Indiana Dunes Tourism has launched a new “Indiana Dunes Tourism App” on the App Store and Google Play. The free app is described as a user’s guide to exploring the Indiana Dunes and its surrounding communities and features interactive maps showing the locations of beaches, trails, parks and communities; dining, shopping and local business listings; event calendars with festivals, concerts and activities; coupons and discounts and more.
“One of our primary missions is to incentivize guests to ‘shake off the sand south of the dunes,’” said Dustin Ritchea, the Communications and Creative Director for Indiana Dunes Tourism. “The trails on our app help us do that, offering a passive way for our local businesses to receive extra guests.” According to Ritchea, local organizations, such as the Valparaiso Creative Council, are already using the Indiana Dunes Tourism app to promote their own “trails,” such as the Mural Walk in downtown Valparaiso.
The app is also home to Sand + Steel, another self-guided trail highlighting 45 sand-and-steel-themed locations near U.S. Route 12. “Sand + Steel is an ongoing regional initiative Indiana Dunes Tourism is proud to be a driver for throughout Northwest Indiana,” said Christine Livingston, the President and CEO of Indiana Dunes Tourism. “The app is the perfect vehicle to launch this campaign, and we are excited to be collaborating with the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Porter County Community Foundation, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and Northwest Indiana Forum, as we continue to improve it with additional sites, videos and content.” According to Livingston, as of June 17, 2026, the app already had 13,157 total users and has generated 135,007 page views, most of which are to local business listings.
Anyone looking to check out the Indiana Dunes Tourism app can download it today. By signing up, users can create itineraries, save interests and even map their journey throughout the Indiana Dunes Area. “When creating the app, we tried to focus our attention on the overall user experience,” said Ritchea. “We put a lot of energy into creating categories and experiences we believe will resonate with visitors and locals alike. Being a local myself, when someone asks me a question about an upcoming event, my first instinct now is to open up the app.”
App Store Link:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/indiana-dunes-tourism/id6751349592 .
Google Play Link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.visitwidget.indianadunes&pcampaignid=web_share .
Indiana Dunes Tourism, in partnership with local non-profit and higher education arts and culture organizations, launched an Indiana Dunes Arts + Culture Trail as part of the Indiana Dunes Tourism App. Each location on the trail will feature a commissioned Sand + Steel-themed postcard. The trail officially launched during the Valparaiso Sand + Steel Art Fest on Saturday, June 27, 2026. For more information about the festival, visit ValpoCreates.org . For information about the trail, visit IndianaDunes.com.
At launch, the Indiana Dunes Arts + Culture Trail will highlight 14 local arts and culture organizations across Porter County and offer a self-guided tour of museums, theater venues and art centers. Visitors can collect one of 14 unique postcards at each location by downloading the Indiana Dunes Tourism App and digitally checking in. The trail encourages visitors who come to Porter County for beaches, hiking and outdoor recreation to extend their stay by exploring local arts, history, theater and cultural attractions.
Visitors who complete the trail will have the opportunity to collect exclusive Sand + Steel-themed postcards featuring artwork from regional artists, including Carolyn Lelek, Daniel E. Gue, Kuhn Hong, Mark Coleman, Arthur E. Anderson, Laura Gutzwiller, Sophie Groenstein and Frank V. Dudley.
