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Popcorn, a college chapel and a courthouse square give Valparaiso its character. Orville Redenbacher started his famous gourmet popcorn business in the area, and every September the town throws a popcorn festival with a parade, a race and a street fair. The city, known to locals simply as Valpo, is the seat of Porter County in northwest Indiana, about an hour from Chicago.
The heart of town is the square around the Porter County Courthouse, where Lincolnway is lined with restaurants, coffee shops and the restored Memorial Opera House. Central Park Plaza hosts summer concerts and turns into an ice rink in winter, and the old sheriff's house and jail now hold the Porter County Museum. On the south side, Valparaiso University's soaring Chapel of the Resurrection is one of the largest college chapels in the country.
Outdoors, Rogers-Lakewood Park wraps around Long Lake with trails and a swimming beach, Ogden Gardens offers quiet paths in the city, and the sand dunes and beaches of Lake Michigan are only about a twenty-minute drive north.
The landmark of Valparaiso University, a modernist Lutheran chapel completed in 1959 with a tall freestanding bell tower and huge stained-glass windows that flood the nave with color. Visitors can step inside when it is open between services. Come on a sunny afternoon for the best light through the glass.
A life-size bronze of the bow-tied popcorn entrepreneur sitting on a bench downtown, a nod to the Valparaiso area roots of his famous gourmet popcorn brand. Visitors sit beside him for photos all year. Look for it along Lincolnway near the courthouse square and pair it with a coffee nearby.
Locals call it the PoCo Muse: a county history museum set in the restored 1871 sheriff's residence and jail just off the courthouse square. Exhibits cover the dunes, farming, local industry and notable residents, and you can peek into the old cell block. Admission is free; check the opening days first.
A restored 1893 theater built as a memorial to Civil War veterans, now home to community musicals, plays and concerts throughout the year. The intimate auditorium keeps its historic feel, so even the back rows are close to the stage. Book ahead for popular holiday shows and grab dinner on Lincolnway first.
A small downtown plaza with an amphitheater, splash pad and lawn that hosts free summer concerts, movie nights and festivals. In winter it becomes an outdoor ice rink with skate rentals and a warming area. Bring a lawn chair for concerts and arrive early on weekend evenings to claim a good spot.
A wooded city park on the north side wrapped around Long Lake, with a sandy swimming beach, fishing, paddle boat and kayak rentals in summer, picnic shelters and hilly trails through the trees. It is a favorite for walks in autumn color. A small entry fee applies for non-residents during the summer season.
A tidy public garden near downtown with flower beds, a small Japanese garden, a pond, a gazebo and shaded benches, kept up partly by local volunteers and garden clubs. It is a peaceful stop for a short walk and is popular for photos. Visit in late spring or summer when the beds are fully planted.
A long-running festival held downtown on the Saturday after Labor Day, with a popcorn-themed parade, a morning run, live music, craft booths and plenty of popcorn. It draws large crowds from across northwest Indiana. Park at the edges of downtown and walk in, as streets around the square are closed.
A Porter County park on a former farm at the edge of Valparaiso, with restored barns, gardens, a dog park, a fishing pond and easy trails through woods and meadows. It hosts seasonal festivals and events. Come at sunset to understand the name, and check the county parks calendar for weekend programs.
The handsome stone courthouse at the center of downtown Valparaiso, rebuilt after a fire in the 1930s while keeping much of its earlier character, with a clock and landscaped lawns around it. It anchors the square where most events happen. Walk all four sides to see the surrounding historic storefronts.
The blocks around the courthouse square are packed with independent restaurants, brewpubs, cafes and dessert shops, many with sidewalk seating in summer. It is the liveliest part of town on weekend evenings. Reserve on Friday and Saturday nights, and walk a loop of Lincolnway and Washington Street after dinner.
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Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chris Light, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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