What makes highland sights so special is the unique mix of rustic history and modern small town ambivalence, which you can only feel right when you cross the old railway bridge over Lake County Creek and suddenly hear the silent ratter of the past. I have always wondered why the founders chose a piece of land here in 1835, which was barely more than a bunch of trees and a few field paths – probably because they had the dream of their own piece of America that is not suffocated by big cities. Today, Highland is located in the heart of North Township, embedded in the vast Lake County, and you can feel it immediately when you depart from the I‐90 and the signs “Welcome to Highland” appear, which sound more like a friendly eye-catcher than after a promotion.
Honestly, the streets here have character: Main Street is lined with old brick buildings that tell more stories than any brochure, and the people who do their daily care there seem to know that the real highlight is not a shiny amusement park, but the authentic coexistence. When you arrive by train from Chicago, just get off at the Lake County Station and take the local bus that takes you directly to the center – no stress, no crowd, just a short chat with the driver who recommends you the best cafes that are not in any guide. And while you sit there, you can hear the quiet sums of the city that floats between the old barns and the new housing estates – a sound that says: “There is more to discover here than you suspect at first glance. ‘
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The first stop I put to every visitor is that Indiana Dunes National Park – a piece of untamed nature that extends along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and is only about 30 miles north of Highland. Here you can hike between high sand dunes, which rise out of the ground like forgotten waves, and hear the quiet noise of the water that crawls at rocky bays. I stood there for the first time in late spring when the wild flowers just shot out of the ground and flew around the bees like small, stable drones. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't arrive at the weekend between 10 am and 2 pm – then the visitor center turns into a small battlefield of cars and families with picnic baskets.
A short trip to Gary leads you to Miller Beach, one of the few places where you can feel the real “Lake-Life” feeling in Indiana without going straight to Chicago. The beach is clean, the water surprisingly clear, and the surrounding dunes provide enough shade to escape the summer heat motto. I remember how I started an improvised volleyball match with an old friend there, which quickly took a conversation about the best fish rolls in the city – a culinary highlight that I have not forgotten until today. A small note: The public toilets close at 7 p.m., so better put in a short stop beforehand.
If you feel that you have enough nature, take a look at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point. The place is famous for the annual County Fair in August, but the area is a collection pool for local events all year round – from old-timer fairs to rock-concerts that promise more than just a little noise. I once saw a vintage tractor race that produced more dust than speed, feeling that the time here actually slows down. Parking is usually sufficient, except if there is a large concert; then you can better use the side area along the main road.
A little further south, almost in the shadow of the city, this is Lake County Historical Museum in the old town of Crown Point. The museum is a small but fine collection of photos, artifacts and stories that trace life in the region from the beginnings to the present. I discovered an old school board where the names of pupils from the 1920s were engraved – a silent witness of a time that hardly anyone knows today. The museum is free, and parking right in front of the building is almost always free as long as you don't come on Saturday afternoon with a school class.
A little further east, in Valparaiso, waiting Borman Museum of Valparaiso University on art and history interested. The collection ranges from ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary American art – a colourful mix that can amaze even the most sceptical visitors. I was there on a rainy Tuesday when the museum was almost empty, and could look at the exhibition in peace; a perfect moment to admire the fine details of an old Greek vase without being distracted by loud groups. Parking is free at the museum grounds, but the road next to it fills up quickly when the Uni-Campus event starts.
A last but not less interesting place is that Miller in Miller Beach, a historic mansion from the early 1900s, which today serves as a museum and gives a fascinating insight into the life of the wealthy families of that time. I have seen a tour there with a very enthusiastic guide who knew more about the old chandeliers than I knew about my own favorite series. The house is located directly on the beach, so you can take a short walk on the water after the tour – a perfect conclusion for a day of discoveries. Parking is possible on the small farm behind the house, but only for a few cars, so better be there early.
Whether you're looking for nature, history or a bit of both, the environment of Highland, North Township, Lake, Indiana has a lot to offer. From the vast dunes of the Indiana Dunes National Park, to the relaxed beach life on Miller Beach, to the cultural treasures of the Lake County Historical Museum and the Borman Museum – there is something to discover for every taste. And if you want to put all this in a trip, then grab your curiosity and don't forget that the Highland Attractions not only stand on the city map, but above all in the stories of the people they love (or at least tolerate).
The history of Highland begins long before the first house I have ever seen – it lies in the old bricks of Main Street, which winds like a sloping smile through the town. I remember standing there for the first time, a rainy Tuesday, and the cracking sign of the former Highland Theatre looked like it had experienced more dramas than I had years of life. Today, the building is a café that tries to save the old cinema by serving Latte Art, which is barely better than the popcorn that was once sold here. Parking is usually easy as long as you don't get the weekly flea market chaos on the corner 5th and Main – then parking becomes a little adventure.
A short walk further leads to St John the Baptist Catholic Church, a stone relic from the 1860s that radiates more candlelight than tourist magnet. I took part in a Sunday Mass there, just to see that the organ is more snoring than an old tractor. Nevertheless, the church has a charm that you can't buy – the benches are uncomfortable, but this is part of the experience, and the windows show glass paintings that bring even the most sceptical Instagram influencers to amaze.
If you are looking for a place where you can read a book without a child chasing a remote car through the shelves, the Highland Public Library the right address. I spent more time there than I would like to admit, because the staff always sits on a smile that looks almost as real as the smile of the Stadtmayor at election promises. Wi-Fi is faster than the city newsletter system, and parking behind the building is an open field – perfect if you don't want to turn your car in circles.
A real highlight for the summer heat is that Highland Community Center with its oversized outdoor swimming pool. I once tried to swim a few lanes, just to see that the water treatment smells more chlorine than a hairdresser's salon after a continuous wave. Nevertheless, the swimming pool is a magnet for families, and the adjacent gym offers enough equipment to make even the most lavish visitors easy to sweat. On weekends there are often yoga classes outdoors – I tried this once, but unfortunately my flexibility is not as “high-land” as that of the locals.
For those who prefer to stay on solid ground, there is the small, but fine Highland Park. The park has a pond that is populated in autumn by ducks who have more interest in bread than visitors. I made a picnic there, while an older gentleman told me that he has been fishing here since his childhood – and that, although fishing here is strictly forbidden. The park is well signposted, and parking is right at the entrance, which means that you don't have to walk half a mile around the block to find a place.
When you ask yourself what Highland Attractions you really must have seen, then that is North Township Historical Museum the answer. The museum is a small building that shows more photos of old tractors than an agricultural fair. I have seen an exhibition on the railway line that once drove through the village – a piece of history that hardly mentions anyone today because the trains have long gone. The museum is free, and parking is an old parking lot that has more potholes than a field road, but that makes the charm.
Finally, I have to mention the annual “Highland Harvest Festival” which does not take place all year round, but is a good example of how the city tries to preserve traditions while at the same time trying to attract a little more visitors. I was there last year, had eaten corncaps, which tasted more like plastic, and asked me if the organizers had ever thought about marketing the festival not only as a “vent for locals”. Nevertheless, the festival has its own, slightly inclined attraction – just what Highland is.
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