South Shore Blog

Thanksgiving week is full of activities between cooking, eating and starting your holiday shopping. But if you’re looking for more to do this week – either for grown up fun, entertaining visiting friends and family or just something to keep the kids busy during the long weekend – we got you covered!

Photo: Shooters at Oakwood Gun Club break clay targets for fun and to hone hunting skills.

It’s surprising how many hunters put down their guns at the end of the season and don’t load them again until they are uncased and ready to be carried on opening day the following year. Perhaps in the good ol’ days when rabbits, quail and pheasants were far more abundant a hunter only needed to walk far enough and shoot often enough to eventually bring home some game. Those good ol’ days must have occurred before I started hunting.

I’d venture to guess most people have not explored the small town of Rensselaer, Indiana just off of I-65. I was one of those people, until the Ren Art Walk. I’m a fan of exploring and of art in general, and I wanted to see what all the buzz was about and I am so happy I did. 

The new art installations in Rensselaer, also known as the #RenArtWlk, is more than worth the trip to the small town about 45 minutes south of Merrillville, Indiana and under two hours north of Indianapolis.

Summer is here, and that means enjoying festivals, plenty of food, parades, carnival rides and so much more! Of course, festivals would not be the same without the live entertainment. We’ve put together a list of all the great music you’ll hear this summer along the South Shore!

Looking for some summer fun? Mark these things to do in northwest Indiana this summer off your bucket list!

1. Learn how to be a mascot, practice shooting t-shirts into a crowd and try all the games and activities at Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting. 

Eureka! You have come across a list featuring 2019 Easter Sunday brunches throughout Northwest Indiana. Take a peek at the restaurants listed below and make this year's brunch one to remember. Check back as we will continue to add more brunches as they are announced!

Winter is here, and you don’t want to be caught with the classic “I’m bored” coming from your little ones. Sure being outside in the snow is super fun for children and many teens, but it can only entertain for so long. So here are some other ideas to get the family together, inside, and entertained!

If you’ve already binge watched every Netflix series you can possibly think of and the kids are pestering you to get out of the house - we have some ideas for you for those rainy days in Northwest Indiana:

Traveling through the South Shore, you’ll find homegrown foods and handcrafted drinks at local wineries, restaurants and attractions. 

Harvest season brings vibrant yellows, oranges and reds to the leaves and also juicy crisp apples. From early September to October the trees are ripe with dozens of varieties of apples including: Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious and Pink Ladies.

When you have a four-legged companion during your stay in Northwest Indiana, you'll want to make sure he has enough exercise. Gabis Arboretum is the perfect place to let your dog stretch his legs. Hike through four miles of trails or enjoy the quiet gardens, woodlands, prairies and wetlands. Look for native and hybrid plants, flowers and trees during your visit and view Gabis's variety of formal gardens.