Top 5 Things to Do Along the South Shore

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Dina Miller

Along the South Shore of Lake Michigan is Lake County, Indiana, part of the Chicago Metropolitan area, and a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas.  As expected, Lake Michigan is featured in some of the most popular attractions, but there is a whole lot more!  Read on for our top five recommendations of things to see and do Along the South Shore.

Visit Whiting for the Lake, Museum and Festivals!

Along the shores of Lake Michigan, Whiting is the home of the Mascot Hall of Fame. It’s more than just a fun factory and a place to honor collegiate and pro mascots;  it’s an interactive children’s museum, with educational displays and exhibits.  Whihala Beach and WhoaZone, the one acre floating waterpark, are close by.  The world famous Pierogi Fest, an Eastern European celebration centered around the stuffed dumpling is held in downtown Whiting in July and features the wacky parade with babushkas and the lawn mower brigade.

Try Your Luck at the Casinos

There are three casinos offering 24/7 gaming, fine dining and live entertainment.  The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is famous for its memorabilia and Hard Rock merchandise.  And since this casino is located in the hometown of the infamous Jackson Family, some of the memorabilia showcases their story.    The Horseshoe Casino and the Ameristar, are other places to try your luck.

Be Inspired at The Shrine of Christ’s Passion

This interactive half mile winding path with 40 life-size bronze sculptures depicting the stations of the cross, attracts visitors world-wide.  The Shrine of Christ’s Passion  starts with the Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane, and leads through the journey of Christ’s Passion.

Use your Imagination at Bellaboo’s

The Bellaboo’s Children’s Play and Discovery Center in Lake Station is designed for imaginative and creative fun and play for kids age nine and younger.  There are 12 hands-on kid sized pretend settings, including a supermarket, pizza parlor and construction zone, as well as  block play, do-it-yourself face painting, an art studio, dress-up, water tables, soft-contained-play equipment, a reading room, children’s do-it-yourself cooking, a performance area, and space just for infants and toddlers.  Outdoor play includes places to dig for dino bones, climb a tree-pee, explore the garden and ride a pedal cart.

See Agri-Tourism “Disneyland” at Fair Oaks Farms

Located farther south, right off I-69, is the Fair Oaks Farms Campus, the Disneyland of Agri-Tourism.   Dairy Adventure, Pig Adventure and Crop Adventure are experiences planned in the most fun way!  See and explore all about food production on one of the largest working dairy farms in the nation. You may see a live birth in the birthing barn, or take a sonogram of a pregnant sow.  There’s an on-site restaurant, cafe and lodging to enhance your experience.

There’s far more to do than we could cover with a top five, so find even more exciting things to see and do Along the South Shore and around Indiana’s Cool North here.