Duneland Communities

Duneland is comprised of the five unique towns of Beverly Shores, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres, and Porter.

Burns Harbor

One part industry, one part contemporary city—and all parts growing. A town built on steel, Burns Harbor has become a champion of the environmental movement, as showcased by The Village in Burns Harbor, the first neighborhood in the nation to be awarded the National Green Building Standard.

Burns Harbor Green Community

With easy access to highways and a commuter rail, Burns Harbor offers a nature-inspired reprieve for those who work in Chicago but play in Northwest Indiana. Residents and visitors alike will enjoy the town’s green spaces like the 29-acre Lakeland Park. This community park has a lake for swimming, rowboats for renting in the summer, and plenty of recreation space to walk, run, and play. Burns Harbor is also home to the Little Calumet River fishing access site, lending quiet charm to this emerging all-American town.

Play

Get the gang together for a volleyball match or a game of basketball before cooling off lakeside or catching dinner at Lakeland Park. Or, head to the Little Calumet River to fish for salmon, trout, and other species in its rich waters.

A boardwalk with steps leads down to a lake with trees surrounding it. The water is calm and reflects the trees and sky.

Chesterton

It’s not hard to be inspired by the abundant beauty of the Indiana Dunes area. That’s probably why Chesterton is home to a surprising number of artists—like Holly Jackson and her vibrant, Matisse-inspired paintings, Craig Berg and his regional photography, and several other area artists whose dunescapes and works, influenced by our gorgeous, national ecological treasures, can be found at the Chesterton Art Center.

Thomas Centennial Park & Chesterton Bandstand

Beyond its art scene, Chesterton enjoys annual festivals, a renowned European Market that runs from May to October, and an eclectic collection of restaurants, studios, and shops.

An orange and brown building with the words "The Port" on the room. An ice cream cone sign is out in front.

Dine

Start your day with the best breakfast in all of Indiana’s Cool North at Northside Diner, the 2018 Breakfast Wars Champion. Later, spend your visit restaurant hopping downtown and taking in the great food and relaxing dining atmosphere at Lucrezia Café, Ivy’s Bohemia House, or Octave Grill—voted the best Burger in the Indiana Dunes area during Indiana’s Cool North’s Burger Wars. Or, let the carhops at The Port Drive-In take you back in time to experience classics like root beer floats, chili dogs, and Green River sodas from your car, just like the 1950s.

Do

Experience Indiana Dunes the best way we know how—outside! Take a scenic hike, or enjoy fishing, picnicking, and bird watching at the 151-acre Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve. Afterward, explore the charms of Chesterton as you sample artisan cheeses, indulge in fresh baked goods, select the freshest fruits and vegetables, or shop for one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing, art, and gifts at the open-air European Market. Nearby you’ll also find unique stores like The Flower Cart, Chelle’s, O’Gara & Wilson Ltd. Antiquarian Booksellers, and plenty of antique shops to peruse. History buffs will also enjoy learning about Chesterton as they tour the Brown Mansion and the exhibits at the adjoining Westchester History Museum.

An sign, plant, and two statues site on a display table. The sign says "Indiana Dunes Chesterton" and the statues are ladies in old fashioned swimsuits.

Porter

The gateway to the Dunes. From its humble beginnings as the home of a local fur tradesman to its current status as a natural wonder, Porter has always been known as a place to stop, visit, and stay awhile. Its most influential historical citizens—Joseph Bailly and the Chellberg family—were so captivated by the area’s beauty that they were amongst the first Europeans to settle here. You can visit the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm sites in the heart of the Indiana Dunes National Park and experience life as they did in the early days of Porter.

Chellberg Farm Home

A great place to live and raise a family, Porter boasts beautiful parks, beachfront property, small-town charm, and a big-city love of food with the most restaurants per capita of any town in the Indiana Dunes region. Think of it as a casual place to catch some rays, ride bikes, and enjoy some great locally-inspired Midwest cuisine.

Dine

The South might be known for its barbeque, but have you tried the smoky flavors of the Midwest? Sink your teeth into a feast of saucy, award-winning ribs at Wagner’s Ribs. Not a grill fan? That’s alright, Porter has a surprising number of authentic Mexican restaurants, like Santiago’s downtown.

Do

Stop by the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, located on State Road 49, on your way into Porter for a friendly chat about the Indiana Dunes and the surrounding area. With a personalized guide in hand, head to Porter Beach to splash in Lake Michigan, play beach volleyball, and soak up the sun’s rays. Hawthorne Park offers another spread of outdoor activities, including a disc golf course and sports fields. Walk around downtown and poke around unique local shops.