on location: midwest â?–
randy mink
Menno-Hof in Shipshewana sheds light on the Amish and Mennonite lifestyles.
Best of Northern Indiana Groups can climb sand dunes, mingle with the Amish, watch cheese being made and tour Notre Dame University
F
rom waves pounding the sandy shores of Lake Michigan and the ringing of casino slot machines to the rhythmic clip-clopping of Amish buggies rattling down the road, the sounds of Indiana’s
northern tier beckon tour groups. Tucked between metropolitan Chicago and the borders with Michigan and Ohio, cities and rural areas are packed with group-friendly attractions, shopping opportunities, pockets of natural beauty and places to commune with the past. Many tourist favorites are a short drive from Interstate 80/90.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Fair Oaks Farms
Northwest Indiana’s Lake County, just a half hour from downtown Chicago, abounds with affordable places to stay and boasts three casinos fronting Lake Michigan—Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Majestic Star Casino and Hotel in Gary and Ameristar Casino & Hotel in East Chicago—all with live entertainment, gourmet steakhouses and expansive buffets. Fair Oaks Farms Adventure Center is another Lake County hotspot for groups. One of the nation’s largest dairies, it is home to 30,000 cows that produce four million glasses of milk a day. Besides enjoying interactive exhibits and a 4-D movie, visitors see the milking
For an enlightening and uplifting experience, church groups might consider the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, about 35 miles from downtown Chicago. Pilgrims along the Prayer Trail encounter 40 life-size bronze statues that depict the Passion of Jesus Christ from the Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane to the Stations of the Cross. Music plays along the trail, and each stop has a listening station describing the scene. Miles of beaches fringe the Indiana shores of Lake Michigan’s southern tip, stretching from Chicago to New Buffalo, Mich. Impressive sand dunes invite hikers to explore at Indiana Dunes
from the mall, showcases the opulence enjoyed by John H. Barker, who made his fortune in freight cars at the turn of the 20th century. More of the area’s past is on display at the La Porte County Historical Society Museum in La Porte. The spacious, three-level brick building has antique cars, a vast collection of rare firearms and 14 period rooms that range from a pioneer log cabin to a 1950s living room. South Bend, home to the University of Notre Dame, offers groups a variety of options on campus and off. Learn about the university’s rich traditions and current student life on free, 90-minute tours that begin with a video presenta-
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum (left) is well known for its collection of antique cars. Four casinos on the southern shore of Lake Michigan make Northern Indiana one of the Midwest’s top gaming centers.
process firsthand on a bus tour of the farm. A popular stop is the Birthing Barn, where 80 calves are born each day. The Cheese Factory complex, famed for its grilled cheese sandwiches, houses an ice cream parlor, gift shop and cafe overlooking cheese-making and milk-bottling facilities. Candy making takes center stage at Albanese Candy Factory and Outlet Store in Hobart. It offers thousands of candies at wholesale prices, the world’s tallest chocolate fall, and an up-close look at the manufacture of its chocolates and “World’s Best” gummi candies. LeisureGroupTravel.com
State Park in Chesterton, a popular swimming hole with an old-time bathhouse. The state park is part of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a protected ecosystem with marshes, bogs, ponds, 15 miles of beaches and 45 miles of trails, boasts majestic dunes that shift with the wind and soil deposits. The largest dune, 126-foot-high Mount Baldy (near Michigan City), moves four to five feet south from the lake each year. Michigan City is home to Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa and the 120-store Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets. Barker Mansion, a block
tion. The walking tours include the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a masterpiece of neo-Gothic splendor with one of the largest collections of 19th century French stained glass in the world. South Bend’s Studebaker National Museum features horse-drawn and motorized vehicles once manufactured at the city’s Studebaker plant. On display are carriages used by U.S. presidents, including the one Lincoln rode to Ford’s Theatre. South Bend Chocolate Company offers tours of its factory, along with free samples, a movie, a shop, a nostalgia-filled chocolate museum December 2011 39
on location: midwest ❖ with rare artifacts and space for groups to have lunch. Amish traditions thrive in towns like Nappanee, Middlebury, Goshen, Wakarusa and Shipshewana, where hearty foods and one-of-a-kind crafts tempt visitors. Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort in Nappanee serves up a full plate of sightseeing, shopping and dining, with a nighttime theater performance to top it all off. Craft demonstrations include lye soap and broom making, rug weaving and quilting, plus seasonal activities like maple syrup, cider, apple butter and sorghum molasses making. Films discuss Amish history and customs. A highlight at Amish Acres is an all-you-can-eat meal under the handhewn timbers of a century-old barn. The family-style Threshers Dinner features fried chicken, ham and roast beef,
The Shrine of Christ’s Passion brings groups to St. John, Indiana.
plus thick ham and bean soup, hearthbaked bread with apple butter, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, sage dressing, beef and noodles, and sweet and sour cabbage salad. Save room for shoofly or peanut butter pie. Menno-Hof, a barn-shaped museum in Shipshewana, brings to life the story of the Amish and Mennonite people of Northern Indiana. The Tornado Theater replicates the power of a tor-
G Groups Gr savor our Hoosier hospitality. H Int Interactive tours, delicious food, unique sh shopping and original entertainment. Ve ent Venture to Brown County, Indiana….. c ca all today t call for your Group Packet!
ILoveBrownCounty ILuvBrownCounty 80 800.753.3255 | browncounty.com 40 December 2011
nado and explains how Amish and Mennonite crews respond to cleanup efforts following disasters. Shipshewana is best known for the Shipshewana Flea Market. Held every Tuesday and Wednesday from May through October, it is the Midwest’s largest flea market. Fort Wayne (pop. 300,000), close to the Ohio border, is Indiana’s second largest city and abounds with groupfriendly attractions. Some of the finest chocolate in the country is made at DeBrand Chocolatier, which offers tours of its kitchens. After a short video, guests get a chance to peek through the windows and perhaps see caramel pretzel bars being enrobed in chocolate or the production of gelato in flavors like sweet potato, apricot, orange peel and marzipan. Samples are given out along the way. Relax over coffee or hot chocolate in the elegant, wood-trimmed cafe. Parkview Field, home of minor league baseball’s TinCups, is the jewel of downtown Fort Wayne. The SingleA affiliate of the San Diego Padres draws 400,000 fans a year to the retrostyle brick ballpark, one of the most popular minor league stadiums in the country since it opened in 2009. Other downtown gems include the Embassy Theatre, a restored 1920s movie palace/vaudeville house, and FoellingerFreiman Botanical Conservatory. For just the right combination of city lights and country sights, Northern Indiana has all the ingredients for a wellrounded trip. Your groups will find dozens of places pleasing to the eye and to the palate. Toss in a dose of nostalgia and you’ve got a winning itinerary, whether for a week or a weekend. LGT Obtain Indiana visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info LeisureGroupTravel.com
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