In 1966,Indiana Dunes National Park became the 61st national park of the United States. It had been a longtime tourist destination, located in northwestern Indiana.
The park runs for about 20 miles (32 km) along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, just under 50 miles from Chicago. Perfect for a day trip.
My kids use public transportation most of the time, but this was a good excuse to get their car out of underground parking and spend a Saturday out of the city.
Some of the sand dunes in the park are massive, towering over the tree tops,
The tallest dune in the park is Mount Tom, which stands at 192 feet above Lake Michigan. Other notable dunes include Mount Holden (184 feet) and Mount Jackson (176 feet). and Mount Baldy, a "living" dune that actively moves, is approximately 126 feet tall.
Wikipedia
Within the park there are dunes, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers and forests and miles of hiking trails. Be prepared to get your shoes full of sand if you go hiking there!
