Beautiful lakefront! I loved every moment of it, I was able to capture some really nice pictures.read more

I had the opportunity recently to visit Whiting, Indiana, a community of just under 5,000 people in…read moreLake County and less than 20 miles from Chicago. It's a beautiful community that weaves together the wonder of Lake Michigan, the skyline of Chicago, and a historical vibe with a strong industrial influence. When most people think of Lake County, they think of Gary or maybe East Chicago. Crown Point, another underrated and beautiful community, is actually the county seat. I've done three of my Tenderness Tour events to Chicago and have wheeled through Whiting. I'm a huge Lake Michigan fan and always make a point of getting as much time near the lake as possible. Whiting Lakefront Park is, you guessed it, actually on the lakefront of Lake Michigan. It encompasses around 15 acres and includes play areas, walking paths, picnic facilities, a concessions area, two sand volleyball courts, a fishing pier, flower gardens, and a wonderful fish pond that is idea for peaceful contemplation. Because this is on Lake Michigan, it's a popular spot for events both private and public. As is true of nearly every public park in Lake County, it's also within view of some industrial scenes and, yes, this does somewhat detract from the entire experience. That said, it's still really amazing. The park is located adjacent to Whihala Beach, a public beach in Whiting. Whihala Beach has a floating water park, standup paddle boards, kayaks, fishing, restrooms, swimming, a public boat launch and ramp, and much more. Whiting Lakefront Park is open daily from 7am-8pm. It's my understanding that they definitely enforce the times and are known to tow unauthorized vehicles unless arrangements are in advance or there's a rental agreement. The park, and in fact the city, is named after Herbert L. "Pop" Whiting, a trainman who apparently was actually killed in a crash here. A little bit about the city - scenes from the movies "Rudy" and "Four Friends" were shot in Whiting. There's lots of historic buildings here including a Carnegie Library and the Hoosier Theatre. The community was developed largely out of the railroads and Standard Oil Company. It is considered a Southern Shores community. The park is a landing place for migrating birds and has Purple Martin houses. The park is friendly to both vehicles and pedestrian traffic. While accessibility isn't quite perfect, it's surprisingly good. Most parking is metered and dogs are allowed on the trails if leashed. It is important to note that dogs can only be on the beach during the off-season from after Labor Day to Memorial Day. They must be leashed. The park does have bathrooms, as well. The trails are all well cared for and quite wheelchair friendly I found. I also felt like the play areas were quite child-friendly, though not perfectly accessible. This park is the most popular park in Whiting with a combination of history, beautiful views, and great amenities. I definitely recommend giving Whiting a visit if you're in the Lake County area. Of course, you're also quite close to Indiana Dunes National Park.

Compliment's to the gas dock. Last Saturday, 06/07/25 I brought the boat in for the season. I…read morepulled up to the gas dock to top off the tanks and do a quick pump out. As I approached the dock several young women spilled out of the office ready to help grab lines and help tie off the boat. They handled it effortlessly despite the size and weight of the boat. They offered to pump fuel and handle the pump out which I would never expect anyone to do. Before I had time to get involved they were handling it like a NASCAR Pit Crew! Upon departure my bow line was tied to the rail and I was given shove off the dock to assist in the departure. These young women were very skilled, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Their actions and pleasant demeanor were very professional and appreciated. In addition, the women in the office were very friendly and quick to check me in. I can tell you that after 20 some years in Chicago I've never experienced this type of friendly service. The dock workers in the golf cart even waved to say hello and see if I needed anything. Thanks to all of you at Hammond Marina! You should ALL be Proud! YOU are ALL APPRECIATED. GEORGE

The Hammond Marina is Wonderful and so are all of the super nice people who work there! From the…read morefirst time that I picked up the phone to call there and spoke to Milan to each and every interaction that I have with everyone there! Jamie is so nice that she sat on the phone and personally gave me directions to the Marina when roads were closed! Jen is so nice that she actually listened to my needs in order to make the best recommendation about where I should dock my boat! Lori does an amazing job with the Ship Store! The bathrooms are immaculate! The Locker Rooms are also immaculate! Each and every one of my needs has been filled by this wonderful group of people! Five Stars are not enough! Boat Slips, Waverunner Platforms, Beach, Sun and Fun! All with great Attitudes, Friendly Smiles and Excellent Service !!!! Thank you for being so wonderful!

I have mixed feelings about this kayak tour company. I signed up because although I'm a very…read morecapable and seasoned kayaker, I didn't know this river and I like learning about the ecosystems and local wildlife. For this reason I like having tour guides. Going up the river was fine. Coming back went a bit sour. I went as slow as I was capable of paddling or not paddling, but apparently it was too fast for the preference of our tour guide. I was barely touching the water with my paddle. I have no idea how I could have gone any slower. It wasn't humanly possible. After shouting at me several times, he took to chasing me down and ramming my kayak so it'd spin in circles. Would I rent a kayak here and kayak the river alone? Yes. Would I personally use a tour guide here? No I wouldn't. Would I recommend? If you're a family with little kids or a drunk sorority house, absolutely. If you know what you're doing, just go it alone. You'll probably enjoy it more. Edit: If the tour guide had concerns for group safety, he could have said so. Although ramming my kayak with his seems to be a bit of a conflict as far as my safety goes. It was an unprofessional approach when he could have simply explained why he needed me to slow down

It almost seemed like a dream. From the very start, cruising through a large patch of lotus plants,…read moreit felt otherworldly. Very peaceful, going at our own pace. Enjoyed the cliff walls of Buffalo Rock and the shallow waters of some side passages. We paddled for 5 hours, covering 8 miles total. After we were done we headed to charming, historic downtown Utica for drinks and dinner at Skoog's Pub & Grill in North Utica, IL. I was impressed with the logistics and operation of the kayaking experience, from the guide* to the equipment and online booking process. *Full disclosure, the guide was my twin sister, but I am being objective...seriously.

Beautiful beach, clean, they have lifeguards at this beach, small area for concessions, there is an…read moreobstacle course also & a view of Chicagos sky line in the distance, a must see!!

We ended up at Whihala Beach by accident when the nearby Hammond Beach was inexplicably closed…read more Drive past the casino parking lot and you will end up in the beach parking lot. There is a small sand beach by the restrooms, but the nicer and larger part of the beach was accessed by a board walk at the far end of the parking lot. Parking is $5 per hour, paid at a kiosk near the restroom. The water was clear and nice and the beach a mix of sand and pebbles. Overall it was a nice place. Farther down there was a fun looking play park. There's likely parking near there as well. It's called Whoa Zone.

Whiting is a city located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area in Lake County, Indiana, which was…read morefounded in 1889. Their cities website assisted me in learning local history, like the fact that the name "Whiting" predates the city of Whiting. In 1869, when "Pop" Whiting, an engineer, ditched his heavy freight train so a fast passenger train behind him could have the right of way. Not many signs of human habitation could be found at the site and the railroads had brought what settlers there were. In 1880, the Census Bureau counted 115 people in Whiting. Standard Oil Company began quietly buying up land along the lakefront in March and April of 1889. In 1923, Standard Oil Company provided land and funding for the Memorial Community Center, which became the hub of city life with its social and athletic facilities. By this time the refinery employed over 4,000 workers, and the city numbered approximately 10,000. The city is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. It is roughly 16 miles from the Chicago Loop and two miles from Chicago's South Side. The activity that brought me here, the Mascot Hall of Fame, boasts on their website that the Midway Airport, the South Side of Chicago, and Downtown Chicago are all located within a 30-minute drive of Whiting. With such a rich history of the city itself, I wasn't surprised to find everywhere I went, or looked up with intention to go but was unable to, was full of history. From the Mascot Hall of Fame, the downtown buildings, all the way to the beaches, the city is full of amazing history. If you enjoy good food, mascots, and beaches, but don't want to deal with the crowds of Chicago, Whiting is a good spot to stop.

On my first visit to Whiting, I enjoyed a concert at their Lakefront Park. What a beautiful venue!…read moreParking is pretty easy and the concerts are free. Lovely views of the lake and city, and the pavilion is gorgeous.

It was a busy day, list of people in line for paddling or kayaking as it was a perfect day at…read moreWarren Dunes. The person working today Sunday 7/31 was doing his best. He is friendly and helpful. We rented to paddles and we had a grate time

After a small snafu with staffing and getting our kayak day started, everything was worked out, and…read morewe had a fantastic time. The site was at Warren dunes, State Park, and Will, the person on duty, did a great job of getting it set up and taking care of us for the afternoon. It was a great experience and well worth the money. Kayaking on Lake Michigan and along the shores of Warren Dunes is great experience.