Want to have a fun spring break without leaving Porter County?

Families can learn about all the great things they can do close to home as the Valparaiso Public Library’s Youth Services Department presents a free program called Porter County Attractions.

The program, which is part of the library’s Spring Break Staycation Series, is being presented by Christine Livingston, assistant director of Indiana Dunes Tourism. Livingston’s presentation will focus on activities that school-aged children and their families can enjoy.

The program is 11 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 26 in the Youth Services Department story room on the second floor of the library, which is located at 103 Jefferson St. in Valparaiso.

The program is free, but participants must register by calling 219-462-0524, ext. 4.
Livingston’s program will touch on some of the interesting museums, attractions, nature sites and more in Porter County. In addition, Livingston will have free guides available that describe dozens of attractions that families would enjoy not only during spring break, but throughout the year. The guides feature attractions like a bison farm that people can tour, a fire museum, model railway gardens and places where kids can make their own ceramics or beaded jewelry.

An artist from the town of Porter is among the more than 100 artisans from across Indiana who will participate in the Indiana Artisan Marketplace, which is March 31 and April 1 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Lynn Retson will join artisans who make everything from fine chocolates, to specialty jewelry to stoneware pottery.

“My work will be drawings in graphite and black pastel,” Retson said.
“They have a photorealistic quality. Many viewers’ first impression is that these works are black and white photos. All of the drawings feature the roadside landscape.”

Retson participated in the Indiana Artisan Marketplace last year and said the quality of the work was outstanding

“It’s a strength of this show that you can find everything from $5 bookmarks to several thousand dollar pieces suitable for homes or offices,” Retson said.
“In addition, visitors get a chance to speak with the artists.  For me, this is the high point of the show.”

The Indiana Artisan Marketplace is a chance to buy one-of-a-kind artwork and artisan food directly from the Hoosiers who make it, said Peg Neal, chair of the 2012 Marketplace and a potter from Indianapolis.

In order to participate in the Indiana Artisan Marketplace, artisans must be accepted into the Indiana Artisan program, which is a juried program that accepts only about 30 percent of those who apply.

Lorelei Weimer, executive director of Indiana Dunes Tourism, said she is excited to have an Indiana Dunes Country artist in the Indiana Artisan Marketplace.
“This event brings additional awareness to the value of the arts in attracting visitors to our state, region and county,” Weimer said.

Weimer encourages people who attend the event to also tour the sites along the Northern Indiana Art & Earth Trail. Indiana Dunes Tourism has worked with six other Northern Indiana counties and the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission to create the Art & Earth Trail to promote Northern Indiana’s unique artisans and agricultural attractions. People can visit www.artandearthtrail.com/ or call 877-862-1434 to learn about the Art & Earth Trail.

While the Art & Earth Trail can be visited year round, the Indiana Artisan Marketplace is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT March 31 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT on April 1. Admission is $10 (children 15 and under are free) and parking is $3. Visit http://indianaartisan.org/news_releases.php for more information.

The Indiana Artisan Marketplace will also feature artisans from Kentucky because of a trade agreement between the two states.

The Indiana Artisan program was launched by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and was a joint venture between the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, and the Indiana Arts Commission. Now as a non-profit corporation, Indiana Artisan, Inc. continues the program’s mission of developing a brand that gives meaning and recognition to Indiana-made goods.

Indiana Dunes Tourism has joined Valparaiso University in welcoming the more than 10,000 visitors expected in Valparaiso for the Horizon League 2012 Men’s Basketball Championship.

The games, which are slated for this Friday and Saturday — and possibly Tuesday, March 6 — at Valparaiso University’s Athletics-Recreation Center, feature the Valparaiso University Crusaders battling their conference foes for an automatic qualifying bid for the NCAA basketball tournament.

Indiana Dunes Tourism and Valparaiso University partnered to build a website landing page — www.indianadunes.com/horizon — specifically designed to assist the visiting teams and their fans.

The webpage has links to the Horizon League and to the Valparaiso University Athletics-Recreation Center. It also features Indiana Dunes Tourism’s dining, lodging, shopping and attractions listings in and around Valparaiso.

The webpage will also allow people to read online Porter County travel guides, map their trip, find coupons and get the latest information via Facebook.

In addition, Indiana Dunes Tourism will have a table set up at the Athletics-Recreation Center during the tournament to answer questions and to distribute brochures detailing Porter County’s businesses and attractions.

Indiana Dunes Tourism Executive Director Lorelei Weimer said she’s excited that Valparaiso University is hosting the tournament and bringing visitors to the area. Weimer said the average overnight visitor — which the teams and many of their fans are expected to be — spends about $93 per day, while the visitor in for the day spends an average of $40.

“Having the Horizon League tournament in Valparaiso will provide a big boost to the local economy,” Weimer said.

“We are excited to welcome more than 10,000 people to Valparaiso and provide them the information they need to find all the great hotels, restaurants, stores and attractions in the area.”

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.