We spent a week in Michigan City and stayed at Darlene's place. The apartment is really well positioned if you want to abandon your car. Although the walk to the beach is somewhat lengthy, about a 15-20 minute walk, especially on a scorching summer day.
The shopping mall and the uptown art district is much closer, the shopping mall right across the street and uptown a few blocks away.
The whole town feels a little depressed (someone else mentioned questionable neighborhood, nothing questionable about it, just a blue collar neighborhood) with dilapidated homes and empty streets.
But every place we went to was above average to excellent, the coffee shop (Lakeshore Coffe), ice cream shop (Cabo's ice cream), restaurants (our favorite was Oldschool on 9th) etc...there's a truffle shop that if you put it on Chicago mag mile it would be one of star attractions among everything else already there. People that we met were very friendly. If you're a craft beer lover Shoreline brewery is outstanding and I heard the food there is great but I only had cold pints. There's a cigar shop (Golden leaf) with a great selection. There's a liquor shop (King Richard's wine and spirits) with a stupendous selection of craft beer, scotch and whiskey.
Once you're on the Washington park beach you're in a sand and water heaven. If someone took you there blindfolded, dropped you off and asked where you were your first guess would probably be Southern California. There's plenty of parking there even on a busy weekend, there was art festival when we were there.
The apartment we stayed in was nice and comfortable, well it, quiet and well equipped. Darlene is a great host. She'll let you you have your privacy but she's easily accessible if you need her assistance.
We were nicely surprised with what Michigan city has to offer. There seemed be every single thing I look for when on vacation and everything within a couple miles circle. Sometimes I have a hard time finding all that in much bigger places. And everything here like I mentioned was outstanding. We'll be back for sure.
I'd recommend you travel there and help these people get out of their economic blues, they are fighting hard and still kept their optimism.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Aug 19, 2015
Thank you for visiting Michigan City and for taking the time to write something for other travelers. Yes, we need people to come stay in Michigan City and make this a great town as it once was.. Has a lot to offer and we are working on making it better and better. Please come back when you can!! Thanks again!! Darlene
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.