Walking Michigan City (Indiana) • Hacker News Board

Re: Walking Michigan City (Indiana)

#11

Post by CameronBanga » Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 5:55 PM UTC

ellisv wrote: post #7

cogogo wrote: post #2

Odd that the author does not mention the lake. Hugely important reason why industry located there. It’s also the reason why it is a massive regional vacation destination (right next to the indiana dunes national park) and selling summer houses and condos is probably the reason that real estate agent mentioned out-earned everyone else in the state.

Indiana Dunes National Park is weird and only became a national park because Pence was VP.

It's the 4th most biodiverse national park, and a really incredible place. But also, Dem. Rep Pete Visclosky was probably more responsible than Pence for pushing through in an appropriations bill.

Re: Walking Michigan City (Indiana)

#12

Post by fuzzzerd » Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 6:04 PM UTC

Taikonerd wrote: post #5

For anyone who's wondering who the author is: Chris Arnade got a Ph.D. in particle physics at Johns Hopkins University, and then worked for 20 years as a bond trader on Wall Street. In 2011, he became interested in social class in the US -- what he calls the distinction between "front-row kids" and "back-row kids." So he became a sort of itinerant photographer/journalist, documenting the lives of poor or middle-class…

Thanks for putting those together and commenting, I may have missed that connection on my own.

I think his McDonalds test is particularly interesting, and while it probably has some holes, I think it has some merit as at least a leading indicator of which group you're a part.

Re: Walking Michigan City (Indiana)

#13

Post by binarynate » Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 7:18 PM UTC

As humble as Michigan City is, it's also a popular vacation destination for Hoosiers seeking an inexpensive summer getaway. I grew up in Indiana and have many fond memories of going to Michigan City in the summer: swimming at the beach, walking to the lighthouse and zoo, and looking at Chicago's skyline from across the lake. As a kid, I thought the power plant tower was cool, too.

Re: Walking Michigan City (Indiana)

#14

Post by stockresearcher » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 12:16 AM UTC

jillesvangurp wrote: post #3

Walking is a great way to experience a place properly. I only discovered how much I enjoy walking during the lockdowns a few years ago when taking long walks was the only entertainment. I mostly walk around Berlin where I live. Exploring the areas in between the destinations where I normally by simply walking through them (as opposed to taking public transport and not seeing or noticing these areas), shows you a lot…

> Not that dissimilar from the working class areas here in Berlin

Interesting fact. The public library in Michigan City was designed by a very young Helmut Jahn. Yes, the same architect that designed the Potsdamer Platz.

Also, both the power plant and the prison are going away. The power plant is already in the process of being decommissioned.

Re: Walking Michigan City (Indiana)

#15

Post by cogogo » Wed, Sep 24, 2025, 11:23 AM UTC

ellisv wrote: post #7

cogogo wrote: post #2

Odd that the author does not mention the lake. Hugely important reason why industry located there. It’s also the reason why it is a massive regional vacation destination (right next to the indiana dunes national park) and selling summer houses and condos is probably the reason that real estate agent mentioned out-earned everyone else in the state.

Indiana Dunes National Park is weird and only became a national park because Pence was VP.

Granted the park is not the reason a lot of the summer home owners go there but it is an easy thing to point to to underline that the stretches of lake on either side of Michigan City are very beautiful for people who have never been.