Saint John Lake Indiana - Top Sights 

• Saint John Sights – St. John Township, Lake County
• Saint John Sights & Attractions
• - St John the Baptist Catholic Church
• - St. John Community Park
• - St. John Public Library
• - St. John Farmers Market
• - St. John Riverwalk

Saint John Sights – St. John Township, Lake County

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.

Saint John Sights & Attractions

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.