Today we are driving from Chicago area to Michigan stopping at Indiana Dunes National Park on the way. We are with all 3 kids and being led by Uncle Mike from Chicago. And the 6 of us are looking forward to exploring Indiana Dunes!
Planning Exploring Indiana Dunes
After thoroughly researching this park, I wanted to do some things that highlighted the park’s biodiversity. Also, I wanted to start from the South as we are heading north to Michigan. So our 1st planned stop is the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education in Gary. Not only can you get your passport stamp here, but it has many educational hands-on exhibits. But also, it’s the gateway to the Paul H. Douglas Trail through Miller Woods to Lake Michigan. This is one of the most diverse trails going through 4 distinct eco-systems including the dunes.
After our 1st stop, we will plan to stop at West Beach to hike the Dunes Succession Trail. This short trail goes through the dunes and along the beach. After our hikes, we plan to grab lunch on the way to the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center in Porter. If time, we can do a few short hikes on the way to see the Century of Progress Homes. We have a dinner reservation at 6:30pm at a brewery in Michigan about an hour and a half away. So, we’ll need to get an early start to make the most of our day exploring Indiana Dunes National Park. You can read more about this park here: Indiana Dunes National Park (nps.gov)
Paul H. Douglas Center
Though we’re only 35 minutes away, the rain is coming down really hard. So we wait in hopes the weather will clear up. But after 11:00am, we leave in the rain hoping it gets better before we get there. It rains the whole way, but does lighten up before we see some construction. It looks like a dead-end, but we see a sign that says Douglas Center OPEN. So we continue on the dirt road for a minute until we turn into the parking lot. Once parked, we see the bridge over the road to the center is also out. But we see a sign heading down to the road.
Since it’s lightly raining, we grab our rain gear and cross the torn-up road to the center. After all our research, we had no idea this would be an adventure just getting to the center! But once inside, we find some restrooms before exploring the center. Between the road construction and the rain, we have the place to ourselves. And the park rangers welcome us immediately helping us with our passport books. They also give us each copies of their park newsletter and brochure. And another ranger guides us through each room in the center showcasing the educational exhibits.
There are many neat exhibits including a stuffed beaver and pelt you can touch. There is also a room with many aquariums showcasing reptiles, amphibians and even a fish. Though the boys find a window looking out at a bird feeder outside and just watch the different birds. There are pictures of the many birds you can see here and we even see a chipmunk. After about 45 minutes in the center, we decide to do part of the trail outside.
Exploring Indiana Dunes Miller Woods Trail
Our park ranger guide explains the marsh we can see outside the windows. And you can start the Paul H. Douglas Trail (aka Miller Woods Trail) out the back door of the center. So we decide to brave the rain and do the short loop around the wetlands.
We walk carefully on the metal boardwalk through the marsh. And shortly into our walk we see some orange wildflowers I identify as butterfly milkweed. And we continue on the boardwalk across the marsh where we stop in the middle.
Here we can see a small creek going through the marsh and purple wildflowers which thrive here. Matt stares down at the creek and spots a crayfish. But when I go to look it moves into the shadows and I can’t see it. Regardless this is a beautiful spot before we continue to the other side and up and through the woods.
Once on the dirt trail we pass some more wildflowers and some people returning from the beach. But we stay on the loop around the marsh knowing we still want to go to other places. So, we head up a hill where we get a great view of a beaver pond. Though we don’t see any beavers, their lodge is clearly visible.
The trail continues around the beaver pond where it narrows through the lush greenery. Though wildflowers of many colors adorn the trail in this section, we are wary of ticks. And we make it back to the center in less than 25 minutes. Back at our car I find a tick on my leg! Though I easily remove it and the rest of us are tick-free.
Lunch at Miller Pizza Station
Back in the car it’s after 2:00pm and we are starving. Though we only have about 1.5 hours left to explore the park. And even though we see a McDonald’s, one of the boys spots a sign for Italian beef sandwiches. So, we stop at Miller Pizza Station.
This cute restaurant near the train tracks has train decor and clean restrooms. But instead of ordering pizza, we all order Italian beefs or stromboli sandwiches from the counter hoping it’ll be quicker. And though we planned on taking them to go, they sound messy. So, we grab a table and wait.
It still takes a little while, but the Italian beef sandwiches are good. And the stromboli sandwiches turned out to be Italian beefs with mozzarella and marinara on them which are even better. We also shared 2 orders of fries and after about 45 minutes, we are ready to go. At this point we can either do the Dune Succession Trail or the main visitor center. We opt to do the visitor center about 30 minutes away.
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
At the visitor center it is no longer raining, so we take some pictures in front of a national park sign. It’s just a metal sign however, unlike the normal entrance signs. But inside we head to the store to check out their merchandise. The Douglas Center was great but didn’t have a store, so this is our chance to grab some souvenirs. It’s a small store, but it has a pretty good selection of stuff and we get our normal trinkets.
Outside the store, Becky finds the passport stamp. And on the way to the exit are some tables where park rangers are manned. I ask one if the Century of Progress Homes are worth a drive-by. Of course the ranger says yes, and informs me there is parking there, but it’s limited. She tells us we just have to put our park pass in the windshield. So, I convince Uncle Mike it’s on the way and we head toward the lakefront.
Century of Progress Homes
The drive from the visitor center takes us toward Kemil Beach. On the way we pass an actual Indiana Dunes National Park entrance sign, but we don’t have time to stop. However, we make it to the Century of Progress homes in about 10 minutes, and there is plenty of parking. In fact, there is only one other car here and the parking is right off the street on Lake Front Drive. Two of the houses are on the lake side, and the other 3 are above the street.
These homes are from the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, which was called the Century of Progress. The houses were built for the World’s Fair to showcase experimental and modern designs and technologies. Though they have not weathered well through the years and have needed restoration efforts by the park. For more detailed information about each house, check out: Century of Progress Homes at Indiana Dunes NP.
We are able to walk right from our parking stop past each of the houses. Not only do we get good views, but each house has a sign that provides more details about it. Though since people live in 4, you can only admire from the street. However, they do offer a tour once a year each September that sells out quickly.
After walking past the houses, we see a walkway down to the beach and Lake Michigan. The golden sand is alluring and gives us another vantage point of the homes above. Everyone enjoys a quick stop playing on the beach before leaving. It was a nice way to end our trip exploring Indiana Dunes National Park.
Exploring Indiana Dunes National Park Summary
Though the rain hampered our plans today, we made the most of it. And we were able to see 2 of the most interesting areas of Indiana Dunes National Park. The 1st stop was the Paul H. Douglas Center at Miller Woods. The park rangers there were great and we enjoyed the educational exhibits. Though we would have loved to do the whole trail through the forest and dunes to Lake Michigan. But we were glad to at least do the marsh loop in the rain. Though I would be better prepared for ticks next time with long pants and/or bug spray.
Also, the Miller Pizza Station was a tasty stop for lunch before we left the area for the visitor center. And afterwards, stopping at the Century of Progress homes was great. Not only did we get to see the unique homes, but we got to walk down to the beach. And seeing Lake Michigan was a great way to end our day in the park. We hope to come back someday to do the things we missed and explore more of Indiana Dunes National Park!