In 2008 our little family of three packed up and moved from the mountains of Virginia to the mid-west. Heading in the opposite direction of family and friends, we moved to Bloomington, Indiana so my husband could study Lakota and earn his masters and Ph.D. We figured we’d call Bloomington home for seven years, max. Seven turned to eight and eight into nine and now, almost 12 years later, we wouldn’t want to call anywhere else home!

Not only is Bloomington a wonderful place to visit all on its own; it’s a great place to stop on the way to larger cities like Chicago, Saint Louis, and Cincinnati.

Heading to Bloomington, Indiana with your family. Straight from our Airbnb’s guidebook, here are the places, restaurants, and things about Bloomington we LOVE.

UPDATE- in 2020 we closed our Airbnb due to Covid and invited a family member to use the space. While we don’t know when we’ll reopen again, it was a JOY hosting people from all over the world and we look forward to doing it again one day. 

Visit Bloomington, Indiana

Things to Do ~

B-line Trail- walk, scooter, or bike along 3.1-mile paved trail through town. Go even further and connect to Bloomington Rails Trail (5.1 miles). You can pick up the B-line and park on Fairview Street at Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park.

Rent scooters all over town with Bird- https://www.bird.co/ or with Lime- https://www.li.me/

Rent bikes with Zagster- https://www.zagster.com/

Bryan Park and Bryan Park Pool– paved walking and biking trails, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, pool with water slides, and children’s area.

Buskirk-Chumley Theater– concerts, movies, and events!!

Butler Winery and Vineyards– Tasting room, shop, and a beautiful place to sit, sip, and relax.

Butler Winery Downtown– tasting room, shop, and a great patio for sipping and snacking!

Cardinal Stage– local plays for children and adults. Always wonderful.

Celebrations– 4th street fair, 4th of July, and Lotus Festival are favorites, but check the community calendar if you’re heading to town. There is something always happening!

Indiana University- enjoy concerts, lectures, sports, or just walk around the beautiful campus.

For tickets and information on sporting events- https://tickets.iuhoosiers.com/

For events at IU auditorium- http://www.iuauditorium.com/

Frank Southern Ice Arena– indoor ice-skating rink

Hike– Winter, spring, summer, and fall- it’s always fun to hike! Here’s a list of our favorite hiking spots!

Hunter’s Honey Farm– Just 25 minutes or so outside of Bloomington– tour, taste, and make candles!

Indianapolis- a little over an hour away, Indy is a large city filled with museums, shopping, and restaurants. Be sure to check out the world’s largest (and best) children’s museum, Conner Prairie, and the Indianapolis Zoo. My friend Lindsay gives the best advice when it comes to planning a trip to Indy! 

Lake Griffy– Hike, fish, and boat.

Boat House- https://bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks/griffy-lake 

Trails- http://www.indianatrails.com/?q=content/griffy-lake-park-trails

While you’re hiking, be sure to look for geodes and fossils. They can be found everywhere! 

Lake Monroe– swim, hike, boat, fish!! Paynetown beach tends to get a little more crowded than Fairfax. Both have places to picnic. Looking for an adventure- rent a pontoon boat with a slide! 

Lake Lemon– Swim, hike, boat fish!! Our favorite place to swim and kayak. 

McCormick’s Creek– hike, swim (state park pool or creeks), nature center, and events. Be sure to check out Wolf Cave! Bring flashlights if you plan to explore the cave. It comes out just a little bit down the trail. 

If you happen to be in or near Bloomington the weekend before Halloween, be sure to check out Fall-o-ween. Camp or just go for the activities, campsites are decorated to a T, nature crafts and talks, and a spooky haunted trail perfect for kids of all ages happens every year! Check the website for exact dates. Lake Monroe’s campsite offers a similar event. If you plan to camp, reserve your site early!

Mills Pool– A little smaller and often quieter than Bryan Park Pool, Mills is also a wonderful place to swim!

Monroe County Public Library– awesome kids section and teen center, tons of activities, and best of all books!

Nashville, Indiana– lots of small artsy shops, hiking, and great places to eat and explore. We love shopping at the Life is Good stores and highly recommend the pizza and beer at Big Woods!

Oliver Winery and Vineyard– tasting room, shop, patio, and grounds for picnics. Check out their website for times and events.

City Parks– Bloomington has parks and playgrounds around every turn!

Tibetan  Mongolian  Buddhist  Cultural  Center & Kumbum Chamtse Ling Monastery– weekly events and meditation and a beautiful place to hike.

Urban Air– trampoline park for all ages.

WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology– a hands-on Science Museum for toddlers-big kids. Be sure to check out the shadow room, leaf tower, bees, and bed of nails!

The Wonderlab garden is also the perfect place to run around and have a picnic!

Our Favorite Restaurants ~ 

Aver’s Pizza– pizza buffet with salad bar or menu. Specialty pizzas like Cream and Crimson are to die for.

Bubs Burgers– burgers of all sizes (dinner plate size available), awesome chili, and onion rings.

BuffaLouie’s– Wings, burgers, hotdogs- all so good!

Chocolate Moose– Btown must stop. Ice-cream!!

El Ranchero– best Mexican in town!

Japonee– best sushi and miso soup in town.

Owlery– a much-loved Btown vegetarian and vegan cafe.

Quaff On– good local beer, tacos, and pulled pork nachos. Kids menu and lots of outdoor seating.

Runcible Spoon– awesome for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Irish inspired, affordable food and drinks. Quirky and fun for all.

Taste of India– awesome lunch buffet. Everything here is outstanding! 

Bloomington, Indiana is a gem! City meets small town, artsy meets outdoors, our community is known for its beautiful parks and campus, awesome local restaurants, breweries, shops, and so much more.