Guidebook for Chesterton
Food Scene
Bartlett's Gourmet Grill & Tavern
131 East Dunes HighwayFamily friendly with upscale food and drink.
Great food and coffee. It's open until 3pm everyday. Vegan meals and kids meals
11 locals recommend
Third Coast Spice Cafe
761 Indian Boundary RdGreat food and coffee. It's open until 3pm everyday. Vegan meals and kids meals
Nice scene! Laura the owner is really sweet and it's the only coffee house in town.
8 locals recommend
Red Cup Cafe & Deli
115 BroadwayNice scene! Laura the owner is really sweet and it's the only coffee house in town.
Duneland Pizza
520 BroadwayGreat outdoor space to eat and decent pizza.
Not great for little kids because the space is really small. It's a local burger place with grass fed beef and it's awesome!
18 locals recommend
Octave Grill
105 S Calumet RdNot great for little kids because the space is really small. It's a local burger place with grass fed beef and it's awesome!
The food is a bit pricey but it's good and the outdoor seating is charming. Great for a date night.
20 locals recommend
Lucrezia® Café
428 S Calumet RdThe food is a bit pricey but it's good and the outdoor seating is charming. Great for a date night.
Have not been here yet but I heard it's awesome because it's a restaurant with sweeping views of the lake. My kids are I are excited to try it.
23 locals recommend
Sunset Grille
6 On the LakeHave not been here yet but I heard it's awesome because it's a restaurant with sweeping views of the lake. My kids are I are excited to try it.
Parks & Nature
The beach! It has a few food trucks and icecream most days.
66 locals recommend
Indiana Dunes State Park
Indiana Dunes State ParkThe beach! It has a few food trucks and icecream most days.
Indiana Dunes National Park
1215 North State Road 49Hiking more secluded beaches -
Has some info on the native plants and animals. A great place to learn about the Dunes. It is also the start of the 3 Dune Challenge. My 3 year old did this last year so I'm not sure how challenging it really is but it was fun to climb the Dunes at the Dunes State Park! Hope you can try it! For great lake views try out the 3 Dune Challenge or trail 9.
Nature Center
Has some info on the native plants and animals. A great place to learn about the Dunes. It is also the start of the 3 Dune Challenge. My 3 year old did this last year so I'm not sure how challenging it really is but it was fun to climb the Dunes at the Dunes State Park! Hope you can try it! For great lake views try out the 3 Dune Challenge or trail 9.
nice park with the beach, playgrounds and views of the lake.
60 locals recommend
Washington Park Beach
nice park with the beach, playgrounds and views of the lake.
The property was developed by an artist, and it is clear that this was his masterpiece. Bill Brincka was a professor at the Art Institute of Chicago, and his creativity can be seen throughout the gardens. Bill and his companion, Basil Cross, spent more than 40 years developing and nurturing four acres of landscaped gardens, which are surrounded by another 21 acres of pristine woodlands.
Bill and Basil lived in the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home on the property until Bill’s death, in 2001. After Basil passed away in 2006, Porter County Parks and Recreation purchased the property to create a public park. Our staff, lead by horticulturalist Matt Brown, have since reclaimed many of the original gardens, clearing overgrowth and invasive plants to reveal the beauty of the landscape that was cultivated with such care by the original owners.
The gardens boast 400 different types of hostas, 450 varieties of daffodils, 25 kinds of crab apple trees, 40 cultivars of ornamental grasses and 25 varieties of forsythias. And that’s just for starters. You have to come out to the gardens and experience them for yourself to truly understand how special this property truly is.
Brincka Cross Gardens
425 E Furness RdThe property was developed by an artist, and it is clear that this was his masterpiece. Bill Brincka was a professor at the Art Institute of Chicago, and his creativity can be seen throughout the gardens. Bill and his companion, Basil Cross, spent more than 40 years developing and nurturing four acres of landscaped gardens, which are surrounded by another 21 acres of pristine woodlands.
Bill and Basil lived in the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home on the property until Bill’s death, in 2001. After Basil passed away in 2006, Porter County Parks and Recreation purchased the property to create a public park. Our staff, lead by horticulturalist Matt Brown, have since reclaimed many of the original gardens, clearing overgrowth and invasive plants to reveal the beauty of the landscape that was cultivated with such care by the original owners.
The gardens boast 400 different types of hostas, 450 varieties of daffodils, 25 kinds of crab apple trees, 40 cultivars of ornamental grasses and 25 varieties of forsythias. And that’s just for starters. You have to come out to the gardens and experience them for yourself to truly understand how special this property truly is.
Central Beach
Kemil Beach
It's free and dogs are allowed
West Beach Bath House
West Beach RoadPorter Beach
Wabash Avenuesmaller free beach.
Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk
100 Riverwalk DrIf you are the type that will WALK MILES TO GET TO A SECLUDED BEACH, this is your spot. On your way to the beach you will walk through the remnant of the once-widespread wetland system called Cowles Bog. The bog encompasses a marsh surrounding a small fen, where a stand of tamaracks and white pines grows on a floating mat of peat moss. Starting near the guardhouse in the northeastern part of the site, a boardwalk trail passes marshes and ponds that host horned grebes, black-crowned night herons, buffleheads, and a myriad of other water birds.
10 locals recommend
Cowles Bog Trailhead
1618 N Mineral Springs RdIf you are the type that will WALK MILES TO GET TO A SECLUDED BEACH, this is your spot. On your way to the beach you will walk through the remnant of the once-widespread wetland system called Cowles Bog. The bog encompasses a marsh surrounding a small fen, where a stand of tamaracks and white pines grows on a floating mat of peat moss. Starting near the guardhouse in the northeastern part of the site, a boardwalk trail passes marshes and ponds that host horned grebes, black-crowned night herons, buffleheads, and a myriad of other water birds.
Dunbar Beach
Lake view Beach
West Beach Trail Loop
West Beach Trail LoopEntertainment & Activities
Seven Peaks Waterpark Duneland
1275 Waverly RdGreat for young kids! The wave pool is always heated.
Our library is awesome for kids 8 and under. It has 4 little play station for them and the book section is up to date. It's always changing themes. Your kids will love it.
Westchester Public Library - Thomas Branch
200 W Indiana AveOur library is awesome for kids 8 and under. It has 4 little play station for them and the book section is up to date. It's always changing themes. Your kids will love it.
open every night of the week with outdoor movies and an old school drive in theme.
23 locals recommend
49'er Drive-in
675 N Calumet Aveopen every night of the week with outdoor movies and an old school drive in theme.
Bellaboo's Play and Discovery Center
2800 Colorado StFun indoor play zone for kids 10 and under.
Aracade, pizza, golf, batting cages, and go karts. Great for kids of all ages.
22 locals recommend
Zao Island
1050 Horse Prairie AveAracade, pizza, golf, batting cages, and go karts. Great for kids of all ages.
Drinks & Nightlife
Running Vines Winery
101 BroadwayLove the wine and kids are allowed.
Hunter's Brewing
1535 S Calumet RdOpen until 9pm - it's a nice place for craft beer. Tasty!
In town with a little fence so you can share wine while watching the kids play in a fenced in area.
Butler Winery
401 BroadwayIn town with a little fence so you can share wine while watching the kids play in a fenced in area.
Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant
208 Wabash StEssentials
Jewel-Osco
747 Indian Boundary RdShopping
Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets
601 Wabash Stoutdoor shopping mall with lots of stores.
Sightseeing
Every Saturday until 2pm the Market is open with live music. We go most Saturdays to grab some food and check out the music.
20 locals recommend
Chesterton’s European Market
220 BroadwayEvery Saturday until 2pm the Market is open with live music. We go most Saturdays to grab some food and check out the music.