Everyone is invited to drive the intertwining Lincoln Highway and Yellowstone Trail from Fort Wayne to Valparaiso, Indiana on Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, June 30. Near Valparaiso, the two mighty roads diverge, and on Sunday, June 30 we will head off both roads to the north to explore natural wonders of northern Indiana, including the Gabis Arboretum (formerly known as the Taltree Aboretum), the small, wind-swept enclave of Beverly Shores, and end in the Indiana Dunes National Park and State Park. The Gabis Arboretum spans 300 acres, encompassing gardens, native plants, trails, and a Railway Garden. The small town of Beverly Shores has five Century of Progress homes built for the Chicago 1933 World’s Fair for the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibit, reassembled along Lake Michigan. The Indiana Dunes National and State Parks owe their existence to the preservation work of Jens Jensen (the leading landscaping expert of the Midwest of his time and a key figure in the history of the Lincoln Highway) and his friends.

The registration fee of $35 per vehicle includes the printed driving directions and information, plus car magnets. Lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday will be on your own, as will museum and park entrance fees. The Gabis Arboretum is $10 per vehicle, preferably via a credit card, with an additional fee of $3 for the Railway Garden (although the miniature trains cannot run during windy or rainy weather). The Indiana Dunes National Park has different entrance fees, free for those who already have the America the Beautiful National Park Pass, $25 for a vehicle, or $15 per person. Anyone opting to take in the Indiana Dunes State Park: its rates are different for Indiana residents and out-of-state visitors.