South Shore Escape: Michigan City, Indiana

Known for its “singing sands” — low-frequency, almost musical tones created as wind moves across 2 miles of beachfront along the southern curve of Lake Michigan — Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana, is a unique destination for sand and surf lovers alike.

“When you shuffle your feet through the sand, you get a sweet squeaky noise,” says Chris Cipares, a sales consultant at B&E Marina, which opened for business in 1953.

Cipares, who has worked at the marina for 27 years, describes Michigan City as up and coming, with new condos being built downtown and a new South Shore Line commuter train station recently completed. The South Shore Line, the last remaining interurban in the U.S., runs daily routes to both Chicago and South Bend, making weekend jaunts to the Windy City easy.

“There’s so much to do here, and the beach is very special,” continues Cipares. “There’s concerts on the weekends in the summer, the XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix, which is a free weeklong event, and we get fishing boats from all over during the Hoosier Coho Classic.”

Washington Park is also home to a zoo and a historic lighthouse, which is said to be haunted by a former female lighthouse keeper. The Washington Park Zoo and animal sanctuary started in 1925 with one brown bear named Jake, whose retired animal trainer owner thought he might enjoy the attention. Now, the zoo is home to approximately 200 animals and 90 species, and also has a 70-foot observation tower, Safari Train, Red Barn Petting Zoo and a café.

The Haunted Lighthouse

Of course, we don’t know for sure that the old Michigan City Lighthouse is haunted, but Harriet Colfax, a lighthouse keeper here for 43 years, is said to still remain on duty. Ghostly or not, the seven rooms of the 1858 lighthouse are preserved as the Old Lighthouse Museum, filled with a plethora of artifacts of Lake Michigan seafaring life, including maps, paintings, 4th and 5th Order Fresnel lenses, a lighthouse keeper’s quarters, and a winding staircase with extraordinary views of the water.

“It’s an amazing assortment of marine history that attracts visitors from all over the world,” says Josh McIntyre, vice president of the Michigan City Historical Society and general manager of the Old Lighthouse Museum.

All of this is easily accessible to boaters docking at the Washington Park Marina, among the largest marinas on Lake Michigan with approximately 500 slips.

“Our slips range in size from 25 to 60 feet,” says Tim Frame, harbormaster for the Michigan Port Authority, responsible for overseeing the marinas at Trail Creek and Washington Park. These marinas include such amenities as a gas dock and pump out, gas grills, ice machines, internet access, city water and electricity, and laundry facilities.

“We also have approximately 600 feet of wall space available for mooring,” says Frame. “The wall also has city water and electricity connections. Trail Creek Marina, which is approximately 1 mile upstream from Lake Michigan, has 70 25-foot wet slips, approximately 150 forklift spaces and storage space on land for boats up to 42 feet.”

Though it doesn’t have dedicated transient slips, Trail Creek Marina uses unrented or temporarily empty slips for overnight rentals.

“Both marinas have a launch ramp available,” says Frame, noting that those staying at the marina have free access to the beach. “Trail Creek is primarily for small boats and Washington Park are the bigger boats.”

Harbor Country Adventures, located in Millennium Plaza next to Washington Park, runs Emita II, a 65-foot tour boat, offers jet ski and kayak rentals, and hosts lakefront concerts on Friday and Saturday nights.

Art, gardens, shopping and a casino

“We have an amazing art scene,” says Dale Cooper, an artist, active community member and community relations director for the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Center. Cooper, who was born in Michigan City and lived in Chicago for years, returned to her hometown because of all there is to do. The winner of last year’s Book of Golden Deeds Award by the Michigan City Exchange, she arranges shows at the sprawling visitors center, which is the place to stop for information on what to do in the county.

Michigan City’s thriving art scene includes the Uptown Arts District on Franklin Street — an area of shops and galleries such as the South Shore Art Association, Down Gallery, The Nest and Prince.

Located near the waterfront, the two-story Lubeznik Center for the Arts showcases contemporary works and a gift shop filled with finds by local and regional artists. Beach Bum Jewels takes advantage of the colorful beach glass, turning it into jewelry.