Leaf Cams capture fall colors

During the next few weeks, trees all across Indiana will pop with color as leaves change from summer green to spectacular shades of red, gold and brown. And, through a special Leaf Cam promotion from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, people can check out the scenic views online.

Live streaming images refresh every 15 minutes for a current view of the leaves fro each location.

"Scenic beauty is one of Indiana's best tourism assets," said Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman. "These leaf cams are a perfect opportunity to our state's brilliant fall colors and show shy Indiana is a wonderful fall travel destination."

Five leaf cams from around the state are available for viewing through November 14 at the special leaf cam section of visitindiana.com.

The five locations for the leaf cams are: The Fort Golf Course at Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis; French Lick Resort, French Lick; Hilltop Cabins, Brown county; Lafayette Municipal golf Course, Lafayette; and Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell.

Another great spot for leaf viewing will begin next Fri. Oct. 10 with the opening of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival.

The festival has been headquartered in Rockville on the courthouse lawn since 1957.

A larger tent and the streets around the courthouse are filled with crafters and vendors open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Bus tours leave the square daily from the tour booth on the northwest corner of the square.

Guided tours take you through the county making stops at different communities and at covered bridges along the way.

Two different routes, red and yellow, are available. Each one is unique. The red route tours the southern part of the county with stops in Bridgeton, Rosedale and Mecca.

The yellow tour travels north through country farm communities, Bloomingdale, Tangier and Montezuma. Each route features five to six bridges on each route.

Tickets are $10 for adults, children under 12 are $7 and lap sitters are free. Reservations for the tours can be made by calling 765-569-5226 or email pci@ticz.com.

Billie Creek Village is a turn of the century village located two miles east of Rockville on US 36. It is the home of 30 historical buildings and three covered bridges and is open daily with attractions and special events. Admission is $7. A shuttle is available from the Old Jail to Billie Creek and runs through the day.

"I've been coming to the bridge festival for just three years and haven't gotten to all the spots I want to visit yet," said Kris Wade who travels from northern Indiana to Parke County.

"I don't know which is my favorite Mansfield or Bridgeton just because of all the booths," she adds.

Bridgeton offers a wide array of crafters and vendors, a gristmill, the 1878 House and Case Log Cabin as well as the newly built Bridgeton Covered Bridge. The original was burned by an arsonist in 2005 and rebuilt in 2006. Bridgeton is known as the "arts and crafts" area of the festival.