Where would you like to travel?   

Best 25 Cities to Visit in USA

Home >> Indiana >> Bloomington

10 Top Rated Things to Do in Bloomington, Indiana

McCormick's Creek State Park
Photograph by Chris Light, via Wikimedia Commons

McCormick's Creek State Park

#1 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

McCormick's Creek State Park located 14 miles west of Bloomington is the oldest state park in Indiana. McCormick's Creek Canyon and McCormick's Creek waterfall are the primary attraction of the park. The park features hiking trails, limestone canyon, flowing creek, and scenic waterfalls.

THINGS TO DO

WonderLab Museum of Science
Photograph by WonderLabScience, via Wikimedia Commons

WonderLab Museum of Science

#2 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

The WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology is a science museum located on the B-Line Trail in the heart of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District. The museum features two floors of hands-on science exhibits. First floor exhibits include Science Sprouts Place, Sprouts Lab, Grapevine Climber, Bubble Flow, Lego Water Table, and Discovery Garden. The second floor is home to many of the live animal exhibits including insects, amphibians and reptiles.

Hours & Admission

Eskenazi Museum of Art
Photograph by Kzollman, via Wikimedia Commons

Eskenazi Museum of Art

#3 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

Eskenazi Museum of Art is located on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Collection of the museum include about 45,000 objects with 1,400 on display. The collection includes items ranging from ancient jewelry to paintings. The museum has 3 permanent galleries: Gallery of Art of the Western World, Arts of Asia and the Ancient Western World, and the Raymond and Laura Wieglus Gallery of Arts of Africa. Permanent collection of the museum include Ancient Art; Asian Art; Art of Africa, Oceania, and Indigenous Art of the Americas; European and American Art; Prints, Drawings, and Photographs; and Contemporary Art.

Hours & Admission

Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Photograph Flickr by TrailSeeds, via Wikimedia Commons

Morgan-Monroe State Forest

#4 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

Morgan–Monroe State Forest is located 16 miles northeast of Bloomington. The 25,000 acres forest encompasses steep ridges and valleys. Popular recreation activities in the area include hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and picnicking. There are three lakes in the forest. Cherry Lake is popular in visitors for fishing.


Griffy Lake Nature Preserve
Photograph by Vmenkov, via Wikimedia Commons

Griffy Lake Nature Preserve

#5 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

Griffy Lake is a reservoir created by a dam on Griffy Creek. Griffy Lake Nature Preserve surrounding the lake offers many recreation opportunities. Along with adjacent Griffy Woods, the area offers hiking trails, boating, fishing, and picnicking activates. Swimming is not allowed. However, boat ramp is available for private launching. The Griffy Lake boathouse is open on weekends in April and September, and daily May through October.


Charles C. Deam Wilderness
Photograph by Steve Skinner, via Wikimedia Commons

Charles C. Deam Wilderness

#6 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area is Indiana's largest reservoir named in honor of Indiana's first State Forester Charles C. Deam. The area offers 36 miles of hiking trails that goes through scenic hardwood forest. The wilderness with views of Monroe Lake encompasses Hoosier National Forest. Recreation activities include hiking, horseback riding, camping, and nature viewing.


Lake Lemon
Photograph by Durin, via Wikimedia Commons

Lake Lemon

#7 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

Lake Lemon is a reservoir located 10 miles northeast of Bloomington. The 1,650 acres lake is the 11th largest lake in Indiana. The lake offers 24 miles of shoreline. Riddle Point Park located on the lake features beach, nature trail, and boat ramp. Little Africa Wildlife Viewing Area located at the east end of the lake features a nature trail. Lake Lemon Marina is located on the north shore of the lake.


Hoosier National Forest
Photograph by US Forest Service, via Wikimedia Commons

Hoosier National Forest

#8 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

Address: 811 Constitution Ave, Bedford, IN 47421

Phone: (812) 275-5987

Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/hoosier/


Indiana University Arboretum
Photograph by Vmenkov, via Wikimedia Commons

Indiana University Arboretum

#9 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Bloomington

Address: E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405


Bloomington Parks

  1. Charles C. Deam Wilderness