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4 Reasons to Visit Trading Post Outfitters for Travel & Tourism Week

National Travel & Tourism Week is an exciting time for businesses in the travel industry. From May 7-13, 2023, people across the country celebrate the power of travel and tourism to create jobs, drive economic growth, promote cultural exchange, and much more. We are grateful every day that we have the opportunity to work in this industry & provide visitors with outdoor experiences here in our local community. Whether you’re a traveler, outdoor enthusiast, or someone simply looking for a way to visit a new place & spend some time outside, here are a few reasons you should come visit us at Trading Post Outfitters during Travel & Tourism Week.

Experience something new and unique

We offer a one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t find elsewhere in Northern Indiana. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or something in between, Trading Post Outfitters has something for you! Our river trips range from a short 4 mile (1.5 hour) float to an all-day 13 mile (5.5 hours) excursion. We have a riverside campground with both electric & primitive sites, and a camp store on-site with everything you need for a comfortable stay here. We’re also a short walk to the Mongo General Store or a 15 minute drive into the town of LaGrange for groceries, dining, and more.

Trading Post Outfitters

Support a small business in a local community

As a small business, we rely on the support of our community to keep doing what we do. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to be located in a beautiful small town with a thriving community & strong local support. Whether you’re a few miles down the road or a few hours drive coming from Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, or another nearby city, we like to think of our rural area as a backyard of sorts for you – our neighbors. When you support a small business, you’re also growing a local economy. Tourism dollars help to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and contribute to the overall wellbeing of our community here in the Midwest.

Escape from the everyday and get outside

Life can be pretty stressful, and sometimes we all need a break from everyday routines (especially after a long, cold winter here in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. A little time spent on the river & camping out in nature is the perfect way to escape from that daily grind and immerse yourself in a new environment. Whether you’re looking to relax and unwind or challenge yourself with a new experience, we have just what you need to recharge your battery and leave feeling refreshed.

4th of July Paddling Trip

Create lasting memories

Travel and outdoor adventure are all about creating memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re spending time here on the Pigeon River with family, friends, or on a quiet solo retreat, we can guarantee you’ll leave with some memories that would be much more difficult to create from your own couch. Canoeing or kayaking on a new river, sleeping under the stars, and making camp meals or s’mores by the fire are memorable moments alone, or with those you love.

So what’s stopping you from making plans and visiting us this week to celebrate National Travel & Tourism? Come and see for yourself that Trading Post Outfitters is the perfect destination for your next adventure! Use the promo code ILOVETRAVEL for 10% off your purchase between May 7-13, 2023. We look forward to seeing you here in Mongo, Indiana.

 

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Our Journey to Trading Post Outfitters

The Linder Family | Andy, Ophelia, Jess & Lyla

I can’t believe it’s been almost 5 years now since we made this giant leap into the world of small business ownership, country living, and outdoor adventure. If you don’t already know the story, we wanted to take time this holiday season to reflect & share with you, the crazy and wonderful journey that brought us here!

We (Andy & Jess) had been coming to the Trading Post with friends annually on the 4th of July for years. Around 12 or so years ago now, we locked eyes with John (the previous owner) at the end of our river trip and told him how much we would love to do this someday. Andy gave him his business card and we went about our day. We didn’t really think about it too often after that… it was a pipedream fantasy after all! We got married, had 2 beautiful girls (Lyla & Ophelia), and moved into our forever home in Indianapolis… or so we thought. One night in 2018, Andy got a call from John. He said they were getting ready to sell the business and saved his information all these years. What’s still pretty crazy to us is that if John had waited just a few weeks to make that call, he wouldn’t have been able to connect with us because of Andy’s job and phone number change.

As we talked about it, Andy was ecstatic by the thought of buying this business, moving closer to home, and being his own boss. I, on the other hand, was skeptical. I loved our home, our daughters’ school (which we could walk to), our group of friends, the convenience of the city, and more about our life in Indy. But I agreed to a visit and meet with John and Jesslyn to talk about the business. I thought we would be gone for a couple of hours but we spent the entire day touring the property and talking. We got into the car that evening, and I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. I knew this is exactly what we were meant to do. We decided right then to go all in and make it happen.

It took a LOT of hard work and time. Every night after working and putting the girls to bed, we would stay up researching, filling out paperwork, working to do whatever we needed to do for this dream. The first year was a whirlwind for sure, but we still feel beyond blessed for such a smooth transition. Not only were John and Jesslyn amazing and truly helped us learn what we needed to be successful, but the employees we gained were helpful and friendly, the community welcoming, and the customers warm-hearted and accepting.

We hit the ground running and never looked back. Today, we often get asked if we still like it here or feel like we made the right decision. The answer is 1,000 times YES!! We can’t imagine a different life now. We are so grateful for this life, this opportunity and for YOU; our customers, employees, family and friends. Thank you for being on this journey with us and motivating and inspiring us along the way. I encourage you all to take just 15 minutes today to reflect on what you are thankful for. Share that with the people you love and brighten their day. And don’t forget to dream big! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

With love & (as always) good vibes,

The Linders | Trading Post Tribe