Area Guidebook
Food scene
Drive up old-school root beer stand right by the beach in town. Get your root beer float fix.
9 locals recommend
The Original Root Beer Stand
824 E Lake Shore DrDrive up old-school root beer stand right by the beach in town. Get your root beer float fix.
Pizza is the thing to get here (Papa's Special). A bit expensive, but fantastic pizza. An institution in Culver.
14 locals recommend
Papa's
824 N Lake Shore DrPizza is the thing to get here (Papa's Special). A bit expensive, but fantastic pizza. An institution in Culver.
I swear this place stole Papa Johns' recipe; complete with garlic-butter dipping sauce.. Try a cheese pizza blind taste-test. Decent pizza that is less expensive than Papa's (but more expensive than Papa John's).
6 locals recommend
Bourbon Street Pizza (Culver)
614 E Lake Shore DrI swear this place stole Papa Johns' recipe; complete with garlic-butter dipping sauce.. Try a cheese pizza blind taste-test. Decent pizza that is less expensive than Papa's (but more expensive than Papa John's).
Culver Coffee Company
634 E Lake Shore DrNice local charm.
Sightseeing
Public beach. Great if you have kids. Has a small outdoor band shell that has occasional performances, and a concession stand to buy yourself time.
Beach Lodge
819 E Lake Shore DrPublic beach. Great if you have kids. Has a small outdoor band shell that has occasional performances, and a concession stand to buy yourself time.
A picturesque boarding school campus straight outta a movie. Check the school calendar for events like a military parade march or Ledbetter cruises... www.culver.org/calendar
16 locals recommend
Culver Academies
1300 Academy RdA picturesque boarding school campus straight outta a movie. Check the school calendar for events like a military parade march or Ledbetter cruises... www.culver.org/calendar
Freetime
Maxinkuckee Country Club
1641 E Shore DrGood for a round of golf.
Nice to swing by to check out their (overpriced) retail and boats or have a meal. Kids love getting ice cream treats from here.
7 locals recommend
Culver Marina
3000 E Shore DrNice to swing by to check out their (overpriced) retail and boats or have a meal. Kids love getting ice cream treats from here.
Rich in nostalgia, local charm, and added butter; poor in audio quality.
8 locals recommend
Melody Drive In Theater
7055 US-35Rich in nostalgia, local charm, and added butter; poor in audio quality.
City advice
Don't miss
Ledbetter sighting!
Search "Culver Ledbetter". It is a three mast ship you occasionally spot circling the lake or dry docked by the Culver rowing facility. There are also (at least) annual performances of the Culver Academy band or summer camp band on the boat as it tours.
Don't miss
Culver Horse Troop
One of the most famous horse troops in America (if there is such a thing). The Culver horse troop has performed at 17 US Presidential inaugurations since 1913. You can usually see them in their field next to the football field, or in their impeccable brick pavilion in their stalls.
Don't miss
A short, nice woods walking/riding path
A path that my kids love to ride through... if you can find it. It is a short jaunt through the woods. The start is at 41.196729, -86.386016 (good luck).
Don't miss
Lakeside path
From the public beach go East through the woods on nicely cleared paths that take you to the Academy where you can walk along the lake on sidewalks.
Travelling with kids
Kids turtle hunting
If you can find your way onto a boat or floating device, kids love turtle catching (which they put back) in the inlets near the marina. Check out... 41.183666, -86.391118
Don't miss
Notre Dame football practice
The Fighting Irish spend their first week of the preseason each year practicing on the Culver Academy football field. You can sneak a peak of their private practice. Just don't park your car nearby or fly a drone overhead.
Getting around
Tourism website
Check out findculver (dot com) for additional info on the town of Culver.