about valparaiso
luxurious high-tech living
Valparaiso which means "Vale of Paradise" was incorporated as a town in 1850 and is the county seat for Porter County, Indiana. Both the city and county were named to honor United States Navy Commodore David Porter who commanded the frigate Essex during the war of 1812 in the battle Valparaiso, Chile.
Valparaiso offers a small town feel from it's historic downtown shopping district complete with antique, clothing, and gift shops, restaurants and much more to it's historic residential areas that surround the Courthouse square.
The Valparaiso Community School system is rated one of the best. Valparaiso is also home to nationally acclaimed Valparaiso University, which has repeatedly been rated a top university in the Midwest. Purdue, Notre Dame and Indiana University campuses are a short car ride away. The city also offers affordable housing, superior outpatient health care and state of the art hospital facilities. 15 miles to the north of Valparaiso is Lake Michigan with state and national parks, and passenger service via train to Chicago and South Bend.
The City of Valparaiso is located approximately 60 miles southeast of Chicago, 158 miles north of Indianapolis, 90 miles northwest of Fort Wayne and 55 miles southwest of South Bend. Valparaiso has easy access to I-94, I-80/90 and I-65 via Indiana Bypass 49 and US 30.
Porter County
The Indiana Dunes are Porter County's paradise. Home to both a state park and national park, the Dunes offers travelers a respite from their daily grind - through miles of beach, sand dunes, woodland forests and bogs. Relax amidst the peaceful tranquility of sand, sea and sky. You'll leave feeling refreshed and renewed by the beautiful landscape that is Porter County.
Indiana Dunes State Park: Home to the Midwest's most diversified flora and fauna, the state park offers swimming in Lake Michigan, trail hiking, camping, youth tent camping, fishing, campground grocery, picnic areas, concessions, cross-country skiing and sledding. The park has no-alcohol and carry-in/carry-out trash policies. 1600 north County Road 25 East (on Indiana 49, north of Interstate 94).
The Nature Center: offers year-round programs for all ages and includes animal and bird watching stations and dunes-related exhibits. Slide presentations are offered in the auditorium. Interpretive services include hikes, activities and patch programs. 219/926-1390.
The campground: has 288 campsites. It is equipped with electricity and a dumping station. The concession and campground grocery is open during the summer. Picnic areas include tables, grills, toilet facilities, playground equipment and shelters. The campground is open all year. 219/926-4520.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: Part of the National Park Service, the National Lakeshore offers slide programs, a bookstore, activity information, hiking trails and displays at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center. On Kemil Road at U.S. 12, near Beverly Shores. 219/926-7561, ext. 225.
Bailly Homestead: was built by French-Canadian voyageur and fur trader Joseph Bailly, who settled here in the early 1820s. The two-and-a-half story home is made of cut lumber fastened together with wooden pegs. The home reflects a long history of use beginning when the Bailly's owned it and extends into the 1960s when it was used as a boarding house and restaurant. The surrounding old style cabins have been used as fur cabins, offices and housing. On Mineral Springs Road, between U.S. Highways 12 and 20 in Porter. 219/926-7561, ext. 225.
Chellberg Farm: is a 20th century 80-acre working farm established by Swedish immigrants Anders and Joanna Kjellberg in 1874. Kept the way the Kjellbergs maintained it, the farm is the site of several ongoing educational and entertainment programs. On Mineral Springs Road, between U.S. Highways 12 and 20 in Porter. 219/926-7561, ext. 225.
Dunewood Campground: is a handicap-accessible facility with 79 drive-in and walk-in sites. There are no utilities. Restrooms and showers are available. The season is April 1-October 31. No reservations are accepted. 219/926-7561, ext. 663.
The World's Fair Homes: are the legacy of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress Exhibition. Nestled in the dunes along Lake Michigan stand five unique homes, monuments to American ingenuity. They feature modern technology such as central air conditioning, dishwashers and passive solar heating. For more information, visit the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center on Kemil Road at U.S. Highway 12 near Beverly Shores. 219/926-7561, ext. 225.
