Indiana Dunes NP - Day 2

Indiana

June 2024

First the Pin, Then the Trails

The first thing we did on our return visit was go straight ahead to the visitor center to buy an Indiana Dunes Nation pin. Today, there wasn’t a long line, the only reason I skipped it during our first visit. We were in and out quickly before heading over to the Dune Ridge Trail for today’s first hike.

Flowers of Today

The Dune Ridge Trail was short but surprisingly steep, turning into a serious workout as we climbed through the loose sand. Along the way, the trail was decorated with vibrant wildflowers. We got only a small glimpse into the 1,100 native plant species that, according to the markers, thrive here. Once we reached the summit, our effort paid off. We got a stunning view of wetlands and forests stretching out as far as we could see.

Houses of Yesterday

After we got back to the trailhead, we continued walking to the shoreline. We strolled along the crowded beach to the five houses built for the “Century of Progress” World’s Fair of 1933-34 in Chicago. At that time, the houses were built with new materials and with amenities like garage door openers and dishwashers.

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The House of Tomorrow, ‘America’s First Glass House’ with windows from top to bottom, was under construction, so it was closed to visit. It’s incredible how modern these houses look after almost a century. Although the houses are part of the Indiana Dunes National Park, we weren’t allowed to see the inside.

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