What makes Dyer's sights so special is the inconspicuous mix of rustic charm and sublime modernity, which you can hardly expect to travel along the old railway line, which once formed the backbone of the small town. I've always wondered why the founders of Dyer in the 19th. The century chose a piece of land that was barely more than a field road until the railway came and the village suddenly became a hub for farmers from all over Lake County. Today I like to stroll through the main street, where the old brick buildings still flow the scent of freshly brewed coffee, while the new boutiques try to sell the image of “small town with style”. Whoever comes from Chicago by car can take I‐94 and after about 30 minutes see the sign “Welcome to Dyer” – a short stop that is worth it because people here have a surprisingly warm smile that you rarely find in suburbs. I don't quite understand the hype about the “Hipster Cafés”, but the weekly farmer market event on Saturday morning is really great: fresh products, local craftsmen and a bit loud chatter about the weather, which is always a bit too hot for the summer. And when I sit in the car in the evening and see the lights of Dyer Township fade slowly, I think that this city has more to offer than one would suspect at first sight – a silent magnet for those who seek the authentic, without the whole buckling taste.
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Advantage:
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The first place I have to mention is that Indiana Dunes National Park – a piece of untamed nature, which is just a short jump over the I‐95 from Dyer. I spent a rainy afternoon there, while other tourists fought over sunsets with their Instagram stories; I, on the other hand, found the moss-covered dunes and the quiet plunders of Lake Michigan much more satisfying. Parking is usually easy, except for the weekends in the summer, when the field becomes full of campers and you almost have to pull a ticket for a parking lottery.
A few miles further, right on the coast, this is Miller Beach in Gary – a beach that offers more than sand and sun. I don’t understand the hype around the “hippe Strandpromenade” because most visitors here are looking for a cool drink at the Beach Club, but the real highlight is the venerable Miller Beach Boardwalk, which sounds like a narrow, slightly cracking path through the dunes. On a windy Tuesday night I discovered a small jazz quartet that sounded almost as good as the noise of the waves.
If you have enough of water, the path leads Portagewhere the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk to come. This 7-km path is a paradise for cyclists and walkers who like to see the Chicago skyline in the background. I once made a picnic with my neighbor from Dyer; the only problem was that a curious duck band made our sandwich almost completely plated – a real test for any culinary self-control.
A short trip after Hobart to the Lake County Fairgrounds. The exhibition hall is not what you would call a “culture temple”, but the annual County Fair is a true spectacle of carousels, local artisan stands and a portion of nostalgia that you rarely find in modern cities. I once saw an old tractor that was still driven by a retired farmer – a picture that reminds me of the good old times when Dyer was a bit more rural.
Right next to the Fairgrounds, Hobart Historical Museum. The museum is small, but it houses a surprisingly extensive collection of artefacts from the industrial flowering period of the county. I found an old steelworks logbook there that documented the strata of workers and their daily worries – a silent witness of the hard work that has shaped the region.
A little further south, near Hammond, this is Gary work, the largest still active steelworks in the USA. I visited the work on a guided tour because I thought it was a bit too industrial for my taste. Surprisingly, the combination of moaning machines and the smell of metal was almost hypnotizing – an experience that you don't get every day, and that reminds you that the region consists not only of beaches and parks.
At the end of my small tour, Michigan City Lighthouse not missing. The lighthouse stands proudly on the banks of Lake Michigan and offers stunning views over the water. I experienced a sunset there that was so intense that I almost thought the light itself would illuminate the city of Dyer. The parking lot is usually free as long as you do not come to the high season, and the small museum inside the tower tells the story of shipping on the lake – a perfect place to let the day end.
Whether you are looking for nature, history or industrial flair, the surroundings of Dyer provide a colorful mix that surprises every traveler. The places mentioned show that Dyer Attractions not only can be found in the city itself, but that a short trip to the surrounding area can be equally worthwhile.
The history of Dyer begins long before Highway 30, which I use today as a retreat for my weekly bike tours, and it can best be found in a few simple but surprisingly charming corners of the city.
I always start with Dyer Parkbecause this is the real heart for everyone who believes a park is just a piece of lawn with a few benches. No, there is a small lake that is populated by ducks in the summer, and a playground that is so colorful that it lights up even the grayest Monday. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem – then the cars are like in a sardine box, and you have to decide whether you want to walk the way to the toilet or rather put the next café on Main Street.
A short walk further (or a short sprint if you are looking for the adrenaline) leads you to Dyer Community Center. I don't quite understand the hype around the indoor swimming pool – it's just a large pool with cool water that looks refreshing in the summer and becomes an involuntary ice bath in winter when the heating strikes. Nevertheless, the gym there is really great, and the trainers have the rare gift to motivate you without too much annoying you. If you are lucky, you will get one of the free yoga classes offered there on Wednesdays; This is the only time I volunteered without thinking about my back pain.
A few blocks further Dyer Public Library, a place I like to call “the silent oasis for stressed millennials”. The shelves are full of local history books, which you would probably never read, but the atmosphere is so cozy that you immediately have a book about the history of the corn fields in Indiana. Wi-Fi is faster than that in most of the city's cafés, and the staff is always ready to give you a tip where you get the best croissant in Dyer – a real secret tip that I rarely prize.
If you're looking for something spiritual, the St John the Baptist Catholic Church A must. The church is not only an architectural jewel with high windows, but also a place where you can share a breakfast with the parishioners on a Sunday morning, which tastes better than what you get in most Diner chains. I once tried a choir there and realized that my voice sounds better if I don't use it – a little comfort for everyone who believes they could sing.
A little away from the main roads Dyer Historical Society Museum. There are no glittering exhibits here, but real artefacts from the founding period: old tools, photos of horse carriages and a dusty diary of an early settler that reveals more about daily life than any modern reality show. I found an old map that shows that Dyer was once an important hub for the railroad – a fact that most locals hardly know because they prefer to talk about the new shopping center.
A short detour to Dyer Town Hall is worthwhile if you want to feel part of a real small town administration. The facade is simple, but the interior houses a small town hall museum that summarizes the city history in a series of posters and photos. I once met the mayor who told me that the city is planning a “Dyer Days” festival every year – an event that consists more of a schoolyard festival, but ends with a fireworks that dips the neighborhood into a short-lived light sea.
Last but not least, Dyer Farmers Market do not forget, which takes place every Saturday at the community center parking lot in the summer. There are fresh strawberries, homemade jams and a stand where an older gentleman sells his home-style wooden toys – a real treasure for children and nostalgic. I bought a pumpkin there that was so big that I hardly got him through the door, and that was the only time I took a pumpkin home as a souvenir.
All this together Dyer Attractions to a mixture of everyday charm and surprising highlights that you only discover when you are ready to stroll a little off the beaten paths. And if you're in Indiana the next time, don't forget to sneak your shoes – Dyer has more to offer than you would suspect at first glance.
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