The Most Instagrammable Places in Indiana’s Cool North
Posted on April 30, 2024 by Indiana's Cool North
There’s no doubt about it – when you visit Indiana’s Cool North, you’ll be inspired to snap a photo nearly everywhere you go. It’s not just the discovery of Amish back roads, sandy dunes and beaches, pristine lakes, rousing festivals, and peaceful bike trails that will have you reaching for your camera or Smartphone. It’s that desire to take home those special memories in a substantive form. Here are some Instagram posts to give you some great ideas for your own picture-perfect Northern Indiana getaway.
Crown Point Courthouse and Hard Rock Casino
Along the South Shore
The Grand Old Lady (The Crown Point Courthouse) shows off stunning architecture, built in 1878, and now houses shops, the Lake County Historical Society Museum, the Maki Ballroom and professional offices.
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The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana delivers the essence of rock and roll with exceptional style, service, and hospitality. Get ready for an unforgettable time with top-notch live music, captivating entertainment, and exquisite dining.
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Indiana Dunes and the Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes
Sandy peaks embellished with graceful patches of dune grass rise next to strikingly blue Lake Michigan waters at the Indiana Dunes National Park. The dunes and beaches (including several where Fido is welcome) invite hiking, strolling, swimming and plenty of photo ops.
No lakeside vacation is complete without that classic shot of the setting sun reflecting in brilliant red and orange on the water. You can view the day’s grand finale from beaches and parks all along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Seagulls and other shore birds add to the panorama.
Uptown Arts District and Washington Park
Michigan City LaPorte
It’s artsy…. It’s lively…. it’s Michigan City’s own Uptown Arts District! Galleries, shops and restaurants fill the historic area, where photogenic outdoor sculptures and loads of special events bring artists, food trucks and fun to the streets. Special events and tours make history come alive at the area’s 1857 Barker Mansion.
Don’t miss taking your own shot of the pristine Michigan City Lighthouse, an iconic subject for photographers and painters alike. There’s more you and your camera will love here in Washington Park, with a glorious expanse of prime beach, pier, and boardwalk. Meet some great subjects right next door at the Washington Park Zoo, home to some 90 species.
Amish Country and Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail
Amish Country
Amish farmers plow fertile green fields with horse-drawn equipment along tranquil back roads where pristine white farmhouses dot the countryside. Fine Amish quilts, furniture, clocks and crafts plus tempting baked goods fill small countryside “shingle shops” and stores in friendly towns. Everywhere, the landscapes, the street scenes, and the food invite pics you’ll want to take home with you.
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Color bursts everywhere in Amish Country’s Quilt Gardens, where huge patches of ground are planted with hundreds of thousands of flowers each year in treasured quilt designs. You’ll find them along the Heritage Trail, a 90-mile tour that will take you to plenty of other photo-worthy attractions as well as the blooming displays.
Pumpkinvine Nature Trail and Shipshewana
Shipshewana/LaGrange County
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Get a close-up picture or two of Amish life along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, a relatively easy 25-mile bike route named for an early 1900s train route. The trail runs through the heavily Amish area of Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. Along the way, you’re sure to spot horse-drawn buggies, quiet ponds, and Amish farmsteads set in the serene green countryside.
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The community of Shipshewana is a terrific spot to get in touch with Amish culture, food, and workmanship as you visit a museum, theater, shops, restaurants and bakeries. Horse-drawn buggies seem to be everywhere, and a huge flea market is a hot spot for finding treasures. You’ll want your camera close at hand throughout your visit.
University of Notre Dame
Quiet spots, sacred spots and places that seem to resonate with a resounding cheer for the Fighting Irish make the University of Notre Dame a place for capturing special memories – in your heart and on film. Tour the tree-shaded campus, revel in football weekend activities, admire the spires of the Notre Dame Basilica, and find reflection and beauty at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
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