SB13: Stuck in Bloomington?

Can’t bring yourself to go home, but don’t want to shell out for a lavish spring break trip?

Looks like you’re stuck here in Bloomington.

The good news is that Bloomington is actually a great place, and it gets even better when all of your fellow students aren’t around. There are lots of hidden gems in this town, and spring break is the best time to explore them. 

Even if you aren’t here during break, consider this an unofficial guide to alleviating boredom during the last few weekends of the school year.

Take a mini-break

Got wheels? Take State Road 46 east past Brown County State Park and into Nashville, Ind. The sleepy, picturesque little town should be waking up just in time for spring break. Nashville is full of interesting art galleries, fun boutiques and fabulous cafes and pubs. The whole town has a great, cozy vibe, and if you’re not from Indiana, it’s one of the nicest small towns in the state to visit. If you need to get out of town for a while, grab a friend who’s also sticking around and take a day trip.

The gorgeous drive is almost as nice as the town itself.

Edinburgh Premium Outlets are also worth checking out if you need another escape (and are willing to shell out a little cash).

They’re a few minutes past Nashville, so the very determined among you could combine trips and make it a full day — just start out in Nashville, and when you’re done, keep taking 46 east and go north when you get to Interstate 65. Let the signs guide you in. The mall is full of low-priced designer duds, and stores are currently trying to get rid of winter stuff, so if you’re willing to buy ahead for next year, you’ll get some sweet deals.

Columbus, Ind., is another nearby gem. For a relatively small town, Columbus is actually world-renowned for its architecture. Take an architecture tour and see famous places like the Miller House and Garden.

Locals also recommend visiting the downtown commons area and making a special stop at Zaharako’s ice cream parlor, an old-fashioned soda fountain.

Be a grown-up

Now is the time to do all of the fun, mature stuff you feel weird doing when the town is filled with your fellow young adults. If you’re of age, you can finally take some swanky alcohol tours.

Check out Oliver Winery (8024 N. State Road 37) and do a $5 wine tasting.
They’ll coach you through all the types and subtypes of wine, and you can find flavors you actually like.

On weekends, they’ll usually have some sort of food catered that you can buy, and you’re also allowed to walk around their gorgeous grounds. If your significant other is hanging around, make it a date.

And if you haven’t done the Upland Brewery tour with a visiting parent yet, take the time now to do it yourself. They’re offered from 3-5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at their Brewpub (350 W. 11th St).

Spring break is also a good time to explore the cultural side of Bloomington that we kids sometimes miss. If you’re around on Friday night, Weekend favorites Foxygen and Unknown Mortal Orchestra are playing at the Bluebird Nightclub (216 N. Walnut St.), which also has karaoke this Monday night.

Or, if you’re feeling artsy, take an evening and do the Bloomington Gallery Walk.
There are 11 art galleries located within walking distance of one another in downtown Bloomington. Check out gallerywalkbloomington.com for information and a listing of participating galleries.

Be a kid again

Ever wonder what it  would’ve been like to grow up in Bloomington? Take spring break to check out Bloomington kid-friendly attractions like Wonderlab (304 W. Fourth St.). In addition to its normal fun-science attractions, it will have live snakes this Wednesday.

Bloomington also has tons of bowling alleys and arcades. Get away from the Indiana Memorial Union and play where locals go. Classic Lanes (1421 N. Willis Drive)  is your best bet, with low prices and lots of local beers on tap.

If you have a bike, take it out for a spin on the B-Line Trail. It’s short, flat, easy riding all around, without the threat of real Little 500 cyclists judging you and your beat-up bike.

Get spiritual

Another one of Bloomington’s most interesting features is its Buddhist population. The famed Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center (call at 812-336-6807) is a beautiful facility, and a good place to familiarize yourself with a religion that isn’t given much attention in America. Check out a $10 yoga class, attend a meditation session at 7 p.m. Thursday, or pay $5 for a vegetarian Sunday lunch in the kitchen. 

If you want to up your good karma, take spring break to volunteer. If you’re a first-timer, consider working at Hoosier Hills Food Bank (812-334-8374) or Monroe County Community Kitchen (812-332-0999) — both allow one-time shifts, although you’ll probably end up wanting to volunteer regularly. If you’re interested in more regular volunteering, spring break is a good time to go through a few orientations and find out what kind of service best suits your temperament, skills and schedule. Check out bloomington.in.gov/volunteer/ for a complete listing of organizations.

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