2020_Summer_VMag_forweb

TALKING TOURISM
TOURISM
>> TALKING
Summertime
Outdoor Adventures
Head Beyond the Beaches this Summer
After another long midwest winter, many
of us are ready to spend some time
outdoors. Indiana Dunes area residents
are incredibly lucky to have so many
outdoor recreational opportunities
nearby, not only in the national and state
parks, but throughout Porter County as
well. While the beach is often the first
place residents head once the days get
longer and the temperature rises, this
year might be a good time to explore
some of the lesser known outdoor places.
Outdoor Adventures in the
Indiana Dunes
The Indiana Dunes National and State
Parks have plenty of room to spend
time outdoors and not come across
another soul.
Beyond the Indiana Dunes National
Park’s 15 miles of shoreline, the park is
over 15,000 acres in size with 50 miles
of hiking trails, 37 miles of multi-use
biking trails, and nearly seven miles
of equestrian trails. Every trail is a new
adventure through prairies, dunes,
savannas, woodlands, creeks, pannes,
marshes, bogs, and fens, each with its
own unique landscape and wildlife.
The Indiana Dunes State Park also
has its share of trails to explore—16
miles of them to be exact! The 3 Dune
Challenge is a favorite hiking spot with
its breathtaking views and 552 vertical
feet to climb, but consider also venturing
out on the other trails where you’ll
experience unique landscapes like the
“tree graveyard” in the Big Blowout or
delicate spring wildflowers on one of the
many quiet trails.
Outdoor Adventures in Valparaiso
Outside of the national and state parks,
Porter County has a wide variety of
places to get outdoors and hike, bike,
paddle, and play.
Here are a few unique local spots, which
have plenty of room to enjoy and still
practice safe social distancing:
• Creekside Trails, a new mountain
biking trail in Valparaiso with over five
miles of multi-use trails suitable for
mountain biking, hiking, and walking.
The obstacles for mountain bikes range
from easy to very difficult, which makes
this a perfect adventure for kids and
adults of every skill level.
By Michelle Senderhauf
Communications Director
Indiana Dunes Tourism
Don’t forget to share your Indiana
Dunes adventures with us on
social media! Tag @indianadunes
with #beachesandbeyond, and
we’ll feature you on our website.
We might even include you in one
of our printed publications!
• Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest
offers more than 300 acres of formal
gardens, wetlands, woodlands, and
prairies. It’s a great place to wander,
relax, and be inspired by nature’s beauty.
• Rogers-Lakewood Park offers trails,
rolling terrain, and lakes for fishing,
paddling, and wildlife viewing, as well
as 24 holes of championship caliber
disc golf.
• Meadowbrook Nature Preserve, a
Shirley-Heinz property and former girl
scout camp, has four miles of trails,
which meander through woodlands,
fields, wetlands, and streams. The gently
rolling terrain makes for a perfect stroll
to enjoy wildflowers or to do
some bird watching.
Need More Ideas?
If you’re looking for more inspiration, download our Outdoor Adventures Guide, which
showcases a variety of outdoor activities the Indiana Dunes area has to offer, including
great places for bicycling, birding, fishing, hiking, paddling, and even wandering.
There’s far more to discover when you head beyond the beaches of the Indiana Dunes!
38 VALPARAISO MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020