What to Know About Visiting South Bend, Indiana

Few cities have had a much bigger turnaround previously few years than South Bend, Indiana.

Beset by a shrinking inhabitants and chronic financial woes, in 2011 the neighborhood of 100,000 was named to Newsweek’s “Dying Cities” record — a public declaration of a decline that locals had lengthy witnessed. Within the years after, although, South Benders (together with their well-known “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg) labored exhausting to reverse their fortunes. The downtown district was revitalized, new companies and residents moved in, and the place started to achieve regional, then nationwide consideration as a metropolis on the rise.

That spotlight reached its apex in 2024 when U.S. Information and World Report ranked South Bend 25 on its annual Finest Locations to Stay record and 15 amongst its Finest Locations to Retire.

“South Bend is among the greatest locations to dwell,” says Alayna Wort, a program supervisor on the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership, “as a result of it is a large enough metropolis to really feel like you may have far too many issues to decide on between doing and a sufficiently small metropolis that you simply actually really feel recognized.”

I’ve skilled that steadiness myself in two stints dwelling within the metropolis. I attended faculty in South Bend and later returned to dwell and work there, and I can attest that whether or not you’re contemplating a transfer or simply in search of an inexpensive trip, there’s by no means been a greater time to go to. As a local Hoosier and a longtime resident of “the Bend,” right here’s my information to one of the best issues to do in one in all America’s best rising cities.

Finest Issues to Do

Go to Notre Dame.

“South Bend’s primary attraction,” says Jeff Jarnecke, govt director of Go to South Bend Mishawaka, “is the College of Notre Dame.” The soccer stadium and the golden-domed Principal Constructing are the best-known websites on this famously lovely campus, however, as an alumna, I’ve two different suggestions: taking a stroll across the lakes (views are greatest from St. Joseph’s northern shore) and catching a present at Washington Corridor, which not too long ago completed a powerful historic restoration.

Discover downtown South Bend.

As soon as seen as a ghost city, downtown South Bend (DTSB) is now a energetic district full of bars and eating places. Households will love the automotive historical past at Studebaker Nationwide Museum, whereas grownup guests can curl up in a comfy espresso store like Chicory Cafe.

Take within the native arts scene.

Due to its low rents and gritty, can-do spirit, South Bend is full of hardworking creatives. To discover their world, attend a present on the South Bend Civic Theatre or the offbeat arts incubator LangLab, or pop into Make South Bend to browse native artwork or take a workshop.

Get outdoors.

A landlocked metropolis recognized for its winter “permacloud” might not sound like an out of doors paradise. However, when the climate even barely permits, South Benders like to get outdoors. Downtown, you possibly can bike on the brand new Hyperlink Path or go whitewater rafting on the St. Joseph River, whereas, simply south of the town, Potato Creek State Park provides mountaineering, fishing, and cross-country snowboarding — plus an in-progress lodge that, when accomplished, can be Indiana’s first new state park lodge since 1939.

Finest Locations to Keep

The Morris Inn

The four-star Morris Inn is the unmatched greatest lodge on the town. Although situated on campus at Notre Dame, this isn’t a stodgy faculty constructing — it boasts plush rooms and suites, high quality eating, and attentive service that can enchantment even to guests with out a campus connection.

Airbnbs and Leases

For choices past South Bend’s comparatively few resorts, select from its strong collection of trip leases. Airbnb has choices at each dimension and value level, whereas the native firm Lease Like a Champion focuses on full (and sometimes luxurious) properties good for football-weekend group journey.

The Oliver Inn

Simply blocks from downtown, the 10-room Oliver Inn provides selfmade breakfasts and spacious lodgings in a stately Nineteenth-century Queen Anne residence. Make sure to select a bundle that features dinner at Tippecanoe Place — it’s a historic positive eating mainstay situated proper subsequent door.

DoubleTree by Hilton Lodge South Bend

For a stable keep within the coronary heart of downtown, strive the DoubleTree. Improbably for such a small metropolis, it was designed by Helmut Jahn, the famed German architect who created Chicago’s Thompson Middle two hours to the west.

Finest Nightlife

Corby’s

Like all faculty cities, South Bend is chock-full of dive bars. Most faculty dives, although, haven’t appeared in Hollywood movies. Corby’s is the uncommon dive that has, having performed host to a number of scenes in 1993’s “Rudy” — and it’s value a cease for soccer and film followers alike.

Fiddler’s Fireplace

For a Notre Dame Preventing Irish bar with an emphasis on the “Irish,” look no additional than Fiddler’s Fireplace. This downtown establishment provides dwell music, a comfy pub environment, and greater than two dozen Irish whiskeys.

The Linebacker Lounge

Crowded as it might be with college students and nostalgic alums, “the Backer” is a should for any customer searching for the complete Notre Dame expertise. It’s my private favourite bar in South Bend, so belief me: What it lacks in ceiling top and seating, it greater than makes up for in low cost drinks and eclectic tunes.

The Alternate

Situated in an outdated financial institution constructing in DTSB, The Alternate is one in all South Bend’s solely late-night bars catering squarely to the non-student crowd. Come right here for wonderful cocktails at delectably low, small-city costs.

Finest Eating places

The Lauber

A energetic bar and grill situated in an outdated sheet steel manufacturing facility, The Lauber is emblematic of South Bend’s rebirth. A various pub-grub menu, a beer record with heavy Midwestern illustration, and a preferred seasonal patio are among the many many highlights.

Barnaby’s

The unique location of what’s now a regional chain, this South Bend establishment has been cranking out scrumptious tavern-style pizza since 1969. Their rival a number of blocks north, Rocco’s, additionally makes nice pies — however, in my six-generation Hoosier household, Barnaby’s is king.

Dainty Maid Meals Corridor

South Bend has developed a sturdy pop-up scene lately, and in 2022, Dainty Maid opened to present longer-term properties to among the metropolis’s greatest non permanent eateries. Present favorites embody Revenant Espresso Bar and Piñata, a Tex-Mex joint serving dishes like burnt finish burrito bowls and Nashville scorching nachos.

Roselily

Situated on the southern fringe of downtown, this former pop-up is now one in all simply two AAA 4-Diamond eating places in South Bend. Roselily provides a tasting menu, a la carte choices, and, Wort notes, occasional themed dinners. “Their Italian nights in January 2024 have been unimaginable!” she says.

Evil Czech Brewery

In a metropolis with numerous nice brunch spots, suburban Mishawaka’s Evil Czech turned my favourite by providing a setup I’ve not often seen elsewhere: buffet desk after buffet desk of breakfast and lunch small plates.

Finest Time to Go to

One of the best time to go to South Bend will be decided by answering one query: Are you right here for Notre Dame soccer, or for actually the rest? As a result of fall in South Bend is soccer season.

Sport days in South Bend are an expertise all sports activities followers ought to have as soon as — the campus environment is electrical, actions (each on- and off-campus) abound, and relying on the yr, they may additionally contain among the nation’s greatest soccer. If that sounds good to you, seek the advice of the Preventing Irish schedule and select a fall weekend accordingly.

Vacationers not searching for soccer frenzy, although, ought to keep away from the autumn, when lodge and airfare costs skyrocket and crowds are massive.

“Whereas South Bend will greet you any time of yr,” says Jarnecke, “the summer season months supply probably the most facilities, occasions, [and] experiences.”

Summer time definitely is one of the best season for a few of my favourite actions in South Bend. Temperatures are usually within the 70s or 80s, making it a good time to go to the South Bend Farmers Market (one of many Midwest’s oldest and largest); catch a baseball recreation by the native Minor League group, the South Bend Cubs; or take one of many out of doors health lessons held every summer season at Gridiron Plaza, a pretend, mini soccer subject situated smack in the midst of downtown.

Tips on how to Get There

South Bend Worldwide Airport provides probably the most direct route into city, with flights from greater than a dozen cities nationwide. Town can be straightforward to achieve from Chicago, due to trains on the South Shore Line and bus connections from each Chicago airports.

By automobile, Interstate 90 connects South Bend to all corners of the nation, and Indiana’s north-south artery, Freeway 31, has its terminus right here. Indianapolis, Chicago, and Detroit all lie inside a three-hour drive.

When you’ve arrived, renting a automobile is advisable, for the reason that metropolis is just too unfold out to see all the things on foot (and transit is proscribed). If you happen to’d moderately not drive your self, the world has loads of Ubers and Lyfts.