More About 25+ Gorgeous Parks & Gardens to Visit in Northwest Indiana

25+ Gorgeous Parks & Gardens to Visit in Northwest Indiana

Pictured: Ogden Gardens in Valparaiso

********************

LAKE COUNTY:

BUCKLEY HOMESTEAD
3606 Belshaw Road, Lowell
Astronomy Center, Gift Shop, Hayrides, Picnic facilities, Tours, Trails, and more.
Click for Details


DEEP RIVER PARK AND HISTORIC WOODS GRIST MILL
9410 Old Lincoln Highway, Hobart
Fishing, Gift Shop, Hayrides, Historical Buildings, Picnic facilities, Playground, Trails and more.
Click for Details


GIBSON WOODS NATURE PRESERVE
6201 Parrish Avenue, Hammond
Gift Shop, Group Tours, Hiking Trails, Environmental Awareness Center, Wildlife Viewing Area and more.
Click for Details


GRAND KANKAKEE MARSH
21690 Range Line Road, Hebron
Boat and Canoe Launch, Fishing, Hunting, Picnic Facilities, Trails and more.
Click for Details


HIDDEN LAKE PARK
6355 Broadway, Merrillville
(219) 980-8790
Concessions, Clubhouse, Disc Golf, Fishing, Fitness Trail, Paddle boats, Picnic Facilities, Playground, Softball, Swimming and more.
Click for Details


LAKE ETTA COUNTY PARK
4801 West 29th Avenue, Gary
Fishing, Open Play Fields, Picnic Facilities, Playground, Recreational Equipment Rental, Swimming, Trails and more.
Click for Details


LEMON LAKE COUNTY PARK
6322 W. 133rd Avenue, Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Basketball, Cross Country Ski Rental (Dec-March/snow-permitting), 72 Hole Championship Disc Golf, Fishing, Food Concessions in Summer, Hayrides, Off Lease Dog Facility, Open Play Field, Picnic Facilities, Playground, Recreational Equipment Rental, Sand Volleyball, Soccer Field, Softball Diamonds, Tennis Courts, Trails and more.
Click for Details


MARQUETTE PARK
1 North Grand Boulevard, Gary
(219) 938-7362
Along with its signature landmarks and public beach access, Marquette Park offers sand dunes, two lagoons, an oak savanna that dates back more than 2,000 years, and Patterson Island -- areas popular with hikers, birdwatchers, fishermen, and photographers.
Click for Details


OAK RIDGE PRAIRIE & OAK SAVANNAH TRAIL
301 South Colfax Street, Griffith
Cross Country Ski Rental (Dec-Feb), Fishing, hayrides, Open Play Fields, Picnic Facilities, Recreational Equipment Rental, Trail Head of Oak Savannah Trail and more.
Click for Details


THREE RIVERS PARK
2800 Colorado Street, Lake Station
Fishing, Jon Boat and Trolling Motor Rentals (seasonally), Open Play Fields, Paddleboat Rentals (seasonally), Picnic Facilities, Trail and more.
Click for Details


TOLLESTON DUNES TRAIL
Hillcrest Road & Dunes Highway, Portage
The Tolleston Dunes Trail follows 10,000 year-old sand dunes that were formed when Lake Michigan was 25 feet higher than in recent years. Tolleston is the second youngest of four distinct dune systems found within the national lakeshore. Together these dune ridges provide a glimpse into the changing shoreline of Lake Michigan. You can hike the trail year-round, cross-country ski when snow permits, or walk to the accessible overlook point that has interpretive wayside exhibits.
Click for Details


WOLF LAKE PARK
121st at Calumet Avenue, Hammond
(219) 853-6437
Wolf Lake Memorial Park is home to boating, kayaking, fishing, windsurfing and a full host of outdoor recreational activities.
Visitors enjoy the Pavilion at Wolf Lake and the Aquatic Center, which are linked to the Hammond Marina and area amenities by way of a pedestrian trail.
Click for Details


LAPORTE COUNTY:


FRIENDSHIP BOTANIC GARDENS
2055 E. U.S. 12, Michigan City
(219) 878-9885
Welcome to Friendship Botanic Gardens, where forested woodlands, sprawling open spaces, and cultivated gardens spill over 100 acres of land that have been a tourist destination since 1936. Gardens are tucked throughout the beautiful valley of Trail Creek.
Click for Details


HERON ROOKERY
N. County Road 600 E., Michigan City
The Heron Rookery Trail follows along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 Great Blue Heron nests. After 60 years of nesting here, the herons have moved on to new nesting grounds. These woods remain alive with dozens of birds including kingfishers, woodpeckers and a wide variety of migrating and nesting warblers.
Click for Details


LUHR COUNTY PARK
3178 S. County Road 150 W., LaPorte
(219) 324-5855
Located on 89 acres just south of LaPorte, Luhr Park features four ecosystems: upland forest, wetland, prairie and stocked pond (fishing pole rental available at the Nature Center), paved trails, picnic shelter rental, picnic tables, restrooms, fishing pier, playground, boardwalks, observation tower, and a No-Leash Dog Exercise Area. There is also a geocache located in the park.
Click for Details


MICHIGAN CITY CAMPGROUND
1601 N US Highway 421, Michigan City
(219) 872-7600
Michigan City Campground is a privately owned family campground. It is nestled on 40 acres just 5 miles from Lake Michigan and open year round. We also have many monthly sites available with winter water, as well as seasonal and overnight spots. Michigan City Campground is a great place for fun and family gatherings.
Click for Details


PINHOOK BOG
856-902 N Wozniak Rd., Michigan City
The Pinhook Trail System features two very different habitats. The Upland Trail highlights a rich beech and maple forest growing on top of a glacial moraine formed about 15,000 years ago. The Bog Trail leads to a bog in a depression in the moraine created when a large piece of ice broke off the melting glacier. The bog features an incredible habitat with unique plants.
Click for Details


WASHINGTON PARK ZOO
115 Lakeshore Dr., Michigan City, Indiana 46360
219-873-1510
The Washington Park Zoo founded in 1928, encompasses 15 acres on a hilly sand dune and located near the southern shore of beautiful Lake Michigan. The zoo exhibits more than 90 species originating throughout the world. The animals are exhibited in natural settings, surrounded by botanical plantings. Among the exhibits are Bengal tigers, Cotton top tamarins, American alligators, Grizzly bear, Grey kangaroos, Ring-tailed lemurs, River otters, Bald eagles, and more.
Click for Details


PORTER COUNTY:


BRINCKA CROSS GARDENS
427 Furness Road, Michigan City
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.
Click for Details


COUNTRYSIDE PARK
5250 US HWY 6, Portage
This 33-acre park site is located in the southwestern part of the city, along U.S. 6, just east of County Line Road. Countryside Park features a playground, sledding hill, picnic shelter, softball field, and a fishing pond. The park also has access to the Prairie Duneland Trail which passes along the southern boundary of the park. Countryside park is most recognized as the home of the Portage Historical Society and the Alton Goin Historical Museum. The museum along with the restored structures of the Traeger Homestead create a farm-like setting for visitors to enjoy.
Click for Details


DUNN'S BRIDGE
500 E (over Kankakee River), Kouts
The bridge offers the only designated public access to the Kankakee River in Porter County, allowing fishermen and paddlers to launch their boat here and enjoy the beautify natural surroundings. Those who enjoy fishing can cast for walleye, bass, crappie, bluegill and Northern Pike, among others.
Click for Details


HAWTHORNE PARK
500 Ackerman Drive, Porter
(219) 921-1687
Community Building, Open Play Area, Playground, Shelter and more
Click for Details


IMAGINATION GLEN PARK
2275 McCool Rd, Portage
(219) 762-1675
At 276 acres, Imagination Glen is the largest park in the City of Portage. Located along the eastern boundary of the city, between State Road 149 and McCool Road, Imagination Glen is home to the Park Department's softball and soccer complexes, two sand volleyball courts, a BMX racetrack, and the 10-mile Outback Mountain Bike Trail. The park also contains a large nature preserve, two playgrounds, picnic shelters, open play space, access to fishing on Salt Creek and is bordered to the south by the Iron Horse Trail.
Click for Details


INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE
Visitor Center
1215 N State Rd 49, Porter
(219) 926-2255
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore hugs 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national lakeshore's 15,000 acres will continually enchant you. Hikers will enjoy 45 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers, and peaceful forests.
Click for Details


SUNSET HILL FARM COUNTY PARK
775 Meridian Road, Valparaiso
Sunset Hill Farm County Park is a hub of activity in Porter County. We offer a variety of events and festivals, hiking trails, camps, field trips and fitness programs year round. Whether you are a hiker or a birdwatcher, a runner or a gardener, a parent with active kids or an enthusiast of antique farm equipment, we have something for you at Sunset Hill Farm County Park.
Click for Details


GABIS ARBORETUM at PURDUE NORTHWEST
71 N 500 W, Valparaiso
(219) 462-0025
Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest is a 330-acre, dog-friendly oak preserve of formal gardens, woodlands, wetlands and prairies with more than 6 miles of hiking trails. Gabis Arboretum is open year round and offers a wide variety of events and classes for all ages. Proceeds received by the nonprofit organization power its conservation, restoration and education initiatives.
Click for Details


WOODLAND PARK
2100 Willowcreek Rd., Portage
This 64 acre park is the center of the City of Portage Park System. Woodland Park houses the Parks Department administrative offices, a community center featuring banquet halls, a multi-purpose gymnasium and access to the Iron Horse Trail. This picturesque wooded park is also home to Woodland Park Preschool, the Veterans Memorial, a playground, a skate park, a gazebo, picnic shelters, a sledding hill, an Oak Savanna habitat, the community garden and a dog park.
Click for Details

Date & Time

June 28, 2020

Additional Dates

This event also occurs on:
07/12/2020, 08/09/2020, 09/13/2020, 10/11/2020 and 46 other dates

Share This Event!

Add to My Calendar

More About Town Planner of NWI

The Town Planner of NWI is a wonderful community resource that brings homes & businesses together throughout Northwest Indiana by providing year-round information about your community.

The Town Planner calendar is mailed FREE via the USPS to over 106,000 homes across the region annually and offers superb savings from local businesses and organizations alongside gorgeous color photos of our area. Our calendars provide daily exposure as your business is put on display every day alongside important events and community information.

In addition to our annual printed calendar, we offer intuitive digital resources such as our website that is sourced locally from many Northwest Indiana businesses and organizations. It features all of the benefits of our calendar but makes it easy for the community to check events, click on local business links, and access coupons on the go.

You can also sign up for our FREE weekly e-newsletter to ensure that you never miss an event or chance to save money. Simply click on “newsletter” at the top of the page, fill in your zip code & email address!

Additional Details

Town Planner of NWI Logo

Location

Town Planner of NWI
228 W. Lincoln Highway, #188
Schererville, Indiana 46375

Learn More

Did you know you can follow any of our 175 Special Interest calendars and stay informed better than ever before? See them here. You can also create your own public or private calendar here. Post events to your calendar and ours at the same time! Terms and conditions may vary based on the policies of your local Town Planner publisher.

To learn more, watch our intro video!

*General Dental Care*
*Dentures & Implants*
*Cosmetic Dentistry & More*

Dr. Rifai has over a decade of experience treating high-profile patients in Ohio, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, plus a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
(219) 333-3368
We are open and here for you!
Medical, Dental & Eye Care Needs
Portage, Merrillville, DeMotte,
Lake Station, Hammond, Gary,
La Porte & Chesterton
(219) 763-8112
We Clean Windows, Gutters, Screens, Ceiling Fans,
Skylights & More!
SAVE $50 WITH OUR COUPON
(219) 804-9000
1910 E. Commercial Ave., Lowell
Open 7 Days a Week
Click HERE to see our
delicious meals!
(219) 696-0313