Welcome to The Bend! Home of the prestigious University of Notre Dame and the Studebaker Corporation. South Bend is located along the St. Joseph River and we get our name from the bend in the river.
While South Bend might not be among the most visited cities in the country, visitors will find a host of fun places to tour and exciting activities that will make your time here unforgettable.
Here’s the Crossroads Foundation Repair team’s bucket list of ten things to do in South Bend, IN.
1. Catch a Show at The Morris Center
Are you a retired theatre kid and a certified lover of classic arts and opera shows?
The South Bend Symphony Orchestra puts on brilliant performances of classics like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake and original performances at the Morris Center.
Formerly called The Place Theatre, this auditorium was built in 1922 and originally served as a vaudeville house. Back then, Broadway troupes headed to Chicago from New York would often stop by the theatre to perform for South Benders.
Since its establishment, The Morris Center has continued to put on orchestras and musicals that have cemented it as an important landmark in South Bend.
Kids and movie lovers are also welcomed with shows like Paw Patrol Live and Harry Potter in concert.
You can check out the schedule for upcoming performances on the Morris Center website. You can also host private events at the center.
Location: 211 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: (574) 235-9190
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrispac?igsh=MXJqOTNmdGIyZGpnYw==
Website: https://morriscenter.org/
Hours: Varies depending on the event.
2. Make A New Furry Friend at the Potawatomi Zoo
The Potawatomi Zoo first started as a duck pond in Leeper Park in 1902. Originally called the South Bend Zoo, this was South Bend’s first zoo. By 1921, the zoo had grown and moved to Potawatomi Park, where it has remained till this day.
Feed a giraffe, pet a rhino, or make friends with a sloth. The Zoo houses nearly 400 animals–over 135 species–on 23 acres to meet and adore.
You can get a more up close and personal experience with select animals through the zoo’s gift of light encounter program.
The zoo hosts various special events and allows private celebrations for birthday parties.
Children under two years are allowed free entry.
Location: 500 S Greenlawn Ave, South Bend, IN 46615
Contact: (574) 235-9800
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potawatomizoo?igsh=MW1jZnp6MHkyeXQwMA==
Website: https://www.potawatomizoo.org/
Hours:
- 10 am – 4 pm
3. Visit the South Bend Museum of Art
From the time of its founding till now, the South Bend Museum of Art has been all about community.
Carlotta Banta, a South Bend veteran kindergarten teacher, died and left her life savings for the creation of an art center that she dreamed would house the beautiful paintings of young South Bend children.
In 1947, through Carlotta’s dream and the work of countless civic leaders, that dream came through with the establishment of the South Bend Museum of Art in the building that once housed the South Bend Toy Factory, a major toy manufacturer in the early 1900s.
Since its establishment, the museum has grown massively, offering numerous collections, exhibitions, educational programs, and studio art classes to the people of South Bend.
The South Bend Museum of Art welcomes all art lovers interested in exploring their collection of local and midwestern contemporary artwork.
Location: 120 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-9102
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southbendart?igsh=ZzA4bHFqaWw4djFt
Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday (Noon – 5 pm)
4. Check Out the Studebaker National Museum
The Studebaker National Museum is a must-visit for car lovers. The museum showcases the automotive and industrial history of South Bend and surrounding regions.
It shines a light on the influence of the famous Studebaker automobile company, a wagon manufacturer founded in 1852, and other industrial innovators. The company became a major player in the automotive industry until it closed down in 1963.
Among other vehicles, the museum proudly displays the world’s largest collection of U.S. presidential carriages, including the Barouche that President Abraham Lincoln used the night of his assassination, President Grant’s Brewster Landau, President McKinley’s Studebaker Phaeton, and President Benjamin Harrison’s Studebaker Brougham.
Check out the museum’s website to find out about current exhibitions.
Location: 201 S Chapin St, South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: (574)235-9714
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studebakermuseum?igsh=YXIxejkzY3Y1Zm5m
Website: https://studebakermuseum.org/
Hours:
- Monday-Saturday (10 am-5 pm EDT)
- Sunday (12 pm-5 pm EDT)
5. Take a Boat Tour on the St. Joseph River
You shouldn’t visit The Bend without getting on the St. Joseph River.
St. Joe runs through northern Indiana and southern Michigan before emptying into Lake Michigan.
Book a boat tour service in South Bend and go fishing, kayaking, canoeing, or white water rafting on the river.
Enjoy an unbelievable view of the city while paddling down smooth waters. Stop by riverside restaurants for a taste of South Bend cuisine. Catch king and Coho salmon, steelhead, smallmouth bass, trout, or walleye fish for dinner.
Check out ‘visitsouthbend’ to find out more about St. Joseph river tours and activities.
Website: https://www.visitsouthbend.com/things-to-do/outdoors-and-recreation/st-joseph-river/
6. Hang out at Howard Park
The oldest park in South Bend, Howard Park sits along the St. Joseph River.
The park features:
- A state-of-the-art playground
- An event center
- Ice trail & pond
- A community building that houses a full-service local restaurant
- A chocolate cafe
- Fire pits
- Fountains, and more.
South Benders can enjoy all sorts of physical activities at Howard Park. From ice skating to Zumbtake chair yoga, there’s something for everyone.
The park regularly hosts various events such as watercolor classes, holiday markets, S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) lab, winter opens, and more.
Location: 219 S. St. Louis Blvd. South Bend, IN, 46617
Contact: (574) 299-4765
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visithowardpark?igsh=MWFla2RkcDVndzZkcA==
Website: https://visithowardpark.com/
Hours:
- Mon.–Fri. 8:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Saturday 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Sunday 12:00 PM–6:00 PM
7. Spend Time at the History Museum and Oliver Mansion
The History Museum is Indiana’s second oldest historical society. The museum showcases Oliver Mansion, also known as Copshaholm, a three-story, 38-room mansion that was once home to local industrialist J.D. Oliver Worker.
The intact original furnishings, woodwork, and designs take you back through time to the 1890s when the house was built.
The property extends for 2.5 acres of landscaped gardens around the main house, featuring a rose garden, tennis lawn, garden tea house, formal garden, pergola, and a fountain.
The Oliver Mansion is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The History Museum also shows several temporary exhibits that detail the history of South Bend. You’ll learn about the city from exhibits like ‘Forging Innovation’, which expands on South Bend’s innovation journey over the past 100 years with major contributions from the Oliver and Studebaker families.
History buffs will enjoy a walk through time at the museum and the mansion.
Location: 808 W Washington St, South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-9664
Hours:
- Monday to Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
- Sundays 12 pm – 5 pm
8. Relax at the Century Center
This stunning building features a three-story Great Hall window wall, skylight-covered walkways, a convention hall and ballroom, an island park and pavilion, 18 meeting rooms, and two theaters, including the Bendix Esports Arena.
The Century Center is a full-service event center that offers a beautiful view of the St Joseph River lights and always has a fun event planned.
Get tickets to join special events like fall-inspired artisan markets, special doll shows, gourmet tournaments, or other fun events at the center as you tour South Bend.
Private events can be hosted at the Century Center with catering covered by local South Bend chefs and a wide selection of entertainment for guests.
Location: 120 S Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: (574) 235-9711
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centurycenter?igsh=MTVqYWdlOW04Mm81aw==
Website: https://centurycenter.org/
Hours:
- Monday to Saturday 8 am – 11 pm
- Sundays 2 pm – 9 pm
9. Catch a Baseball Game at Four Winds Field!
Explore the South Bend sports scene by catching a game at the prestigious Four Winds Field.
Home of the South Bend Cubs, Four Wind Fields is a baseball stadium with 5,000 seating capacity. The stadium opened in 1987, originally named Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium, before being renamed in 2013.
Four Winds Field has won several awards including Ballpark Digest’s Best Ballpark in 2017 and Ballpark Renovation of the Year in 2012.
Baseball fans should visit the stadium to see the South Bend Cubs in action.
Location: 501 W South St, South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: +1 574-235-9988
Website: https://www.milb.com/south-bend/ballpark/four-winds-field
10. Indulge your Sight and Taste Buds with a Tour of the South Bend Chocolate Factory
A family-owned business with multiple locations across South Bend and surrounding regions, the South Bend Chocolate Factory is a well-known spot to locals.
Since its founding in 1991, the Chocolate Factory has built a product list of over 500 different chocolates and sweets. You can also get coffee, baked goods, toffees, and nuts at the Chocolate Factory.
The South Bend Chocolate Factory offers tours to the factory and its chocolate museum where you’ll learn the history and origin of chocolate.
The Chocolate Museum features one of the largest collections of chocolate memorabilia in the world, including a 1,300-year-old Mayan chocolate pot.
You’ll get a test sample at the end of the tour and you’ll have the chance to make your own box of chocolates.
Location: 7102 Lincolnway West, South Bend, IN 46628. This is the South / West corner of the US 31 Bypass and Lincolnway (US Highway 20).
Contact: 574-208-5033
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southbend_chocolatecompany?igsh=MW44M2FmdGluODB6cw==
Website: https://www.sbchocolate.com/location/south-bend-farms/
Hours: Monday – Sunday. 8 am to 5 pm.
Enjoy an Unforgettable Day in South Bend
Start your day early with a tour of the Potawatomi Zoo, snack on chocolates from the Chocolate Factory as you go about your day, and catch a game with friends at the Four Winds Field. End the day with a nighttime show at the Morris Center.
With exceptional service, historic spots, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, you’re bound to have an unforgettable day touring South Bend.
Crossroads Foundation Repair hopes you’ll enjoy all the things to do in South Bend, IN.
We are a local foundation repair company serving homeowners in South Bend. The next time you need a foundation service, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Call Crossroads Foundation Repair for a FREE home evaluation.
