Top Things to Do in Bloomington, Indiana
Do
Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD)
You'll find parks and public art spaces as well as nearly 100 restaurants and more than 100 shops in these 60 blocks downtown. Take a self-guided tour of the square around the Beaux Arts courthouse, and. fuel up with sweet treats like a flaky house-made Pop Tart at The Inkwell Bakery and Cafe and colorful vegan doughnuts at Rainbow Bakery. bloomington.in.gov
B-Line Trail
A 3.1-mile converted railroad carries walkers, joggers, bikers, skateboarders and strollers from the woodsy north and south to the heart of town. Public art adds interest. bloomington.in.gov
Indiana University
The limestone Sample Gates form a gateway from campus to downtown. Take time to see the renovated I.M. Pei-designed Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, with seven galleries and a lighted totem that glows rainbow colors at night. The newly renovated Lilly Library—home to a world-class book and manuscript collection that includes one of the world's 14 original Gutenberg Bibles and Ian Fleming's James Bond manuscripts—offers free tours on Fridays. visitorcenter.indiana.edu
Monroe Lake
Just outside town, Indiana's largest inland lake is a prime spot for finding geodes and bird-watching. in.gov
Oliver Winery
One of Indiana's best-known wineries pours generous tastings of their award-winning wines. For a bit of background, take a free 25-minute walking tour. oliverwinery.com
Wonderlab Museum of Science, Health and Technology
Kids learn how things like bubbles, sound and solar power work with two floors of hands-on exhibits and the outdoor WonderGarden space. wonderlab.org
Eat and Drink
FarmBloomington
Its farm-to-table comfort food has garnered this restaurant a reputation as one of the best in Indiana. Start the day with a plant-based breakfast or come for dinner entrees like honey sesame chicken. farm-bloomington.com
Cardinal Spirits
The city's first (and, still, only) distillery makes rums, gins and liqueurs—and offers carry-out food as well. cardinalspirits.com
Mother Bear's Pizza
The affordable pizza is "just right" in a casual setting. Try hot subs and pasta too. motherbearspizza.com
Nick's English Hut
It's neither British nor a hut, but a 94-year-old Bloomington staple for beer in Mason jars and meaty stromboli. nicksenglishhut.com
The Runcible Spoon Cafe and Restaurant
This local favorite still offers the fresh-ground coffee that first drew students and locals, but also has a solid, menu that covers the bases from vegan to corned beef hash. runciblespoonrestaurant.com
The Tap
This place is all about the beer; choose from 90 gleaming taps or off the list of 400. Nibble on fare like Tap Fries with four dipping sauces or warm pretzel sticks with beer cheese dip. thetapbeerbar.com
Upland Brewpub
Pair craft beer with seasonal fare or pub favorites like blue corn chip nachos or a Hoosier pork tenderloin sandwich. uplandbeer.com
Stay
Biddle Hotel and Conference Center
It's all about location at this lodging in the heart of Indiana University. The 189 guest rooms form part of the Indiana Memorial Union complex; choose from smaller rooms to boutique two-room suites. imu.indiana.edu
Graduate Bloomington
Light fixtures shaped like basketball hoops and quilts with picket-fence designs reflect the Hoosier influence at this Kirkwood Avenue hotel, one of the newest in the Graduate collection. graduatehotels.com
For more information visitbloomington.com