More than 20 parks are spread across Merrillville, and the parks and open-space system includes trails for hiking and biking. There is also the C&O Trail project, which extends the existing trail 1.35 miles north. Travelers choosing Merrillville can focus on different things, from outdoor activities and regional history to shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The trail and park paths offer different outdoor experiences
The Merrillville section of the C&O Trail runs north from the existing trail’s endpoint near Taft Street to just past Hendricks Street. The project section opened on April 30, 2024; once the C&O Trail projects are complete, the trail will be 5.5 miles long in total. This makes it possible to distinguish between a clearly defined trail section with named landmarks and park paths spread throughout the town.
If you want to get your bearings on a specific route, Taft Street and Hendricks Street provide two reference points for the Merrillville section. If you would rather focus on the town’s green spaces, you can consider its more than 20 parks and hiking and biking trails as a separate option. The trail extension and the parks and open-space system cater to different interests, without needing to be combined into a single route.
Regional history at the museum and along the Sauk Trail
The Merrillville History Museum opened in 1996. Its artifacts, historical photographs, and other treasures tell the story of the region.
The Sauk Trail is also connected to Merrillville’s history: it was an important route in the area’s early development. The sections that remain include what is now 73rd Avenue. The museum and the Sauk Trail offer different perspectives on the region’s past: the museum focuses on collection items and their historical context, while 73rd Avenue is understood as a surviving section of a historic route.
Shopping and sweets in Merrillville
Southlake Mall is a shopping, dining, and entertainment center in Merrillville with more than 160 specialty stores. It offers a different focus from the trail, park paths, and museum. If you want to include shopping, dining, or entertainment in your trip, you’ll find a wide range of options here.
The Albanese Confectionery Factory Store in Merrillville carries bulk candy, nostalgic sweets, nuts and mixes, gifts, as well as gummy candies and chocolate. Its selection differs from what the mall offers, with a particular focus on sweets and nuts. Since product offerings may change, it’s a good idea to check before your visit whether a particular product category is available.
Plan your stay around your interests
When choosing a hotel in Merrillville, it may help to start by deciding what your trip is about. If you’re mainly interested in trails and parks, the northbound C&O Trail section and the park paths offer two different starting points. For regional history, there’s the museum collection and the Sauk Trail’s trace through town. Southlake Mall and the Albanese Confectionery Factory Store, on the other hand, focus on shopping, dining, entertainment, and sweets.
This way, planning starts with the experiences you’re actually interested in, rather than simply listing the options. Depending on your priorities, the trail, history, or shopping may be the deciding factor; the places mentioned represent different themes, not a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Gary, Munster, Hobart, Schererville, Hammond, Saint John, Cedar Lake, Griffith
For the broader travel overview: Lake.
