Visit Shorewood Forest Porter Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the beautiful park "Shorewood Forest" in Indiana. A sample of nature experiences and family excursions. Recreation at the lake, hikes through the forest area and picnic possibilities.
Honestly, if you think Shorewood Forest landmarks are just another place in the Middle West, then you haven't seen the picture of the endless fields and the old railroad tracks that have been forming the backbone of the municipality since the 1800s. The area originated from the hard pioneering spirit of the first settlers who saw the country of Union Township in Lake County into small farms before the city of Porter transformed the surrounding area into a suburban network. I have the feeling that the story is still in the lawns – you feel the old wood that once supported the barns when you stroll over the main road on a lukewarm summer evening.
A short trip by car over I‐94 or a short jump with the South Shore Line to Michigan City brings you to the heart of this underestimated spot. There, where the old post office still carries a sign that has not been updated since the 1950s, you will find the true flair: neighbors who will give you a beer while grilling over the fence, and children who are hiding in the nearby forest between pine and oak. And yes, I don't understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between the fields and the quiet lakes, there is a charm you can't google – this is the true Shorewood Forest experience.
I have to admit right at the beginning that my favorite place in Shorewood Forest is not some hipster café, but the inconspicuous Shorewood Forest Park. Where the children circle on the old, slightly sloppy playground and the seniors on the benches keep their daily “I—bin-to-alt-for-this-weather” monologue, one senses the true heart of this neighborhood. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem – then the cars are like small, lost ducks on the edge, while I am tired of opening a free space between a van and a rusty pick-up.
A short walk further (I mean, who still wants to take the bus today?) leads to Shorewood Forest Community Center. There are yoga classes that look more like a group therapy for stressed bureaucrats, and a room where the local senior group bingo plays – a spectacle that I never quite understand, but still follow each time with a wide grin. The door is always open, so you can spit in at any time as long as you are not in the lunch break and the sound of squeaking chairs does not interfere.
Now there's a place I'm just half serious: Shorewood Forest Golf Club. A private club, yes, but the outdoor facilities can be admired from the street, and the green is so well maintained that you almost feel the grass is poured with gold water. I once tried to hit a few balls, just to realize that entering the place without invitation is more like “increasible” – a little hint for those who think they could just put some birdies in it.
A few steps further Shorewood Forest Library, a small but fine branch office of the Porter County Public Library. I spent more time there than I would like to admit, because I always find new local history books explaining why the street was named after a former mayor. The staff is friendly, but if you ask for the latest bestsellers, you'll only get a look at a man who's thinking about whether he shouldn't borrow a book about the history of rubber boots.
A short detour to Shorewood Forest Fire Station is also worthwhile – not because you can see fire there (they are well-trained), but because the red roof and the squeaking sirens convey a bit the feeling of “Hollywood action film” when you just stand in the rain and walk along the road. I once caught the fireman at lunch; he explained to me that the food here is “only for the emergency”, and I thought this is probably the most honest marketing I've ever heard.
A little melancholic is that Shorewood Forest Cemetery. It's not exactly a place for parties, but the old tombstones tell stories you can't find in any guide. I found a veteran there, whose inscription says that he “always made the first step”, and that somehow reminded me of my own attempts to get up early to see the sunrise – a daily battle I almost feel epic here.
And because I don't just want to talk about dead things, there's still the monthly Shorewood Forest Farmers Marketin the park. Fresh vegetables, homemade jams and a stand where an older gentleman claims his tomatoes were “secret” and “only for true connoisseurs”. I bought a piece of pumpkin there for the first time and was surprised that it actually tastes better than what I find in the supermarket – no joke.
If you now think that is all a little too much “local charm”, then I don’t understand the hype around the big cities, but Shorewood Forest sights have their own, slightly slanted charm. I mean, there are no crowded museums, only real people, a bit of dust and the occasional squeaking of an old swing. And this is more than enough for me to return every time I feel the next time life becomes too loud.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was Indiana Dunes National Park, a piece of untamed nature that extends directly at the southern tip of Lake Michigan – a place that you cannot overlook when you take the road south from Shorewood Forest. I spent a few hours stabbing over the sand, while a wind from the lake was constantly on my face and reminded me that I would rather sit in the car. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then all the families move on with picnic baskets.
A short trip after Miller Beach followed because I could not ignore the reputation of finding the best sunsets of the state. The beach promenade is spiced with small cafés serving more art than coffee – I got a cappuccino there that smelled more like a canvas than beans. As I stood there, an elderly man came by and told me that he has been throwing out his fishing since the 70s every summer; I scorned him and thought that the next time I'd rather use the swimming pool in the hotel.
The Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, a narrow strip of green that stretches like a band between the lake and the river. There are more joggers than ducks, and that's kind of soothing. I put myself on a bench to watch the passing boats, and suddenly I noticed that a duck pair shared a small piece of bread – a rare moment of real harmony that I almost abused for an Instagram post, but then rather kept in mind.
A little further north lies Bailly Homestead, a historical estate, built by French fur dealers from the 19th century century witnesses. I must admit that I spent the whole day admiring the old wooden beams, while a guide in my ear explained that once a trade with bison and furs flourished. The museum is small, but the atmosphere is so dense that you can hear almost the rustling of the old leather boots that once stung over the farm.
A short trip after Marquette Park in Michigan City was almost a coincidence – I had overlooked the sign that there is a small lighthouse that still works. The lighthouse is not just a monument of modernity, but it offers a fantastic view over the lake, and I took a few photos there that I will never upload later, because I prefer to keep the picture for me.
The next point on my list was that Indian Dunes State Park, which is slightly less overrun compared to the national park, but has more picnic tables. I have made a small campfire there – yes, that is allowed as long as you observe the rules – and a few Marshmallows roasted, while a few teenagers nearby spoke loudly about their favorite Spotify playylists. This was a short but fine moment that showed me that even in a seemingly quiet environment, life continues to pulsate.
A little further west, almost on the edge of the city, lies this Porter County Museum. I have learned more about local history than I would have ever thought necessary – from the first settlers to the modern industrial plants. The museum is small, but the exhibitions are well curated, and I was particularly happy about the old photo gallery that documents life in the 1920s. Practically, there is a small parking lot, which is usually free as long as you do not arrive at lunchtime when the school classes make their excursions.
So, after Shorewood Forest Attractions searches that offer more than just a few houses on the edge of the lake, then the environment is a true treasure box of nature, history and small but fine moments that you only discover when you are ready to wander a little off the beaten path.
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