Bloomington Travel Information
Bloomington, population 69,291, is a college town. It is home to
Indiana University, which enrolls 37,000 students. The city provides
easy access to two of the state’s top outdoor recreation areas, Lake
Monroe and the Hoosier National Forest. Indiana University’s
Memorial Union is a conference center complete with hotel. The campus
hosts music and theater performances including Broadway shows, and
houses museums and an arboretum. Bloomington’s downtown borders the
university. The downtown square has a concentration of retail shops.
Live music venues, bars, restaurants, shops and art galleries are
located throughout the 11-block downtown. Lake Monroe is just
southeast of Bloomington. The 10,750-acre lake borders the Hoosier
National Forest. State-run and private recreational areas along the
lake offer camping, boat ramps and beaches. Marinas rent fishing and
water skiing boats, kayaks, sailboats, houseboats, pontoons and
personal watercraft. There are golf and tennis resorts and restaurants
along the lakeshore. Hoosier National Forest protects more than
200,000 acres of land. Recreational activities available in the forest
include camping, hiking and biking. Scenic drives along the state
highways south and east of Bloomington offer the best views of the
forest in spring when redbuds are blooming and in late September
through early November when the leaves are changing. Two smaller
lakes near Bloomington, Griffy and Lemon, are popular local fishing
spots. Canoeing and rowboating is popular on Griffy Lake. Rental
cabins are available around Lake Lemon. Bloomington is 51 miles
southwest of Indianapolis and 37 west of Columbus. It is accessible
via State Highway 37, 45 and 46. Lodging choices include national
chain hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins, resorts and campgrounds.
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