NW Hoosier Country
Make memories on the verdant shores of Lake Michigan
You don’t have to be good at sinking shots from the three-point line to enjoy a trip to Northwest Hoosier Country in Indiana. Indeed, while the region’s name evokes images of scrappy basketball players battling for the win, this little corner of paradise only requires visitors to kick back, relax and enjoy its scenic beauty and family-friendly fun.
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A great place to start is Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Chesterton. Thousands are drawn to its 15,000 acres of outdoor adventure bliss along the shores of Lake Michigan. Whether you explore on your own or participate in a park-sponsored activity, the visitor center is a great place to get started.
The lakefront beaches of the Dunes accommodate swimming, boating and soaking up the sun. Further inland from the lake, you can take one of two bike trails that run through the park’s various habitats, or take your binoculars out for a spin to see dozens of migrating species as well as wintering birds that make Lake Michigan their home during the cold months.
History on the Shore
The National Lakeshore is home to more than 60 historic structures that help piece together the story of this Indiana treasure. The Good Fellow Club Youth Camp was a summer camp built on the Little Calumet River by U.S. Steel for the children of its employees, operating between 1941 and 1976. Today the camp serves as the Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center.
Adventures on the Lake
If angling is your idea of a relaxing day on the water, the third largest of the Great Lakes is calling to you. Lake Michigan teems with rainbow trout, steelhead and Chinook salmon, which you can fish for from the shoreline at the nearby Port of Indiana or from the Michigan City Pier.
Nearby Michigan City boasts nightlife, casual fun and family activities for year-round entertainment. The Great Lakes Museum of Military History is home to a collection of World War II memorabilia, such as an original Declaration of War from Japan and a guard uniform worn during the Nuremberg Trials.
Not many boating excursions include an evening of high-stakes enjoyment, but the Blue Chip Casino riverboat offers exactly that. The three-story vessel can host more than 6,000 guests and crew members from its spot on the edge of Lake Michigan, and is the largest casino boat by hull size in the U.S.
Explore the wild world without leaving Michigan City by taking a trip to the Washington Park Zoo, which houses more than 250 animals comprising nearly 100 species, many of which are part of endangered species groups.
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If you seek a place for quiet reflection, the 100-acre Friendship Botanic Gardens beckon. Walk the Path of Nations to explore the French Maze, or wander through Romanian, Polish, German and Scottish gardens in this natural attraction. The garden’s international roots are more than symbolic: Over the years, royalty from around the world have donated seeds, bulbs, plants and statuaries to populate the gardens.
For More Information
South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority
219-989-7979
www.southshorecva.com
Indiana Office of Tourism Development
800-677-9800
www.visitindiana.com
