Indiana Dunes National Park West Beach Picnic Area — Attraction in Portage

As part of our family goal to visit every national park in the U.S., we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore Indiana Dunes National Park. What’s interesting here is that many of the standout activities are actually tucked inside the State Park at the center, so my daughter and I headed straight for the West Beach area. We chose one of the dune trails that winds its way down toward the shoreline, and even though swimming wasn’t an option that day due to high bacteria levels, the hike itself was worth the trip. The path offered plenty of natural beauty, and from the higher points we were treated to a hazy view of the Chicago skyline in the distance. Be warned, though—this trail will challenge you with stair climbs and soft sugar sand that work muscles you might not have used in a while. But trust me, the views (and the post-hike satisfaction) make every...

This is a C grade national park if you’ve been to the bigger and more beautiful ones like Rainier, Yosemite, Yellowstone or even Sand Dunes in Colorado. Tic warnings follow you wherever you go and the dunes are mostly roped off to the public. Large car parks and trash facilities as well as picnic tables and potable water at the beach trails. Perhaps this is best summed up by the photo below of a large dead fish nearby children playing. You might as well skip this except if you need to stretch your legs or dispose of...

Great clean beach! During the drive into the beach you see the sand dunes! There is a nice path to the beach over the dunes and through a forest, a path with stairs. Great views from the top! Recommended for everyone,...