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Just the Guys: A Noble County guide for men

Just in time for Father’s Day Weekend, Visit Noble County invites “just the guys” to explore Noble!

kayaks
A guys' getaway awaits in Noble County!

Cast a line and go fishing. Test your hiking, biking, canoeing, or kayaking skills. Take a swing at our award winning golf courses. Have a pint at one of Noble’s breweries. Throw a bag - or an axe - and score! Grab your guy friends and let us be your guide to a stellar weekend getaway in Noble County!


Beers & Breweries:

Enjoy our all three (and growing) craft breweries and two signature restaurants, making up our Top 5 favorite places to grab a pint! Sit back and enjoy nature in the beautiful Noble countryside. Pull up a chair and try a unique flight of craft beers at these top notch Noble County breweries!

glass and can of beer
Harry Stuff brewing is located along the Grand Army of the Republic Highway (US 6) near Wawaka.

Discover Guesswork Brewing Company, home of the Albion Ale House, in the historic district of downtown Albion. Guesswork provides 24 varieties of craft beer, brewed on site, on tap at the Ale House. Enjoy bar favorites and half price Thursday craft beer selections!


Head west to Harry Stuff Brewing in Wawaka, a family-owned, family-inspired, and nature-filled brewery with excellent craft beers produced using local ingredients. Harry Stuff also features award-winning pizza, empanadas, unique shareables, international food specials, and out-of-this-world desserts!


Experience LaOtto Brewing Company, located in the heart of LaOtto, serving fine craft beer and high-quality interpretations of your favorite sandwiches, small plates, and other fun food fare!


But wait, there’s more for guys to explore! Featuring a full bar, wine selection, and daily food specials, try the newly re-opened One10 Restaurant in downtown Albion. Vibe with the guys over pub favorites and a cold one!


Not yet a member of the MUG CLUB? Sign up and enjoy a pint at the tasting room inside Sylvan Cellars, featuring a vast selection of handcrafted cocktails, craft beer, and wine list. Cap off your visit by choosing foods from a broad menu of satisfying fare.


Corn hole, bowling & axe throwing

With your best guys at your side, you can throw a bag, roll a strike, or throw an axe to hit the bullseye at Hidden Ego Event and Recreation Center!

aerial view of Hidden Ego Event Center
Indiana's largest corn hole league plays at Hidden Ego Event and Recreation Center, Kendallville.

A great "first" on your guys weekend itinerary would be Hidden Ego Event and Recreation Center along Highway 3 South in Kendallville. This outdoor recreation mecca is open to visitors of all ages and abilities. Here, you and the guys can enjoy sand volleyball, corn hole, ping pong, and steel-tip darts, plus a full service, covered bar. Live music and food trucks are frequently featured, too! Make great memories with the guys at Hidden Ego, 555 W Ohio Street, in Kendallville, home of Indiana's largest corn hole league!


Another great guys' night is waiting to be had at nearby K-Vegas Bowl. Conveniently located at 876 Lima Road in Kendallville, this entertainment center offers a 12 lane bowling alley, axe throwing, a full bar, arcade, and more! K- Vegas is ready to accommodate your Father’s Day event, birthday party, guys night, or bachelor party needs!


Gone fishing:

This is "big fish tale!" It's the real deal! Grab your guy friends and go fishing during your long weekend getaway to Noble County. Called the "county of a thousand lakes," Noble County is actually home to 117 lakes that bring a variety of fishing and boating experiences. Noble County is a small boater’s dream with more than 30 public access sites where you can launch your adventure. Enjoy a day on the lake and unwind in Noble County.

man fly fishing
Fishing options abound around Noble's 117 lakes and public access sites.

Noble County's waterways are abundant with Bluegill, Perch, Large Mouth Bass, Bullhead, Red Ear, Pumpkin Seed, Sunfish, War Mouth, Crappie, Tiger Muskie, and more. If you want to reel in a specific catch, check out the Where to Fish in Indiana interactive guide:


No watercraft? No problem! Rental boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats are available at Chain O’ Lakes State Park to enjoy on the 13 lakes within.


Sensational swings:


Noble is a county where golf and hospitality meet thanks to our partners at Great Indiana Golf, located in Kendallville.

golf hole
Cobblestone Golf Course, Kendallville

Tee off at two world class golf courses. Cobblestone Golf Course and Noble Hawk Golf Course are both nestled in Kendallville, Indiana.


Cobblestone is home to an award-winning course and fantastic event center, featuring a great bar. Be sure to check out the indoor golf simulator offering more than 20 unique virtual courses.


Enjoy taking a swing at Noble Hawk, Indiana’s most unique public course, offering a variety of combined links and traditional golf holes. They pride themselves on scenic views, trees, sand, and water features that enhance your experience on the course!


disc golf player
Noble is home to multiple free disc golf courses, located at public parks.
Insider Tip: Whether you are at Bixler Lake in Kendallville, Hidden Diamonds in Albion, or Kenny Park in Ligonier, you can also play disc golf with the guys!

Instead of aiming a golf ball at a hole, through a disc at a chained basket! Disc golf follows the same general rules as traditional golf. Noble County features 9-hole and 18-hold disc golf experiences.


A small boater's paradise

boat launch at lake
Chain O'Lakes State Park, south of Albion, is a boater's paradise!

Thirteen lakes "anchor" Chain O'Lakes State Park, where you'll find plenty of outdoor recreation options to choose from. Aptly named, the 9 Lakes Paddle Challenge can be completed by navigating nine interconnected lakes by boat, kayak, or canoe. Bring your own watercraft or rent onsite at the Sand Lake boat rental and launch.


The 9 Lake Paddle Challenge will take you five miles across the park via kettle lakes and canals. Enjoy the natural landscape and wildlife (including water fowl, small mammals, reptiles, and more) from the unique vantage point of your boat. Download or pick up a paddle map to guide you on the adventure and be sure to take pictures along the way at the nine designated locations. Share your photos with the staff at the park headquarters when you're done to get a free sticker acknowledging your accomplishment! Purchase 9 Lake Challenge merchandise so you can boast to your nature-loving friends that you officially "paddled the chain!"


Chain O'Lakes must-do's for active men:

  • 9 Lakes Paddle Challenge

  • Hike Trail 8 - a self-guided interpretive trail

  • Fish on one of the 13 kettle lakes (including ice fishing in winter!)

In addition to our top picks, you can also bike, camp, and learn about nature and history at the Chain. Enjoy 30 miles of forested trails. With electric motors only, you can fish (or fish from shore.) Stay overnight in a forested hillside family cabin or choose from primitive to full hook-up camp sites. Visit the park's old one-room, schoolhouse, the Stanley School. Stop by and explore the nature center at Sand Lake. Other facilities available include the Sand Lake beach and multiple picnic shelters.


Chain O'Lakes is also dog friendly! You and the guys can include your furry best friends on this "Fido-approved" adventure!


Hit the Trails:

Noble County is home to a growing system of scenic trails equipped for hiking and biking, many of which are wheelchair accessible. We recommend: Merry Lea Trails, Strawberry Valley Cultural Trail, Noble Trails, and the aforementioned trails at Chain O Lakes State Park.

paved trail
Strawberry Valley Trail, Ligonier

The Strawberry Valley Trail is a 5-mile loop trail located in Ligonier, with a trailhead at Martin Kenny Memorial Park. Strawberry Valley offers a great place to walk or bike to experience tree-lined views of the Elkhart River.


Noble Trails, a nonprofit working to improve the life and health of those who play and stay in Noble by developing a vast trail system, brings you the Fishing Line Trail. This 16-mile stretch of paved trail connects Rome City to Kendallville - and is still growing! The entire trail is easily accessible.


Another hidden trail gem in Noble is located at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center south of Wolf Lake. Visitors are welcomed to hike eight miles of trails here that pass through a variety of ecosystems and provide opportunities to explore the ecological features. Merry Lea offers two trailheads, located at the Farmstead and the Learning Center. Each is marked with a star inside a purple circle on a trail map. Trail maps are available at trailhead boxes.


No trip to Noble County is complete without a visit to Chain O'Lakes State Park! This hikers heaven (also home the annual Trail 100 race and Huff 50K) features over 30 miles of trails at various difficulty level from easy to rugged. All trail users are reminded to stay on the trail at all times.


Dog on the trail
Explore Noble County's public parks, abundant with outdoor recreation opportunities.
Insider Tip: Leashed dogs are welcome to join you and the guys at all four of noted trail locations, as well at all the Noble County public parks!




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