Lunch at Joe and Freddy's, and a Hike at Central Beach

we will probably be sitting outside; to recognize me if we haven't met, i will be wearing a faded blue hat that says "GREECE" on it.

dear friends--

after passing by for years, we've recently discovered Joe and Freddy's, https://www.joeandfreddys.com/ , an unassuming place on route 12 in the Town of Pines, owned and run by noted local chef Nicole Bissonette, of the Miller Bakery Cafe, the Fish Camp, and other noteworthy eateries past and present.

i'd like to have another lunch there this coming Saturday, while our extended summer is still (probably) going on. join us, and prepare to be impressed!

after lunch, we will drive a short distance down Central Ave, and experience a short hike (2-3 miles) at another diamond-in-the-rough destination, Central Beach. with sweeping open vistas, and steeper dunes than the usual in the National Park, this is another impressive spot.

you might even be prepared to swim (as i will), in what is likely to be an amazing continuation of our lovely September 2025.

Jonathan will be leading the hike, and this is how he describes it:

This hike is a bit different-- half in nature, and half along residential streets.

Starting at Central beach, we will descend from the scenic overlook to the beach, and walk west for 1/3rd of a mile, then through the woods for 1/3rd of a mile until we reach Beverly Shores, and then climb a hidden stairway over the shoreline dunes, and walk along the quiet streets among the beach houses for a mile or so, then return. Total distance should be 2.5 miles.

Map
Here's a link to a map of the planned route:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/lost-lakefront-692f93b

Details

• Dogs are allowed on leash
• Bring some water

Access

Parking is overseen by the National Park system. Both the Indiana Dunes National Park pass, and "America the Beautiful - Interagency Pass" are valid.

• https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm
• https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm

State Park passes are not accepted.

Feel free to text or call me at 217-717-7860 for last minute details.

Please cancel your RPVP if you can't make it, so we don't wait for you.

Hope to see you there,

Jonathan

Photos from previous hikes at this location:

2022 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/events/285781367/

2022 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/events/287190022/

2023 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/34174089/

2024 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/34623677/

2025 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/35334577/

hope to see you there,

Rick

directions from Joe & Freddy's to Central Beach:

turn left on US 12, and drive a few hundred feet to Central Ave; turn right, and drive about a mile, past Beverly rd, then into the parking lot on the left.

meet at the far (west) end of the parking lot, where we will climb a short staircase to the start of the trail.