Indiana Dunes State Park and Surrounding Areas

Indiana Dunes State Park is located 47 miles east of Chicago. The park is bounded by Lake Michigan to the northwest, and is surrounded in the east, south and west by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.  Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore hugs 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites. Hikers will enjoy 50 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests.

He had found something good to eat and was not about to move off the trail.  We had to step over him.

Gary Indiana
Gary, Indiana, is a pretty scary place.  It resembles a ghost town with vacant downtown storefronts, empty sidewalks and boarded-up buildings. What was once known as the "City of the Century" is in near-ruin.  Gary's population has had drastic population loss, falling from its peak of 178,320 in 1960.

Gary's deterioration is not a new story.  The city's economy was decimated when the steel industry collapsed.  Competition overseas led to massive layoffs in the steel industry.  U.S. Steel used to be a big employer in Gary, providing jobs to 25,000 people. In 2013, just 5,000 worked for the company.

City Park

Michigan City

Built in 1904, the lighthouse has become the most popular symbol of Michigan City, and is the only public operating lighthouse in Indiana. The elevated walkway, known as the "catwalk", was used by lighthouse keepers for 29 years to access the light tower. In 1939 the catwalk, no longer in use, was threatened with demolition. Local citizens rallied and succeeded in saving this landmark structure.

No problem with your feet touching the ground here.

Ritz Klub

We had rain off and on everyday.  We were thrilled to see the sun!

Sun setting over Lake Michigan and Chicago