Pancakes, ice cream sweeten these outdoor adventures through the holiday week

Enjoy the Independence Day holiday with something sweet to nibble while you're out exploring this week. Here are some suggestions from this week's Outdoor Adventures column.

Audubon pancakes

The South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society will serve pancakes from 7:30 to 10 a.m. July 4 under a pavilion at its wildlife sanctuary, 59395 Clover Road, Mishawaka, south of George Wilson Park.

Bring your own eating utensils if you can. Donations accepted.

Ice cream ride

Join the Elkhart County Parks for a bike ride on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail at 5:30 p.m. July 5 from Abshire Park, 1302 E. Lincoln Ave. in Goshen, to Mooeys Amish ice cream shop and back. It’s 12 miles roundtrip.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

This is free with no registration required. For questions, contact naturalist Andy Langdon at 574-875-7422 or alangdon@elkhartcounty.com.

Lydick Bog walk/talk

There will be a guided “Walk-N-Talk” along the 1.7-mile trail at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve, 25898 U.S. 20, South Bend, at 10 a.m. July 6, led by Mari Patis, programs coordinator at Shirley Heinze Land Trust.

The two-hour hike is in partnership with Harbor Country Hikers.

Portage Manor trails update

The preliminary dirt and grass trails at Portage Manor, 3016 Portage Ave. in South Bend, won’t open for the public to hike and bike until July 13. Then the trails will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through the summer.

St. Joseph County Commissioner Derek Dieter, who’s leading the trail effort, was going to open July 6 but then realized it follows too closely after the July 4 holiday.

Find columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures or 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.