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Latest Bloomington hotel reviews
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The downtown area encompasses 11 blocks and boasts specialty shops, restaurants and the majority of the area's live music clubs. Over 175 businesses thrive in the downtown area and include art galleries, cooking shops, clothing for men and women, athletic stores, book stores, jewelry stores, plus music and collectable stores. Several times throughout the year local entertainers perform during during lunch time to entertain shoppers.
Step inside the Monroe County Courthouse, built in 1902, to view the stained glass dome.
Venture into Fountain Square just south of the courthouse. The enclosed mall contains galleries, clothing stores and specialty shops. It is the resultof a two-year effort in restoring many of the downtown buildings to their original grandeur. A covered skywalk provides easy access to the covered parking garage on Fourth Street.
Grab coffee at the BakeHouse on the Square (I do), stroll around and look in the shops, visit a local pub (some in 100+ year old buildings and quite nicely restored) for lunch or dinner.
Updated Aug 8, 2010
Address: The heart of Bloomington
Website: http://www.visitbloomington.com/
If I am in town April - October I go to the Farmer's Market. Usually open 8-1 (9-12 Spring and Fall) you can eat, get great coffee or latte, buy flowers, vegetables, honey, plants, meat (organic), cheese, and more... Go early and just shop before the crowd or go at 10:30 and catch the entertainment. Dozens of venders during peak summer. A true Thing to Do and meet your friends on Saturday.
There is a small indoor version during winter for us die-hards who need local meat and eggs and a few other winter items. (Winter market in Harmony School - ask locals for directions)
Again, this is an event as much as a market!
Written Aug 8, 2010
Address: 401 N. Morton St.
Website: http://bloomington.in.gov/farmersmarket
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Except for Winter, you will find the Bloomington Farmers Market right in the center of this lovely large town. The local government built the outdoor market. Friends and neighbors gather, and young children are entertained by musicians and other delights.
These two young women were making music, very informally, at the market, when we went this Summer. They were having a happy time!
There was local fresh produce, honey, flowers and other food products for sale. Everything was on a small scale, from caring people. You could tell that, just by observation.
Written Dec 29, 2006
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My fondest memory of this fountain was in 1987 when IU clinched a spot in the NCAA basketball finals (they won that year, beating Syracuse but I was back in Chicago), we all ran over to the fountain which they had drained for the occasion and frolicked where the water had been.
And come to think of it, my husband has never fulfilled his side of a bet that had him in the fountain, we have never agreed whether he was supposed to be sans clothing :-)
Updated Apr 25, 2004
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Bloomington is not only the center of Indiana pot culture, it's also the seat of Monroe County. Built and dedicated in 1908, the weathervane on top contains a five foot long copper fish, hammered out in 1826 and supposedly symbolizing the reign of the Jeffersonian Republican party. The fish is a logo for the city.
Written Mar 31, 2003
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Museums
Indiana University Art Museum - Fine Arts Plaza, East Seventh Street, Bloomington. (812) 855-5445
Hoagy Carmichael Room - Morrison Hall, Room 006, IU. (812) 855-4679
Lilly Library - Fine Arts Plaza, East Seventh Street, Bloomington. (812) 855-2452
Mathers Museum - 416 North Indiana Avenue, Bloomington. (812) 855-MUSE (6873)
Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology - 423 North Fess Street at Ninth St., Bloomington. (812) 855-9544
Hilltop Garden and Nature Center - 2301 E. 10th Street, Bloomington. (812) 855-2799
Monroe County Historical Museum - 202 East Sixth Street, Bloomington. (812) 332-2517
Written Aug 24, 2002
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Holiday Inn Express Bloomington
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Indiana Memorian Union Hotel and Conference Center
1 Review and 23 Opinions I have seen these rooms and several I know prefer to stay here because it is on campus (alumni or...
Reviews and photos of Bloomington attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Bloomington sightseeing.
MuseumsIndiana University Art Museum - Fine Arts Plaza, East Seventh Street, Bloomington. (812) 855-5445Hoagy Carmichael Room - Morrison Hall, Room 006, IU....
117 members live in Bloomington
Q: I'm involved in a private eco-challenge at my university. I'm interested in finding the most direct walking route from...
A: You do know it's about 55 miles between Indy and Bloomington, right? State Road 37 is the most direct route between the two.
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Bloomington-home of my alma mater
Back in the days before students had their own computers/cell phones/cars/private jets, I spent four years as a starving college student at Indiana University in Bloomington. I'm not overly...
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Bloomington - Home of the Hoosiers
I recently moved to Bloomington in October of 2007. As I am originally from the Tampa, Florida area, I was very nervous about living in a "small town." Bloomington has greatly surpassed my...
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Bloomington, Indiana is the home of Indiana University, but is also quite a nice town I already built an IU travelogue on my Indiana Page so please look there. Otherwise, Bloomington is a somewhat...
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I went to school nearby to Bloomington. So I manged to come down here for weekends, enjoy IU's events, the Little 500, etc. Bloomington is a nice city, full of greenery, nice architecture and a...
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The university is a strong and important aspect of Bloomington. It is a very excellent school, drawing students and staff from around the globe. The art museum is terrific. It is such a wonderful......
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