The most beautiful beach close to Chicago This little town…read moreis part of Gary but looks like small key west style town Beautiful parks, nice beach and cute houses

Only reason I'm not giving a 5 star review is because all the garbage that was on the beach. We had…read moreto clean up other people garbage in order to even have a clear spot. Other than that we had a great time!​

Headed out her for some early morning time on the beach. I was here when was was little, and this…read morewas my wives first time. We both loved it. Great calm eater on the day we were there. $25 per car. Tins of parking since we got there early. Amazing to see dunes and how big some are. Beach was nice. Fine sand. Paved walkway to the beach pavilion with stairs down to beach. Great skipping stones. Highly recommend. We only had a couple of hours and got to see a bunch but still plenty of stuff we had yet to do. Will be back.

The beach was littered with trash when we first got on it, trash cans closest to the beach were…read moreoverflowing, there were gnats and flies eating us alive. The people there were uh weird.

Beautiful beach bordering the Induana dunes. Twe came here on Juneteenth and thr beach had families…read moreand groups of friends, allowed tents and small grills. It's a no frills beach with soft dune sand and a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline

A great park with amenities for a picnic, a hike, a beach adventure and for just listening to the…read morewaves. We found parking quickly and we're able to download the app and pay for an hour to sit and have our picnic lunch near the water. They had plenty of pavilions and tables for eating, as well as benches along the paths. We loved the various play equipment and options for families and especially the green spaces right next to the dunes. Something for everyone! We only saw portapotties, so that might be the only small issue but we were also there before the official start of the season. A fun spot and will definitely return when in the area!

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.

I was here for the lighthouse and enjoyed much of the walk. I would have gone the whole way but the…read morewind was too strong for my comfort. And also, I hadn't purchased a park pass and didn't want to stay long enough that they might notice. The park and the riverwalk are lovely. The view of the lake is amazing. Well worth the visit. If you're planning on buying an annual park pass, it's even better. [Review 20619 overall - 150 in Indiana - 1600 of 2023.]

We love the lakefront, it is a great spot to hang out and watch the sunset. In the summer they will…read morehave entertainment at the food court area. They have a nice walking path as well.

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

Is Northwest Indiana a desert composed of rusting hulks of shuttered steel mills, abandoned homes,…read moreand refineries? Well, yeah, actually, a lot of it is, but there are some places, still a few, that remind you what this flat land was like before humans came in and changed most of it. You can ride the bike trail near Robinson Lake, fish, boat, play on the swing set, or, if you're really lucky like my friend and I, come by on a windswept autumn afternoon when no one else is around. You're not really in a wilderness at the Robinson Lake preserve. I-65 passes to the west, and there's no escape from the pervasive background hum of thousands of vehicles. You can tune it out a bit, though, and hear the breeze moving the leaves, watch a hawk circle overhead, and breathe in the fresh air sweetened by all the wildflowers and prairie plants growing nearby. Robinson Lake, and the bike trail, sneak up on you when you're driving down Liverpool Road, between 49th and 61st. You wonder why there is a parking lot. Finally, one day, you stop, get out of the car, and stretch your legs on the paved bike trail, or wander the grassy shore of this small lake. It must get crowded in summer, but in this shoulder season, it's heavenly. We walked only a little ways in both directions from the parking lot. We walked over the grass and admired the beautiful wild flowers. We breathed, deeply, and drew in the peace and serenity of the place. I wish I'd had a chair with me. Then I might've just sat for a while, watched the dark clouds blow overhead, and soak in the stillness of the place. I will be back.

Beautiful clean park! Nice neighborhood, very well taken care of and the equipment was very fun for…read moremy kids!

This is a very good park to visit and spend time. It has a little bit of everything. You do have to…read morepay an entrance fee during the summer months. There is ample parking once you get in though. The park has a little lake that you can swim in (if a lifeguard is precent). Around the beach/lake is a walking path, that does get a bit narrow in some parts. It is paved and well maintained. There is also covered pavilions around the park there are 4 decent sized ones with grills. One even has a patio that overlooks the beach/lake.In addition to the large and medium sized pavilions, there are a few personal sized ones scattered about the park. At the front of the park is an adequate baseball field. It is well groomed and ready to play on. Next to the ball field is a full basketball court. It is nice and has a smooth new looking deck. The rims are in good repair and have adjustable heights. I would love to shoot a few airballs here. In the back of the park is a dog park that is basically a fenced in area with a bench placed in there for you to sit and watch your pooch frolic. Behind the entrances to the lake is a sand volleyball court that needs a little TLC. The net was down while I was there, but did not look like it would take much to get the court back up and running. The park has two playground areas. The bigger of the playground areas is next to the baseball field. It has some pretty updated and newer equipment including, see-saws, merry go rounds, rock climbing walls, swings, rocking animals, a saucer swing and slide. The ground is covered in wood chips and has rubber mats in high traffic areas such as under the swings. The playground is very impressive. The other playground is by the lake entrance and is ok, but not as nice as the one on the other side. It has a set of the older style swings and a small jungle gym with a slide. Both play areas are accessible though, which is cool. I really like this park and was surprised that this is the first review. You can spend an entire day here and not even know it. There is a lot to do and it is a very relaxing place. It is well maintained and has a friendly staff. definetley a must visit.

Nice small beach yet crowded because of the air show. Parking is plentiful and you can bring your…read morejet skis here. Lifeguards on duty and there are tables for eating along with benches scattered everywhere to take in the views.

One of the benefits of living in Whiting is having this beautiful park near…read more It's great for a walk any time of year. You can find some interesting fossils along the beach & I have a nice collection of beach glass too.

Beautiful park. My dog loved it! Beach near by so many beautiful flowers and the water is so clear…read morefor a lake

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