Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore offers much fun in the sun during the summer months for those native to Northwest Indiana. But for those souls not familiar with the southern edge of Lake Michigan, the near 15,000 acres of shoreline continually offer the perfect playground for a variety of activities even in the off season.
Whether bird watching, sledding or even strolling along the shoreline against a crisp chill, the winter months act as an excellent time for people to become acquainted with Indiana’s dunes.
The national lakeshore encompasses everything from not only shorefront, but also winding rivers, trails and wetlands.
According to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore website, the dunes are sustained within unique ecology. “Immediately inland from the beaches, sand dunes rise to almost 200 feet in a series of ridges, blowouts, and valleys. Extensive wetlands fill many depressions between the dune ridges.”
“The national lakeshore preserves an important remnant of a once vast and unique environment, resulting from the retreat of the last great continental glacier some 14,000 years ago. The park landscape represents at least four major successive stages of historic Lake Michigan shorelines, making it one of the most extensive geologic records of one of the world’s largest, fresh water bodies.”
Journeying to the dunes during the winter months can be an eclectic delight for both visitors and locals for a variety of reasons chief among them being the fact that crowds are virtually non-existent.
During the chilly winter months it seems that many often shy away at the thought of heading to the beach because of reluctance to be exposed to frigid temps. The result ends up being deserted shoreline with vast and very convenient parking spaces, making a serene environment all the more accessible.
Nestled against Lake Michigan are the surrounding communities of Northwest Indiana, and the towns and cities that comprise this geographic region are also sure to entertain onlookers with old world charm and docile demeanor. After a day spent on the dunes of Lake Michigan and in the winter air there are a variety of restaurants and cafes located minutes from the shore that offer treats for people to warm up with.
So while many think that Lake Michigan is lovely in the summer in the end it seems that the dunes are sure to enchant even in the off season.
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