Indiana Dunes N.P. – Bernard and Claudette's RV Adventure

Well I guess we should have expected that on the east coast. Another National Park that is set in an urban environment…3 weird facts:

there is also a State Park of the same name, and the National Park wraps around it;
in between the N.P. campground where we stayed, and Lake Michigan, there is an entire small community of privately owned homes (Beverly beach);
the US Steel mill, in Gary Indiana , and the Port of Indiana, both on the lakefront where there before the N.P. was created and still operate. (interesting side read: Gary Works – key highlight: “For many years, the Gary Works was the world’s largest steel mill, and it remains the largest integrated mill in North America”)

While the soil is sandy, these are vegetation covered dunes. The highlights of our stay there were having lunch on the shore of lake Michigan in Gary, and then walking the Paul H. Douglas trail that ends at the beach.

Claudette’s Two Cents.

Today’s the day we had a picnic at Lake Michigan and hiked. Just to add a few more details to what Bernard’s shared above:

This National Park is no. 61 out of the 63 parks.
The dunes are 200ft tall and has diverse flora of 1,400 species.
Michigan is the third largest of the five Great Lakes
The Douglas Center Loop is 3.2 miles + 2.1 miles for the beach.

Here are few highlights from our day:

Our day for hiking the dunes. But before, picnic.
And for Bernard to put his feet in Lake Michigan
I'll let you decide what to think about this. Lake Michigan.
And this is the other side of us at Lake Michigan.
Lake Michigan.
Lake Michigan.
Along our Dunes' hike.
The face Bernard makes when he sees the ocean
after being in the hot sun for an hour.
The reward after along and hot hike through the dunes.
These grasses are so important to the ecology of the dunes.
Not only do they prevent erosion, they provide important habitat for many of the critters that call the park home.

Note:
I wanted to add the houses from the 1933 Chicago World Fair to the slide show, but you would be able to see the photo properly. So here’s a description for each of the 5 houses:

This is one of 5 houses that where built for the Chicago World Fair. It is part of the 1933 Century of Progress Homes.

The Florida Tropical House: Home, Cruise Ship and More.
Designed by Robert Law Wee, in an Art Deco style, it was created to bring the indoors and outdoors together. Cost to build – $15,000.