Seasonal Happenings: 
Michigan City has so much to offer, from beautiful beaches to fantastic shops, restaurants, casinos, national parks, wineries, and plenty of opportunities for relaxation. If you choose to visit again in the future, we highly recommend checking out some of our favorite places to visit:

April

• The national parks have so much to offer! 
  • Enjoy the night sky on Saturday, April 13, 2024, during the Stargazing at Kemil Beach event. 
  • Go on a Woodland Wildflower Hike (every day until April 28, 2024).
    
  • Join the Rail Rangers South Shore Train Program on the South Shore Train, Saturday, April 20, 2024. 
  • Attend Native Plant Talks, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
  • To learn more about these events and more, click here. 

May

• The Michigan City Farmers Market is opening on Saturday, May 4, 2024. There will be local vendors and live music, so you can get your "jam" on and stock up on jam!
  
  
• Make a stop in La Porte, Indiana and enjoy the Gone 2 Paradise Ultimate Jimmy Buffet Tribute on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium. Tickets are on sale here. 

June

• Even big kids can play in the sand! Come check out the Singing Sands Sand Sculpting Festival happening in Michigan City from June 7-9, 2024. 

 

 

Northwest Indiana guide to restaurants, beaches, hiking, drinking, and much more! 

Restaurants 

 

• Lakeshore Coffee & Specialties: 444 Wabash St, Michigan City. Delicious breakfast sandwiches, strong coffee, and adorable atmosphere. We go here every Sunday!
• Goblin & The Grocer: 1 W Dunes Hwy, Beverly Shores. Delicious food, adorable atmosphere, outdoor seating, and friendly staff. A variety of dishes and delicious drinks!
• Dune Billies Beach Café: 201 Center St, Michigan City. Great for lunch and coffee. Delicious grilled sandwiches and wraps. (Occasionally they have live music, too!)
• Panini Panini: 1720 Franklin St, Michigan City. An awesome little deli featuring breakfast and bistro fare, including pasta, sandwiches, and wine. Great variety; delicious food!
• Matey’s Bar & Restaurant: 110 Franklin St, Michigan City. This is a super casual spot with strong drinks. It’s not the best food in the world, but great atmosphere/people watching.
• Smokey’s Southern Barbeque: 375 US-20, Chesterton. Cash only! Great casual BBQ spot with the best pulled pork and/or chili around!
• Hokkaido Sushi: 725 Franklin St, Michigan City. Our go-to sushi spot!
• Bartlett’s Fish Camp: 12 On the Lake, Michigan City
• The Polish Peasant: 231 W 7^th St, Michigan City
• Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant: 727 Franklin St, Michigan City
• Bridges Waterside Grille: 508 E 2^nd St, Michigan City
• Fiddlehead Restaurant: 422 Franklin St, Michigan City
• Sunset Grille: 6 On the Lake, Michigan City

 

Beaches:
For the BEACH BUMS: Information (including accessibility and descriptions) on each of these locations can be found online at indianadunes.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventures/beaches

• Washington Park Beach: City Hall & 100 E. Michigan, Michigan City
  
• Cowles Bog:1618 N. Mineral Springs Rd, Porter
• Dunbar Beach Access: 300 W. Lake Front Dr, Michigan City
• Kemil Road Beach Access: 27 N. East State Park Rd (State Park Rd and Lake Front Dr, Chesterton)
• Lake View Picnic Area/Kemil & Dunbar Beaches: 50 W. Lake Front Dr. Beverly Shores. 
• Mount Baldy: 101 Rice St (US Hwy 12), Michigan City
• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk: 6150 US Hwy 12 (100 Riverwalk Dr.), Portage
• Porter Beach Area: 3057 Wasbash Ave. Porter

 

Frequently asked questions regarding the dunes/beaches can be found HERE.

 

Hiking & Biking:

For the ADVENTERERS: There are 14 hiking trail systems at the Indiana Dunes (listed below). To contact the park regarding any these, call the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center: 219-395-1882. For hiking ideas, maps, and trails outside of the Dunes, visit SOUTHSHORECVA.COM/THINGS-TO-DO/OUTDOORS/BIKE-TRAILS

 

• Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Little Calumet River, and Mnoké Prairie Trail System: Featured hike: Easy to moderate, 3.4 miles in length, average hike time of 2 hours. Hike through a forest dominated by maple, beech, basswood, and oak trees. Follow a stretch of the Little Calumet River and explore the recently restored Mnoké Prairie. Explore the historic Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm.
• Calumet Dunes Trail System: Featured hike: Easy, 0.5 miles in length, average hike time of 20 minutes. This short, wheelchair-accessible, paved trail features the Calumet Dunes ridge that formed at what once was the edge of the Lake Michigan over 12,000 years ago.
• Cowles Bog Trail System: Featured hike: Moderate to rugged, 4.7 miles in length, average hike time of 4 hours. This trail highlights an area of such outstanding plant diversity that it was designated as a National Natural Landmark. Explore several distinct habitats including ponds, marshes, swamps, black oak savannas, and beaches.
• Dune Ridge Trail System: Featured hike: Moderate, 0.7 miles in length, average hike time of 30 minutes. This trail offers great views of the extensive wetlands and forests south of this tall, forested dune. Perhaps no other area in the national lakeshore will take you through as many diverse habitats in a short trail.
• Glenwood Dunes Trail System: Featured hike: Moderate, 6.8 miles in length, average hike time of 4 hours. This extensive trail system features interconnected loops ranging from less than a mile to nearly 15 miles in mature woods and is popular with hikers, runners, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers.
• Great Marsh Trail System: Featured hike: Easy, 1.7 miles in length, average hike time of 1 hour. A really nice birding hike with views of the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. Features a separate wheelchair-accessible paved trail with quick access to an observation deck.
• Heron Rookery Trail System: Featured hike: Easy, 3.3 miles in length, average hike time of 2 hours. This trail follows a portion of the Little Calumet River. In the spring, the woodlands along this trail are blanketed with the most extensive display of spring wildflowers in the national lakeshore.
• Hobart Prairie Grove Trail System
  • Hobart Woodland Hike: Easy, 2.2 miles in length, average hike time of 1 hour. This hike has views of forested ravines, bur oak savanna, and scenic Lake George.
  • Oak Savannah Hike: Easy, 3.9 miles in length, average hike time of 2 hours. This rail trail offers scenic views of Lake George and mature forests and is great for biking and hiking.
• Miller Woods Trail System: Featured hike: Moderate, 3.4 miles in length, average hike time of 2.5 hours. This trail winds through several habitats including wetlands, globally rare oak savanna, open dunes, and beach. The views of the lake and the dunes are incredible.
• Mount Baldy Trail System*: Featured hike: Rugged, 0.8 miles in length, average hike time of 1 hour. This hike is short with a steep climb up loose sand to reach the top of Mount Baldy. The views are incredible as you hike on top of the barren (or bald) sand dune. *Restricted Access: Access to Mount Baldy Summit Trail requires accompaniment by authorized staff. There are ranger-led daytime and sunset hikes on weekends in the summer. Hike dates and times are listed in the park's newspaper, The Singing Sands, and on the park's website calendar and Facebook page.
• Pinhook Trail System
  • Upland hike: Moderate, 2.1 miles in length, average hike time of 1.5 hours. The Upland Trail highlights a rich beech and maple forest growing on top of a glacial moraine formed about 15,000 years ago. The Upland Hike is open to the public year-round without the need for a guided tour.
  • Bog hike*: Easy, 0.9 miles in length, average hike time of 1 hour. The Bog Trail leads to a bog in a depression in the moraine created when a large piece of ice broke off the melting glacier. The bog features an incredible habitat with unique plants. *Restricted Access: Access to Pinhook Bog requires advance approval and accompaniment by authorized staff. There are ranger-led open houses on weekends in the summer. Open house dates and times can be obtained by calling the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center at (219) 395-1882. Open houses are also listed in the park's newspaper, The Singing Sands, and on the park's website calendar.
• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk: Featured hike: Easy, 1.5 miles in length, average hike time of 45 minutes. This popular location is a great place to view the ever-changing seasons along Lake Michigan and watch dramatic weather and clouds build over the lake. It's an easy location to watch for migrating birds in the spring and summer and observe shelf ice that forms along the beach edge in the winter.
• Tolleston Dunes Trail System: Featured hike: Moderate, 2.9 miles in length, average hike time of 2 hours. This trail winds amid varied habitats ranging from oak savanna to wetlands and plants such as prickly pear cactus, butterfly weed, and lupines. Features a separate wheelchair-accessible trail with quick access to an observation deck with picnic tables.
• West Beach Trail System
  • 3-Loop Hike: Moderate to rugged, 3.5 miles in length, average hike time of 3 hours.
  • Dunes Succession Hike: Moderate, 1.0 mile in length, average hike time of 45 minutes. These trails offer a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The trails are varied and encompass many habitats. There are great views from the top of the Dune Succession Trail stairs, a beautiful pinery of jack pines, birding opportunities along Long Lake, and secluded sections of forest.

For biking trails, visit southshorecva.com/things-to-do/outdoors/bike-trails. Click on “Bike & Water Trails Map.”

Drinking:
Wineries/Vineyards

• Butler Winery: 401 Broadway, Chesterton, IN 46304. Adorable winery with delicious wines. Small outdoor seating area. Not the most picturesque, but adorable!
• Shady Creek Winery: 2030 Tryon Rd, Michigan City, IN 46360. Adorable winery with a tasting room and shop. Small outdoor seating. 
• Round Barn Winery: 10983 Hills Rd, Baroda, MI 49101. Beautiful venue and tasting area with outdoor entertainment. Although slightly farther, this is a favorite of ours!
• Tabor Hill Winery: 185 Mt Tabor Rd, Buchanan, MI 49107. A tasting for $12 and beautiful scenery? Sign us up! Another one of our favorites.
• Dablon Vineyards: 111 W Shawnee Rd, Baroda, MI 49101. We’ve not personally been here but have heard great things! Absolutely gorgeous venue!

Breweries and Distilleries

• Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant: 208 Wabash St, Michigan City, IN 46360
• Zorn Brew Works Co: 605 E 9^th St, Michigan City, IN 46360
• Greenbush Brewing Co.: 5885 Sawyer Rd Sawyer, MI 49125
• Brix Tasting Room: 111 W 6^th St, Michigan City, IN 46360
  
     

 

For Kids

• For the ANIMAL LOVERS: 
  • Birdwatching
    • Great Marsh Trail: S. Broadway, Chesterton, IN 46304
    • Cowles Bog Trail:1618 N. Mineral Springs Rd, Dune Acres, IN 46304
    • Gibson Woods Nature Preserve: 6201 Parrish Ave, Hammond, IN 46323
    • Buckley Homestead: Buckley Homestead County park, Lowell, IN 46356
• Washington Park Zoo: 115 Lakeshore Dr., Michigan City, IN 46360. Remember to bring cash if you want to buy food to feed the farm animals! 
• Flying H Ranch: 8592 W 125 S., La Porte, IN 46350. 
  Fun owners with rental options for kids' parties. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Flying-H-Ranch-347055702034938
  
  
• For the WATER LOVERS:
  • Boat/Jet Ski/Kayak Rentals: Heisman Harbor Dr, Michigan City, IN 46360. harborcountryadventures.com
  • Oasis Splash Park: Fedder Dr., Michigan City, IN 46360. Great spot for kids! Check their website for hours: emichigancity.com/315/Oasis-Splash-Park
    
    
• For EVERYONE ELSE:
  
  • Hawthorn Park Disc Golf: Rankin St., Porter, IN 46304
  • Heston Steam Museum: 1201 E 1000 N, La Porte, IN 46350
  • Radke's Orchards (Apple picking) 8999 W 200N, Michigan City, IN 46360
  • Rosey's Berry Farm (Strawberry picking) 1066 N 1150 W, Michigan City, IN 46360

 

 

OTHER

• For the GAMBLERS: 
  • Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa: 777 Blue Chip Dr., Michigan city, IN 46360
  • Four Winds Casino: 11111 Wilson Rd, New Buffalo, MI 49117
    
    
• For the SHOPPERS:
  • Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets: 601 Wabash St, Michigan City, IN 46360
  • Southlake Mall: 2109 Southlake Mall, Merrillville, IN 46410
  • Downtown Michigan City, downtown Valparaiso, and downtown Chesterton also have adorable local shops