Have you ever driven Skyline Drive in October, or seen the Seven Pillars of the Mississinewa, or spent a weekend in historic New Harmony? You can go caving, visit a Utopia, or hike on the Knobstone Trail for the experience of a lifetime.

These are a sample of the great experiences at the 7 Hidden Jewels.

The 7 Hidden Jewels include Charlestown and Harmonie state parks, Lieber and Mississinewa reservoirs, and Starve Hollow, Deam Lake and Harrison-Crawford-Wyandotte state recreation areas.

These seven special places are not visited as often as other state-run campgrounds, especially through the week. This concerns us because we know how lopsided visitation can be at the public recreation facilities . . . Brown County State Park gets over-used but nearby Starve Hollow State Recreation Area is seldom crowded, for instance.

With our new pricing plan for these properties, you can save $4 off of regular campground admission all the time and save an additional $4 Sunday through Wednesday.

We'll continue to study value pricing in the tourism market to make sure state camping facilities are attracting their capacities.

I don't have to say it to most of you, but for those who forget -- the DNR wants to be more financially self-supporting through user fees. In the past two years, we've raised the cost of our camping sites, instituted an Internet-based reservation system and even relied on volunteers to help us staff boat ramps, mow grass, operate interpretive centers, clean restrooms and collect trash.

All this has helped the DNR! Unlike some states in similar circumstances that have closed parks and recreation areas, we're keeping ours open.

But with the continued long-term decline in the national economy, we saw fewer visitors coming through our gates, so we are offering discounts.

I think a kid can make just as much noise in a canoe at Starve Hollow and Deam Lake or Lieber as anywhere else. The facilities are the same or better at these places, including at the new waterpark at Lieber, and upgraded electrical service at Harrison-Crawford-Wyandotte and Deam. In Historic New Harmony, you can see how two early Utopian societies experimented with a new community in the western United States.

Many campgrounds have easy access to local tourism hotspots.

For instance, Wyandotte Caves are across the highway from Harrison-Crawford-Wyandotte State Recreation Area. The Forest Discovery Center and Huber Orchard are near Deam Lake at Starlight, Ind.

You can save money and discover unfamiliar state parks this summer by checking out the DNR's Web site (note: this program has since been discontinued).

Campsite reservations can be made up to six months in advance. Go online to check out the reservation Web site at www.camp.IN.gov. New inventory becomes available when the phone room opens each day. You also can call toll-free at 1-866-6CAMPIN (1-866-622-6746).