Local Treasures Visitors Might Miss

Kimberly
Local Treasures Visitors Might Miss

Local business

These are locally owned businesses that visitors may not know to look for. They usually aren't as easy to find as the chain restaurants and big box stores but they are worth a look!
A local pet store with lots of variety if you need something special for your pet.
T&T Pet Food & Supply
2375 S Walnut St
A local pet store with lots of variety if you need something special for your pet.
Local full service nail salon. Gotta love sitting in a massage chair while someone massages your feet and legs! Talk about relaxation.
Purity Nails
4663 W Richland Plaza Dr
Local full service nail salon. Gotta love sitting in a massage chair while someone massages your feet and legs! Talk about relaxation.

City/town information

You'll find restaurants, and places locals gather if you want to avoid Bloomington traffic for a while.
Ellettsville
You'll find restaurants, and places locals gather if you want to avoid Bloomington traffic for a while.
If you want to go for a drive and walk around some unique local shops to find some unique art, gifts, or just to window shop, follow State Road 46 past the east side of Bloomington to Brown County. You'll find all kinds of things you didn't even know you wanted! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and cash for parking. Sometimes it's hard to find the free parking spaces and they are farther away from the shops.
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Nashville
85 personas locales recomiendan
If you want to go for a drive and walk around some unique local shops to find some unique art, gifts, or just to window shop, follow State Road 46 past the east side of Bloomington to Brown County. You'll find all kinds of things you didn't even know you wanted! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and cash for parking. Sometimes it's hard to find the free parking spaces and they are farther away from the shops.

Sightseeing

Beautiful place to spend the day. They have plenty of things to do from hiking to having a picnic. We like to take the kids and our dogs to play in the water.
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Parque Estatal McCormick's Creek
250 McCormick Creek Park Rd
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Beautiful place to spend the day. They have plenty of things to do from hiking to having a picnic. We like to take the kids and our dogs to play in the water.
Nice, quiet place to go for a nature walk.
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Griffy Lake
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Nice, quiet place to go for a nature walk.
For adventurous people who would like to take a boat ride on an underground river. It's not a long drive to Bedford, Indiana in neighboring Lawrence County.
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Bluespring Caverns Park
1459 Blue Springs Cavern Rd
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For adventurous people who would like to take a boat ride on an underground river. It's not a long drive to Bedford, Indiana in neighboring Lawrence County.

Things to do

The only miniature golf in town, actually in Ellettsville. If you work up an appetite they can help with that too.
Hoosier Putt Hole
4747 Indiana 46
The only miniature golf in town, actually in Ellettsville. If you work up an appetite they can help with that too.
One of my daughter's favorite places that she insisted I had to mention! It's a little bit of a drive but it's still in Monroe County.
Lake Lemon Beach
7599 N Tunnel Rd
One of my daughter's favorite places that she insisted I had to mention! It's a little bit of a drive but it's still in Monroe County.
Something fun to do if you want an indoor activity. Located on the east side of Bloomington, they have an arcade as well as laser tag.
LaserLite
4505 E 3rd St
Something fun to do if you want an indoor activity. Located on the east side of Bloomington, they have an arcade as well as laser tag.
Ready to climb a mountain? Well, Indiana doesn't have mountains but we have Hoosier Heights where you can strap on a harness and climb all day if you are up to it.
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Hoosier Heights Bloomington
1008 S Rogers St
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Ready to climb a mountain? Well, Indiana doesn't have mountains but we have Hoosier Heights where you can strap on a harness and climb all day if you are up to it.
This is a favorite park on the north side of Bloomington. There is a great playground for the kids and also trails and picnic tables.
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Lower Cascades Park
2851 Old State Rd 37
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This is a favorite park on the north side of Bloomington. There is a great playground for the kids and also trails and picnic tables.
A public golf course if you prefer a full course instead of miniature golf.
Cascade Golf Course
3550 N Kinser Pike
A public golf course if you prefer a full course instead of miniature golf.
This park on the south side of Bloomington not only has a skatepark, but they have a dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs and a playground for the kids. There is even a splash park.
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Switchyard Park
239 W Grimes Ln
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This park on the south side of Bloomington not only has a skatepark, but they have a dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs and a playground for the kids. There is even a splash park.
Bryan Park is a large park on the south side of Bloomington with a fenced in toddler playground and a playground for bigger kids. They have basketball courts and on the back side of the park is a public pool with waterslide.
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Bryan Park playground
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Bryan Park is a large park on the south side of Bloomington with a fenced in toddler playground and a playground for bigger kids. They have basketball courts and on the back side of the park is a public pool with waterslide.
This park on the west side of Bloomington has a Frisbee golf course, several playgrounds, a splash pad with an attached playground that has a padded surface and percussion instruments
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Karst Farm Park
2450 S Endwright Rd
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This park on the west side of Bloomington has a Frisbee golf course, several playgrounds, a splash pad with an attached playground that has a padded surface and percussion instruments
Best bowling alley in Bloomington! They have pool tables, air hockey and arcade games and concessions in the evenings. Be sure to call ahead so you don't show up during a league time.
Classic Bowling Lanes
1421 N Willis Dr
Best bowling alley in Bloomington! They have pool tables, air hockey and arcade games and concessions in the evenings. Be sure to call ahead so you don't show up during a league time.
Bloomington area skating rink located on the north side.
Western Skateland
930 W 17th St
Bloomington area skating rink located on the north side.
This is one of several walking, bike trails across Bloomington /Monroe County. This one goes from downtown to the Southside.
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B-Line Trail
B-Line Trail
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This is one of several walking, bike trails across Bloomington /Monroe County. This one goes from downtown to the Southside.
End of a walking/bike trail that starts on the northwest side of Bloomington and ends at Karst Farm Park. Probably the most challenging as far as hills go.
Karst Farm Greeway Trailhead
2687 N Loesch Rd
End of a walking/bike trail that starts on the northwest side of Bloomington and ends at Karst Farm Park. Probably the most challenging as far as hills go.
Walking / bike trail on the southwest side of Bloomington. Nice, shady trail in the late afternoon. Inclines are gradual except one spot.
Clear Creek Trail
Clear Creek Trail
Walking / bike trail on the southwest side of Bloomington. Nice, shady trail in the late afternoon. Inclines are gradual except one spot.
Cool place to take the kids for some fun, hands-on science exploration.
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WonderLab Science Museum
308 W 4th St
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Cool place to take the kids for some fun, hands-on science exploration.

Food Scene

If you like Chinese food, don't miss out on this local treasure. They have dine in buffet or carryout menu. You can even get buffet items for carryout!
China Star Buffet
4641 West Richland Plaza Drive
If you like Chinese food, don't miss out on this local treasure. They have dine in buffet or carryout menu. You can even get buffet items for carryout!
Homemade ice cream, YUMMM! Walk up to order and enjoy their outdoor seating or go through the drive thru and take it back with you.
Jiffy Treet
4727 W State Rd 46
Homemade ice cream, YUMMM! Walk up to order and enjoy their outdoor seating or go through the drive thru and take it back with you.
A local hangout that has a little bit of everything. They have burgers, tacos and home cooked meals.
Wee Willie's West
4618 W Richland Plaza Dr
A local hangout that has a little bit of everything. They have burgers, tacos and home cooked meals.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a yummy cupcake!
Underground Cupcakes & Café
1915 State Rd 46
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a yummy cupcake!
Our family's favorite place for Mexican food. If you like queso, you'll want to try their cheese dip! You can dine in or carry out. I suggest dining in, as they have great customer service.
Casa Brava Authentic Mexican Cusine
3482 West 3rd Street
Our family's favorite place for Mexican food. If you like queso, you'll want to try their cheese dip! You can dine in or carry out. I suggest dining in, as they have great customer service.
I love, love, love the sweet potato waffle fries! They have a burger eating challenge and an enclosed courtyard of you would rather enjoy the fresh air while you eat.
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Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream
480 N Morton St
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I love, love, love the sweet potato waffle fries! They have a burger eating challenge and an enclosed courtyard of you would rather enjoy the fresh air while you eat.
This local diner only serves breakfast and lunch, so skip the fast food and sit down for real food! Very friendly service!
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Cloverleaf Family Restaurant
4023 W 3rd St
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This local diner only serves breakfast and lunch, so skip the fast food and sit down for real food! Very friendly service!
If you're in downtown Bloomington you're not far from a great place to cool down with some great ice cream!
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The Chocolate Moose
405 S Walnut St
33 personas locales recomiendan
If you're in downtown Bloomington you're not far from a great place to cool down with some great ice cream!
Our family's favorite pizza place. It's carryout or delivery only and I recommend cheese sauce for the breadsticks.
Pizza X Ellettsville
4621 West Richland Plaza Drive
Our family's favorite pizza place. It's carryout or delivery only and I recommend cheese sauce for the breadsticks.
Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack
505 W 17th St
Great BBQ!
Another local favorite of you're craving some BBQ!
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BuffaLouie's
114 S Indiana Ave
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Another local favorite of you're craving some BBQ!
If you want a good steak and have a wallet full of money, you might even see a hometown celebrity while you dine.
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Janko's Little Zagreb
223 W 6th St
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If you want a good steak and have a wallet full of money, you might even see a hometown celebrity while you dine.
Another popular Mexican restaurant in Bloomington.
La Charreada
1720 N Walnut St
Another popular Mexican restaurant in Bloomington.
The best hometown place to satisfy your donut craving!
Cresent Donut Shops
231 S Adams St
The best hometown place to satisfy your donut craving!

Consejos para la ciudad

Cómo moverse

Use SR 46 for Eastside-Westside travel in Bloomington

This avoids downtown traffic unless there is an IU football game starting or ending.
Cómo moverse

Bloomington is very bike friendly!

There are bike lanes marked on many roads downtown and lots of serious cyclists ride on county roads also, so be careful on the hills and curves, there might be a bike on the other side.