Here's Indiana's Top Outdoor Attraction... And You'll Definitely Want To Do It
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Courtney Johnston
Author
Indiana has a ton of fun-filled outdoor activities, so picking a top outdoor attraction is no easy feat. There are so many amazing camping spots, fishing holes, beaches, and hiking trails that it’s impossible to settle on just one outstanding outdoor attraction. However, if we take unique landscapes into consideration, one place does stand out among the rest.
The Indiana Dunes State Park is a unique place that has so much to offer every guest. It’s a top spot for Indiana tourism and it isn’t hard to see why. If you haven’t been to the Dunes, or would like to learn more about what makes this outdoor attraction so awesome, read on.
Nestled in the small city of Chesterton, the Indiana Dunes State Park is a stunning natural attraction located along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The Dunes stretches for over 2,182 acres, offering perhaps the most unique, primitive, and spectacular landscape in all of Indiana. The state park was set up in 1925 to preserve this historic area, and the Dunes, which formed over thousands of years, have flourished ever since.
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The Dunes shoreline is a popular place to swim or catch some sun on a a gorgeous sandy beach. This beach is the perfect place for people of all ages and is a popular spot for families. You can spend the day building sandcastles, enjoying the stunningly blue waters, lounging in the gorgeous view, or walking along the shoreline.
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In addition to swimming, the Dunes also offers some great fishing areas. You can fish along the shore, by boat, and in the winter, they even offer ice fishing. Summer is the perfect time for deep offshore fishing, and the Dunes provides boat rentals if you don’t own one yourself. Best of all, Latitudes Waterfront Dining will even clean and prepare the fish you catch so you can enjoy a perfectly cooked meal that you scored yourself.
Hiking along the Dunes is another popular activity. The 9 mile Calumet Trail is one of the most popular hiking spots, curving along the southern part of the Dunes in Michigan City. This trail offers views of the Dunes’ original ecosystems, spanning over marshes, dunes, beaches, and forests. Access to this trail can be found within the state park. Other hiking trails can also be found within Indiana Dunes State Park.
You can also go camping inside of Indiana Dunes State Park. RVs can be parked and hooked up to electricity, or those looking for a more rustic experience can pitch tents. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park, as well as shelters.
If you love nature, you can go bird watching or birding through the park. There are often hikes dedicated to spotting different birds, so if this sounds like it’s up your alley, give it a shot! There’s also a nature center and interpretive naturalist services in the park that provide some really neat services and information.
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Whether you’re enjoying a day relaxing in the sun, lounging in the gorgeous water, taking photographs of the Dunes incredible landscape, hiking, boating, or camping, the Dunes certainly has something spectacular to offer every Hoosier.
Have you ever been to the Indiana Dunes State Park before? What was your favorite part of the experience?
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