Valparaiso, IN is a small city in the Midwest that is known for its thriving arts and cultural scene. Located near Lake Michigan, the city draws visitors from all over the area to experience its vibrant and eclectic atmosphere. Valpo, as it’s affectionately called by locals, offers plenty of exciting activities such as art galleries, live music venues, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Whether you’re looking for an urban escape or simply want to explore a unique destination, Valparaiso is sure to please.
Reviews of Valparaiso have been overwhelmingly positive. Many visitors cite it as one of the most charming cities they have ever visited. With its friendly people and laid-back atmosphere, Valpo has become a favorite among vacationers looking for something new and different. The city also boasts some amazing restaurants that serve up delicious dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of several nearby parks and nature preserves as well as bike trails along the lakefront. All in all, travelers from around the world are sure to find something enjoyable in this Midwestern gem!
based on 11 ReviewsGet to know Valparaiso with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Valparaiso
Pleasantly Surprised - 6/24/2015
I moved to Valparaiso, IN about 1 year ago. I moved here because I was attending the law school located here. At a glance, it appears to be a small town, with many new housing divisions. After doing some exploring, I realized that many people that live in Valparaiso work in downtown Chicago, and are extremely wealthy. The city has put a lot of money into making their downtown beautiful, and it really shows that the people care about their community. There are many restaurants and bars also for it being such a small town. I was so surprised at how much I liked it
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Best Places to Eat - 3/9/2014
My favorite restaurants in Valparaiso are:
Panera Bread--The lines sometimes get long, but, the service is decent and the food is great.
Red Robin--Bottomless fries rock!
Culver's--Good food-good service. Make this a stop!
Coldstone Creamery-Now that it's under new ownership, the service seems better. I'd recommend this place.
Pat's Ice Cream Parlor-Good variety of unique flavors! Check it out!
South Bend Chocolate-Nice variety of candies and dessert items. I've never had the regular food there-but it doesn't look special.
Designer Desserts-The prices are a little high, but, my favorite flavors of cupcakes are the Texas one and the Dark Chocolate Raspberry! MMMMMM! The cookies are average. The brownies aren't very good-and I only say that because I could't actually TASTE the brownie. It had so much sweet buttercream frosting on it (I really like chocolate buttercream frosting) and tons-I mean TONS of sprinkles. Too many. It's the same
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Beautiful country living in big metropolis - 6/24/2013
I loved driving anywhere, down any road because of the trees, fields and green, green grass that is all over. Cost of living is outrageous! But lil towns close by make up for it. There is still a social classing to this area that shocked me. Not much to do for night life unless you go to Chicago which surprised me with University in town. Customer service is worst I have ever encountered. Great Lake is beautiful. I'm thankful I had the chance to live and see area.
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religion - 2/15/2009
Valparaiso Indiana is a Christian based community. Most of the population are Christian or belong to an organized
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Good upside for those that prefer a smaller town - 2/8/2008
Valparaiso, Valpo to the locals, is a relatively quiet town at the very edge of the Chicago metro area. It's got about 30,000 residents but is growing steadily. Probably the best way to describe the city is as an excellent town for a family. The dining is excellent - there are a lot of choices and some of the retaurants are on par with what you find in Chicago (no joke, becuase I have eaten in Chicago a lot). The downtown area is cute and growing a little. Almost all of the "big box" stores have openned within the last few years. Most items a family would need to buy are in town or within a short drive.
The Indiana Dunes and public beaches on Lake Michigan are just 15 minutes away, and there are many parks and recreation activities. There is a small university with Division 1 sports in one of the best "mid-major" conferences, too, as well as some local theatre. Chicago is really close, especially compared to some of the Western and Northern suburbs, so going into
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Not much to do... - 4/26/2007
There's not a whole lot to do in Valpo. The Dunes are 15 minute drive, Chicago is a 45 minute drive (depending on traffic and construction), and south of Valpo is nothing until you get to Indianapolis about 3 hours
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All about family in Valparaiso - 7/21/2006
I relocated to Valparaiso approximately eight years ago and have no regrets. "Valpo" is a great family oriented community anchored by the university and an active midwest town square. It maintains one of the better public school systems within the state and offers a variety of activities for children. Like many residence, I do commute to Chicago and have no difficulty in doing so. In fact, I can make it downtown, Chicago, much quicker than many of my coworkers that reside in the north and western suburbs. In addition to the commute, it is much cheaper than many of the Chicago area suburbs. Valparaiso is a great place to raise a family in a more rural environment while maintaing the ability to commute and play in
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Midwest Town with Great Restaurants - 2/13/2006
Fine dining abounds in Valparaiso, about an hour's drive from downtown Chicago. People trying to escape the urban decay that is Northwest Indiana have created a smart, small city in Valparaiso, one that is too far away from Chicago (in my opinion) to be considered a commuter's suburb. The population is stable, the neighborhoods are safe and the farms of Indiana are a short drive to the south and east. Other than a harsh winter climate, made worse by lake effect snow squalls, my only complaint is that it can take 20 minutes to cross town. There are simply no roads that you can take to zip across the city. When Valparaiso gets a major retail store like LS Ayres (currently about 15 miles to the west in the area's main mall area in Hobart/Merrillville), it'll be a highly desirable place to live with all the amenities one would want in Midwest
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smalltown - 2/8/2006
Great town to live in and raise kids. Great schools, fun downtown, close enough to big city -
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