There are few things I love more than a good travel checklist- especially one that comes with a fun souvenir at the end! Whether it’s hiking all the best trails in a park or tracking down quirky roadside attractions, I can’t resist a challenge. That’s why when I heard about the Indiana Dunes Tourism 3 Pizza Challenge, I knew we had to give it a try.
The concept is simple (and delicious): eat pizza, earn a sticker, and get entered to win a prize. It’s part of the Indiana Dunes Pizza Trail, a mobile-exclusive program that highlights some of the best pizzerias in Porter County. With 26 participating restaurants, you could easily turn this into a full-fledged pizza tour!
We were in the Indiana Dunes area for two weeks and decided to complete the challenge by visiting three different spots. Usually, we don’t eat the same type of food over and over in one place, but this was such a fun way to explore the local food scene. Plus, we ended up going back to one of our picks for a second time- it was that good!
What is the Indiana Dunes 3 Pizza Challenge and How Does it Work?
The Indiana Dunes Pizza Trail is a fun and easy way to explore local pizza spots while earning rewards along the way. It’s a mobile-exclusive challenge (but not an app!), where you check in at participating restaurants to track your progress.
Here’s how to participate:
- Sign Up – Register with your phone number and email. You’ll receive a Pizza Trail Passport via text and email- no app download required!
- Visit Pizza Spots – Head to any of the 26 participating pizzerias in Porter County. You can search and filter the list online to find ones that fit your cravings.
- Check In & Save – Show the digital coupon at the restaurant (many places offer discounts!) and check in with GPS enabled to log your visit.
- Earn Rewards – After visiting three locations, you’ll receive a Pizza Trail sticker in the mail and be entered into a prize drawing. Want even more chances to win? Keep checking in at additional spots to earn extra entries!
It’s such a fun way to experience different styles of pizza while exploring the area. And if you’re like me and love collecting stickers from different travel challenges, this one is definitely worth adding to your list.
Up next, I’ll share which three pizza places we picked—and which one we just had to visit again!
AJ’s Pizza Co. – Chesterton’s Creative Pizza Spot
3050 Matson St, Chesterton, IN 46304
https://ajspizzaco.com/
Our first stop on the Indiana Dunes Pizza Trail was AJ’s Pizza Co. in Chesterton, and right away, we could tell this place had something special going on. The staff was super friendly, the atmosphere was welcoming, and their menu had all the classics- but the real reason to come here? The unique Pizzas of the Month.
Each month, AJ’s features a specialty pizza with bold, creative toppings. Some of their past creations have been so popular that people wait all year for them to come back, like their pierogi pizza!
For our visit, the Pizza of the Month was the Steakhouse Special, and we couldn’t resist giving it a try. It had a garlic butter base, sautéed onions and mushrooms, steak, crumbled bleu cheese, arugula, and a drizzle of balsamic. Normally, it’s made with their crispy thin crust, but we opted for their regular crust instead.
Josh thought it was good but leans more toward classic pizza flavors. I, on the other hand, absolutely loved it! This was my dream flavor combination- savory, slightly tangy, and packed with bold toppings.
We also ordered their bread twists, which were soft, buttery, and a perfect side to our meal. Plus, thanks to the Pizza Trail coupon, we got a free appetizer with our $25 purchase- always a nice bonus!
AJ’s set the bar high for our Pizza Trail adventure, and I can definitely see why people rave about their monthly specials. If you’re visiting and want something beyond the usual pepperoni or sausage, this is the place to go.
Val’s Famous Pizza & Grinders – Classic Pizzeria Charm
112 S. 11th St., Chesterton, IN 46304
https://www.valsfamouspizzaandgrinders.com/
Our second stop on the Indiana Dunes Pizza Trail took us to Val’s Famous Pizza & Grinders, a spot that feels like it’s been serving up great food for generations. The moment we walked in, we got those old-school, small-town pizzeria vibes- the kind of place where locals have their regular orders, the staff knows everyone by name, and the food is simple, classic, and made extremely well. Val’s also offers huge portions for really affordable prices, which is always a win in my book.
We decided to go all in with the Meatatarian Pizza, piled high with sausage, pepperoni, bacon bits, and ham. It was everything you’d want in a meaty pizza- hearty, cheesy, and baked to perfection. But as good as the pizza was, the real standout for us was something else entirely…
The Doughboys.
These little bites of fried dough were hands-down one of the best things we ate on the whole trail. They were golden, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and completely addictive. We used the Pizza Trail coupon to get a free order with our 16” pizza, and after one bite, we knew we would’ve gladly paid for them.
Val’s made such a great impression that we actually ended up going back for a second visit! We won a gift certificate at a local museum’s trivia night (lucky us!), so we took it as a sign to return. The second time around, the food was just as good, and we left promising ourselves that next time, we have to try one of their famous grinders.
If you’re looking for a classic, no-frills pizzeria with incredible food at great prices, Val’s is absolutely worth a stop!
Gelsosomo’s Pizza – Not Our Favorite Stop
371 Indian Boundary Rd, Chesterton, IN 46304
2605 Laporte Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383
https://gelschestertonvalpo.com/
Our final stop on the Indiana Dunes Pizza Trail was Gelsosomo’s Pizza in Chesterton, and unfortunately, this one just didn’t live up to the others for us.
Right away, we noticed it was the most expensive of the three places we visited, which would have been fine if the food had wowed us. But from the first bite, we knew this wasn’t our style. We ordered a barbecue chicken pizza and the whole thing was incredibly dry. We also tried their specialty stuffed pizza, and even for us it was too much cheese. The sauce was also super sweet, which neither of us are a fan of.
We also tried their breadsticks, but after having Val’s incredible doughboys and AJ’s delicious bread twists, these just felt underwhelming.
That said, Gelsosomo’s definitely seems like the kind of place that’s been around forever, and I can totally see why locals who grew up with it love it. Honestly, a lot of older folks I know would probably be a big fan- it has that mild, old-school, family-style pizza taste that older generations tend to love. The Pizza Trail coupon gave us $5 off our purchase, but the prices are so high it barely felt like it made a difference.
Overall, while Gelsosomo’s wasn’t for us, if you like sweeter sauce and a more traditional, nostalgic pizza style, you might enjoy it more than we did!
