Lady’s 9 Things to Do in Bloomington, Indiana

It’s not often my travels take me to Indiana. Aside from a Notre Dame football game, I’ve never been to the state. But when one of my best friends from college planned a wedding there, it was time to head to the Midwest and discover the best things to do in Bloomington, Indiana.

Things to Do in Bloomington, Indiana

I arrived in Indiana on Friday just in time to check into my hotel in Bloomington and go to the wedding rehearsal at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

After going over processions, recessions, readings, solos, and duets, the wedding party headed downtown.

It was only then that I got my first real glimpse of Bloomington. Having arrived with no expectations whatsoever, I found myself in a laid-back Midwestern college town with streets arranged on a logical grid pattern.

A picturesque square full of shops surrounded the Beaux-Arts-style Monroe County Courthouse, from where side streets rolled off in all directions.

They were lined with lively restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and cafes. I could already tell discovering them would be one of my favorite things to do in Bloomington.

1. Eat at the Best Restaurants in Bloomington

One such establishment was The Irish Lion, a restaurant and pub where the wedding rehearsal dinner took place.

The Irish Lion had an outdoor corridor between two buildings where several long tables were arranged for an al fresco meal.

After having cocktails in the classic hunting-trophy-filled bar, we spent a warm evening enjoying dinner as the Indiana daylight slowly faded away.

2. Have Ice Cream in Bloomington

After dinner the groom and his friends went to one of the local bars in Bloomington, but the bride and bridesmaids had something better in mind: ice cream.

Not far from the rehearsal dinner was a Bloomington establishment called The Chocolate Moose. A traditional ice cream and burger shop, its sign and menu looked like they hadn’t changed in 50 years.

After lining up to place our orders at the window, rich milkshakes, ice cream cones, and sundaes materialized in front of us.

They were delicious. Eating ice cream quickly became one of my top things to do in Bloomington.

3. Enjoy Breakfast in Bloomington

The next morning I had the opportunity to experience another unique Bloomington restaurant. I left my hotel and met a friend from college there for breakfast.

Lisa and I hadn’t seen one another since our graduations from Brown and RISD, and I was excited to catch up with her. We enjoyed breakfast on the veranda of the cafe.

It was set in an old house that had upstairs rooms that had been turned into a vintage clothing store and an antiques shop. Exploring the place was one of the most unique things to do in Bloomington.

4. Walk the B-Line Trail

From there Lisa took me down the B-Line Trail in the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD).

The 3.1-mile (5-kilometer) pedestrianized trail was built on a former railway line. It was flanked on either side by art installations, cafes, and small green spaces.

5. Go to the Saturday Farmers’ Market

At the end of the B-Line, I discovered one my favorite things to do in Bloomington, Indiana: the Saturday farmers’ market.

Rows of stalls selling fresh flowers, giant green heads of kale, bright butter lettuce, and scarlet strawberries were complimented by a live band and vendors offering prepared foods.

We strolled around the market for a while, taking in the scene, sharing some strawberries, and admiring the Amish farmers behind many of the booths.

After Lisa left, I stayed on and bought a delicious lentil-and-plantain tamale from one of the stalls.

6. Explore the Indiana University Campus

Moving on, I walked past the courthouse and down Kirkwood Avenue, a street which led to Indiana University (IU).

The academic institution was what brought my friend and her fiance to the city in the first place, and I’d been told exploring its campus was one of the best things to do in Bloomington.

I strolled by a myriad of shops, restaurants, movie theaters, and cafes on my way to the university’s iconic Sample Gates.

Passing through them, I found myself in a lush green space filled with pink and red flowers, green lawns, and tall trees. I might’ve mistaken it for a forest had there not been a smattering of historic limestone buildings present.

I spent some time wandering around the IU campus, stumbling across pretty gazebos, an old church with a small cemetery, and a number of large academic buildings that housed various educational departments.

7. Go to a Wedding in Bloomington

Eventually I returned to where I was staying to collect my dress and meet the wedding party at a nearby hotel.

We spent an hour getting ready, then headed to the church for the wedding. The ceremony was beautiful, and afterwards we returned to the IU campus for photos.

8. Dance the Night Away in Bloomington

Later that night we went to the Monroe Convention Center for the wedding reception. We ate, drank, and danced until midnight. My friend had a bluegrass band playing for the evening, and it was a lot of fun.

9. Eat Brunch in Bloomington

The next morning we were all up early to meet the bride and groom for a post-wedding brunch in Bloomington. As I made my rounds at the buffet, my inner expat was overwhelmed by the choice of classic American breakfast foods.

I piled my plate with biscuits and gravy while eyeing the waffle maker, the cinnamon rolls, and the oatmeal. Brunch was quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do in Bloomington. I was going to have to come back for seconds.

Best Things to Do in Bloomington

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to eat much more than I’d taken on my first round. At 9:30am, I was off to Indianapolis International Airport for my flight to Chicago.

I was sad I didn’t have time to discover more things to do in Bloomington. But given my friend will be there for another year, I might just go back and visit her to see more.

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.

Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.

Pin it!