Food Scene
All along 4th Street find the best of Bloomington's extensive ethnic restaurants. From Indian to Thai to Tibetan and about everything else. Local guidebook here: http://www.magbloom.com/dining-out-towns/restaurant_row/
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
East 4th Street
East 4th StreetAll along 4th Street find the best of Bloomington's extensive ethnic restaurants. From Indian to Thai to Tibetan and about everything else. Local guidebook here: http://www.magbloom.com/dining-out-towns/restaurant_row/
Mother Bear's is an IU eating establishment classic. Now, thankfully, you can experience it on the West side and not have to drive downtown and find parking. Incredible pizza.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mother Bear's Pizza West
2980 W Whitehall Crossing BlvdMother Bear's is an IU eating establishment classic. Now, thankfully, you can experience it on the West side and not have to drive downtown and find parking. Incredible pizza.
My favorite West Side nice restaurant. You'd never guess how nice the inside is from seeing the outside. It's like a little oasis hidden in a mini strip mall. There is now a sushi bar attached as well, but I don't eat sushi, so I can't review that. The food at My Thai is incredible. Amazing curries.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
My Thai Cafe & Sushi Bar
3316 W 3rd StMy favorite West Side nice restaurant. You'd never guess how nice the inside is from seeing the outside. It's like a little oasis hidden in a mini strip mall. There is now a sushi bar attached as well, but I don't eat sushi, so I can't review that. The food at My Thai is incredible. Amazing curries.
Little-known gem out in the middle of nowhere. Mr. Cook of Cook Industries has been putting money into some small-town local favorites to spruce them up and keep them around for decades to come. This little general store and eatery apparently has good food for breakfast. We have gone for dinner and the Hoosier specialty, a pork tenderloin sandwich, is excellent here. Their prices are very good and the tenderloin and hamburgers are huge. Be sure to show up before 7 if hoping for dinner. We also love heading here for great ice cream. Nice tables to sit at outside in the middle of the town of about 10 buildings. We like to stop here on our way to or from the famous Tulip Trestle.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Yoho General Store
10043 East Tulip RoadLittle-known gem out in the middle of nowhere. Mr. Cook of Cook Industries has been putting money into some small-town local favorites to spruce them up and keep them around for decades to come. This little general store and eatery apparently has good food for breakfast. We have gone for dinner and the Hoosier specialty, a pork tenderloin sandwich, is excellent here. Their prices are very good and the tenderloin and hamburgers are huge. Be sure to show up before 7 if hoping for dinner. We also love heading here for great ice cream. Nice tables to sit at outside in the middle of the town of about 10 buildings. We like to stop here on our way to or from the famous Tulip Trestle.
Excellent food, local Indiana chain. Our favorite is the Campfire pizza, yum! Not an incredible ambience but usually good servers and quick service, also local beers on tap.
Bucceto's
115 E State Rd 46 BypassExcellent food, local Indiana chain. Our favorite is the Campfire pizza, yum! Not an incredible ambience but usually good servers and quick service, also local beers on tap.
Iconic local ice cream shop. Excellent selection and excellent ice cream (our favorite is their Grasshopper). Fun building with outside seating.
33 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Chocolate Moose
405 S Walnut StIconic local ice cream shop. Excellent selection and excellent ice cream (our favorite is their Grasshopper). Fun building with outside seating.
If you head to Lake Monroe for anything, don't miss the chance to eat at Scenic View overlooking the lake. The food is excellent and we also like their cocktails.
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Scenic View Restaurant
4600 State Hwy 446If you head to Lake Monroe for anything, don't miss the chance to eat at Scenic View overlooking the lake. The food is excellent and we also like their cocktails.
If you need a cake for a celebration, theirs are incredible. Order ahead. Also, nice spot to sit and enjoy coffee and their homebaked goodies.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Crumble Coffee and Bakery
1567 S Piazza DrIf you need a cake for a celebration, theirs are incredible. Order ahead. Also, nice spot to sit and enjoy coffee and their homebaked goodies.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great spot for a good drink at this local craft distillery. Specialty mixed drinks, sweet patio during the summer overlooking the B-Line trail, which is a nice walking path you can begin or end your evening on. Oh, and don't skip the ice creams made by local ice cream shop, Chocolate Moose, featuring Cardinal Spirits.
63 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cardinal Spirits Distillery & Restaurant
922 S Morton StGreat spot for a good drink at this local craft distillery. Specialty mixed drinks, sweet patio during the summer overlooking the B-Line trail, which is a nice walking path you can begin or end your evening on. Oh, and don't skip the ice creams made by local ice cream shop, Chocolate Moose, featuring Cardinal Spirits.
Upland Brewing Company
4060 Profile PkwyLocal brewery, good beer, good food.
Sightseeing
Tulip Trestle is a fun local spot you would never run across on your own. At construction, this was the longest train trestle in the US and 3rd longest in the world, at 2300' long and 157' high. It is still one of the longest in the country. Recently Green County has decided to make it easier to find with signs to point you on your way and then a fun little overlook when you arrive. If you're lucky, you may even get to see a train cross, which they still do a few times a day. Make sure you hit Yoho General Store for some food or ice cream on your way there or back. http://www.visitgc.com/where-to-go/innovation/tulip-trestle/#.WKi4lhBT6hM
Tulip Trestle
Tulip Trestle is a fun local spot you would never run across on your own. At construction, this was the longest train trestle in the US and 3rd longest in the world, at 2300' long and 157' high. It is still one of the longest in the country. Recently Green County has decided to make it easier to find with signs to point you on your way and then a fun little overlook when you arrive. If you're lucky, you may even get to see a train cross, which they still do a few times a day. Make sure you hit Yoho General Store for some food or ice cream on your way there or back. http://www.visitgc.com/where-to-go/innovation/tulip-trestle/#.WKi4lhBT6hM
Interesting local spot no one has ever heard of, including locals. Over 100 sculptures by artists from around the world spread through the woods along about a 1-mile trail in the middle of nowhere. Catch some food or ice cream at Yoho General Store on your way. https://www.sculpturetrails.com/
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum
6764 N Tree Farm RdInteresting local spot no one has ever heard of, including locals. Over 100 sculptures by artists from around the world spread through the woods along about a 1-mile trail in the middle of nowhere. Catch some food or ice cream at Yoho General Store on your way. https://www.sculpturetrails.com/
Parks & Nature
Beautiful state park, great hiking, Wolf cave, waterfall. $5 IN resident state park entrance fee, $7 out-of-state.
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
McCormick's Creek State Park
250 McCormick Creek Park RdBeautiful state park, great hiking, Wolf cave, waterfall. $5 IN resident state park entrance fee, $7 out-of-state.
Another paved walking or bike riding trail in Bloomington. This one is out in nature and very safe and pretty. The following site will show you the 2 parking spots you can use along with other information: https://www.traillink.com/trail/clear-creek-trail-(in)/
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Clear Creek Trail
Clear Creek TrailAnother paved walking or bike riding trail in Bloomington. This one is out in nature and very safe and pretty. The following site will show you the 2 parking spots you can use along with other information: https://www.traillink.com/trail/clear-creek-trail-(in)/
Nice downtown walking spot to access multiple restaurants and shopping spots. Paved, 3-mile lit trail through downtown that used to be a railroad corridor.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
B-Line Trail
B-Line TrailNice downtown walking spot to access multiple restaurants and shopping spots. Paved, 3-mile lit trail through downtown that used to be a railroad corridor.
Nice hikes not far out of town around a small lake. My favorite hike is on the east side of the lake, parking at the dam. You take Dunn Street out of town to reach that side.
82 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Griffy Lake
Nice hikes not far out of town around a small lake. My favorite hike is on the east side of the lake, parking at the dam. You take Dunn Street out of town to reach that side.
This is the closest hiking spot and a fairly nice short hike. You start with a long metal staircase down to a small waterfall. At the bottom there is a wetlands area that used to be a water reservoir for Bloomington. Great wildlife watching. Parking is extremely limited, so sometimes we park along the road at the entryway of the subdivision across and up the road a bit.
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Leonard Springs Nature Park
4685 S Leonard Springs RdThis is the closest hiking spot and a fairly nice short hike. You start with a long metal staircase down to a small waterfall. At the bottom there is a wetlands area that used to be a water reservoir for Bloomington. Great wildlife watching. Parking is extremely limited, so sometimes we park along the road at the entryway of the subdivision across and up the road a bit.
Essentials
Great low-price grocery shopping. If you aren't familiar with Aldi, be prepared to pay a quarter to "rent" your grocery cart and bring bags along to bag your own groceries at the end. If you know of Aldi as a low-quality grocery store, be prepared for the new reincarnation of the store run by the brother of the owner of Trader Joe's. You will find specialty cheeses, and now lots of organic and gluten-free options.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
ALDI
2035 Liberty DrGreat low-price grocery shopping. If you aren't familiar with Aldi, be prepared to pay a quarter to "rent" your grocery cart and bring bags along to bag your own groceries at the end. If you know of Aldi as a low-quality grocery store, be prepared for the new reincarnation of the store run by the brother of the owner of Trader Joe's. You will find specialty cheeses, and now lots of organic and gluten-free options.
Excellent upscale grocery on the west side. Great produce, excellent meats (be sure to try their huge selection of brats and sausages at the meat counter). Also excellent selection of supplements, etc.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market- Bloomington IN
3600 W 3rd StExcellent upscale grocery on the west side. Great produce, excellent meats (be sure to try their huge selection of brats and sausages at the meat counter). Also excellent selection of supplements, etc.
Everything Else
If you're here over a Sunday and are looking for a local church, please feel free to visit ours! Friendly church 7 minutes down the road with lots of families. Reformed and evangelical.
Trinity Reformed Church
2401 S Endwright RdIf you're here over a Sunday and are looking for a local church, please feel free to visit ours! Friendly church 7 minutes down the road with lots of families. Reformed and evangelical.