A crew filming an IMAX movie about Indiana’s historic roads and the fascinating stories to be told along those roads is featuring two Porter County favorites.

The crew from Preserving the Historic Road will be filming and conducting interviews about scenic U.S. 12 and Lakefront Drive in the Duneland area. The crew will then spend time along Lincolnway in Valparaiso — which is part of the historic Lincoln Highway. They will stay at DunesWalk Inn in Chesterton – a boutique hotel inside a historic mansion.

Indiana Dunes Tourism, the official tourism bureau of Porter County, is hosting the crew. Indiana Dunes Tourism put together a proposal highlighting the beauty and history of Porter County, and Porter County was one of 22 Indiana counties selected for filming.

Indiana Dunes Tourism Executive Director Lorelei Weimer said the movie is one more way to highlight Indiana Dunes Country to potential visitors.

“People from across the nation will get a chance to see what a great destination we have with great places to visit like the Indiana Dunes and downtown Valparaiso,” Weimer said.

The movie will premiere at the Preserving the Historic Road national conference this September in Indianapolis.

Candy Yurcak, chairperson of the movie night committee for Preserving the Historic Road, said the movie will showcase the state of Indiana nationally even after the conference.

“Indiana has an incredible story to tell,” Yurcak said.

Yurcak, who is from Metamora in southern Indiana, will be part of the film crew. She said she is especially looking forward to seeing the Indiana Dunes for the first time.

She expects the movie to be full of stories of neat people and unique places to stop along historic roads, and she expects the movie to be especially popular among people who are interested in scenic roads and history.

A Time to Be Together – A Time to Renew
By John Johnson

Looking for a relaxing weekend to relax and renew your spirits? Travel by car to Northwest Indiana and Beyond the Beach in Porter County and enter the grounds of the Inn at Aberdeen, Ltd., a bed & breakfast and executive retreat center at the entrance to the Village of Aberdeen in Valparaiso, IN.

Arrive by 3 PM for early check-in to your king suite with Jacuzzi for two, fireplace and relax on the balcony after your journey. Pick up snacks, cold beverages, hot tea or experiment with the Flavia coffee bar and sit in the sunlit Solarium or head out to the gazebo in the Dunrobin Gardens for fresh air and calm. Don’t lose the mood – sink into your warm Jacuzzi with bath salts or bubble bath, shower and dress for dinner. You won’t need the car – walk across the street to Trio Trattoria for dinner, but remember that dessert awaits (or, maybe, your second dessert) at the Inn and the rest of the evening we will leave up to your imagination.

Awaken to the smell of fresh ground and brewing coffee and a full breakfast – take your time, there is no rush. Learn more about the Inn, perhaps, from the staff and then set out to discover downtown Valparaiso only three miles up route 2. Lifestyles, one block east of the square on Lincolnway, has something for everyone in this unique shop. Then stroll west along Lincolnway and around the square for many other unique opportunities to browse – food, art, antiques, pastries, fitness … Remember Don Quijote’s Restaurant – you’ll be back for a festive dinner this evening.

When the day’s prowling is over – return to the Inn to relax and refresh for dinner then head back downtown to Don Quijote’s for a festive and authentic Spanish dinner prepared by our own local transplants, Carlos Rivera and Elena Jambrina. Be sure to mention that you are guests of the Inn – something special will find its way to your table. Weekends often feature entertainment. Relax and make it an evening. Now, definitely enjoy Elena’s homemade desserts – but save a little room for the Inn’s at bedtime and, again, let your imagination dictate the remainder of the evening. Breakfast awaits in the morning – take your time.

This is not merely a destination – it’s an Experience !

This is a guest entry. To submit your Indiana Dunes Country trip ideas, send us an email.

Winter is here, and the fallen snow brings with it a variety of Indiana Dunes Country activities that can’t be enjoyed in the summer sun.

Sunset Hill Farm offers snowshoeing, a fun and challenging workout that offers the chance to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the park during winter, while burning 45% more calories than running. Weather permitting, you can snowshoe every Saturday from 8-9 a.m. all winter long! Snowshoes are provided, and you can contact Sara Grassmeyer for more information.

The Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore both have opportunities for cross-country skiing, and the State Park has additional programs featuring geocaching, hiking and owls.

The annual Indiana Dunes Geocache Adventure will take place on Saturday, January 21. This event allows geocachers in the tri-state area to compete and have fun. The afternoon ends with a chili-dump back at the Nature Center. To register, or for more information, visit www.geocaching.com, and search zip code 46304.

A winter hike to one of the most amazing Indiana hikes will take place on Sunday, January 22. You can enjoy amazing views of shelf ice formations and more. Meet at the Nature Center at 10 am. A winter owl twilight stroll in the dunes’ forests is happening on Saturday, January 28. You’ll learn about the wintering owls, and see if you can hoot one up. Meet at the Nature Center at 5 pm for this exciting hike.

Many of your favorite restaurants, theaters, shops and attractions are still open in the winter, and there are numerous events happening as well, so check them all out at our website.

The Christmas holiday is here, and the Indiana Dunes State Park has more than 2,000 acres primed and ready to enjoy the winter season. Several miles of skiing trails are being prepped for those four magic words, “A chance of snow.”  Visitors to the park in December can expect a wide range of winter activities ready for them when they arrive. The nature center is open all winter long (with the exceptions of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) for a chance to warm your toes and take in some of the diverse programming. Special programs occur daily during the holiday break too.

Take a break from shopping and join  the  5th annual Christmas Eve Shopping Stroll on Dec. 24. Join others for the traditional hike through the winter dune forests. Meet at the nature center at 10 a.m. Come out and start a new family tradition of your own. There will be hot cocoa and coffee, as well as a warm fire for everyone afterwards.

End the year with a special waterfowl tour on Dec. 31 at 10 a.m. This unique car pool tour will visit sites along the lake where ducks, loons, grebes, and more gather in large numbers for the winter in the dunes. Bring your binoculars.

Since 1893, the Memorial Opera House has been am impressive part of downtown Valparaiso, hosting hundreds of theatrical and community events over the years. Most people don’t know that legends such as John Phillip Sousa and the Marx Brothers have graced the stage.

In recent years, downtown Valparaiso has been bursting with more reasons to visit- including fantastic restaurants, shops, art and nightlife- and the MOH has been at the center of it all. Having gained a reputation for producing big city-caliber musicals, a show at the Opera House is the perfect way to spend an evening or afternoon.

Now the Memorial Opera House has even more opportunities for people to enjoy great entertainment in the restored atmosphere and decor of an 1890s theater, including:

Lunchtime Cabarets
Independent and Foreign Films
Concerts – Rock, Country, Orchestra
Tours
Facility Rentals

New Events are always being added, so check out their website and discover something you never knew about the place you already know!