The Moraine Region Itineraries
While every Beyond the Beach Discovery Trail site is worth visiting, if you’re short on time, you’ll only be able to visit a few. Below are recommendations for great sites to visit in a day…or two.
Spend a Day
Start at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center (Site 1) for maps and birding, fishing, or biking companion guides. Be sure to pick up the Indiana Dunes Activities Guide. This guide will provide detailed information about restaurants and accommodations in the Dunes, Moraine, and Kankakee regions as you explore the Trail.
Head to Taltree Arboretum and Gardens (Site 44) to explore formal gardens as well as restored native landscapes. Hike the trails and perhaps enjoy a summer concert or one of the many classes offered throughout the year on topics such as gardening, photography, or yoga.
Have lunch nearby at one of downtown Valparaiso’s many cafes and restaurants. Check the Activities Guide for details.
Then visit Broken Wagon Bison Farm (Site 43) to see bison and buy a range of bison products. Bring your cooler!
End your day at Ogden Gardens and Forest Park (Sites 38 - 37) where you can explore more formal gardens and restored oak forest, watch butterflies and hummingbirds, and perhaps picnic.
Or
Nature enthusiasts will want to tour Pinhook Bog (Site 30), Indiana’s only true bog and a unique geologic feature in the region. The bog contains a vast array of plants with various adaptations for survival and is a must-see for any nature-lover. Hours and tour size are limited. Contact the National Lakeshore or Visitor Center for additional information.
Add a day and make it a weekend!
Stick around and, weather permitting, enjoy dinner at one of Valparaiso’s many outdoor dining venues.
Take in a show or concert at the Memorial Opera House (Site 40). The Opera House features hip bands, new musicals, and traditional productions in a classy, historic setting. Visit www.mohlive.com to see what will be featured during your stay.
Stay the night in a bed and breakfast or at one of the many nearby hotels in Valparaiso. Check the Activities Guide for details.
On day two, explore the lakes at Rogers - Lakewood Park (Site 35). Enjoy fishing, picnicking, or the two-mile hiking/ biking trail. This park also has a disc golf course and paddle boat rentals. For the adventurous, navigate the lakes yourself! If you have your own small boat, you can launch nearby at Long Lake Public Access (Site 34).
Bring a picnic or have lunch in one of Valparaiso’s many cafes and restaurants. Check the Activities Guide for details.
If you are visiting in the spring, enjoy the drive to Zona Wildlife Sanctuary (Site 31) for an impressive array of spring wildflowers and a short hiking trail.
Or
Sample local abundance at Anderson’s Vineyard and Winery (Site 32), where you’ll find wine tasting and sales, fresh produce in season, and local jams and jellies.