01
What counties are in The Region?
Get Indiana covers Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties as The Region, Indiana's northwest corner. Valparaiso and Crown Point, both in the Lake and Porter county area, are the usual walkable bases for a trip.
Indiana Region Guide
The Region Guide
Lake Michigan shoreline, steel towns, and an hour to Chicago. The Dunes get the national park attention, but Whiting, Crown Point, and Michigan City each hold their own.
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The short answerUpdated Aug 6, 2026
The Region is Indiana's northwest corner, where the state meets Lake Michigan and the Chicago line. The Indiana Dunes give you real beach and trail country, while Valparaiso, Crown Point, and Chesterton add walkable downtowns. It is a region that pairs a lakefront day with a classic Indiana main street.
- Anchor city
- Valparaiso, the region's walkable downtown base, in Porter County
- Counties
- Lake, Porter, LaPorte
- Known for
- Indiana Dunes National Park, Lake Michigan shoreline, Valparaiso's downtown, Crown Point courthouse square, Chesterton and the dune towns
- Best season
- Summer for the Lake Michigan beaches, fall for the dune trails without the parking crush
The region covers Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. Indiana Dunes National Park anchors it with beaches and trails along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and it draws more visitors than most national parks people can name. The Crown Point courthouse square, Valparaiso's downtown, Whiting's lakefront main street, the Michigan City lighthouse and the boardwalks through Cowles Bog carry the rest of a day.
From Get Indiana
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Maintained by the Get Indiana team. Reviewed by Nate Spangle. How we use AI
Indiana Dunes National ParkLake Michigan shorelineValparaiso's downtownCrown Point courthouse squareChesterton and the dune townsHammondMerrillvilleThings to doFoodHidden gemsSmall towns
Things to Do in The Region
More ideasIndiana Dunes beaches and trails, the Crown Point courthouse, and the Michigan City lighthouse can each carry part of a day.
Food Guides in The Region
More foodValparaiso and Crown Point hold the most walkable food scenes. The dune towns add casual stops best paired with a beach or trail day.
Hidden Gems in The Region
More hidden gemsLocal stops, like the West Beach succession trail, the Albanese candy factory in Merrillville, and the boardwalks through Cowles Bog.
Small Towns in The Region
More townsChesterton, Crown Point, and Michigan City each pair well with a dunes day, adding shops, squares, and lakefront character.
Browse all The Region coverage
Search or filter the full regional archive by topic. The guides above stay curated; this is the complete feed.
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Questions
Common questions about The Region
Written to answer the thing you actually searched for, not to pad the page.
02
What is The Region known for?
Indiana Dunes National Park and the Lake Michigan shoreline, Valparaiso's downtown, the Crown Point courthouse square, and the dune towns like Chesterton. Chicago sits just across the state line.
03
Where should I base a weekend in The Region?
Valparaiso or Chesterton, both close to the dunes with a downtown to come back to. Spend the day on the beaches and trails at Indiana Dunes, then add the Crown Point square or the Michigan City lighthouse.
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