Averaging a 3 because the hiking trail isn't that great (2 star tops) but the park, picnic and…read moregazebo areas are great! (Solid 4) The trail is quite buggy during summer because of many pools and rivulets of standing water. Which also makes the trail and its smaller offshoots quite damp and muddy too. When it does dry up some, the mosquitos are still there but not as abundant as normally. The playground area is clean and the munchkin enjoys it quite a bit. The only qualm I have with it is that there's a wee bit of graffiti featuring some choice words that our little one hasn't noticed yet. Other than that the equipment is in great condition and the mulch grounds are seemingly maintained.

Great park. Park was clean, it has basketball court, gazebos, soccer field, and sand volleyball…read morecourts. Also has a small pond, and a short hiking trail. Portable bathrooms available. How many Parks have all these different options...

We really enjoyed this forested park. A nice choice if you don't want to do the beach/ dunes. Not…read moretoo long, well marked trails. We made it last a couple hours by bringing our dog and exploring.

I love hiking in this area. Warren Woods consists of a mile and a half out and back trail that…read moretakes you through the Michigan woods and along the Galien River. If you're looking for hikes along the beach, that's Warren Dunes SP. If it's rained recently you can expect this hike to be muddy as the trail takes you nearer the river. The All Trails app was helpful here as there were spurs off the main trail. There's a parking lot, picnic tables and toilets by the parking lot off Elm Valley Road. If this Southern entrance is closed, you can access the trailhead on the North end of the park along Warren Woods Road, where there is some parking along the side. Since the trail is an out and back, it doesn't matter where you start.

Great spot for a hike and learning about the native areas wildlife and forestry!…read more We enjoyed the trails around the center and found the signage gave interesting tidbits about things we would not have known. We loved the path and how many various species of birds and flora we could see from the trail. A great spot right near the town for a short or longer hike!

What an absolutely breathtaking place! The Paul H. Douglas Center sits at the gateway to some of…read morethe most scenic and peaceful stretches of Indiana Dunes National Park -- and this spot proves it. The soft sand dunes roll gently into the lake shore, with golden grasses waving in the breeze and the sky lighting up in painterly pastels at sunset. We need see a snake here and that was scary

Stop 8 is our favorite stretch of Lake Michigan beach in Michigan City, Indiana. We have been…read morecoming here for 21 years! We rent a cottage twice a year just up the boardwalk, in the Beachwalk community. This is the beach that is most convenient as it is only 500 steps from our rental cottage! The water is clean enough to swim. The sand is warm, clean, and delightfully soft, but also with enough stones to make things interesting! I love collecting stones and sea glass. There are attendants who drive by on occasion. Garbage cans are well tended. The beach is clean and quite pretty with a wall of sea grass behind it. Folks have weddings here on occasion, so that's always fun to see. Parking might be tricky though. We walk here from our cottage rental, so I'm not sure where people park if they are not staying at Beachwalk.

First stop off of highway in New Buffalo. Very nice welcome center. Beautiful landscaping & so many…read moreflowers. Well maintained. Snack & drink machines available. Friendly people welcoming you as you enter. Plenty of info of things to do in Michigan. Clean bathrooms. Outside areas to sit or relax.

The welcome center for Michigan with a lighthouse welcoming you! This is usually our restroom stop…read morewhen driving to Michigan. The bathrooms are usually clean, but sometimes there can be a short line. The center has a large selection of information and pamphlets sorted by region. There is a dog park area .

This is a nice little space but it's clearly not the reason you're here. You're here for the beach…read morewith the lighthouse. But on your way, stop here and check out this small plaza that has a view of the drawbridge, some tables with chess/checkerboards on them and a police/firefighter memorial. And maybe you'll luck out and some pretty ship will be going by on Trail Creek. [Review 20617 overall - 148 in Indiana - 1598 of 2023.]

This is a nice riverside plaza that provides a spot to take a break. There are tables at which to…read moresit with a bag lunch or a coffee. You can even watch the fishermen to see how they're faring. There's also a first-responder's memorial up the stairs at the corner of the landing for the bridge that is worth checking out.

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.

This is nice fitness trail that was created from an old train track. It is well maintained overall…read more There's a nearby park and playground with public restrooms. It's a little on the older side so there is some overgrowth and not a lot of floral plantings (more natural fauna). It's a nice place to get your fitness goals completed and listen to the sounds of nature.