1. Bike Trails
Use the bike trails to travel along the lakeshore, amid nature or through downtowns.
3. Kayaking
Launch your kayak on Wolf Lake, along the Kankakee River or Lake Michigan.
4. Art Galleries and Exhibits
View the works of national and local artists at the galleries and exhibit halls, ranging from photography to paintings to sculpture.
5. Wine Tastings
Stop in at Carpenter Creek Cellars in Remington for a free wine tasting. When they're not too busy, they offer free tours as well!
6. Festivals with Free Admission
Many of the local festivals and events offer free admission to enjoy live entertainment, browsing the vendors, people watching and more.
7. The Shrine of Christ's Passion
Journey through The Shrine of Christ's Passion in St. John, a half-mile walking path featuring life-size bronze statues.
11. Fishing
Fish near the dam on Lake George or head out to LaSalle or Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Areas. See our top 10 fishing spots here.
12. Bison
Walk out to the viewing area to watch more than 100 bison roam the prairie at Kankakee Sands just off US Highway 41.
13. "A Christmas Story" Comes Home
Come see the "A Christmas Story" Comes Home exhibit, every November and December at the Indiana Welcome Center.
16. Skateboard
Hone your skate boarding skills at the many skate parks in the area.
17. Maple Syrup
Help tap the trees in early March during the maple syrup season at Deep River County Park.
18. #RenArtWlk
The Rensselaer Art Walk features murals throughout downtown Rensselaer, Indiana by artists from around the world.
19. Beach Glass Hunting
Comb our many beaches along Lake Michigan in search of gorgeous beach glass. Check out our beach glass blog for how and where to discover these colorful pieces.
20. Birding
Watch for an amazing variety of birds at places like the Grand Kankakee Marsh, Hammond Lakefront Park, and Gibson Woods.
21. Parades
Parades are not just for the 4th of July. Find them on St. Patrick’s Day, Labor Day and at the annual Popcorn Festival and Pierogi Fest®, too.
22. Rotblatt-Amrany Trail
Follow the Rotblatt-Amrany Trail to see the studio's amazing bronze creations including "The Spirit" of Michael Jordan in Chicago and "Flick" stuck to a flagpole in Hammond, a character from the "A Christmas Story" movie.
23. Vintage Baseball
Step back in time with a Deep River Grinders vintage baseball game, playing according to rules written in 1858, when courtesy prevailed on and off the playing field.
24. Farmers’ Markets
Wander the local farmers’ markets all over Northwest Indiana. Plus many of the markets have live entertainment to enjoy.
25. First Friday Art Walk
Discover the shops and artwork in downtown Michigan City with their monthly First Friday Art Walk, May through September.
26. Community Nights at RailCats
RailCats games are always affordable, but they also have a few Community Night baseball games, when you can pick up free tickets at local businesses.
27. Car Cruises Around the Region
Find a variety of classic beauties at the car cruise nights in downtown Crown Point and Whiting.
28. Parks
Exhaust the kids at the many city and county parks throughout the South Shore with playgrounds, fields and more.
29. Disc Golf
Play a round of disc golf at Lemon Lake County Park. They have a small gate fee when the gatekeeper is on duty, usually in the summer months.
29. Splash Pad
During the summer, stroll around the historic Lake County Courthouse in downtown Crown Point, then let the kids cool off at Bulldog Park's splash pad.
