South Shore Blog

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored. However, I will always offer my readers an unbiased and honest account of my experiences. Your trust is very appreciated, and never taken for granted. ~Tonya, Dexter and Angel Nutter

Dexter The Dog and his travel companion Levi wrapped up their 2018 dog-friendly vacations with a visit to The South Shore along Lake Michigan. The South Shore along Lake Michigan is a perfect pet-friendly destination to relax and enjoy what the Midwest has to offer dog families.

Candy for the kids and beer for the adults – what could be a better start to a weekend in Northern Indiana, right?

When planning a quick overnight with the whole family, it’s important to look for a variety of activities that everyone will enjoy. Our first night did just that!

Heavy rain was expected Saturday, so we got up early to get as much fun into our day as possible. After enjoying a delicious and relaxing breakfast at our hotel, we loaded up the car and headed a little bit south to Lowell, Indiana. Our first stop was Buckley Homestead. Buckley Homestead is described as a living history farm. It’s spread out over quite a few acres but is very walkable and so interesting that you cover quite a bit of ground without realizing it.

It’s iffy whether or not you’ll see a wild turkey during a walk in the woods at this time of year. But it’s a surefire bet that you will see the striking, turkey tail fungus. For that, I’m always grateful. 

Turkey tail, Trametes versicolor, is one of the most common fungi growing on the sides of logs or trees.  It is a stalkless mushroom, called a shelf fungus, which looks much like a fan with scalloped edges.

Photo from the Lake County Historical Museum: Couples standing in line at the Clerk's Office in the courthouse waiting to obtain their marriage licenses (c1930).

Years ago, Crown Point was known for its quickie no-wait weddings. Crown Point was aptly named the Marriage Mill, because it turned out countless weddings between 1915 and 1940. The reason? There was no wait for a marriage license. Couples from all over the nation came to the Marriage Mill, much like they do Vegas today and the Crown Point Courthouse is bringing the Mill back to life.

Here’s a bite of the frightful fun you’ll find along the South Shore to get into the Halloween spirit.

Halloween decoration is in full swing. Ghosts, witches, and spiders are popping up everywhere. The prairies of Kankakee Sands seem decorated for the upcoming holiday too. All around are spider webs that glitter with the dew on these chilly fall mornings.

The most common spider that I see at Kankakee Sands during the months of September and October is Argiope aurantia, otherwise known as yellow and black garden spider, corn spider, zipper spider, writing spider, or black and yellow argiope.

Grab your flashlights and work up some courage because ghouls and goblins are in Northwest Indiana. We've put together Four Frights for Halloween and these are sure to scare you to your core. That noise you hear won't be the wind - it'll be sheer terror!

This past Sunday I had the privilege of going to the Theater at the Center in Munster, IN to see the production Ghost The Musical. I was skeptical of how well the 1990 movie would translate to the stage and, on top of that, be a musical. I am happy to say there was no need for concern. 

As you move further from the bright lights of the big city of Chicago you’ll be able to gaze into the celestial landscapes and bright stars along the South Shore of Lake Michigan. If you’re from a small rural town, you may be familiar with the dark vast night sky; but if you’re a city dweller you’ll take solace in the quiet and wonder you’ll find in here, in northwest Indiana.