Indiana Dunes

05/27/2026

Indiana Dunes Lovers, this one's for you!

New additions to our Love & Protect the Indiana Dunes collection are here just in time for your summer adventures. Rep your favorite place, shop new styles, and help celebrate everything that makes the Indiana Dunes so special!

Stop by Beaches & Beyond today at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, and make the promise to protect and care for the Indiana Dunes! ☮️ 💕 🌅

05/27/2026

‼️🌊 Lake Michigan acts more like an ocean than a lake, so always take beach hazards and instructions from lifeguards seriously.

A beach hazards statement remains in effect Wednesday night through late Thursday night. Dangerous currents and waves four to six feet are expected. Swimming conditions will be life-threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers.

State Park lifeguards will be present starting Friday, May 29th. National Park lifeguards are present at West Beach only. Please review weather warnings before considering swimming at the other beaches.

Arm yourself with beach safety information at https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/beach-safety.htm

05/25/2026

Be a star with the Indiana Dunes Volunteer Drop-In Program and help keep this natural treasure clean and protected. ⭐🧹

indianadunes.com/blog/post/trash-trekkers-drop-in-volunteering

The Indiana Dunes' Volunteer Drop-In Program offers visitors, and locals, a variety of flexible options to get involved to give back to the community.

05/22/2026

This month, we are proud to shine a spotlight on Humane Indiana Wildlife and the incredible work they do in Northwest Indiana!

Humane Indiana Wildlife provides care for injured or orphaned wild animals in need of a second chance. The organization has rehabilitated animals as small as hummingbirds and as large as coyotes, foxes, and eagles. In 2025 alone, they admitted over 2,600 animals.

They also offer community education through their ambassador animals, which are unable to be released into the wild.

Looking for more information about this month's spotlight? Stop by Beaches and Beyond at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center to learn more about Humane Indiana and pick up their donation wish list, or visit their website!💙 🐾🩵
https://www.humaneindiana.org/wildlife-about

05/22/2026

Make this Memorial Day even more memorable. There are so many local spots to visit, from museums to shopping to unique dining. Time to go explore! 🇺🇸🛍️

Discover top attractions near Indiana Dunes National and State Parks. Explore family-friendly fun, dining, and unique experiences in Porter County -- just minutes from the dunes.

05/20/2026

May is the perfect time to visit the Indiana Dunes. Not too hot, not too crowded, and full of springtime charm. Plan a picnic using our guide to the best spots in the dunes. 🧺🌼

indianadunes.com/blog/post/best-picnic-spots-in-the-indiana-dunes/

Discover the top picnic areas in the Indiana Dunes. Think: lakeside shelters and quiet wooded spots near scenic trails. Plan your perfect outdoor meal with this local guide!

05/18/2026

Duck! Look out, because now is the peak season to go birding at the Indiana Dunes. You never know what you’ll spot, so grab your binoculars and go. 🦆🔭

For great springtime birding, there's no place like the Indiana Dunes. More than 350 bird species live or migrate through the dunes every year, drawn to Lake Michigan's open waters and to the diverse habitats available for nesting. Beaches, du...

05/15/2026

To celebrate this weekend’s Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, the Visitor Center’s gift shop has a limited edition sandhill crane ornament. Stop by and check it out!

05/15/2026

Birding works up an appetite.

If you're in town for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, we've rounded up a few great places to eat between outings.

Discover the best local restaurants near the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival -- from cozy cafes to family-friendly diners, explore where birders and nature lovers go to refuel.

05/14/2026

Heading to the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival this week?

Between spotting warblers and shorebirds, explore the area's local wineries and breweries and small-town shops.

Here are a few ideas:

Each spring, birding enthusiasts from across the country flock to the shores of Lake Michigan for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival—a celebration of one of the most biodiverse birding regions in the Midwest. The festival offers unforgettable opp...