Visit Crown Point Lake Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Crown Point, Indiana: Experience the historical fortress and the beautiful nature of Lake County!
What makes Crown Point sights so special is the unique mix of Victorian charm and the quiet moaning of a city that has slowly evolved from a border post to a flagship model for the Middle West since 1831. I like to sit in the cafe on Main Street while I imagine how soldiers once watched the old fort before the eyes of the local farmers – yes, the old fort that today has only a few rusty relics in the city park, but still hits the heart of Center Township. The city is located in the heart of Lake County, and you can immediately see if you take the I-80 from Indianapolis to the north and then get the exit to Crown Point – a short detour that looks almost like a secret handling for travellers looking for the off-the-beaten-Path feeling.
I don't quite understand the hype about the annual autumn parade, but the colorful driving along the historic main road is really great if you want a bit of nostalgia. And if you honestly ask why I come here: The people in Crown Point have this slightly ironic serenity, which is otherwise only found in small coastal towns, and this is immediately felt when you order a coffee in the local diner and hear the conversation about the old railway line, which once formed the backbone of the trade. For those who want to breathe a piece of real midwestern history, the Crown Point sights offer the ideal setting to get the feeling that time is going on here, but never loses the soul.
This guide invites you to stroll through Crown Point's slant-harmant world, where I want to introduce you to the first of my favorite attractions: the imposing Courthouse Square, the heart of the city, and at the same time the parade example that a building can tell more stories than some guides.
When you enter the town hall, you immediately feel the mix of Victorian splendour and the quiet resignation that arises when a place is too often used for photos of weddings and mayors. I once observed a local politician there trying to make a selfie with the dome – an image that says more about his self-representation than about the city itself. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the weekly peasant market spectacle starts.
Just next to the square Crown Point Train Depot, a small museum that sprays more locomotive nostalgia than a whole weekend in an amusement park. I don't understand the hype about old steam locomotives, but the lovingly restored wagons and the stories of the former railways who once spent their breaks here are really great. A short look into the exhibits is enough to understand why the city is so proud here – and why I become a little nostalgic every time I hear the whistle of the old locomotive.
A few blocks on, almost unnoticed, this is Lake County Historical Society Museum. Here you will find not only dusty artefacts, but also the lively memory of the industrialization of the Middle West. I once discovered an old photograph that shows how a horse car was parked in front of today's supermarket – a picture that reminds me that progress is sometimes just a new parking lot.
If you are looking for a change in the summer, there is no way to Lake County Fairgrounds by. The place is famous for the annual county fair, but I swear that the best moments happen outside the official opening hours: a lonely carousel pepper that crawls in the moonlight, and a stand with freshly baked corn flasks that are so sweet that you almost forget that you are in the middle of the midday hole.
A short walk leads you to Lake County Public Library – Crown Point Branch. The library is not only a place to read, but also a social hub where seniors play chess and juveniles talk loudly about the latest Netflix series. I met an old man there who told me that he had met his first love here – a detail that makes the library a romantic secret tip for me.
For those who prefer fresh products and a little local flair, the Crown Point Farmers Market Saturday morning a must. Between stands with organic eggs, handmade soaps and a stand that sells exclusively “grain flower muffins”, you can feel the true pulsation of the city. I once met a young baker who told me he baked the muffins after his grandmother – a detail that makes the whole scene more authentic.
And yes, if after an overview of all Crown Point Attractions search, do not forget that the city has more to offer than the obvious tourist magnets. A small but finer Old Town Hall, today a community center, regularly hosts art exhibitions by local artists who are often better than what is found in the major museums of the metropolises. I once saw a painting showing a rainbow over the city centre – a work that reminded me that even in a small town life can be colorful.
At the end of my little tour I want to Lake County Parks mention a green retreat, where you can simply let the soul grow after a long day in the city centre. I have often sorted my thoughts there, as I looked over the lake and heard the quiet water plunder – a perfect place to plan the next adventure in Crown Point.
One might think that the true heart of Lake County does not hit in the pretty brick houses of Crown Point, but a good piece west, where the sand is crumbling under the feet and the water of Lake Michigan tastes almost salty. The Indiana Dunes National Park is the first thing that comes to my mind – a huge piece of unspoiled nature that stretches over 15 miles of coast and still is just a few minutes drive from the city. I watched the sunrise there, while a few joggers in the background loudly discussed their playlist; that was a moment when I asked myself why I live in a suburban city if this has so much more to offer. Parking is usually easy at the main parking lot on West Beach, but as soon as the weekend starts, the field turns into a small battlefield of cars and picnic baskets.
A short trip to Portage leads you to the Indiana Dunes State Park, which is slightly more compact, but better signposted than the national park. There is a small visitor center, which is surprisingly well sorted – I found a copy of an old map there that showed how the area was once inhabited by the Potawatomi. The lake hidden behind the dunes is a popular spot for canoeing; the launch of the canoe is almost child-friendly thanks to a flat dock, as long as you are not there on Friday night when the local college teams hold their training camps.
If you have enough of nature and still want a little city flair, Miller Beach in East Chicago is an interesting contrast. The beach is not as wide as the Dunes, there is a small but fine art museum – the Miller Beach Art Center – shows the changing exhibitions of local artists. I remember getting a spontaneous poetry slam event there on a hot July day; the crowd was small, but the energy was huge, and that showed me that culture does not always have to take place in expensive galleries. Parking is a bit tricky here: most visitors park on the street, which leads to a small mess on weekends, but this is part of the charm.
For those who prefer to travel on wheels, the Calumet Trail is a real secret tip. The approximately 15 km long cycle path stretches through several municipalities, past old industrial plants, which have been converted into art installations today. I once drove the trail at sunset and discovered a small café in Hammond, which offers surprisingly good vegan muffins – a real light after a busy ride. The trail is well marked, and parking at the beginning in Munster is almost always free as long as you don't get to the Rushhour there.
A little story? The Lake County Historical Society Museum in Hammond is a small but fine place that documents the development of the county from the beginnings to the present. I was there on a rainy afternoon and lost myself in an exhibition about the old railways; an old railway guide told me that he still has the sounds of the steam locomotives in his head – a bit of nostalgia that you rarely find in modern museums. The museum has a small parking lot behind the building, which is mostly empty, unless there is a special event.
A last stop that is often overlooked is Marquette Park in Gary. The park is located directly on Lake Michigan and offers a long walk that is ideal for long thoughts. I once met an old veteran who told me about the days when he worked at the port as a young man; his stories give the place an almost tangible authenticity. The parking lot is at the edge of the park, and although it is small, it is enough for a few cars – this is practical if you don't want to spend all day in the car.
So who believes that the Crown Point Attractions only consist of historical buildings and small shops, which is advised to take a look over the city boundaries – the surroundings provide a mixture of nature, culture and history that enthuses every modern traveler and at the same time provokes a light eye role over the usual tourist cliché.
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