Our Local Area
Miller Beach
Miller Beach, a small community within the sprawling city limits of Gary, has long been known as an eclectic mix of people...from artists, authors and inventors. Many residents who make Miller their full-time home work in Chicago because it is well-located to the trains and highways which get you into downtown very quickly.
In the little pod of Miller, Lake street offers some nice little shops for art and local souvenirs; There are many restaurants in the area. Check out our menus in our guidebook when you arrive.
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Our nearest beach, Wells Street Beach, hosts special acoustic guitar and food/beer/etc. at the concession pavilion on selected evenings.
Miller residents are fiercely loyal to their neighborhood, protective of each other and they are a tight-knit group of people who recognize they live in a very special place -- a place where they are close to unique natural habitats and have great access to the lake.
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Indiana Dunes:
National & State Parks
The National and State Parks our own gems. The parks are incredibly biodiverse (in the top 10 for all national parks) and offer so many opportunities to explore nature in a many ways.
Take a look at this video for more info
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Our home is smack in the middle of state, national and county parks that extend in pockets all the way from Michigan City westward to Gary. All of them have beaches with varying attractions...some have boat, kayak and water sport launches. Check the links below for more information on each beach and its facilities.
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Beyond the beach....
For the kids...there's lots to do beyond the beach at the national park...from visiting the Bailly Chelburg homestead to taking a ranger-led challenge to climb the National Park's 3 tallest sand dunes; You can also do some seasonal stargazing and participate in naturalist hikes just for kids. In addition, the national park has birding backpacks available for all ages containing books and binoculars that can be checked out at five of their area offices.
Biking is also a popular activity: the trails are crushed gravel so require a little heavier tired bike. The 2 bikes in our garage are cruiser bikes with nobby tires. You should plan to bring your own helmets.
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In Marquette Park there is a beautiful playground right next to the beach; there's also kayaking and windsurfing rentals available in the area. More information for those can be found in our home info notebook.
Chicago:
You can see the skyline from the beach and we LOVE Chicago!
Our family loves to go to off-Broadway shows, visit a museum, take an architectural tour or go to concerts in the park. There is always something happening in Millennium Park in the summer, from free concerts to great shows to fabulous food. We recommend you check out the Chicago Cultural Center and the Chicago Visitors Center to get an overview of your options. Free docent-led tours are available from the Cultural Center.
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The Southshore train has suspended service in the summer of 2023 from the Portage-Ogden Dunes station. It operates by shuttle bus from Ogden dunes or you can drive to the East Chicago station. The trainwill bring you directly to the museum campus (18thstreet) and Millennium Park (Randolph Street or VanBuren station) in about 45 minutes.
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Taking the train is a non-stressful way to make it into the city, you save the cost of parking and you can even pack a picnic to enjoy in the park.
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If you choose to drive, the fastest method is to take the toll road Chicago skyway or, a little longer, but cheaper method is via I-80/94. We use the mobile apps like Spot Hero when driving into Chicago for the best prices on parking.
Ask us about what you would like to see or do and we are happy to help; we know our way around downtown and are particularly good at scoring cheap tickets!
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