Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana lies at the southern tip of Lake Michigan. With a surface area of over 22,000 square miles, Lake Michigan provides habitat for a wide variety of fish, birds and aquatic organisms. This truly “great” lake also provides food, recreation, transportation and water for drinking, industry and agriculture, serving more than 10 million people living within its watershed. Bordering these important waters, beaches, grass and tree covered dune ridges, oak savannas and picturesque prairies all come together to form the tapestry of this wonderful park. Photo by Rafi Wilkinson, National Park Service.

Last month, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was redesignated as America’s 61st national park. Located in northwest Indiana, the park includes 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 15,000 acres of beaches, woods, prairies and marshes. If you love sand, surf and sun, start planning your visit to Indiana Dunes National Park. Photo by Rafi Wilkinson, National Park Service.

There is no one-size-fits-all trip to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Each season offers new and different ways to enjoy the park. Spring splashes the riverbanks and shoreline with an abundance of colorful wildflowers. Summers are all about fun in the sun and on the sand. In the fall, Maple trees burst with warm red and golden hues crafting a spectacular backdrop for a hike by Lake Michigan and winter brings a scenic canvas of white snow begging for cross-country skiing. Photo by Rafi Wilkinson, National Park Service.

After a thrilling day of hiking, biking, fishing, boating and birdwatching, settle into the sand at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and watch the sunset over Lake Michigan. The colorful skies and breaking waves make this a perfect summer experience. Photo by Rafi Wilkerson, National Park Service.

Snow covers the sand at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Indiana. Winter wind kicks up waves from Lake Michigan, rolling chunks of ice and snow onto the beach. Under a colorful sunrise sky with the Chicago skyline visible in the distance, the wonder of this special park is undeniable. Photo by National Park Service.

Surrounded by farmland and development, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana is critical habitat for the diverse wildlife that call the area home. The grasslands, forests and wetlands of the refuge support animals from otters and deer to a wide variety of birds. Fall is a great time to see waterfowl or catch a sunrise over one of the refuge’s lakes. Photo by D. Stanley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Strolling by the water at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Indiana is a serene experience. The sun sparkles on the water and the breeze blows your troubles off your shoulders. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national lakeshore’s 15,000 acres will continually enchant you. Even seeing the Chicago skyline 35 miles away across Lake Michigan makes it seem like the rest of the world is far away. Photo by National Park Service.

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge – the first wildlife refuge in Indiana created 50 years ago this week – protects habitat for more than 280 species of birds like sandhill cranes. The refuge was also instrumental to the comeback of the state’s endangered North American river otter, serving as the first release site to bring populations back to healthy numbers. This amazing landscape of lakes, marshes and creeks is a quick trip from major metropolitan areas in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Photo by Susan Harner, USFWS.

On Memorial Day, we honor those that have fallen in the service of our nation. You can take part by visiting Colonial era sites like George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Indiana, a Civil War battlefield like Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee or a memorial on the National Mall like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. These memorials, cemeteries and battlefields help remind us of the extraordinary sacrifices made to keep us united and free. Vietnam Veterans Memorial photo by Thomas Kredo (www.sharetheexperience.org). George Rogers Clark National Historical Park and Shiloh National Military Park photos by National Park Service.

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana was established in 1966 to provide resting and feeding areas for waterfowl during their annual migrations. More than 280 species of birds have been seen at Muscatatuck, and the refuge is recognized as a “Continentally Important” bird area. This time of year, you can see great blue herons, egrets, warblers and incredible orange sunrises. Photo by Bill Tucker (www.sharetheexperience.org).