The county seat of Elkhart County is a lovable city with a neatly preserved downtown area and sprawling green space along the Elkhart River. As with much of the county, the main industry in Goshen is vehicle and RV manufacturing, and companies like Keystone, Forest River and Dutchmen have facilities here. There’s also a sizable …
If you could design the perfect historic downtown it might look a bit like the seat of Lake County in Northwest Indiana. The preserved heart of this city is set around a palatial courthouse dating to 1880, and the surrounding old brick storefronts contain family-run shops for knick-knacks and one of a kind gifts. Just …
At the mouth of Trail Creek, this historic waterfront city sits on the southeast shore of Lake Michigan, and attracts tourists from across the region in summer. Michigan City’s plus points are undeniable, with a fine sandy beach, a luxury outlet mall, a casino resort and proximity to a national park. You can use the …
In Northwest Indiana’s Porter County, Valparaiso is a city named for a battle during the War of 1812, fought by naval commander David Porter. Valpo, for short, is home to the Lutheran Valparaiso University, which was one of the first coeducational colleges in the United States when it was founded in 1859. Head for the …
Around halfway between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the city Marion is the seat of Grant County and has plenty of interesting stories to tell. This is the birthplace of James Dean and Garfield creator Jim Davis, and you can follow trails in Grant County for both figures. Marion’s golden age coincided with the Indiana gas …
Bordered by farmland in Northwest Indiana, Hobart is a city with a beautiful setting on the shores of Lake George. Walkable downtown Hobart is edged by Lakefront Park so you can go to the waterfront for a stroll after browsing the shops and getting something to eat. There’s often something going on in Hobart in …
An industrial city in Northwest Indiana, East Chicago is commanded by the immense Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, linking the Grand Calumet River with Lake Michigan. Since the arrival of the Inland Steel Corporation in 1903, the local economy has been driven by the steel industry, although the crisis of 1974-1986 led to a sharp …
A welcoming small town south of Indianapolis, Franklin’s skyline is punctuated by the imposing Johnson County Courthouse from 1881. The city is rightly proud of this landmark, and it sets the scene for public celebrations all year round, from a strawberry festival in May to a Christmas lighting ceremony. Bordered by Franklin College, which was …
Just east of Indianapolis, the small town of Greenfield is most famous for being the birthplace of “Hoosier Poet”, James Whitcomb Riley. Riley was a giant of American culture in his day, and among his many well-known compositions are Little Orphant Annie (1885) and The Raggedy Man (1888). You can visit the poet’s birthplace and …
Between Gary and South Bend towards the northwest of Indiana, La Porte is a delightful city in the Michigan City-La Porte urban area. Something special about this place is the scenic chain of lakes in the north of the city, beginning within walking distance of the walkable downtown area. These large bodies of water are …