Honestly, if you ask yourself why anyone should talk about Lowell at all, let me start with a bit of history: in 1852 the railway came, and suddenly the small village from a field pile grew up to a real junction in the industrial Indiana. The founders, a bunch of ambitious settlers from New England, called the town after their hometown – and that was probably the only time they did something really original. Today Lowell is located in the Cedar Creek Township, embedded in the vast Lake County, and looks like a forgotten chapter that I like to hit again because it somehow gives me more character than the shining metropolises around the corner.
I usually get over the I‐65 by car because traffic here is rarely a drama – a short stop at the petrol station is enough to sniff the real “Lowell feeling”. If you prefer to travel by train, you can take the South Shore Line to the nearby Dyer station and then continue a few minutes in the car – that's almost like crossing the country yourself, only without the whole dust and sweat drama.
What I like about the Lowell sights is not the sheer number, but the way they turn the everyday into something special. The old brick houses, which still emanate the scent of freshly baked bread, the small café on Main Street, which has more personality than some 5 star restaurants, and the quiet fields that show an almost poetic green in the summer – this is the true heart of Lowell for me. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the big cities, but here next to the hustle is just fantastic how life pulsates a bit slower.
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 Lowell, 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 the Indiana Dunes National Park – a piece of untamed coastline that stretches only half an hour east of Lowell and yet conveys the feeling that you are in the middle of nowhere. I stood there once at sunrise, while the waves hit the sand quietly, and thought that this is the true counterpart to the crowded beaches of Miami – only without the bright neon lights and with significantly more gulls that steal the breakfast. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't arrive at the weekend between 9 am and 11 pm, then the field becomes a small battlefield of buses and caravans.
Only a few miles further, a bit south, lies the Indiana Dunes State Park, which, unlike the National Park, is rather a “small brother” but looks much more well-kept for it. Here there is a well-marked hiking trail that leads directly to Lake Michigan – perfect for a quick bath if you want to refresh after a long day in the office. I once made a picnic with friends, and while we were fighting over the best grill recipes, an elderly man came by and told that he had the same place here every year since the 60s. It almost made me reserve a fixed place – but then I realized that I didn't have a barbecue.
A short trip north leads to Gary, more precisely to Miller Beach, which is officially run as Marquette Park. Although the beach is not as wide as in the southern states, the water is crystal clear and the environment is characterized by a surprisingly quiet atmosphere. I once experienced a small concert from a local indie band that took place in the middle of the sand – that was a real “no joke feeling” because people were just there, enjoyed the sun and did not take care of the next Instagram photo. There are parking problems here only on Friday night when the city hosts a small music festival; otherwise a place at the edge of the parking space is completely sufficient.
Back in the vicinity of Lowell, there's what I'm lovingly calling the "Lowell Covered Bridge" – a real, old wooden framework bridge from 1875 that spans the Cedar Creek. Many tourists think it's just a photo stop, but for me it's a piece of lively history that you don't see every day. I put a bicycle down there to cross the bridge, and suddenly I heard the stick of the wood, which sounded almost like a quiet “returning back”. Parking is practical here, because the road ends directly at the bridge and you can simply turn off on the road – only please not on Sunday morning, if the local Old-Timer Club collection takes place, then the bridge is surrounded by tractors.
If you prefer to be on wheels, the Cedar Creek Trail is a must. The approximately five miles long way connects Lowell to the neighboring villages and offers a mix of forest trails and open fields, which offer a colour game especially in autumn, which impresses even the hardest Instagram influencer. I once made a run with my dog, and we were overtaken by an older couple who drove with an old tractor and sang loudly. It is practical that there are several small parking spaces along the trail, which are usually free – except for the weekends when the local running groups hold their “Early-Bird sessions”.
A bit further south, about 15 miles from Lowell, is Valparaiso, which attracts with its charming Broadway street. There is a mix of antique shops, cafes and the famous “Theater of the Arts”, which regularly shows local productions. I spent an evening there where a jazz quartet played in the back room of the “Café 5” – that was a real secret tip because most visitors only want to see the big shops. Parking is a bit tricky here because the road is often full, but a small side strip behind the town hall still offers a few free places.
The Porter County Museum is located right next to Valparaiso, in the old Carnegie library building. The museum is not just a mega cultural heritage, but it houses an amazing collection of artifacts from the region, including old maps that show how the area was once from prairie to arable land. I have once seen a guided tour with a very enthusiastic curator who linked each piece to a story that made me smile more than any ad. The museum has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually empty as long as you do not arrive on the first Saturday of the month when there is a flea market.
So next time you think about what you could do in the area of Lowell, Cedar Creek Township, Lake, Indiana, remember that the Lowell Attractions not only consist of a single place, but a colourful mix of nature, history and small local secret tips that make the whole experience really alive.
I have to admit to you: the first thing I like about Lowell is the old train depot on Main Street – a crunchy relic that tells more stories than some Instagram influencers. I spent a rainy afternoon there the other day, while an old man in a devastated trench coat told me about the “golden days” of the railway that the trains used to transport not only goods but also dreams. The building is now a small museum that doesn't require entry (sometimes nothing because there is no entry) and where you can lose yourself between rusty switches and yellowed schedules. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole city comes together for the “depot day”.
A short walk further Cedar Creek Park, a piece of nature that claims stubbornly against the suburban scene. Here there is a lake that is surprisingly cool in the summer – perfect if you are looking for a hot day in the car a refreshing bath without going straight to Indiana Dunes. The trails are well marked, and I almost ran because a sign “direction main path” suddenly showed me in the wrong direction. Nevertheless, the picnic area is always well visited, and grilling is almost a local sport.
If you're looking for something culture, look at it Lowell Historical Society Museum on. This is an old school building that now houses more dust than students, but the exhibitions are surprisingly alive. I found an old photo of a fair where a carousel looked almost like a UFO – a real eye-catcher. The museum is small, so you don't need to plan long ways; a short stop is enough to get a sense of the city history. And yes, the word “Lowell Sights” appears here more often than in every guide, because the locals are proud of what they have.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Lowell Community Park with her huge jumping pool. I played there in July with a few local Badminton while the children were planning in the water – a picture that is almost too cheesy for my ironic vein, but honestly, it works. The park has enough parking, and the only problem is that the jumping pool is frozen in winter, so you should come in summer when the water is still warm enough to show your toes.
For the bookworms among you there are Lowell Public Library. This is not only a place to read quietly, but also a social hub. I took part in a Poetry-Slam where a pensioner spoke about his love for Cornflakes – that was a real scratch. The library has free Wi-Fi, and parking right in front of the building is almost always free, because most visitors prefer to walk.
A bit off the main roads St John the Baptist Catholic Church, a Gothic building that speaks more of its history than any brochure. I visited a fair where the choir was so loud that I thought the roof could lift off. The church is open to visitors, and the small café next door serves the best coffee in the city – at least after my verdict.
Last but not least a short trip to Cedar Creek Traila narrow path that swells through fields and along the creek. I have seen a sunset where the light glittered over the water, and that was one of those moments that remind you of why you're even traveling. The trail is not signposted like an amusement park, so bring a phone with GPS, otherwise you could get lost – but that's just the adventure, right?
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
