Food scene
This is one of our favorite places to eat! Great view, high quality food and cute little bar. It’s small and quaint but with options to eat inside or outside.
34 locals recommend
Scenic View Restaurant
4600 State Hwy 446This is one of our favorite places to eat! Great view, high quality food and cute little bar. It’s small and quaint but with options to eat inside or outside.
Great way to spend your morning visiting with many local vendors, live music, and grabbing food or fresh produce! Then walk around downtown!
58 locals recommend
Bloomington Community Farmers' Market
401 N Morton StGreat way to spend your morning visiting with many local vendors, live music, and grabbing food or fresh produce! Then walk around downtown!
Great place to spend the day and kids are welcome! Picnics are welcome.
82 locals recommend
Oliver Winery
200 E Winery RdGreat place to spend the day and kids are welcome! Picnics are welcome.
indoor and outdoor dining, kid friendly outside!
63 locals recommend
Cardinal Spirits Distillery & Restaurant
922 S Morton Stindoor and outdoor dining, kid friendly outside!
Upland Brewing Company
4060 Profile Pkwywonderful brewpub, with options to eat inside or outside
Feta Kitchen & Cafe
600 E Hillside Drfresh Mediterranean meals and bowls, smoothies, and café
Jim Butler, co-owner, wrote the book, Indiana Wine: A History (published by Indiana University Press, 2001). Did you know Indiana was the first successful commercial wine producing state in the country? Bring a picnic and enjoy their wine!
20 locals recommend
Butler Winery and Vineyards
6200 E Robinson RdJim Butler, co-owner, wrote the book, Indiana Wine: A History (published by Indiana University Press, 2001). Did you know Indiana was the first successful commercial wine producing state in the country? Bring a picnic and enjoy their wine!
Uptown Cafe
102 E Kirkwood AveOne of our local favorites! Great food with a Cajun flavor.
Malibu Grill
106 N Walnut StOne of our local favorites!
Now called Bloomington Farm Stop; access locally grown seasonal foods, and a delicious café! Indoor and outdoor
Rose Hill Farm Stop
902 West Kirkwood AvenueNow called Bloomington Farm Stop; access locally grown seasonal foods, and a delicious café! Indoor and outdoor
The Elm Restaurant
High end, local food, intimate
Fun and family/dog friendly! Local brewers, includes their Pizza Kitchen and Saturday brunch!
18 locals recommend
Switchyard Brewing Company
419 N Walnut StFun and family/dog friendly! Local brewers, includes their Pizza Kitchen and Saturday brunch!
Needmore Coffee Roasters
104 N Pete Ellis DrWoman owned local coffee roaster
Local favorite! There's a second location on the west side at 2980 W Whitehall Crossing Blvd, Bloomington, IN 47404.
49 locals recommend
Mother Bear's Pizza Campus
1428 E 3rd StLocal favorite! There's a second location on the west side at 2980 W Whitehall Crossing Blvd, Bloomington, IN 47404.
Hopscotch Coffee
235 W Dodds StCoffee and kitchen!
Azzip Pizza
2894 E 3rd StWe love their pizza!
Small Favors
High end small plates eatery, reservations recommended.
Things to do
excellent hiking and canoe rentals. This is a quieter lake with no motorized watercraft.
10 locals recommend
Griffy Lake Boat Rental
3400 N Headley Rdexcellent hiking and canoe rentals. This is a quieter lake with no motorized watercraft.
WonderLab Science Museum
308 W 4th StGreat exploratory place for kids!
Paynetown is close to the house, on the largest man made lake (Lake Monroe) in Indiana with spectacular views, hiking galore, and boat rentals. Paynetown also has a beach to enjoy!
25 locals recommend
Paynetown State Recreation Area
4850 State Hwy 446Paynetown is close to the house, on the largest man made lake (Lake Monroe) in Indiana with spectacular views, hiking galore, and boat rentals. Paynetown also has a beach to enjoy!
Old-growth forest featuring a nature trail with signs detailing the area's history. It is tucked away in the middle of apartments!
Latimer Woods
3200 East Buick Cadillac BoulevardOld-growth forest featuring a nature trail with signs detailing the area's history. It is tucked away in the middle of apartments!
Hoosier Heights Bloomington
1008 S Rogers StSuper fun indoor rock climbing!
Hoosier Putt Hole
Indiana Memorial Union Bowling and Billiards
900 E 7th StSwitchyard Park
Karst Farm Park splash pad
LaserLite
4505 E 3rd StLaser tag and arcade
Starlite Drive-In Theatre
7640 S Old State Rd 37Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
3603 State Rd 46Vintage Phoenix
114 E 6th StVintage comic books
Western Skateland
930 W 17th StFrank Southern Ice Arena
2100 South Henderson StreetTibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center
3655 S Snoddy RdEskenazi Museum of Art
1133 E 7th StIU Auditorium
1211 E 7th StThe Warehouse
1525 S Rogers StIndoor playground and skate park
Wapehani Mountain Bike Park
3401 W Wapehani RdWear a helmet!
Clear Creek Trail
Goes through town
Goes through the heart of downtown, including Switchyard Park and right next to Cardinal Spirits, Hopscotch
B-Line Trail
Goes through the heart of downtown, including Switchyard Park and right next to Cardinal Spirits, Hopscotch
Visit the Biology Greenhouse! Home to a wide variety of plants from around the world — including spectacular rainforest, desert, and insectivorous plants! The greenhouse is free and open to the public, and group tours are available by appointment. To access the greenhouse, enter the Biology Building and head to Room 139.
Biology Building
Visit the Biology Greenhouse! Home to a wide variety of plants from around the world — including spectacular rainforest, desert, and insectivorous plants! The greenhouse is free and open to the public, and group tours are available by appointment. To access the greenhouse, enter the Biology Building and head to Room 139.
Ferguson Dog Park
4300 N Stone Mill RdGreat dog park just north of town.
Groceries
A fantastic local co-op grocery store with plenty of organic items to choose from.
20 locals recommend
Bloomingfoods Market & Deli East
3220 E 3rd StA fantastic local co-op grocery store with plenty of organic items to choose from.
Close to the house and great selection of organic products!
10 locals recommend
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
2812 E 3rd StClose to the house and great selection of organic products!
Kroger has all you need and more! This particular location has a large wine/beer/liquor selection too.
78 locals recommend
Kroger
1175 S College Mall RdKroger has all you need and more! This particular location has a large wine/beer/liquor selection too.
Aldi is our personal favorite to save money on groceries! They offer gluten free products, organic, and grass fed meat. Very convenient to the house.
ALDI
Aldi is our personal favorite to save money on groceries! They offer gluten free products, organic, and grass fed meat. Very convenient to the house.
Clinic/Urgent Care
IU Health Urgent Care - Bloomington
326 S Woodscrest DrClose to the house if you have any urgent medical needs.
IU Health Bloomington Hospital
2651 W 2nd StThe new hospital is very close to the house!
CVS
2701 E 3rd StThey are open 24 hours
Parks
Bryan park is our favorite place to swim in the summer (public pool with two water slides and a baby lagoon), and play in the open 33 acres of park with multiple playgrounds!
17 locals recommend
Bryan Park playground
Bryan park is our favorite place to swim in the summer (public pool with two water slides and a baby lagoon), and play in the open 33 acres of park with multiple playgrounds!
one mile of paved, accessible B-Line trail, skate park, splash pad, playground, etc.
31 locals recommend
Switchyard Park
239 W Grimes Lnone mile of paved, accessible B-Line trail, skate park, splash pad, playground, etc.
When you have kids, it's great to know all the nearby parks to explore! This one is small but heavily shaded.
Park Ridge Park
3421 East Longview AvenueWhen you have kids, it's great to know all the nearby parks to explore! This one is small but heavily shaded.
When you have kids, it's great to know all the nearby parks to explore! This one has infant swings.
Park Ridge East Park
4500 East Morningside DriveWhen you have kids, it's great to know all the nearby parks to explore! This one has infant swings.
Olcott Park Playground
Nicely shaded and big! Tucked away in a neighborhood.