Travellers from all over the world appreciate Saint John's landmarks because of the unique mix of rustic history and surprisingly modern serenity, and I must admit that I cannot always understand all the hype around the small towns in the Middle West – until I was here. Since the 1830s, when pioneers settled the area around today's Saint John Township in Lake County, the town has developed an independent charm that cannot be pressed into brochures. I remember coming from Chicago by train, the rats of the old coves were almost a soundtrack for what I expected.
A walk through the main road feels like you can browse through a lively history book: old brick buildings, which once served as warehouses for the nearby corn fields, are located next to hip cafés that offer more Latte Art than grain. The people here are proud, but not superb – a short chat with the owner of the local diner reveals that he still knows his grandparents from the time when the water of the nearby Lake was a real obstacle to shipping.
If you arrive by car, just follow I‐94 until exit 30 and let the GPS take over the rest – this is practical because the signs here are rather discreet, but this makes the first impression all the more authentic. And yes, Saint John's sights are not just a word game; they are what I discover every time I come back here, because the city has a little more to offer than you suspect at first sight.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Saint John, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first place I have to mention is that Indiana Dunes National Parka piece of untamed nature, which is only half an hour's drive from Saint John. I spent a rainy Saturday there, and while I was in the mud, I thought this is probably the only real adventure that you can find in this area – apart from the endless discussions about the best grilled areas. Parking is usually easy, except for the weekend when the families with their strollers turn the few free places into a real battlefield.
A short trip to Gary leads you to Miller BeachOne of the few places where the water of Lake Michigan is actually a bit clean. I made a picnic there with a friend who insisted that the water is "like a bath in the glass" – no joke, that was almost true. The beach is wide, the dunes are well preserved, and the small café next to the pier serves the best coffee I ever drank in a beach café. If you're looking for sunset, just go west, there's a small wooden ridge from which you can see the water almost to the horizon.
Just a couple of miles away Marquette Park in Gary, a huge city park with an artificial lake, hiking trails and even a small farm. I remember trying to catch fish there in the summer with my nephew – the result was a bunch of wet socks and a laughing boy who said that it was the best “gelling” ever. The park is ideal if you are looking for a little green space without leaving the city; Parking is free, but on holidays it can become full because then all the families move out of the area.
A bit further south, almost on the edge of Saint John, is this Lake County Fairgrounds. I visited the annual county festival there, and that was a true kaleidoscope of rides, local food stands and a lot of people who argue about whether the corn flasks should be seasoned with butter or chili. The fairgrounds offer various events all year round, from vintage-timer meetings to flea markets, and parking is usually easy as long as you do not want to go to the main attraction “Riesenrad” on Saturday night.
For those who want a little sport and a little city flair, this is Steel Yard in Gary a must. The baseball stadium is home to the Gary SouthShore RailCats, and I saw a game where the fans cheered louder than any concert I've ever attended. The atmosphere is surprisingly familiary, and the food – especially the hot dogs – is better than one would expect from a small stadium. Parking is paid, but the prices are fair, and you will immediately have a view of the lake surrounding the stadium.
A little away from the usual tourist paths lies the Indian Dunes State Park, which is smaller than its national park sibling, but much less overflowing. I spent a few hours exploring the hidden paths that lead to small coves that hardly anyone knows. The entrance is free, but parking is only possible on the main entrances, and on hot summer days it can be quite crowded – but this is a good sign that you are not alone.
So next time you think about what you can do in the vicinity of Saint John, Lake, Indiana, remember: Saint John Sights not only are the well-known points in the city centre, but rather the small, slightly overlooked treasures that make life really exciting here.
This guide invites you to stroll through the narrow alleys of Saint John, where every stone has a bit more history to tell than one would suspect at first sight.
I naturally begin with the heart of the city – the St John the Baptist Catholic Church. This neo-Gothic building from 1869 is not only a place to pray, but also a parade example of how much pride a small town is in its church windows. In the late afternoon, the stained glass windows cast an almost cheesy color play on the wooden pulpit, and I must admit that I could hardly bear all day over the quiet clinker of the old wooden benches – a real highlight for all those who like to swear in the past.
A short walk down the main road leads to St. John Community Park. There is more than just a playground here: a small lake, a basketball court, and a barbecue area filled on sunny Saturdays from locals to the last bites. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem – the locals come with their caravans and let the few free places disappear like a magnet for tourists.
If you have enough of green areas, it is worth a trip to St. John Public Library. The library is an underestimated jewel, which houses not only books, but also local exhibitions on the history of the city. I found an old photo album there that created the city in the 19th century. Century documented – a must for anyone who doesn’t understand the hype for “small urban romanticism” but still wants to recharge a bit of nostalgia.
Another highlight that I always like to visit is that St. John Farmers Market on the first Saturday a month. Fresh strawberries, homemade jams and a stand where an older gentleman sells his self-knit socks – this is the true “local flair” that you only know from Instagram posts. The market is located right next to the town hall, so you can quickly admire the impressive brick building, which has been organizing city life since 1912.
For those who want a little more action, there is St. John Riverwalk along the Ohio River. The path is not particularly spectacular, but it offers a surprisingly quiet view of the water surface when you leave the city eye. I once met an old fisherman who told me that he has been throwing out his fishing here every morning since the 70s – a real witness that not everything is determined in the life of tourist attractions.
And because I can't forget that I have to research a little bit here: if you're looking for a quick overview, simply tap “Saint John Sights” into your search engine – you'll find that most lists mention precisely these places because they are just what Saint John is. I personally think this is a bit too simple; the true experience lies in a random conversation with an older gentleman at the café, who still has the original recipe for the best cake in the city.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
