Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso is about an hour southeast of Chicago via I-94, making it a popular stop for travelers heading to or from the Windy City. The city sits at the intersection of major routes including US 30 and State Road 49, with easy access to Lake Michigan beaches 15 miles north. Home to Valparaiso University and serving as the Porter County seat, it's anchored by the striking 1883 courthouse downtown with its ornate Second Empire clock tower that's become one of Indiana's most photographed government buildings.