After passing ugly steel mill after ugly steel mill and dealing with traffic – we were seriously starting to wonder if Whiting, Indiana was going to turn into one big disappointment.

It probably didn’t help that we got a bit lost and had to stop at the Marina and ask for directions (Yahoo, that wasn’t nice!). But, the guy at the Marina was so incredibly helpful and gave awesome directions (thank you Marina guy!) we didn’t wander too long.

Waltzing into Whiting, Indiana can only be compared to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy steps out of her dusty sepia-colored world and into the unexpected awesomeness that is Munchkinland. While Whiting didn’t have ruby slippers or a yellow brick road, it was certainly surprising!

The image on the right was our first little glimpse of Whiting. Is that an inviting sight or what? I could hardly wait to get out of the car and start exploring! Just seeing an old theater like that that wasn’t only in good shape but was actually still in business was a definite mood boost!

Yes, Whiting, Indiana is completely unlike the surrounding area – it’s so clean and tidy. There is no sign of the city here, only hanging flower baskets lining the sidewalks, shoppers loping along, and town banners hanging from street lamps.

There’s more diversity (which was really nice to see) but, close to big city or not, the people are like people from any small town: friendly! We were approached by three very different Whiting residents asking if we were new to the area and if we had been to The Pierogi Festival. Whiting residents love their Pierogi!

The Pierogi Festival, a nod at the town heritage (Slovak and Polish), is a pretty big deal around these parts – it’s absolutely huge! If you’ve ever had homemade Pierogi, you would understand why.

While we missed the festival (I blame our kids) hubs and I did spend a very full day exploring this little town all by ourselves. Surrounded by city or not, Whiting is a little town with lots of charm and plenty of fun things to do. Really, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Walking around Whiting is like walking in any small town – people smile or say “hi,” homes are tidy and well-kept, and, most importantly, you just feel safe. Mere blocks away from Whiting you hit East Chicago which is about the exact opposite of little Whiting, Indiana (it’s dirty, sprawling, and just plain ugly). How this small town has managed to hold on to its small town vibe I don’t know.

I’ve got plenty to post about Whiting, Indiana, so consider subscribing by email or RSS Feed (yes, it’s free) to stay on top of it! Who knew that a small town could retain its personality even when engulfed by the big, bad city. Hooray for Whiting, Indiana – what a lovely small town treasure you are!

Whiting, Indiana in Lake County

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