Arts & Adventure

Art and culture enthusiasts have several options just around the bend from Chicago in nearby Lake County, Indiana. The South Shore Arts (formerly the Northern Indiana Arts Association) has open gallery space in Munster, Hammond and Crown Point and hosts regular exhibits from local, national and international artisans. Additionally, the Steeple Gallery Ltd. has the largest art inventory in the county featuring original fine art, sculptures and Antiquarian prints. A leisurely stroll through one of Lake County's many downtowns will uncover some of the many smaller art galleries and public art exhibits and community art projects. 

The Chicago-style Equity Theater Company, housed in the Theatre at the Center, regularly performs classics by Rodgers & Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Additional theater developments include The Towle Community Theater in downtown Hammond also brings theatrical excellence to the region.

Enjoying the outdoors along the southern shores of Lake Michigan is as easy as a mid-summers breeze. Boating, sailing, fishing and swimming are just some of the activities you can enjoy on Lake County beaches. For the more adventurous you can dive right in to Great Lakes maritime history. Lake Michigan is the final home of more shipwrecks than all other Great Lakes combined! The southern end of Lake Michigan, just off the shores of Lake County, was recently named by Scuba Diving Magazine as one of the top 10 destinations for scuba diving in the United States. Two dives listed in the same article, as a "must see," can only be accessed through N'Pursuit Charters of Hobart, Indiana. Learn why divers from Japan, England, Australia and Ireland have made Lake Michigan a destination of choice.

Interested in a little Las Vegas style gaming? See what lady luck has in store by visiting your choice of our five lakefront casinos. Horseshoe in Hammond is the closest casino to Chicago and recently underwent a $485 million expansion, followed by Ameristar Casino and Hotel in East Chicago, Majestic Star Casinos and Hotel and the newly renovated Blue Chip Casino and Hotel in Michigan City. Hundreds of games, thousands of slot machines, live entertainment, gourmet steakhouses and expansive buffets are just some of the excitement that can be found on these lakefront casinos.

Adventure awaits the child in us all at Deep River Waterpark. An expansion in 2005, nearly doubled the park in size and capacity. A wide variety of rides and attractions will have you cruising at speeds of 30 miles an hour down body slides or racing down the only double dueling barrel slide in the world. The less adventurous can enjoy the sun while taking a quick splash in the wave pool or floating in the lazy river.