Michigan City Visitor's Guide
Restaurants and Nom Noms
Best easts in Michigan City
Eclectic atmosphere with whimsical decor, this casual place is a local favorite with the owner herself often behind the counter. Fresh made bakery goods, artisan items made-to-order including wraps, sandwiches, salads, quiches, soups etc. with plenty of seasonal specials. Live music Sundays. This place gets very busy after 10AM, especially on the weekends! Go early or later to avoid longer waits.
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Dune Billies
201 Center StEclectic atmosphere with whimsical decor, this casual place is a local favorite with the owner herself often behind the counter. Fresh made bakery goods, artisan items made-to-order including wraps, sandwiches, salads, quiches, soups etc. with plenty of seasonal specials. Live music Sundays. This place gets very busy after 10AM, especially on the weekends! Go early or later to avoid longer waits.
Boasting plenty of outdoor seating, visitors and regulars alike enjoy the expansive outdoor deck allowing dining on Trail Creek. Perfect on a nice day to grab lunch or hang out with a group at the bar outside. Known to get busy during lunch and dinner, especially weekends.
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Bridges Waterside Grille
508 E 2nd StBoasting plenty of outdoor seating, visitors and regulars alike enjoy the expansive outdoor deck allowing dining on Trail Creek. Perfect on a nice day to grab lunch or hang out with a group at the bar outside. Known to get busy during lunch and dinner, especially weekends.
Clean and modern atmosphere with good food located in the Arts District. Grass-fed burgers & free-range pork chops served in a hip, down-to-earth setting.
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Fiddlehead Restaurant
422 Franklin StClean and modern atmosphere with good food located in the Arts District. Grass-fed burgers & free-range pork chops served in a hip, down-to-earth setting.
Sharing its building with the Yacht Club and surrounded by marina, Fish Camp feels more upscale but still draws a casual crowd. Known for seafood and cocktails, there is a great patio to enjoy apps and live music!
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Bartlett's Fish Camp
12 On the LakeSharing its building with the Yacht Club and surrounded by marina, Fish Camp feels more upscale but still draws a casual crowd. Known for seafood and cocktails, there is a great patio to enjoy apps and live music!
Quaint lunch spot featuring rotating European-inspired menu of soups, salads, appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. Clubs, empanadas, pasta plates, seafood options. Breakfast is limited - french toast, quiche, steak with eggs and croissant sandwich along with bakery items. Open until 8:30PM on First Fridays for dinner series, reservations.
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Panini Panini
1720 Franklin StQuaint lunch spot featuring rotating European-inspired menu of soups, salads, appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. Clubs, empanadas, pasta plates, seafood options. Breakfast is limited - french toast, quiche, steak with eggs and croissant sandwich along with bakery items. Open until 8:30PM on First Fridays for dinner series, reservations.
Fresh California-inspired Mexican food with generous portions at affordable prices. To-go nachos come in a pizza box!
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Mucho Mas
727 Franklin StFresh California-inspired Mexican food with generous portions at affordable prices. To-go nachos come in a pizza box!
Step back in time to waitresses serving you from the comfort of your car window. Typical hot dog joint with Chicago dogs, chili dogs, burgers, Italian beef and other sandwich options. Pick up a root beer float by the gallon.
Located about 2 minutes away from the home.
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Carlson's Drive In
118 W Coolspring AveStep back in time to waitresses serving you from the comfort of your car window. Typical hot dog joint with Chicago dogs, chili dogs, burgers, Italian beef and other sandwich options. Pick up a root beer float by the gallon.
Located about 2 minutes away from the home.
Local coffee shop only a couple minutes away. Has a drive in for quick service. Offers delicious breakfast sandwiches on bagels.
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BIGGBY COFFEE
3401 Franklin StLocal coffee shop only a couple minutes away. Has a drive in for quick service. Offers delicious breakfast sandwiches on bagels.
Best ice cream in Northwest Indiana, prove me wrong :)
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Bubbles Ice Cream Parlor
115 W Coolspring AveBest ice cream in Northwest Indiana, prove me wrong :)
Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant
208 Wabash StZorn Brew Works Co.
605 E 9th StLocal neighborhood pub with good eats, a great beer selection, and most importantly... pull tabs
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Barker Pub
607 E Barker AveLocal neighborhood pub with good eats, a great beer selection, and most importantly... pull tabs
Trendy coffee shop on Franklin Street
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FLUID Coffee Roasting Lab and Lounge
518 Franklin StTrendy coffee shop on Franklin Street
Kid Friendly Activities
Fun activities in the area for families with young kids
The Washington Park Zoo is a zoo located in Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana, which covers 15 acres on a hilly sand dune close to the southeastern tip of Lake Michigan. The park and zoo were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991
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Washington Park Zoo
115 Lake Shore DrThe Washington Park Zoo is a zoo located in Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana, which covers 15 acres on a hilly sand dune close to the southeastern tip of Lake Michigan. The park and zoo were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991
Community splash park with fountains & other kid-oriented water features open seasonally.
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Oasis Splash Park
Fedder DriveCommunity splash park with fountains & other kid-oriented water features open seasonally.
Boat tours leaving from the harbor in Michigan City. Offers various lunch and dining tours along Lake Michigan
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Harbor Country Adventures
200 Heisman HarborBoat tours leaving from the harbor in Michigan City. Offers various lunch and dining tours along Lake Michigan
Lubeznik Center for the Arts
101 W 2nd StLubeznik Center for the Arts
Apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, amazing apple doughnuts
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Garwood Orchards
5911 W 50 SApple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, amazing apple doughnuts
Very nice botanic gardens that frequently hosts concerts throughout the summer
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Friendship Botanic Gardens
2055 US-12Very nice botanic gardens that frequently hosts concerts throughout the summer
Great spot to take the kids for mini golf, go karts, and batting cages
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Flip's Cascade Mountain
7297 West US-20Great spot to take the kids for mini golf, go karts, and batting cages
Beaches
This is a short hike to an awesome dune and a ton of beach to spread out on in Indiana Dunes National Park.
You will need to pay for a park day pass or buy a National Park pass to visit here starting in 2022, but it is absolutely worth it. I would recommend coming early.
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Mount Baldy
This is a short hike to an awesome dune and a ton of beach to spread out on in Indiana Dunes National Park.
You will need to pay for a park day pass or buy a National Park pass to visit here starting in 2022, but it is absolutely worth it. I would recommend coming early.
This beach actually connects all the way to Mt. Baldy. It's a little bit of a hike down to the beach but it is a beautiful area of the National Park.
You may need to pay for a park day pass or buy a National Park pass to visit here starting in 2022, but it is absolutely worth it. I would recommend coming early.
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Central Beach
This beach actually connects all the way to Mt. Baldy. It's a little bit of a hike down to the beach but it is a beautiful area of the National Park.
You may need to pay for a park day pass or buy a National Park pass to visit here starting in 2022, but it is absolutely worth it. I would recommend coming early.
This is the main public beach in Michigan City. When the water levels are low this beach stretches for miles going West towards Michigan.
Street parking is very limited, you will likely have to purchase a day pass here.
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Bajja ta 'Washington Park
This is the main public beach in Michigan City. When the water levels are low this beach stretches for miles going West towards Michigan.
Street parking is very limited, you will likely have to purchase a day pass here.
Hikes
Great trail especially in the spring and fall.
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Cowles Bog Trailhead
1618 N Mineral Springs RdGreat trail especially in the spring and fall.
Short but tough hiking trail in the Indiana Dunes State Park. This is a must do when visiting Indiana Dunes!
If you'd like to make a day of it, get this one done early then do the Trail 9 10 loop for a longer loop to finish out your day.
The 3 Dune Challenge
Trail 7Short but tough hiking trail in the Indiana Dunes State Park. This is a must do when visiting Indiana Dunes!
If you'd like to make a day of it, get this one done early then do the Trail 9 10 loop for a longer loop to finish out your day.
Dune Ridge Trail
Dune Ridge TrailFun but short hike with a great view of the Great Marsh
Mountain Biking
Small under the radar spot with surprisingly fun intermediate and advanced loops. This place has more vertical (and more climbing) than you would expect for the area and better yet, it's not too far from the house.
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Red Mill County Park
0185 S Holmesville RdSmall under the radar spot with surprisingly fun intermediate and advanced loops. This place has more vertical (and more climbing) than you would expect for the area and better yet, it's not too far from the house.
Chikaming Township
Cross country trails that weave through marsh, lush forest and pine forest.
Best trails in Michiana for an intermediate or advanced rider (with a beginners loop as well). advanced warning these trains are pretty gnarly and lots of climbing
Andrews Mountain Biking Trailhead
Campbell DriveBest trails in Michiana for an intermediate or advanced rider (with a beginners loop as well). advanced warning these trains are pretty gnarly and lots of climbing
In my biased opinion this is the most fun MTB trail in NWI. The stuff across the street is more fun and flowy, the trails on the lake side can be technical, tight, and difficult.
Soldiers Memorial Park MTB Trailhead
Lake Shore DriveIn my biased opinion this is the most fun MTB trail in NWI. The stuff across the street is more fun and flowy, the trails on the lake side can be technical, tight, and difficult.