With its calm waters and beautiful beaches, Lake Michigan is an impeccable backdrop to the area. For boaters, accommodating harbors dot the shoreline from Chicago to St. Joseph, Michigan, and dozens of fishing and sailboat charter captains are more than willing to act as guides.

The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore boasts 15 miles of beaches along Lake Michigan’s south shore. Whether the activity of choice is swimming, soaking up the sun or climbing one of the Indiana dunes, a summer day at the beach is full of possibilities. Step away from the shoreline and discover the national park’s other amenities, from camping to bird watching, horseback riding to cross country skiing. And don’t count out the 45 miles of trails for hiking and cycling.

Coffee Creek Nature Preserve in Chesterton is just one of many spots that allow visitors to connect with nature. At 167 acres, the park has miles of trails for exploring.

For sports fans, the Gary South Shore Railcats are the region’s own professional baseball team. The Railcats play to packed houses at Gary’s 6,000 seat capacity U.S. Steel Yard stadium. For local basketball, you may recall Valparaiso University’s recent Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Tradition is alive and well in South Bend too where Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish home football games and tailgate parties promise a fun time for all. 

Chicago sports teams are also popular in Northwest Indiana, and outings to Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field to catch a Cubs or White Sox game are a summer tradition for many Northwest Indiana residents. The city is also home to hockey’s Blackhawks, football’s Bears, basketball’s Bulls, and soccer’s Fire.