Honestly, if you’re looking for “Wanatah Sights” you’ll get the typical tourist album right away, but I’d rather tell you the story that really counts here: Founded in 1885 as a railway shrine for the Chicago, St. Louis & Mackinaw, the town in Cass Township has created its charm from the rough pioneering life that later joined the rural LaPorte County. I feel that the old wooden houses talk more about ambition than any brochure.
If you're going over I‐90 by car, take exit 12 and let go of the wide fields – that's the real arrival, not a GPS signal that leads you to a shopping mall. I don't understand the hype around the small cafes, but the rustic diner on Main Street has the best milk coffee I've ever tasted, and that without hipster filters.
A short trip to the adjacent LaPorte County Museum is nice, but the real highlight is the open field behind the old railway station, where locals in the summer wear barbecue parties – this is what I call “Wanatah Sights” when I’m honest. And if you ask yourself how to get here, just take the train to Michigan City and get around, that's almost a ritual that makes the place even more authentic.
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 Wanatah, 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 stop of my little Odyssey was the Indiana Dunes National Park area, which is only half an hour drive from Wanatah – a place you cannot overlook when you travel along the coast of the Michigan Sea. I spent a few hours stabbing over the sandy dunes, and I must admit that the noise of the water is almost hypnotic, although I felt more attracted by the spectacular view there. Parking is usually a Klack at the main entrance, but as soon as the weekend starts, the field turns into a small battlefield of cars and picnic blankets. I then hid myself in the less frequented West dunes, where I observed a rare field hay – a real highlight that you do not find in every guide.
A short detour to Michigan City brought me to the iconic Michigan City Lighthouse, which is proud to watch over the port. The lighthouse is not only a photo motif, but also a piece of lively history, which I enjoyed in the ascent the crunching stages and the salty scent of the lake. The entrance is free, and parking directly in front of the lighthouse is convenient as long as you are not there at noon when the tourist streams come from nearby beaches. I have met an old couple who has come to the sunset for over thirty years – that really impressed me.
Located in the interior of the country, just 20 minutes from Wanatah, LaPorte County Historical Society Museum is located. I must confess that I was initially skeptical – museums in small cities rarely have the certain something. But the exhibition on the railway history of the region has completely tied me up, especially the original work from the 1920s. Parking is a children's game because the museum is located in a small parking lot right behind the building. While I was standing there, a young student came by and told me that the museum also serves as a venue for local music evenings – a detail that I would never have experienced otherwise.
Another jewel I couldn't leave is the Porter County Museum in Valparaiso. The building itself is a restored mansion from the 19th century. Century, which today serves as a museum and gives a fascinating insight into the rural life of the early settlers. I found an old map that shows the original boundaries of Cass Township – a real find for historical lovers. The museum offers free guided tours, and parking is almost always free at the back end of the museum area, except on Saturday afternoons when school classes come.
For those who prefer to combine some green and water, the St. Joseph River is an underestimated paradise. I rented a kayak and I paddled up the river, past lush meadows and small villages that you only know from the car. The access point at the Riverside Park in LaPorte is well signposted, and parking is usually easy there as long as you don't get to the high season. During a short break on the shore, I heard an older couple, who talked about their “years on the river” – that gave the whole an almost nostalgic note.
A last stop that completes my trip is the Willow Creek Winery, a small family-run winery hidden in the gentle hills around Wanatah. I tried a glass of the in-house Pinot Noir there, which was surprisingly well suited to the local cheese plates. The winery has a small car park right in front of the house, and the staff is so friendly that they even gave me some tips for the best hiking trails in the area. I almost felt like a local – a rare feeling for a visitor.
So, Wanatah Sights search should not only keep the city in mind, but explore the whole area – from majestic dunes to historic lighthouses to charming museums and hidden wineries. Each of these places has its own character, and I can only recommend taking the car, schedule a little time and get surprised by the little surprises.
If you ask me, this is Wanatah Community Park what I would most likely call the heart of this tiny little town – not just because there is the only public swimming pool I have ever seen. I played there on a hot July night with a few local frisbee, and while I tried not to transport the ball into the oversized sandbox, I noticed that the car park (yes, a small but working car park) is mostly empty, except Saturdays when the whole city suddenly decided to present its barbecue arts. A short walk leads you to the baseball fields where the local teams celebrate their “championships” – a spectacle that should not be missed if you have the true spirit of Wanatah Sights to experience.
A few blocks further Wanatah Public Library, a place I like to call as the “intellectual cafe”, although there is no coffee – but a lot of books you will never read because you prefer to hear the stories of the neighbors. I remember how I once scrolled through an old photo album of the city and was suddenly addressed by an 80-year-old woman who told me that the picture came from her and her dog in 1972. Parking? Simple: the small side street behind the building always has a few free places as long as you are not at the main traffic time (afternoon between 15 and 17) there.
If you like a bit of religious architecture – and I don't just mean that because I once accidentally stumbled into the worship of a group of seniors – then this is the St John the Baptist Catholic Church A must. The red brick nave is almost too venerable for a little town that has only a few dozen shops. I saw a concert there where the organ was so loud that the windows began to wobble in the next room. And yes, parking is a bit a mystery: a small farm behind the church is usually free, but on Sunday morning, when the municipality comes, you have to enjoy the “Park and Pray” maneuver.
A short detour to Wanatah Historical Society Museum (the old school building now serving as a museum) showed me that the city has more history than one would suspect at first sight. There are old school books, an original wood stove and a dusty sign with the inscription “Wanatah – 1900”. I almost took the time to read an old diary from a peasant from the 1920s, and suddenly I was convinced that life was better at that time – until I realized that the only “Entertainment” was then the hearing of cow bells. Parking is a children's game here: a small car park right in front of the museum, which is rarely occupied, unless you arrive on the first Saturday of the month when the museum has a special exhibition.
Another landmark I cannot conceal is the old grain silo on the outskirts of the city, a huge concrete giant that has dominated the landscape since the 1950s. I once made a picnic, while a tractor passed and worshipped the siren – a soundtrack that you only find in Wanatah. The silo is not officially listed as a tourist attraction, but it is a perfect spot for Instagram photos if you want to feel like being a real Indian explorer. And the best thing: the adjacent field is a public car park where you can park your car as long as you don't try to climb the silo (this is not allowed, and the city has attached the sign “No Climbing” with an eye-catcher).
If you're looking for a place where you can sown with a real, not touristy burger, then go to Wanatah Diner on Main Street. I once ordered a “Blueberry Pancake” there because I thought it was a local specialty – and yes, it was just a pancake, but the service gave me a smile worth more than any fancy menu. The diner has a small car park right in front of the door, but on weekends, when the high school football matches take place, you have to enjoy the usual “Park and Walk”.
One last but not unimportant highlight is the Wanatah Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm on the Town Hall Square. Here you can find fresh apples, homemade jams and one or other handcrafted artwork – all of people you've probably seen while jogging in the park. I met an old man there who told me that he had been growing tomatoes for 30 years and that he used the same variety every year because “it’s just better”. Parking is a bit chaotic here: a few free places on the edge of the square, but if you come too late, you have to enjoy the “Park and Hope” maneuver where you hope someone will briefly drive his car.
At the end of the day, when you have fought through these small but fine corners of Wanatah, you will realize that what this city does is not the great museums or spectacular views, but the people who live here, and the way they defend their little treasures – with an eye-catcher, a loud laugh and a portion of local irony that you only find here.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
