Facts
Location:
Lake County/South Shore is located approximately
25 miles from Chicago, IL
150 miles from Indianapolis, IN
170 miles from Madison, WI
240 miles from Louisville, KY
250 miles from Detroit, MI
300 miles from St. Louis, MO
315 miles from Cleveland, OH
Time Zone: Central Time Zone. Lake County is one of only ten counties in Indiana that observes both Central Standard and Central Daylight times. Daylight savings time begins at 2am the first Sunday in April, when clocks are advanced one hour, and ends at 2am the last Sunday in October, when clocks are turned back an hour.
Sales Tax: Indiana retail sales tax is 7%. There is also an innkeeper's tax of 5%.
Weather: The South Shore has four distinct seasons. Spring begins in late March to early April, and the season tends to be warm, particularly in April and May. Summers are hot and humid and autumn is colorful and warm. Winters are cool but relatively mild with some snow, generally in January and early February. The average July temperature ranges from 65- 85 degrees. The average January temperature ranges from 18-36 degrees.
Population: Within 497 square miles, Lake County's 19 cities and towns have a total population of more than 487,000 people.
Did You Know?
Wolf Lake in Hammond was recognized by the New York Times for their conditions and as being one of the best lakes in the country for windsurfing?
The South Shore is one of the nation's largest steel producers?
The Crown Point Courthouse, also known as the "Grand Old Lady" was built in 1878 and was said to be "one of the finest architectural expressions in Indiana?
Lake County ranks 2nd for visitor spending in Indiana with approximately 9.4% market share?
The "Grandfather of Aviation," Octave Chanute, built and tested the first heavier-than-air glider at Marquette Park in Miller Beach?
Lake County is named for the vast lands and abundance of suitable waters?
Dr. Scholl, the famous foot doctor, began his practice in Cedar Lake?
The Indiana Dunes State and National Parks welcome nearly 4 million guests each year.
Albanese Confectionery, located in Hobart, produces 35,000 pounds (per 8 hour shift) of award-winning gummies?
Book Your Stay
Northwest Indiana’s very own candy factory boasts the world’s best gummies! Tour the factory and experience your favorites being made, see the world’s tallest chocolate waterfall and sample some of the best candies around!…more
What began as a local newspaper’s effort to tell the compelling stories of Northwest Indiana men and women who sacrificed during the Civil War has evolved into a large-scale historical preservation effort. The joint partnership of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the Calumet Region Civil War Preservation Project seeks to carry forward on hundreds of hours of community service that already have taken place. …more
Conveniently located between Chicago and Indianapolis, Fair Oaks Farms offers a fun family playground that everyone will enjoy! From the Dairy Adventure and Birthday Barn, to the Cheese Factory and Mooville, Fair Oaks Farms will keep the family entertained, and well-fed, for a full day of education and fun!…more
When a guest visits a hotel, restaurant, bank, or gas station, they rarely meet the manager or owner of the establishment. It's up to the front-line employee to make the customer's visit enjoyable.The R.O.S.E. Awards were created to recognize these "directors of first impression" who consistently work hard to make our lives easier. Guests & managers are able to nominate an employee who consistently "goes the extra mile."…more
Heavy industry carried the South Shore economy for decades. Now, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority tells a story about a community: it’s been built by steel but changing from tourism. Northwest Indiana’s appeal is its devotion to ensure new & already existing businesses succeed. Area leaders have teamed together to revitalize the mill towns and make Northwest Indiana the place people want to live & work. …more
Experience the journey of the Passion of Christ as never before in this interactive trail featuring 40 life-sized bronze statues. Experience the various Stations of the Cross with audio descriptions as you walk the winding pathway.…more
With five different casinos, Northwest Indiana offers much excitement and action along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan! With decadent restaurants, world class entertainment and floors (and floors) of slots and table games, your night is just getting started when you test your luck at one of our casinos.…more
Pierogi Fest, the pride of Whiting, is an opportunity for the residents to celebrate their heritage while poking a little fun at themselves at the same time. The one of a kind parade and festival have received countrywide recognition having been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel.…more
This holiday season, The Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond will feature 6 animated displays featuring scenes from "A Christmas Story". The displays include: Higbee’s Department Store Window, Flick’s Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It’s a Major Award, Santa’s Mountain at Higbee’s, the Bumpus Hounds, and the Parker Living Room. The displays were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of the Herald Square Macy’s in New York City. …more
