autumn
 Autumn is awesome in Indiana Dunes Country
July s a perfect month for Indiana Dunes,
Ways to Enjoy Indiana State Parks
Winter fun abounds in Indiana Dunes Country
#chesterton, #indianadunes, #lakemichiganbnb, #SongbirdPrairie, #valparaiso #afternoontea

Thursday, August 16, 2018

VALPARAISO MARKET & songbird prairie inn

Dates: June 02 - October 20, 2018 Time: 8am-2pm (CT) Venue: Central Park Plaza - Downtown 
Address: 63 Lafayette St., Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: 219-464-8332 Free admission
Shop the Valparaiso Market weekly for fresh local produce, handmade products and beautiful plants and flowers. The fresh produce will liven up your favorite recipes. Stop by weekly for lunch on the go from one of the wonderful food vendors. Visit with local growers and craftsmen all season long to see what they grow and create from summer through fall. Live music every Tuesday & Saturday from 11am - 1pm from June through August. Join the "Last Saturday Celebrations" June 24, July 29 & August 26 featuring added entertainment such as cooking demonstrations from local chefs, balloon twisters, face painters, & more! #farmersmarket  #massagewithlunch #spanearme #spaday #lunchwiththebirds #bestspainNWI #bestspa, #mothersday #afternoontea #indianadunes#lakemichiganbnb #valparaisoIN, 

MOUNT BALDY GUIDED SUMMIT HIKE - FRIDAYS than check in to songbird prairie inn and spa



Dates: August 10 - August 24, 2018 Time: 5-6:30pm (CT) Venue: Mount Baldy parking lot
Address: 101 Rice St. (US Hwy 12), Michigan City, IN 46360 Phone: 219-395-1882 Free 
Meet at the Mount Baldy parking lot for a ranger-led hike to the top of the beautiful and famous Mount Baldy. The views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding area are spectacular. No reservation required. Hikes will be held on three Fridays in August.    songbirdprairie.com


"POETRY SLAM" PROGRAMS OFFERED AT NATIONAL LAKESHORE and Songbird prairie inn





Date: Saturday, August 18 Time: 2-3pm (CT) Venue: Douglas Center
Address: 100 N. Lake St., Gary, IN 46403 Phone: 219-395-1882
Admission: Free admission
A time to read something, write something, or listen to other somethings. Late July and August present Northwest Indiana with the problem of squeezing every last drop of sunshine, warmth, and summer out of these days to come. The importance of reflection, appreciation, and mindfulness skyrocket during this season. Who are we to let all the happy days pass us by in the blink of an eye? Unremarkable and unrecognized? Summers are to be notably painted red with sinking sunsets and full of "remember when's". Join in the launching of each "slam" with a historical piece inspired by the Indiana Dunes. All ages are welcome. Bring your family and friends: no experience is required!#poetryslam  #massagewithlunch #spanearme #spaday #lunchwiththebirds #bestspainNWI #bestspa, #midwestlivingbestbnbs #indianadunes #coolnorth

Monday, August 13, 2018

CHAUTAUQUA IN THE DUNES, INDIANA DUNES STATE PARK and songbird prairie inn and spa






Dates: August 16 - August 19, 2018 Time: All Day (CT) Venue: Indiana Dunes State Park
Address: 1600 N. 25 East, Chesterton, IN 46304 Phone: 219-926-1390
Admission: There is a fee to enter the Indiana Dunes State Park
Relive the cultural, educational, artistic, and historical experience of the 1880s-1920s Chautauquas. Based on the model of the Chautauqua Institute in New York, guests will experience lectures debates, interactive discussions, hands-on workshops, and artistic performances all based around the theme of "Inspire Rewire: creating conversations across worldviews". Various locations throughout the park Registration fee applies. see www.DunesChautauque.com for more information or to register. songbirdprairie.com #Chautauquainthedunes, #midwestlivingbestbnbs #indianadunes #breakfastwiththebirds,


SUNSET YOGA, INDIANA DUNES STATE PARK then check in at songbird prairie inn and spa







Dates: 
August 09 - August 30, 2018 Time: 7-8pm (CT) Venue: Indiana Dunes State Park
Address: 1600 N. 25 East, Chesterton, IN 46304 Phone: 219-926-1390
Admission: $10 per class or get a 5 class pass for $40
This 60-minute class is for all yoga levels and are taught by the Duneland YMCA instructors. Classes canceled in inclement weather. Things to bring: a mat, a blanket, water, a small towel, maybe sunglasses and sunblock. This program is located near the beach pavilion. Program held every Thursday during the month of August. #yogaonthebeach, #midwestlivingbestbnbs, #indianadunes, #breakfastwiththebirds, #visitindiana 

VALPARAISO POPCORN FESTIVAL and songbird prairie inn and spa



Date: Saturday, September 08   Time: 7:30am-6:30pm (CT) Venue: Downtown Valparaiso
Address: 63 Lafayette St., Valparaiso, IN 4638  Phone: 219-464-8332 Admission: Free 
This long-standing community tradition returns for its 40th year. The Valparaiso Popcorn Festival continues to offer family-fun activities for all ages. Over 250 arts & crafts booths, 35 food booths, kids' games, five-mile Popcorn Panic, two live music stages and the nation's first Popcorn Parade are only the beginning of the excitement of this incredible festival. Enjoy live entertainment on the Main Stage at the Porter Health Amphitheater from noon to 6:30 p.m.
Popcorn Festival 2018, #popcornfest #visitindiana #lakemichiganbnb, #valparaisoIN, 

Sunday, August 12, 2018

PORTAGE SUMMER MUSIC IN THE PARK and Songbird prairie inn and spa


Date: Tuesday, August 14
Time: 6-7:30pm (CT)
Phone: 219-762-3300
Admission: Free admission
Tonights concert will feature country, pop and rock by Rick Lindy & The Wild Ones. All concerts will be held indoors at either Sycamore Hall or Oakwood Grand Hall. Concerts are open to the public. Bring the whole family. Through a collaboration between Portage Parks & Recreation, Portage Chamber of Commerce and Portage Live Entertainment, a series of Summer Music in the Park will be presented each Tuesday night at Woodland Park from June to August. To reserve your suite call 219.759.4274 or songbirdprairie.com

BEGINNING BIRDING PROGRAM then stay at songbird prairie inn and spa




Dates: August 04 - August 25, 2018
Time: 9-10:30am (CT)
Phone: 219-395-1882
Admission: Free admission
Join a ranger and fellow birding enthusiasts every Saturday morning in August. No birding experience is required. A spotting scope and binoculars will be provided. The program will start at the southern gravel parking lot followed by a short hike to the Great Marsh observation deck to look for herons, egrets, ducks, and other birds of the marsh. If you arrive late, simply hike to the observation deck to join the event. To reserve a suite songbirdprairie.com

Thursday, August 9, 2018

For songbird conservation, it's not the size that matters

August 8, 2018, University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba researchers have published new findings that can help us save grassland birds, whose populations have declined more severely than species of any other Canadian ecosystem.




Habitat loss is the usual culprit in such scenarios, but U of M graduate student Jessica Lockhart and professor Nicola Koper found that this time, it wasn't.
Working in southwest Manitoba, they found that ever-decreasing prairie habitat was less to blame than how many edges cut through the existing habitat; this results in the breaking apart of habitat, an effect known as habitat . These edges could stem from roads, industrial development, or a patch of cropland laid among the natural grasses.
"It was surprising to find this," says Lockhart, a master's student in the U of M's Natural Resources Institute and lead author of the study. "Studies conducted in other ecosystems suggest that impacts from  are generally much stronger than those from fragmentation but in this case we found the opposite."
Habitat edges, a major consequence of habitat fragmentation, help predators find nests, and roads and croplands can also introduce noise, contaminants, or invasive plants. Further studies will investigate which factors are most influential, but for now, it's clear that in  habitat, even relatively small sections must remain unmarred by human activity to conserve .
                                                          
                             

                              The endangered chestnut-collared longspur. Credit: Jennie Horvat

One key result is that grassland songbird abundance and numbers of species both declined as a result of ," says Koper. "This means that these negative impacts are not restricted to just a few species, but to the grassland bird community in general. And this is a big problem, because grassland  have declined so significantly in the last few decades. If we convert a patch of prairie to cropland, or build a new road, from the birds' perspective we lose way more habitat than from the human's perspective, because all the grassland that's now near that new human development is less usable by birds. So there's just less and less space for them to live."

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-08-songbird-size.html#jCp

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Stay at Songbird Prairie Inn and Spa and go for a day trip to see the 18 Quilt Gardens Along the Heritage Trail and 21 hand painted, quilt-themed murals in the communities of Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee and Wakarusa. Then return to Valparaiso with your discount restaurant voucher to one of our restaurant partners. Make your reservation at songbirdprairie.com #bestinnsineverystate, #garden walk, #midwestlivingbestbnbs #indianadunes #breakfastwiththebirds,

                  1 suite left for August 3rd and 4th book online at songbirdprairie.com