This Midwestern Faculty City Is One of many Greatest Locations to Stay and Retire—How you can Go to

Few cities have had a much bigger turnaround up to now few years than South Bend, Indiana.

Beset by a shrinking inhabitants and protracted financial woes, the neighborhood of 100,000 made Newsweek’s “Dying Cities” listing in 2011—a public declaration of a decline that locals had lengthy witnessed. Within the years after, although, South Benders (together with their well-known “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg) labored arduous to reverse their fortunes. The downtown district was revitalized, new companies and residents moved in, and the place started to achieve regional, then nationwide consideration as a metropolis on the rise.

That focus reached its apex in 2024 when U.S. Information and World Report ranked South Bend twenty fifth on its annual Greatest Locations to Stay listing and likewise amongst its Greatest Locations to Retire.

“South Bend is likely one of the greatest locations to reside as a result of it is a large enough metropolis to really feel like you could have far too many issues to decide on between doing and a sufficiently small metropolis that you simply really really feel recognized,” says Alayna Wort, a program supervisor on the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership.

I’ve skilled that stability myself over two stints of dwelling within the metropolis. I attended school in South Bend and later returned to reside and work there, and I can attest that whether or not you’re contemplating a transfer or simply in search of an reasonably priced trip, there’s by no means been a greater time to go to. As a local Hoosier and a longtime resident of “the Bend,” right here’s my information to the very best issues to do in considered one of America’s biggest rising cities.

Greatest Issues to Do

Go to Notre Dame.

“South Bend’s primary attraction is the College of Notre Dame,” says Jeff Jarnecke, govt director of Go to South Bend Mishawaka. Bordering town, the famously lovely campus is greatest recognized for its soccer stadium and the golden-domed Principal Constructing, however, as an alumna, I’ve two different suggestions. Take a stroll across the lakes (the views are greatest from St. Joseph’s northern shore) and catch a present at Washington Corridor, which just lately acquired a powerful historic restoration.

Discover downtown South Bend.

As soon as seen as a ghost city, downtown South Bend (DTSB) is now a vigorous district full of bars and eating places. Households will love the automotive historical past at Studebaker Nationwide Museum, whereas grownup guests can curl up in a comfortable espresso store just like the Chicory Cafe.

Take within the native arts scene.

Due to its low hire and gritty, can-do spirit, South Bend is full of hardworking creatives. To discover their world, attend a present on the South Bend Civic Theatre or the offbeat arts incubator LangLab, or pop into Make South Bend to browse native artwork or attend a workshop.

Get outdoors.

A landlocked metropolis recognized for its winter “permacloud” could not sound like an out of doors paradise. However, when the climate even barely permits, South Benders like to get outdoors. Downtown, you possibly can bike on the Hyperlink Path or go whitewater rafting on the St. Joseph River, whereas simply south of town, Potato Creek State Park affords mountain climbing, fishing, cross-country snowboarding, and an in-progress lodge; when accomplished, it is going to be Indiana’s first new state park lodge since 1939.

Greatest Locations to Keep

The Morris Inn

The four-star Morris Inn is the unequalled greatest resort on the town. Although positioned on campus at Notre Dame, this isn’t a stodgy school constructing—it boasts plush rooms and suites, high quality eating, and attentive service that may enchantment even to guests with no campus connection.

The Oliver Inn

Simply blocks from downtown, the 10-room Oliver Inn affords selfmade breakfasts and spacious lodgings in a stately Nineteenth-century Queen Anne dwelling. Make sure to select a bundle that features dinner at Tippecanoe Place—it’s a historic effective eating mainstay positioned proper subsequent door.

DoubleTree by Hilton Resort South Bend

For a stable keep within the coronary heart of downtown, attempt the DoubleTree. Improbably for such a small metropolis, it was designed by Helmut Jahn, the famed German architect who created Chicago’s Thompson Middle a two-hour drive west.

Airbnbs and Leases

For choices past South Bend’s comparatively few accommodations, select from its sturdy collection of trip leases. Airbnb has choices at each measurement and worth level, whereas the native firm Lease Like a Champion focuses on full (and infrequently luxurious) properties good for football-weekend group journey.

Greatest Nightlife

Corby’s Irish Pub

Like all school cities, South Bend is chock-full of dive bars. Most school dives, although, haven’t appeared in Hollywood movies. Corby’s is the uncommon dive that has, having performed host to a number of scenes in 1993’s “Rudy”—and it’s value a cease for soccer and film followers alike.

Fiddler’s Fireside

For a Notre Dame Preventing Irish bar with an emphasis on the “Irish,” look no additional than Fiddler’s Fireside. This downtown establishment affords reside music, a comfortable pub environment, and greater than 20 Irish whiskeys to select from.

The Linebacker Lounge

Crowded as it might be with college students and nostalgic alums, “the Backer” is a should for any customer looking for the total Notre Dame expertise. It’s my private favourite bar in South Bend, so belief me: what it lacks in ceiling peak and seating, it greater than makes up for in low-cost drinks and eclectic tunes.

The Trade

Positioned in an outdated financial institution constructing in DTSB, The Trade is considered one of South Bend’s solely late-night bars catering squarely to the non-student crowd. Come right here for glorious cocktails at delectably low small-city costs.

Greatest Eating places

The Lauber

A vigorous bar and grill positioned in an outdated sheet metallic manufacturing facility, The Lauber is emblematic of South Bend’s rebirth. A various pub-grub menu, a beer listing with heavy Midwestern illustration, and a well-liked seasonal patio are among the many many highlights.

Barnaby’s

The unique location of what’s now a regional chain, this South Bend establishment has been cranking out scrumptious tavern-style pizza since 1969. Its rival a number of blocks north, Rocco’s, additionally makes nice pies—however, in my six-generation Hoosier household, Barnaby’s is king.

Dainty Maid Meals Corridor

South Bend has developed a sturdy pop-up scene lately, and in 2022, Dainty Maid opened to offer longer-term properties to a few of the metropolis’s greatest non permanent eateries. Present favorites embrace Revenant Espresso Bar and Piñata, a Tex-Mex joint serving inventive burritos and extra.

Roselily

Positioned on the southern fringe of downtown, this former pop-up is now considered one of simply two AAA 4-Diamond eating places in South Bend. Roselily affords a tasting menu and à la carte choices. Plus, Wort notes, it has hosted occasional themed dinners resembling Italian nights.

Evil Czech Brewery

In a metropolis with numerous nice brunch spots, suburban Mishawaka’s Evil Czech grew to become my favourite by providing a setup I’ve hardly ever seen elsewhere: buffet desk after buffet desk of breakfast and lunch small plates.

Greatest Time to Go to

The very best time to go to South Bend could be decided by answering one query: Are you right here for Notre Dame soccer, or for actually the rest? As a result of fall in South Bend is soccer season.

Recreation days in South Bend are an expertise all sports activities followers ought to have as soon as—the campus environment is electrical, actions (each on- and off-campus) abound, and relying on the 12 months, they could additionally contain a few of the nation’s greatest soccer. If that sounds good to you, seek the advice of the Preventing Irish schedule and select a fall weekend accordingly.

Vacationers not looking for soccer frenzy ought to keep away from the autumn, when resort and airfare costs skyrocket and crowds are massive. “Whereas South Bend will greet you any time of 12 months,” says Jarnecke, “the summer time months provide probably the most facilities, occasions, [and] experiences.”

Summer time definitely is the very best season for a few of my favourite actions in South Bend. Temperatures are usually within the 70s or 80s, making it a good time to go to the South Bend Farmers Market (one of many Midwest’s oldest and largest); catch a baseball recreation by the native Minor League crew, the South Bend Cubs; or take one of many out of doors health lessons held every summer time at Gridiron Plaza, a fake, mini soccer subject positioned smack in the midst of downtown.

How you can Get There

South Bend Worldwide Airport affords probably the most direct route into city, with flights from greater than a dozen cities nationwide. Town can be straightforward to achieve from Chicago, because of trains on the South Shore Line and bus connections from each Chicago airports.

By automotive, Interstate 90 connects South Bend to all corners of the nation, and Indiana’s north-south artery, Freeway 31, has its terminus right here. Indianapolis, Chicago, and Detroit are all inside a 3.5-hour drive.

When you’ve arrived, renting a automotive is advisable, for the reason that metropolis is simply too unfold out to see every little thing on foot (and transit is restricted). Should you’d quite not drive your self, the world has loads of Ubers and Lyfts.