we steal the storm’s thunder. When the weather turns, we turn up to fix it. While some of our team is working to restore power, others are working to inform customers about when we expect to have you back up and running. The way we see it, electricity or not, you should never feel powerless. TYRICE, NIPSCO LINEMAN Located just minutes from the breathtaking Lake Michigan shoreline, the Country Inn & Suites Michigan City Hotel offers a relaxing atmosphere to ensure a stress-free stay for business and leisure travelers alike. During your stay at our Michigan City hotel near Lake Michigan, enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast, cozy lobby fireplace and spacious hotel rooms. Our smoke free Michigan City hotel is conveniently located near many of the region’s best attractions and offers a number of on-site services and amenities to make your stay enjoyable. Be our guest at Country Inn & Suites and see what sets us apart from other Michigan City hotels. I-94 & Hwy 421, exit 34B 3805 N. Frontage Road, Michigan City 46360 (219) 879-3600 • Reservations: (800) 456-4000 www.countryinns.com/michigancityin ® I-94 & Hwy 421, Exit 34B 3801 N. Frontage Road Michigan City, IN 46360 P: 219.879.9190 • F: 219.879.0373 www.choicehotels.com/hotels/in415www.comfortinn.com/hotel/IN415 • Complimentary Continental Breakfast For reservations, please call • Indoor Heated Pool 1-800-4-CHOICE • Complimentary High Speed Internet Access Traveler Weather Seat Belts High & Lows in Fahrenheit In Indiana Buckle Up, It’s the Law! Children who have Winter: 29° - 10° | Spring: 58° - 35° outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained Summer: 81° - 60° | Autumn: 64° - 44° in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4’9” tall. Time Zones LaPorte County is on Central Standard Time (CST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT), always staying in the same Rip Tips Lake Michigan sometimes whips up severe and dangerous time zone as Chicago, IL. tides - or Rip Currents - that warrant the posting of “No Swimming” signs on our public beaches. When the signs Where We’re Located are posted or red flags are flying at lifeguard stations, that LaPorte County is located on the southern tip of Lake means swimming is not allowed that day! Please adhere to Michigan, bordering the Michigan state line. LaPorte the signs. To learn whether beaches are open on a County is easily accessible by using exits 34 and 40 when particular day, call the LaPorte County Convention & driving on Interstate 94, and Exits 39 and 49 on the Indiana Visitors Bureau at 1.800.634.2650, ext. 879. Interstate 80/90 Toll Road. Local Radio Alcoholic Beverages • WCOE 96.7 FM Streaming live at WCOEFM.com Alcoholic beverages may be purchased between 7am • WEFM 95.9 FM and 3am. Liquor stores are not open on Sundays, but • WIMS 1420 AM Streaming live at WIMSRadio.com restaurants may serve alcohol. The cities of Michigan City • WLOI 1540 AM and LaPorte have open container laws prohibiting open alcoholic beverage containers in moving vehicles. 2019 Visitor Guide Advertising The Visit Michigan City LaPorte Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitors Guide is sold by the LaPorte Herald Argus and News Dispatch. For more information on advertising please call 219.326.3881. www.heraldargus.com 3 1 Legacy Hills Golf Course, LaPorte 1 Cover photosPainted bench on the shore of Pine Lake, LaPorte 2 2 Lighthouse at Washington Park, Michigan City Fresh produce from farms 3 4 & markets throughout the county 5 Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa, Michigan City Blue Heron sculpture in Uptown Arts District, Michigan City 6 Indian statue on the Courthouse Campus, LaPorte 4 7 6 The information in this annual publication was supplied with the cooperation 5 of Visit Michigan City LaPorte Convention & Visitors Bureau and companies 7 listed herein and is accurate to the best knowledge of the publishers as of January 1, 2018. The LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau is not responsible for errors, omissions, or outdated information. No endorsement of products and services is implied. ©2018 VMCLP CVB. TABLE OF CONTENTS Visit Michigan City LaPorte Marquette Mall - 4073 S. Franklin Street Michigan City, IN 46360-7328 219.872.5055 219.326.8115 Sections ARTS & EVENTS .................................................................6 VisitMichiganCityLaPorte.com Festivals & Events - Performing Arts - Visual Arts Visitors Center Hours ATTRACTIONS ....................................................................12 Open Daily: 8:30am - 4:30pm General Attractions - Museums - Orchards, Farms & Gardens Saturday & Sunday: Closed DINING & NIGHTLIFe .............................................22 Brewery/Winery - Family Dining - Fine Dining - Nightlife Visitors Information RECREATION ........................................................................ 32 Phone Line | 24 Hours A Day Charter Fishing - Golf - Parks - Recreational Activities 1.800.634.2650 RESOURCES/SERVICES ......................................42 General Services - Houses of Worship - Meetings & Banquets - Personal Care - Pet Care - Transportation SHOPPING ................................................................................50 Antiques - Name Brand - Specialty WHERE TO STAY ..............................................................56 B & B - Campgrounds - Hotels & Motels - Resorts - Vacation Homes MAPS .........................................................................................60-63 INDEX ............................................................................................... 64 Features Michigan City Municipal Band .................... 8 R.O.S.E. - Recognition of “Joyful Noise” Service Excellence Outdoor Musical Instruments .................11 Friendship Botanic Gardens .........................17 The R.O.S.E. program, used by several hundred businesses, 2018 Seasonal Festival Guide .....................20 strives to highlight LaPorte County’s Bistro on the Greens ...........................................25 exceptional employees who provide “above and beyond”service. 10th Annual Great Lakes Grand Prix ......34 Go online to United States Bicycle Route 35 ................. 38 www.michigancitylaporte.com/r-o-s-e when you have received excellent customer service Washington Park Zoo ..........................................41 and help us reward businesses and employees for creating an enjoyable experience for you. Bird Watching in LaPorte County ......... 54 Festivals & Events 173rd LaPorte County Fair at LaPorte County Fairgrounds. 4-H exhibits, Applefest at Garwood open class, drafthorse, horse Orchards and pony, Pioneer Land, carnival 5911 W 50 S rides, grandstand events, free LaPorte, IN 46350 entertainment, food vendors. 219.362.4385 Admission fees apply www.garwoodorchard.com July 8-13, 2018 Arts, crafts, free live music, u-pick apples and pumpkins, horse Michigan City Chrysler, power boats speeding past spectators and tractor-drawn wagon rides, Dodge, Jeep, Ram on Washington Park Beach at speeds full bakery, Garwood Grille Great Lakes Grand Prix nearing 200 miles per hour. Walk concession stand. Lake Michigan, Washington Park throughout the boat owners while Sat & Sun Sept 8 & 9, 2018 Michigan City, IN 46360 getting up close and personal with 800.634.2650 these mammoth watercraft. See LaPorte County Fair www.greatlakesgrandprix.com your reflection in the shiny, stainless 2581 W St Rd 2 The Michigan City Chrysler Dodge steel propellers and feel the power LaPorte, IN 46350 Jeep Ram Great Lakes Grand Prix is of thousands of horsepower 219.362.2647; Alt 219.362.7896 part of the Super Boat International displaced by the huge outboard and www.lpfair.com offshore powerboat racing schedule inboard motors. and will feature many of the world’s Free fastest and most powerful offshore Aug 2-5, 2018 6 Pioneer Land Wanatah Scarecrow LaPorte Civic Auditorium LaPorte County Fairgrounds Festival 1001 Ridge St LaPorte, IN 46350 Main & Cross LaPorte, IN 46350 219.575.7758 Wanatah, IN 46390 219.362.2325 www.PioneerLand.org 219.733.2786 www.laportecivicauditorium.com Pioneer Land is an 1800’s village with www.scarecrowfest.org Premier event banquet and meeting blacksmith shop, Farm Bureau log 24th Annual Scarecrow Festival, space at affordable rates. Venue cabin, quilters cabin, 1-room school, Sept 21, 22, 23, 2018 in Wanatah on hosts concerts, theater and sporting post office, antique barn, general US Hwys 30 & 421. Crafts, scarecrow events, as well as special events store, artisan barn, wood shop and sculpting, cutest baby contest, such as trade shows and original garden. queen contest, parade, races, 3 on festivals. Seating capacity for Free; Donations accepted 3 tourney, car show, tractor show, 3,000 on main level. Banquet/ Apr 15-Oct 15 by request and entertainment, food vendors, and meeting rooms on lower level can during LaPorte County Fair; meals. Fun for the entire family. accommodate meetings, parties, Christmas Open House 1st Brought to you by the Wanatah receptions or training seminars. weekend in Dec Chamber of Commerce. By appointment Fri 4-9pm; Sat 9am-9pm; Sun 9am-4pm LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra Westville Pumpkin Festival 307 Kingsbury Ave Prairie Meadow Park, LaPorte, IN 46350 US Hwys 6 & 421 219.362.9020 Westville, IN 46391 www.lcso.net 219.879.8280 Celebrating 45 years of magic! www.westvillepumpkinfestival.com A symphony full of “surprises” A celebration of the pumpkin providing a wide range of quality harvest in true Midwestern style. musical performances. Enjoy pops, A family event. Come and enjoy classical,