La Porte

La Porte is a city of 22,000 people (2019) in Northwestern Indiana. La Porte is surrounded by lakes and has a walkable historic downtown. It's dedicated to outdoor recreation.

Understand

• Tourist information, 801 Michigan Ave., ☏ +1 219-362-0151. (updated Oct 2020)

Get in

• 1 La Porte Municipal Airport. (updated Nov 2019)

Get around

• 2 Transporte, 102 L St, ☏ +1 219-362-6565, transporte@cityoflaportein.gov. M-F 6AM-9PM, Sa 8AM-4PM. TransPorte is the City of La Porte's public transportation system. It is a demand-response system serving the city of La Porte. Call for a ride -- they will pick you up at the curb, and take you to your destination anywhere in their service area for one low price. All of their vehicles are handicap-accessible with wheelchair lifts, and all are powered with Propane. $3.25. (updated Jan 2020)

See

• 1 LaPorte County Courthouse, 813 Lincolnway, ☏ +1 219-326-6808. Historic county courthouse designed by Brentwood S. Tolan and built from 1892-1894. It is Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in style, and was constructed with Lake Superior red sandstone. The building includes a tower with skylight, gargoyles and contains stained glass. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (updated Jan 2020)
• 2 Marion Ridgeway Polygonal Barn (Door Prairie Barn). The historic 1878 Door Prairie Barn is a unique nine-sided structure, the only remaining barn of its kind in the country. It is still standing today in excellent condition. (updated Jan 2020)
• 3 Downtown LaPorte Historic District. Downtown LaPorte Historic District is a national historic district that encompasses 70 contributing buildings in the central business district of LaPorte. It developed between about 1860 and 1930 and includes examples of Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, and Neoclassical style architecture. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. (updated Jan 2020)

Do

LaPorte County Courthouse

• 1 LaPorte County Fair. (updated Nov 2019)
• 2 La Porte County Historical Society Museum, 2405 Indiana Ave, ☏ +1 219-324-6767, info@laportecountyhistory.org. Tu-Sa 10 AM-4:30PM. A glimpse of LaPorte County’s fascinating history beckons behind the doors of this stunning brick building, with exhibits about fancy cars, a sports hero, pioneer life, and a murderous legend, plus a vast collection of rare guns. The downstairs level houses the W.A. Jones Collection of Ancient Weapons, one of the most extensive private gun collections in the world. The Kesling Automobile Collection features more than 30 vintage cars, including two made famous in movies: a 1982 DeLorean, like the one featured in Back to the Future, and a 1948 Tucker Torpedo, that appeared in the 1988 film Tucker: The Man and His Dream. $5. (updated Jan 2020)
• 3 LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, 537 Kingsbury Ave., ☏ +1 219-362-9020, executive@lcso.net. La Porte County Symphony resides within the vibrant arts landscape of Northwest Indiana and serves the 110,000 residents of La Porte County and regions beyond, including the Southwestern area of Michigan. The orchestra season includes three symphonic subscription concerts: two pops and one classical. (updated Jan 2020)
• 4 Sunflower Fair, Downtown LaPorte, ☏ +1 219-324-8584, lindsayj@laportepartnership.com. 3rd Saturday of September. The Sunflower Fair in beautiful, historic Downtown La Porte is one of the largest area festivals with over 100 craft and nonprofit vendors, food, entertainment and rides. Enjoy the many activities of the day: a rib cook-off, a 5K run and fun walk, sunflower contest, an art walk, scarecrow building, rides, food. Free. (updated Jan 2020)
• 5 LaPorte Little Theatre, 218 A Street, ☏ +1 219-362-5113, laporteltc@yahoo.com. La Porte Little Theatre Club is a 200-seat community theatre started in 1925 that aims to provide quality theatrical experiences to Northwest Indiana audiences and actors. $12. (updated Jan 2020)
• 6 Beechwood Municipal Golf Course, 2222 Woodlawn Drive, ☏ +1 219-362-2651. Sunrise to sunset. Beechwood Golf Course is a beautiful 18-hole championship golf course designed by William Diddle. Beechwood was built in the early 1930s and donated to the City of LaPorte by the Fox Family. Weekday $20, weekend $26. (updated Jan 2020)
• 7 Plaza 618, 618 Lincolnway, ☏ +1 219-362-3178. Sunrise to sunset. Plaza 618 features areas to sit, relax, dine, enjoy events and entertainment, and interact. The interactive fountain, tables, benches, umbrellas, and a vibrant landscape are just a few of the amenities the plaza provides. Free. (updated Jan 2020)
• 8 Stone Lake (Stone Lake Beach), 300 Grangemouth Drive (in Soldiers Memorial Park, along the eastern shore of Stone Lake). Parks are open from sunrise until 10PM. Stone Lake is 140 acres of water with plenty of fishing to keep anglers happy and the crystal clear waters make canoeing and kayaking especially enjoyable. The Stone Lake Beach House includes a concession stand and restroom facilities. Patrons will also find a playground, outdoor showers, picnic tables, and grills. (updated Jan 2020)

Eat

807-819 Lincolnway in the Downtown Historic District

• 1 Mucho Mas!, 609 Lincolnway, ☏ +1 219-362-9183. 10AM-8PM. Californian-style Mexican dishes in a seat-yourself establishment with a contemporary feel. (updated Jan 2020)
• 2 Trattoria Enzo (Enzo's), 601 Michigan Ave, ☏ +1 219-326-8000. Tu-Sa 5-9:30PM, Wednesday: 11AM-2PM. Cozy, family-owned Italian eatery with a fireplace & rustic wood accents. $10-30. (updated Jan 2020)
• 3 Café Trilogy, 150 Legacy Plaza, ☏ +1 219-561-3310. Tu-Su 7AM-2PM. Breakfast, lunch, and desserts. $10-20. (updated Jan 2020)
• 4 Indiana Deli & Catering, 805 Indiana Avenue, ☏ +1 219-324-3383. M-F 7-9AM, 11AM-2PM. Unique sandwiches (named for famous places and people from Indiana) made fresh as you wait. Fresh salads and desserts made daily. Dine-in or carryout is available. $8-15. (updated Jan 2020)
• 5 Bare Bones Gastropub, 518 Lincolnway, ☏ +1 219-575-7469, info@barebonesgastro.com. W-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 10AM-8PM. Family-friendly gastropub serving a variety of high-quality food and beverage, owned by Burn 'Em Brewery. $10-20. (updated Jan 2020)

Drink

• 1 3rd Base Bar and Grill, 1201 Pine Lake Road, ☏ +1 219-324-0300. Daily 11AM-11PM. Good selection of craft beers and decent food, outdoor seating in the summer. $8-15. (updated Jan 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Arbor Hill Inn, 263 West Johnson Road, ☏ +1 219-362-9200, info@arborhillinn.com. Off Route 35 and a 5-minute walk from the shores of Pine Lake, this upscale inn in a circa-1910 building is 2.2 miles from Soldiers Memorial Park. The themed accommodations are uniquely furnished and feature private bathrooms with period reproductions and 2-person whirlpool tubs, as well as fireplaces TVs and free WiFi. Some rooms have 4-poster beds and sitting areas. Gourmet meals are cooked on the premises and served at individual tables in the dining room, or taken privately. The grounds are lushly landscaped, and there's private parking. $79-$179USD. (updated Jan 2020)
• 2 The Blue Heron Inn, 1110 Lakeside Street, toll-free: +1-800-575-3880, info@blueheronlaporte.com. This laid-back hotel on the shores of Pine Lake is 2 miles from Soldiers Memorial Park and 10 miles from the hiking trails of Pinhook Bog. Low-key, conservative rooms offer free Wi-Fi and TVs. Upgraded rooms add lake views, in-room whirlpool tubs, and fireplaces, and some also have microwaves, minifridges, and/or decks or patios. Suites add living rooms with sofabeds. Floating boathouses are available seasonally. Breakfast and parking are complimentary. Other amenities include a bar, and an elegant restaurant featuring ornate ceilings and wainscoting. $79-140. (updated Jan 2020)

Connect

• 1 La Porte County Public Library. (updated Nov 2019)

Go next

Valparaiso is about 20 minutes away on 2 West. On 80/90 East, you will reach South Bend in about 30 minutes.

Routes through La Porte

Gary ← Chesterton ←	W  E	→ South Bend → Elkhart
END ← Michigan City ←	N  S	→ Logansport → Kokomo
Valparaiso ← Jct ←	W  E	→ South Bend → END