Story Ideas

Quiet Beaches & Lake Michigan

See why the Indiana Dunes are Indiana's most visited state/national parks. Plenty of sun, sand and blue waters for everyone.  Discover a sandy pathway into the dunes or the challenge yourself to fresh water charter fishing. Lake Michigan also offers the opportunity to sail or dive one of Lake Michigan's ship wrecks. Sledding and cross-country skiing are popular activities when snow covers the dunes.

Historical Cities to Landmark Towns

Explore the remnants of the "company town," Marktown. Take a walking tour of historic downtown Crown Point including the many shops and restaurants that surround the Lake County Courthouse.

Family Fun

Take the family to Albanese Confectionery and watch award-winning gummies and chocolate being made. Albanese is also home to the world's tallest chocolate waterfall a large retail store and offers a video tour. Visit Deep River Waterpark with tube and body slides, two lazy rivers, wacky courthouse and the world's only double dueling cannon bowl ride.

Dining along the South Shore

Award-winning restaurants are located throughout the area. A mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Sites in Crown Point is home to Lucrezia Ristorante. Located in the Miller section of Gary, Miller Bakery Café offers favorites like corn bread pudding and beef short ribs. For some of the best Italian cuisine in the Midwest, look no further than Gamba's Restaurant in Merrillville. Exceptional atmosphere, full wine menu and chef's specials make this a local favorite.

Casinos! Casinos! Casinos!

Lake County is home to 4 lakefront casinos; Horseshoe, Resorts, and Majestic Star Casinos. With more than 180,000 square feet of excitement and gaming, 7,000 slots and 200 table games see why they are Indiana's most popular and profitable casinos.

Famous Faces

An astronaut that holds the record for the most space walks, the famous foot doctor, the Jackson 5 and the writer of "A Christmas Story" have all called the South Shore home.

Harvest Season

The South Shore is home to numerous Agritourism opportunities. Harvest season is the time to visit County Line Orchard, the closest U-pick apple orchard to Chicago. County Line opens in September and closes at the end of October. The orchard also features special Halloween events and hay rides as well as a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. Buckley Homestead, a living history farm, in Lowell also features a corn maze, hiking trails and guided tours. Located in Newton County, Fair Oaks Farms, offers young and old a place to learn about modern dairy farming. Tours are available and new to the farm is the Birthing Barn where you can watch a baby calf be born. Visit the cheese shop and creamery for award winning cheeses, gifts and homemade ice cream.

Festivals

Nationally known festival, Pierogi Fest; Indiana's oldest Labor Day Parade and Gary's South Shore Air Show are among the year-round celebrations.