Sometimes we need to put the bustle and stress of everyday life behind us for a few days. Plan a wellness retreat to The Bend and you'll emerge rejuvenated.
3 Can't-Miss Spas
Seeking respite around South Bend and Mishawaka offers several options for a day of pampering. Here are three of our favorites.
Hair Crafters Day Spa Salon: Just a few minutes from downtown South Bend, Hair Crafters is a full-service day spa and salon. Along with cut and color, facials, nails and massage therapy are available. Aveda products are featured.
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Therapeutic Indulgence: Situated in the East Bank Village neighborhood of South Bend, Therapeutic Indulgence is a complete wellness center. Massage therapy, esthetics, yoga and movement classes and hypnotherapy are available.
Woodhouse Day Spa: Offering a luxury experience, Woodhouse Day Spa in Granger is the ultimate escape with over 70 spa treatments. The Woodhouse Experience includes the best of everything the spa has to offer, starting with an aromatherapy bath and ending with the seaweed leaf pedicure.
Treat Yourself at Dinner
Being pampered doesn't have to be limited to spa treatments when heavenly meals are around every corner.
Café Navarre: One of downtown South Bend's top options, Café Navarre specializes in seafood. The Faroe Island salmon is both delicious and healthy.
Carmela's Restaurant: It's hard to make a list of restaurants for a wellness retreat without including one Italian option. Start with the bruschetta, pair a bottle of red with your dinner.
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Carriage House Dining Room and Gardens: If you're in The Bend during patio season, Carriage House is a must. Its picturesque gardens make for one of the most unique al fresco experiences in the area.
Corndance Tavern: One of the most unique menus in the area, Corndance is a getaway of its own in a busy area of Mishawaka. We love the lobster and shrimp rigatoni.
Ironhand Wine Bar: South Bend's only winery has a wonderful setting alongside the St. Joseph River with a spacious patio. Sample the vintages with a charcuterie board.
LaSalle Grill: A classic steakhouse, LaSalle Grill has long been considered one of South Bend's finest restaurants. If you're wanting a steak, this is the place.
Shop Around
If you're looking for some retail therapy, you've come to the right spot. Mishawaka's bustling retail corridor is anchored by University Park Mall, home to one of the few Apple Stores in Indiana, a Lululemon shop and more. Boutiques also dot The Bend's landscape: Satori (Granger), Inspire Me! (South Bend), Ali on the Boulevard (South Bend) and Glam (Granger) are just some of the local favorites.
Unplug Outside
There are many ways to unplug, but getting outside has to be one of the best. Dozens of easily accessible parks, from one of the most popular in the Indiana — Potato Creek State Park — to quiet retreats outside our smaller communities, offer an opportunity to put the screens away for awhile.
Here's a tip: Head to the University of Notre Dame and stroll around the two lakes. They're beautiful and give you a good glimpse of campus. Stop by the Grotto on your way out.
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Where to Stay
Take your pick of hotels for your weekend or elevate the experience by staying in a bed and breakfast. The added touches and relaxed environment of a bed and breakfast pair nicely with a few days geared toward a truly relaxed vibe.
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Beiger Mansion Inn: Originally built as a palatial home, the Beiger Mansion is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It's an elegant place to stay in the heart of Mishawaka.
Innisfree Bed + Breakfast: Just to the west of downtown South Bend, the Innisfree is in a historic home that dates to the 1890s. It opened in 2004 and the current innkeepers took over in 2016.
The Oliver Inn: Innkeepers Tom and Alice Erlandson are legendary for their hospitality, especially those homemade breakfasts. You'll be welcomed with a smile at this historic home, located within walking distance of downtown South Bend attractions and restaurants.
