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    Indiana Dunes

    4.4 (15 reviews)
    Open 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

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    Kevin J.

    I didn't spend a lot of time here but I got a great hike in and took a bunch of fantastic photos. Lots of nature to see and good faraway views of Chicago from across the water, too. I love spots like this. I'm glad it has been preserved from industrialization, especially as you can also see some of the smokestacks of Gary off in the distance, too. I could probably give Indiana Dunes five stars, but won't out of loyalty to my home state Sleeping Bear Dunes even though, shamefully, I've never been there. Hey, this is Yelp and nobody said I have to be objective or fair.

    Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park
    Tiffany Y.

    Indiana Dunes is a beautiful and fun place. There's hiking and biking trails, and lots of the. (through the dunes, through forest, through marsh, and more). There's beaches that are crowded and popular and beaches that are peaceful and secluded. There's not a lot of food options, so a lot of folks I saw brought coolers for picnics. You can also head in the water to swim, you can bring a boat, or in the winter you can bring your skis. When I came here (July) there were quite a few bugs and mosquitos, so just beware and make sure you have lots of bug spray, or otherwise you can wave your arms around like a maniac during hikes, like me. :) The Indiana Dunes itself is divided into the State Park and National Park. The areas are pretty clearly delineated on the maps they provide. The State Park is $12 per car to enter if you're from out of state, and $7 if you're from Indiana. If you're looking to go to the beach, the one at the State Park is probably the most popular and has a shower and changing facility, with lifeguards. Try not to look to the East or West -- there's some pretty unsightly steel mills and power plants that can ruin the view. Some of the more secluded beaches are in the National Park, free to access, but without facilities. The water and sky are absolutely gorgeous -- both a beautiful shade of blue on a nice day. When I was there, you could barely tell where the water met the sky, which was just amazing to look at. If you are looking for relaxation and peacefulness, you will find it here. I opted not to do the 3 dunes challenge (1.5 miles across 3 Dunes) simply because it was so hot and muggy outside. But that's on my list for next time! I feel like this place is a gem of the Midwest, worth a visit -- perhaps a day trip (an hour drive) from Chicago.

    Mt. Baldy
    Kath S.

    Indiana's First National Park- such a treasure of birds, dunes, marshes and forest. We spent a day and half here exploring every trails we could find. The highlights for us were West Beach and Mt. Baldy. There was a huge Bird Festival going on when we visited. The Visitor Center was busy. We get to see an owl and some cool paintings.

    Phil B.

    I expected more. I've heard for years how fun, pretty and enjoyable the dunes are. We decided to finally take a trip with our dog to see them. There are only 3 pet friendly areas. I really expected something like shops a boardwalk and much more parking. Parking was a nightmare. We drove around one lot for over 30 min trying to catch an open spot. We tried the other areas with no luck. We finally caught a break and got a spot in the biggest parking lot. The dog was afraid of the waves at first then he seemed to enjoy walking in the water. We walked up and down the beach a few times and we were done.

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    14 years ago

    Nice little place to get info on the Indiana Dunes. Friendly and helpful staff. Clean restroom facilities.

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    Ask the Community - Indiana Dunes

    Review Highlights - Indiana Dunes

    If you walk from the visitor center, $2 a person, but that is a 2+ mile walk each way, in the hot sun!

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    The 312 Limo

    The 312 Limo

    4.8(156 reviews)
    35.5 miWest Loop, Near West Side, West Town
    On-time commitment
    Beat or match prices

    I was on party bus duty for my daughter's recent high school dance. I priced out a few companies…read morewith party buses and 312 Limo was the most reasonable price. To be honest it was still a little expensive considering they were driving from Wilmette to Northfield to Glencoe, but less than the other: $840 for a 3 hour minimum for a party bus of 28. We also didn't need it for the entire 3 hours, but the options I found were either one way or 3-4 hour minimums so this was the best deal. I found their communication to be stellar both via email and text. The bus driver was on time and the kids had no trouble locating the party bus when they came out of the dance and I've heard it was one of many party busses. A few of my daughter's friends hopped on for the way home and commented that this bus was way nicer than the one they took to the dance from another company. Overall, it was a success. The parents could have easily driven these kids ourselves, but the party bus elevated the experience and the kids all seemed to enjoy the VIP treatment.

    As an event planner is very important that our transportation is reliable for our client! 312 was…read morefast on communication, punctual and easy to work with. Will recommend again!

    Photos
    The 312 Limo - Inside of trolley bus - red lights on top and color changing lights on ground, 1 small TV at front, two small areas for storing drinks/ice

    Inside of trolley bus - red lights on top and color changing lights on ground, 1 small TV at front, two small areas for storing drinks/ice

    The 312 Limo
    The 312 Limo

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    Indiana Welcome Center - You'll shoot your eye out

    Indiana Welcome Center

    4.2(20 reviews)
    21.5 mi

    Stopped by for a bathroom pit stop and was pleasantly impressed with the visitor center! The staff…read moregreeted me upon entry and the bathrooms were clean and stocked. There was a nice baby changing area as well and they had paper towels too! If you need to stretch your legs there's a great gift shop bringing you all things from Indiana and also check out the fun graphics/descriptions that line the walls, you'll learn more about Indiana than you imagined. The building itself is neat from the outside--it represents several major industries home to Indiana. Did you know the movie, The Christmas Story is based in a fictional town in Indiana?!?

    Oh wow! This is a nice welcome center. I've started to enjoy visiting welcome centers because there…read moreis usually a lot of good information about the area that can be found at these types of places. This one is no exception! The Indiana Welcome Center is filled with friendly people who love nothing more than to help you. There are brochures, pamphlets and literature about the area available for you to pick up. This welcome center has local art exhibits inside, including one about A Christmas Story, a film that was set in nearby Hammond, Indiana. (Although, I think the film was actually filmed in Canada, but that's neither here nor there.) There's also a huge gift shop, with lots of souvenirs, snacks and toys available to purchase. I actually found a tote bag that I didn't know I desperately needed here, so my visit to the Indiana Welcome Center was especially blessed. The restrooms here are large and very clean. At the very least, this is a great place to stop and use the restroom. Before you leave, be sure to see the A Christmas Story statue outside the building. It's a statue of the kid who gets his tongue stuck on the pole. It's an Indiana classic.

    Photos
    Indiana Welcome Center - You can register for TSA Pre-Check here

    You can register for TSA Pre-Check here

    Indiana Welcome Center - Don't lick a cold flag pole

    Don't lick a cold flag pole

    Indiana Welcome Center - Gifts and things

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    Gifts and things

    Chicago Boat Company - Celebrating her!

    Chicago Boat Company

    4.6(180 reviews)
    34.4 miNear North Side

    One Facebook ad, quick online reservation, and here we are Thanksgiving weekend floating down the…read moreriver in a hot tub in 20 degree weather...AND we would do it again! Here's what to know: -Make the reservation online days or weeks in advance so everyone can complete/sign waivers online well in advance -A couple of days before your date, the person who made the reservation will receive a text w/ additional waiver to sign and a training video on safety. Complete prior to date as it reduces the amount of time to check-in -Yes, they do ask for the credit card that was used to pay for the reservation, their ID, and they have to be at check in -There are a lot of fees for misuse and misconduct so definitely read the documents -once checked in, a team member walks you to the marina area and the changing rooms; the bathrooms are near the changing area and require a key to enter -The bathrooms and changing area are heated -The changing area has a few lockers to keep your belongings safe and you are responsible for keeping the key (if you lose there is a fee) -Once in your bathing suit, keep your shoes on, warm hat, and jacket -The boat doesn't have areas to keep your stuff so keep most of your items in the locker -A team member will walk you to your boat and there is a covered plastic crate that you will put your coat, locker key, and shoes in -There is a walkie talkie on your boat so you can stay connected w/ your assigned team member -The water is very warm and you can control the heat off/on -Make sure the entire group pays attention to how to drive the boat, it's def a team project -The boat doesn't not go very fast but turns seamlessly so give yourself grace for figuring how it maneuvers -Yes you are on the water w/ big water taxi boats and tourist boats; they definitely make waves and will push your boat out of their way -You can drive the boat w/in a 5 block radius -We had the most fun just floating in one of the "pier" type areas; sooo many people bundled up walking near the river said hi, took pics of us, and asked about our experience -You will stay warm the entire time, it was sooo hot sometimes we stood up just to cool off If you are thinking about this experience just grab some friends and do it! We are already talking about doing it again and bringing some friends!

    When I asked if I wanted to cruise down the Chicago River in the middle of February, I first…read morethought my husband had lost his mind. However, once I saw the hot tub option I decided to be open minded and boy am I happy I did. The company has great communication and Devante, our crew member, was very helpful and friendly. We had 90 minutes but honestly because you can only cruise between a bridge span of three blocks we came back early. Just know that you are the one driving the boat so you definitely have to take somebody who is willing to be the designated captain. Overall, a really fun experience and I would try it again in the summer..

    Photos
    Chicago Boat Company - Couple's first time in a Hot Tub Boat.

    Couple's first time in a Hot Tub Boat.

    Chicago Boat Company - Friendsmas!

    Friendsmas!

    Chicago Boat Company - Enjoying, vibing, thriving.

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    Enjoying, vibing, thriving.

    Indiana Dunes - tours - Updated May 2026

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