ACTIVITIES GUIDE TWO PARKS. ONE DESTINATION. Y T A S · O P S H Y · E A T · P L A WELCOME TO THE INDIANA DUNES Indiana Dunes Area… Find Indiana along the southern shore of Lake Michigan offers swimming, birding, biking, camping, hiking, Dunes Tourism fishing, and other natural adventures, along with fine dining and local attractions. Our communities on Social Media… are complete with affordable accommodations for insider access, quick answers, and Midwest hospitality, ensuring each getaway up-to-date information, and helpful tips. is a trip to remember. Here are some things to look out for throughout our guide: Look for Indiana Dunes Tourism Pet-Friendly Look for @indianadunes Rainy Day Activities ROSE Award Winners Thank you to our partners who are featured in these pages! Indiana Department of Indiana Dunes Northwest Indiana Regional Natural Resources (DNR) National Park (NPS) Planning Commission (NIRPC) Greenways + Blueways Porter County Shirley Heinze Parks & Recreation Land Trust R.O.S.E. Awards Roses highlight businesses given the Recognition of Service Excellence award in 2019. You can nominate a service provider at indianadunes.com/the-rose-awards. While we pride ourselves on accurate information, we understand that sometimes details can change. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, we ask that you visit us online. 2 | INDIANA DUNES TOURISM | THE INDIANA DUNES TABLE OF CONTENTS SHOPPING 52 EXPLORE THE DUNES ANTIQUES & VINTAGE 52 INDIANA DUNES VISITOR CENTER 6 FARM FRESH & GARDENING 54 GIFTS & UNIQUE SHOPPING 56 THE INDIANA DUNES 8 LOCALLY MADE 58 DUNES 101 8 SPAS 59 ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK 10 ABOUT THE STATE PARK 11 VISITOR MAPS THE 3 DUNE CHALLENGE 12 PULL-OUT MAP THE STATE PARK PAVILION 13 WHICH BEACH IS WHICH? 14 INDIANA DUNES COMMUNITIES 16 EAT & DRINK CULINARY TOUR 62 THINGS TO DO DINING 64 WINES & BREWS 70 MUST SEE & DO 20 FOOD WARS 72 ART & ENTERTAINMENT 24 ART GALLERIES 24 LIVE THEATRE 26 PLACES TO STAY MOVIE THEATERS 27 HOTELS, INNS, CAMPGROUNDS, & MORE 78 SUMMER CONCERTS 27 ATTRACTIONS & RECREATION 28 ABOVE, ON, & UNDERWATER 28 EVENTS FAMILY FUN 30 FESTIVALS, MARKETS, & OTHER EVENTS 81 RAINY DAY GUIDE 30 GARDENS 32 HISTORIC SITES & TOURS 33 EXPLORE THE AREA MUSEUMS 34 ENJOY A DRIVE 88 PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS 36 KANKAKEE REGION 90 SPORTS 38 KANKAKEE SOUTHEAST 90 WINTER ACTIVITIES 40 KANKAKEE SOUTHWEST 92 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES 42 INDIANA’S COOL NORTH 94 BICYCLING 42 DAY TRIPS 94 BIRDING 44 FISHING 45 HIKING 46 PADDLING 48 Be sure to check out our WANDERING 49 handy pull-out maps at the PET FRIENDLY 50 center of the guide! #beachesandbeyond | INDIANADUNES.COM | 3 Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Quality Inn The next best thing to home. Quality Inn® hotel in Chesterton, Indiana, offers easy access to Indiana Dunes State Park. We are also close to the national park. We are minutes away from Interstate 94, Exit 26A and Indiana Toll Road, Exit 31. • Complimentary hot breakfast on real dining ware Our amenities include a free full hot breakfast and free wireless • Free WiFi throughout the hotel high-speed internet access. All guest rooms offer cable television, • Read It & Return Lending Library coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, pillow-top mattress, hair dryer, iron and ironing board. BOOK NOW! 2020 LaPorte Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383 418 Council Dr., Chesterton, IN 46304 219-476-0000 219-929-5549 radissonhotels.com/countryinn qualityinn.com ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Best Western Plus | Portage Waterbird Lakeside Inn Hotel & Suites Waterbird Lakeside Inn is the best hotel in Chesterton and a perfect setting for relaxation. Enjoy the scenery of our 60 acres of woods and Offering That Little guest rooms with private balconies overlooking Chubb Lake. This hotel Something Extra. is a few miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park and the beaches of Conveniently located off I-94 exit Lake Michigan. Convenient amenities in each of our air-conditioned guest 19, only minutes from the Indiana rooms include a microwave and a refrigerator and a hairdryer so you can Toll Road I-90 exit 23, and just ten minutes from the Indiana feel at home away from home. Room amenities include: Dunes National Park and State Park, Best Western Plus Portage is the perfect • Private lake view balcony • Clock radio place to stay for your visit to Indiana Dunes Country. • Express checkout • Extended cable Start your morning with our complimentary hot breakfast. Kids can have fun • Microwave and refrigerators • In-room high-speed in the splash zone while the adults relax in the hot tub nearby, work out in the in all rooms wireless internet access fitness center, spend time in the arcade, or enjoy some appetizers and dinner • 42” LCD TVs • Whirlpool rooms include LCD HD TV’S and DVD players items as well as fine beverages in our lounge. • In-room coffee maker It is everything you love about the Best 6200 Melton Rd. Western brand with a little something extra. Portage, IN 46368 From a comfortable stay to holding a special 556 Indian Boundary Rd., Chesterton, IN 46304 888-957-3529 Fax: 219-928-1503 219-734-6727 event for up to 80 guests in one of our banquet bwportage.com waterbirdinn.com rooms, Best Western Plus Portage has it all! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT EXPLORE THE DUNES Share your adventure through 15,000 acres! Tag @indianadunes and use #beachesandbeyond. #beachesandbeyond | INDIANADUNES.COM | 5 Find Us At: INDIANA DUNES 1215 N. State Rd. 49, Porter (just north of the Indiana Toll Road and Interstate 94 and VISITOR CENTER just south of the Indiana Dunes State Park and U.S. 20). 219-926-2255 or 800-283-8687 Start your adventure indianadunes.com [email protected] at the Visitor Center 8am–6pm daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day; 8:30am–4:30pm daily, • Helpful advice from our • An electric vehicle charging station Labor Day to Memorial Day destination ambassadors • Seasonal bike rentals • Guides and brochures by Pedal Power • A short film in our theater • Access to the Dunes- Kankakee Trail, which goes Don't Forget! • An exhibit hall that’s fun for kids to the Indiana Dunes State We’re on Central Time (CT) Park and the Calumet Trail • A gift shop and national park passes • Picnic tables and an art walk with photo opportunities • Restrooms, drinking fountains, and a water bottle filling station • 12 foreign language guides When you start your trip at the Visitor Center, you can chat with one of our destination ambassador staff. They’re true experts in what the Indiana “Not being from the “A lifelong resident of “I’ve lived in the Duneland dunes area really makes area my whole life, but I Dunes area has to Duneland, I discover me realize how special something worthy of only recently discovered offer. From activities and unique the dunes making a memory each how special it really is. I and attractions to are! I love sharing this day. Stop in and let us have a lot of fun learning dining and shopping, treasure, as well as each help you make your own about the park and getting they’ll help you plan new discovery I make, special memories!” to share that experience with every visitor!” — Elizabeth with our visitors.” your next adventure. — Bethany —Meghan Seasons at the Dunes Winter Spring Summer Autumn Indiana FREE High Dunes postcards Beaches & Beyond 29° 58° 81° 64° Present this coupon for your choice of Indiana Dunes postcards. Low While supplies last. Limit one set of postcards per family. 10° 35° 60° 44° 6 | INDIANA DUNES TOURISM | VISITOR INFORMATION EXPLORE THE DUNES EXPLORE Translated We Are All Travel The Indiana Planners Dunes… The Indiana Dunes Visitor and so are you! Ride the We are the official destination Center offers 12 translated wave and become a part of the marketing, planning, and Travel Planners, so no matter Indiana Dunes, whether you’re a development organization for where you’re from, you can get visitor, business owner, or resident. the Indiana Dunes area/Porter straight to exploring the dunes. Share your experiences with us County, Indiana. It’s not just about online by tagging getting you to the beach; it’s 12 languages! @indianadunes or using about helping you eat, play, shop, #indianadunes and and stay here while embracing #beachesandbeyond. the stories and experiences our destination has to offer. D ew N t ee 2 r 1 ain Entran M ce t on 5 3 u is o B r T w ART Rainbo WALK 4 Stroll the grounds of the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and see five murals, each one created in a matter of hours by the muralist Ryan “ARCY” Christenson, as e S n well as our life-sized “Bison-tennial bison” and painted a a nd Cr bench. The seven pieces of art all depict wildlife native hill to the Indiana Dunes area. #beachesandbeyond | INDIANADUNES.COM | 7 DUNES101 ORIENTATION What Are the Indiana Dunes? Learn the ins and outs of the Indiana Dunes to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. BEACH EXPERIENCE Where Are the Indiana Dunes Beaches? Don’t just imagine where you’ll go, Lake Michigan provides a great see it firsthand on place for water fun. Learn about kayaking, scuba diving, Hi! I’m Ranger Matt! swimming, fishing, and boating. Welcome to the Indiana Dunes CAMPING area! I’m here to help you make the Where to Camp most out of your adventure. You in the Indiana Dunes can get the full 101 by watching Camping is a great way to our Dunes 101 Video Series immerse yourself in the Indiana on YouTube. In the meantime, Dunes. Get all the insider tips for here’s the tip of the iceberg, or your next outdoor adventure.