Miller Gary, IN

Miller got its start as a railroad station, but soon attracted immigrants from Europe who arrived to work in the railroad and sand-mining industries. Overcrowding in Chicago led many city dwellers to escape to Miller and set up residences. Miller was annexed to Gary in 1918, but the neighborhood has always retained its own beach charm.

While Miller has seen much housing development, the lakefront and surrounding dunes remain federally protected. For cultural attractions, the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District works to promote local artists with art exhibits and events. The Brauer Museum of Art, in nearby Valparaiso, features a large collection of American art. For the dramatic arts, residents travel to Munster to see productions staged by Theatre at the Art Center. The annual Festival of the Lakes draws visitors to the area with free musical entertainment spread over five days on the shores of four lakes.

While no shortage of fast-food chains exist in Gary, Miller features better choices in dining and nightlife. Most establishments sit on Miller Avenue, although options exist elsewhere in the neighborhood and around the city.

With a rather unassuming name, Miller Bakery Café serves lunch and dinner to hungry residents of Miller Beach. Vegetable linguine and chicken wraps entice the lunchtime crowd, while a butcher cut of flatiron steak or wild caught red snapper gives dinner guests something to rave over.

For fare that's a little less fancy, hungry locals love Arman’s Restaurant. Patrons don't miss the Windy City after tasting Arman’s Chicago-style hot dogs and polish sausage. Locals give the Thumbs Up Tavern two enthusiastic thumbs up for being a classic dive bar. This tavern provides a laid-back setting for residents to spend an evening shooting pool and enjoying some of the cheapest beer in town.

Small breweries thrive all over the United States, and northwest Indiana makes no exception. The 18th Street Brewery features great hand-crafted IPAs, double IPAs, stouts and double stouts, which you can enjoy in their tap room. For live jazz and blues music in Miller, folks head to Dirtty’s. For larger shows, The Venue at Horseshoe Casino hosts nationally touring music acts, making it well worth the short drive west to Hammond.

The Gary Public Transportation Corporation, or GPTC, provides bus service to the area with both local and regional routes. Cab service can be found in Miller, but calling for service remains a better bet than attempting to hail one down on the street. Uber car-sharing has not come to Gary yet.

Free public parking options exist on the neighborhood’s residential streets, but attention must be paid to signs warning of restrictions during certain times of the day or week. Bicycling and walking on the streets and sidewalks of the neighborhood remain safe, but caution should be taken in higher traffic areas. U.S. Route 12 runs through Miller and can be taken northeast to Michigan City, or to make connections with Interstates 90 and 94 for travel west to Chicago or east to South Bend. Interstate 65 can also be accessed near Miller for travel south to the state capital of Indianapolis.

Perhaps the biggest draws to Miller remains the shoreline running along the entire community. This provides many options for working out or just laying in the sun. The Marquette Trail follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan for 2 miles, providing residents the opportunity to jog, bike, hike or cross-country ski while catching glimpses of the lake.

For free public parks, Marquette Park has it all. Not only does it lie on the shore of Lake Michigan, but it features a seemingly unlimited number of opportunities for recreation, exercise and sightseeing.

The Kids’ Park features all manner of swings and play structures. Enjoy fishing, kayaking and canoeing at the park’s lagoon, and the picnic pavilion provides families a great place to cook out. The park also hosts music events, fashion shows and shopping bazaars throughout the year. Dog owners in Miller appreciate Wicker Memorial Park Dog Run in nearby Highland. Here, dogs run off-leash, and socialize with other mutts and their owners.

The overall cost of living in Miller falls below the national average. Rent a one-bedroom apartment for an average of $564 per month. For a local bus trip around Gary, a ticket costs $1.60 for adults and $1.25 for students. Fares for regional routes cost $2.25 for adults and $1.75 for students. Seniors and disabled residents pay $0.80 local and $1.00 regional fares. A one-way train commute to Chicago on the South Shore Line costs $6. Gas in Miller falls about 11 percent below the national average. A bottle of domestic beer costs between $2 and $3 with a bottle of import priced around $3.50 to $4.

For major shopping outlets, residents travel to the River Oaks Center, just over the state border in Calumet City. The mall features many retail outlets, such as Aeropostale, which features clothing and accessories geared towards teenagers. If the only thing on your list is jeans, Denim doesn't disappoint, and Ashley Stewart offers plus-sized fashions in outerwear and lingerie.

For shopping options closer to home, Indie Indie Bang Bang in Miller features a clever name, and clever gifts and cards for any occasion. The Miller Beach Market Place remains a locally owned and operated grocery store with a variety of fresh produce, breads, coffee and everyday grocery items. To really stock up on groceries and household supplies, residents travel to Strack & Van Til in nearby Hobart.

The Miller Beach Farmers Market provides another great option for fresh produce and locally made products. The market commences every Sunday, May through September, on South Lake Street just south of Marquette Park.