Things to Do in Bloomington, Indiana

Bloomington, Indiana, is a great destination to visit with the whole family. The small town offers a growing culinary scene, cultural events, festivals and outdoor activities. Bloomington is also home to Indiana University.

© Visit Bloomington

Explore Bloomington’s international culinary scene during your visit. The city is home to more than 350 restaurants offering French, Tibetan, Venezuelan, Japanese and Turkish cuisine, to name a few. The city boasts the country’s only Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center. Take part in a self-guided walking tour, meditation classes and stay in an on-site yurt. Get outdoors and visit Monroe Lake. Indiana’s largest land-bound body of water offers visitors a variety of water activities including swimming, fishing and boating, as well as camping and hiking opportunities.

Indiana University is a destination on its own. The campus’ Lilly Library is free and open to the public. Its collection includes many literary artifacts including a New Testament of the Gutenberg Bible, the first printed edition of The Canterbury Tales and George Washington’s letter accepting the presidency of the United States. The university’s famous Little 500 collegiate bike race is the largest of its kind in the United States. This year’s race takes place April 22–23.

© Visit Bloomington

Bloomington has new offerings and celebrations for 2022. New restaurants will debut, including The Elm (American food with a Mediterranean and North African twist) and Small Favors Bar (farm-to-table restaurant with local ingredients). Bloomington’s first park, Cascades Park, and Buskirk-Chumley Theater both celebrate 100 years in 2022. Oliver Winery, Indiana’s largest and oldest winery, celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year.