Indiana Jones could, in fact, live in Indianapolis and never have to give up his country-fied roots. Ok maybe he'd have to give up the bullwhip when he's hitting the mall, but horse riding? Never.

About 15 minutes outside of downtown Indianapolis is Ft. Harrison State Park. Having profiled Holiday Park in a previous article, the two couldn't be more opposite. However, there is plenty of fun to be had at both. While Ft. Harrison has many interesting features not found at other parks: golf resort, fishing, and dining to name a few, it also has the Saddle Barn.

Here, you can take riding lessons, hayrides, and trail rides up to an hour long. The stable is impressive considering it's only minutes from Circle Center, offering a handful of large horses and smaller ponies. There's something for every age group here, and the price is rock bottom.

There is a fee to get into the park itself, depending on the day either 4 or 5 dollars per carload. After that, the 1.5 mile ride is $16 per person and even more affordable, the Parent Assisted Pony Ride is only $3 cash for 15 minutes or so worth of riding. It helps to call ahead, because while many Indianapolis residents have no idea this is here, the ones that do know how to appreciate what they have. There are usually at least a few people waiting to ride, young and old.

The staff is helpful and courteous, and the grounds are clean. If you go with young kids, the area is fairly open so you'll need to keep a good eye on them. The horses themselves are fenced in of course, and when approached they seemed good-natured and ready for a rub behind the ears.

Add this to a nice playground just down the road, and you have the recipe for a special family weekend. Bring your chaps and cowboy hats, and don't be surprised if you have as much fun as your children.