Indiana Dunes Country Sample Itineraries

Arts & Entertainment

Day 1

Morning: Begin your journey with a refreshing, organic breakfast at Third Coast Spice Café (where the chefs turn foodstuffs into works of art). Then head to the nearby Holly Jackson Studio to browse works from this contemporary artist.

Afternoon: Check out the Chesterton Art Center, an arts collaborative that contains works by more than 100 local artists—and often offers art classes during the week for a very reasonable fee (check to see if one’s going on while you’re there). Nearby is Framing Concepts Studio, a gallery housed in a soaring, restored 1940s theatre. Then head down the road to Coffee Creek Studio & Art Gallery where (if you call ahead for a tour) you can see artists working, teaching and exhibiting their works.

Evening: Relax with a gourmet meal and a glass of wine on the patio of Popolano’s before enjoying a top-notch production at Chesterton’s 4th Street Theater.

Day 2

Morning: After sipping a cup of fresh-brewed Joe (and ogling the art decorating the walls) at Red Cup Café and Deli, hop in your car and drive to Cloudmaker Glass Studio, the premier glassblowers in the area. Then swing up to Chestnut Creek Pottery in Portage, run by the amiable Chris Harnung, who creates hand-thrown earthenware pottery that’s both beautiful and safe for daily use. Afternoon: After lunch, unleash your inner artist at the paint-your-own ceramics studio Ceramix 101 in Valparaiso. Then take a walk around Downtown Valparaiso to study the architecture—and don’t forget to slip into Designer Desserts to grab an artisan cupcake or cookie.

Evening: Enjoy a lively meal at Pikk’s Tavern before heading to see a performance at Chicago Street Theatre or the Memorial Opera House.

Day 3

Morning: Savor a made-from-scratch croissant or muffin at Blackbird Café in Valparaiso, then spend the morning enjoying the fine paintings, sculptures and more at the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University.

Afternoon: Enjoy a stroll down Lincolnway Avenue, visiting Lifestyles: The Gallery, Artists’ Den and Lea’s Painting Studio.

Evening: Savor the Italian-fusion cuisine at Paparazzi, and then spend the night listening to the craftings of area musicians and writers at Front Porch Music.

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Photograph Copyright: Craig Berg