Michigan City, Indiana | Lake Michigan Destinations
Experience Michigan City, Indiana!
Don’t be fooled by the name, you’re not in Michigan anymore. Indiana’s claim to shoreline beauty awaits. Surrounded by wandering dunes and singing sand, Michigan City welcomes you to Lake Michigan’s southern tip in grand style.
Top Things to Do & See in Michigan City
- Visit lighthouses new and old
- Climb a dune or two at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
- Court Lady Luck at the Blue Chip Casino
- Wander Washington Park, Beach, and Zoo
- Appreciate the Lubeznik Center for the Arts
- Take in a show at the Dunes Summer Theatre
- Roll through the Hesston Steam Museum
- Tour the Barker Mansion
- Relax in Friendship Botanic Gardens
Guiding Lights, Past & Present
Whether you walk the concrete path out to the striking East Pierhead Lighthouse that shines today, or tour the Old Lighthouse Museum and climb the spiral staircase to its beacon of days gone by, you’re sure to be impressed. With so few lighthouses in the state, each one seems as if it shines just that little brighter, and these two are no exception.
Nature, Wild or Tame
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore hugs Lake Michigan for 15 miles. The sand on this stretch of beach is a little bit special, you’ll realize, when you begin walking through it. The noise you hear is the sand singing you a tune. Michigan city is kind of famous for it.
Spanning the rest of the national park’s 15,000 acres are over 50 miles of trails that take you up and over dunes (like Mount Baldy, a giant dune that’s always on the move), through wetlands, past prairies, over rivers and through woods. One thing is for sure, you’ll never get bored with the scenery.
If you’re all for nature, but are looking for something a bit less rugged, a bit more manageable, Friendship Botanical Gardens is well within the city and lets you experience the relaxation of nature in a more orderly and concentrated fashion. If nature were coffee, botanical gardens would be a delicious espresso. Take a sip and enjoy.
Plan a Day at the Harbor
No need to go far for a good time in this city. Michigan City’s harbor boasts enough to keep you busy for a while. There’s Washington Beach for some sun on the singing sand, and Washington Zoo to explore right next door. There’s no lack of nearby choices for eating and drinking, and as far as being merry goes, look no further than the Blue Chip Casino, the largest riverboat casino in Indiana. Begin and end your day with Lake Michigan in sight. No traffic, no hassle, no worries.
Art & History
While you’re near the harbor, you’ll find another local gem in Barker Mansion. Step back into a time when railcars made fortunes as you explore this beautifully preserved piece of the past.
Only a short skip away from Barker Mansion is Lubeznik Center for the Arts, where you can examine exhibits both thought-provoking and moving as you marvel at the power of human creation. And speaking of human creations, you may want to head over to Hesston Steam Museum for a peek at the history of steam-powered machines of all kinds. While you’re here, ride a one-eighth scale train down a miniature track and just see if your inner child isn’t out and giggling by the time you pull back into the station. Double dog dare you.
Of course, if you’re more in the mood to be entertained than enlightened, you can always pop in for a show at Dunes Summer Theatre, a Michigan City treasure with over 50 years of practice in the art of drama. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You won’t regret a moment of it.
Michigan city is all about variety. From a climb up a dune to a shuffle of the cards and through all manner of adventures in between, you may find yourself spoiled for choice, but you’ll never find yourself bored while you’re here.
For more travel information about Michigan City, Indiana, please contact this tourism resource:
Marquette Mall
4073 S. Franklin Street
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219) 872-5055 or (219) 326-8115 | toll Free: (800) 634-2650
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