How to Spend 48 Hours Around The Bend

First things first when you arrive in The Bend. When you're looking for a place to stay, there are options for any style. You can stay in a trendy downtown hotel, just off the interstate for some extra convenience, or settle in for a cozy few days at a bed and breakfast.

Find Your Place to Stay

We think the best way begin a visit is to experience one of our best local restaurants. Grab a table at Cascade or Café Navarre for some of the finest menus The Bend has to offer. You can’t go wrong with a similar fine dining option at Corndance in Mishawaka, either.

Travel days can be tiring, so why not wind down at one of our craft cocktail-focused bars. Whiskey lovers should make their way to The Exchange Whiskey Bar or The Hideaway at The LaSalle. One will feel like you're on the set of Mad Men, the other in a 1920s-style speakeasy.

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Here's our advice to those that usually skip breakfast: don’t. Locals take the first meal of the day pretty serious around The Bend and there is an assortment of diners and breakfast spots to prove it. It doesn’t get much more local than the South Bend Farmers Market Café, which sources many of its ingredients directly from the market.

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One of our favorite ways to spend spring days awaits next — shopping at our local shops. You'll find many of them situated in South Bend's East Bank Village, just across the river from downtown. Inspire Me and Ali on the Boulevard are popular women's boutiques worth a visit. Brain Lair Books caught the attention of "O, The Oprah Magazine" earlier this year. For a wide collection of known brands, head to Mishawaka's bustling retail district. University Park Mall is the centerpiece of an area that includes just about everything, including one of two Apple stores in Indiana. Over in downtown Mishawaka, Indiana Rug Company's studio and gift shop a wide variety of curated items, from cozy socks to jewelry and more.

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This is a perfect time to start exploring. You could head to the west side for tacos at one of several authentic Mexican restaurants. Or visit The View (near those shops in the East Bank) for what’s considered Northern Indiana’s best burger. If you're in Mishawaka, you'll find a lot of national brands. Or you could head to downtown and visit Jesús Latin Grill for bold flavors.

If you're up for a hike, there are several options. Mishawaka’s Riverwalk guides you along the long stretches of the St. Joseph River. You can also head out to any number of city and county parks. St. Patrick’s County Park is probably one of the most popular, while Rum Village and several more offer distinct hiking experiences. Perhaps The Bend’s most well-known park, Potato Creek State Park is about 20 minutes from South Bend. Miles of trails wind around the park’s centerpiece — Worster Lake.

Now it’s time to indulge in another meal. Head over to Cascade in downtown South Bend for an elevated dining experience right on river. You'll get a spectacular view of the River Lights. Near Notre Dame, Rocco’s Restaurant is a must for pizza. Barnaby’s Pizza is another local institution. Evil Czech Brewery in Mishawaka is widely known for its food to go along with craft beer brewed on site. If you’re feeling somewhat adventurous, Jesús Latin Grill in downtown Mishawaka is your spot for unique flavor.

If you’re looking for craft beer, it can easily be found with South Bend Brew Werks, Studebaker Brewing Co. and Crooked Ewe Brewery & Ale House all close to each other. Bare Hands Brewery is in Granger and the aforementioned Evil Czech is in Mishawaka.

Sundays call for brunch. PEGGS is a downtown South Bend staple. Same goes for Uptown Kitchen and Rocky River Tap & Table in Granger. Order some comfort food and a Bloody Mary (or mimosa!) to get your Sunday started right.

There are few better ways to really understand the place you’re visiting than by peering into its history. Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum, situated on the same campus in South Bend, offer unforgettable looks at the area’s past. Studebaker focuses on automotive and industrial history, focusing specifically on Studebaker Co., a longtime automobile manufacturer. The History Museum takes a wider lens view of the area’s history dating back to early settlement and beyond and features the 38-room Oliver Mansion, a beautiful home that serves as its own kind of time capsule.

If you'd rather explore history from WAY before our time, stop by the Indiana Dinosaur Museum. Stop through the South Bend Chocolate Factory and Museum to see chocolate be made, and pick up a treat from the South Bend Chocolate Cafe.

We’re guessing brunch was pretty filling, but it’s not a bad idea to grab a snack before the last stop on your visit. Head to Brothers Bar and Grill near Notre Dame for something to munch on before the last stop of your visit.

Heading out from Brothers puts you in right in the middle of Notre Dame’s campus. One of the world’s iconic college campuses is ripe to be explored. Trust us when we say it’s worth visiting even if you aren’t a fan of the football team. Stunning landmarks include the Main Building with the Golden Dome atop, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Grotto and the Word of Life Mural (known commonly as Touchdown Jesus). Snap a photo here and it’s likely your friends will know where you are without reading the caption. It’ll be a fitting end to a trip you’ll reminisce about for years.

It might even inspire you to stay another day. After all, #BendYourRules.

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