South Bend, Indiana’s fourth-largest city boasts a wealth of activities and family attractions that will entertain and engage everyone
South Bend-Mishawaka in Northern Indiana abounds with possibilities for family reunion groups and makes a great base of operations with its many family-friendly diversions. Family attractions range from sports-oriented tours and free sporting events to an incredible array of local parks, a zoo and the country’s first man-made whitewater raceway.
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South Bend is a Sports Mecca
Most people know South Bend (population 105,000) as the home of the University of Notre Dame, a top-notch institution with a stunning campus. Walking tours of the iconic campus are free to the public, though groups of 10 or more must arrange a private tour.
There are separate tours of the recently renovated, 80,000-seat football stadium, the “House that Knute Rockne Built.” Coach Rockne’s remarkable record (105 wins to only five losses between 1918 and 1930) propelled him to celebrity status and showered national attention on the school and its team, the Fighting Irish. Tour members can take photos on the field and in front of the famed “Play Like a Champion Today” sign, an image synonymous with South Bend.
Beyond football, the University of Notre Dame’s basketball and hockey teams have large followings as well. Admission is free to the school’s other sporting events (including baseball, lacrosse and soccer), exemplifying the University’s enticing menu of family attractions.
The bookstore, next to the Visitor Center, has all sorts of Notre Dame gear, from hats and jackets to athletic shorts and headbands. There is another bookstore location at Eddy Street Commons, a buzzing commercial and residential development across from campus.
Family attractions here also include watching a professional baseball from April to early September at Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, one of the Chicago Cubs’ minor league affiliates. Parents with children will appreciate the affordable tickets ($12-$17), Fun Zone inflatables, and the between-innings contests and giveaways. The stadium offers eight areas for group outings, including rooftop seating at perches in the adjacent apartment buildings that make up part of the ballpark complex. Groups of 20 or more get South Bend Cubs caps, a game program and scoreboard recognition. Minor league baseball is always a popular family attraction and a big hit for guests of all ages.
South Bend Family Attractions
Family attractions are easy to come by in South Bend, Indiana. Whether your group is seeking a wild adventure, outdoor recreations, beautiful botanical gardens or aquatic fun, South Bend provides it.
Potawatomi Zoo
South Bend’s Potawatomi Zoo also makes for a great outing. You can visit the Giraffe Conservation Center for the chance to feed the four male giraffes lettuce, then head over to see the three African lions— Kembe, Shaba, and Shtuko—that now call South Bend home. There is also an Andean bear, who joined the zoo in 2023. Worried about navigating the zoo, especially with kids? Don’t fret—the train makes it easy to get around and view all the exhibits. Small and manageable, the zoo can be seen in two hours.
Family attractions in and around Downtown Mishawaka
Nearby Potawatomi Park is another family attraction: it boasts a playground, splash pad and tree-shaded picnic areas. Meanwhile, the greenhouses of Potawatomi Conservatories, South Bend’s set of three indoor conservatories and botanical gardens, feature exotic examples of tropical and desert vegetation.
Travelers looking for greenspace and open areas in South Bend and Mishawaka often gravitate to Downtown Mishawaka, with its attractive parkland and riverwalk abutting the St. Joseph River. Mishawaka Ironworks Ice Rink is the new ice-skating ribbon, perfect for a day outing or a night skate. Hungry? Looking for shopping options? Cutting-edge restaurants and prized residential spaces contribute to the flourishing downtown riverfront, while the area’s largest retail corridor, with nearly every national chain, is another Mishawaka tourist magnet.
St. Patrick’s County Park, part of the St. Joseph County Parks system is a favorite for kayakers, canoeists, hikers and cross-country skiers. Outdoor enthusiasts also flock to Bendix Woods, Ferrettie/Baugo County parks and Spicer Lake Nature Preserve.
Additionally, Potato Creek State Park, just 13 miles southwest of South Bend-Mishawaka, offers hiking trails ranging from easy to rugged, plus a lake for swimming, boating and fishing. Its housekeeping cabins accommodate up to eight people and the campground has tent and trailer sites, making it the definition of a family attraction.
South Bend’s state-of-the-art Howard Park attracts families to the East Bank Village neighborhood. Bordering the central business district on the east side of the St. Joseph River, this innovative area offers soft-surface playgrounds, winding walks, event lawns, fire pits, a concession stand and a full-service restaurant called Howard Park Public House. In the wintertime, an ice trail and pond are perfect for skaters looking to get some fresh air.
Whitewater rafting in South Bend
Not far away from Howard Park, rafters and kayakers can paddle through rapids on summer weekends at East Race Waterway, North America’s first man-made whitewater rafting course. Its rapids rival those of the Colorado River and can generate waves of six feet or higher. Running parallel to the St. Joseph River, the course is 2,000 feet long with a total fall of 12 feet, depending on the flow of the river. South Bend’s thrill-seekers know that East Race Waterway is a dream come true.
South Bend Spots for Savory and Sweet Treats
The Lauber, which occupies the former J.C. Lauber & Co. sheet metal factory, is one of the East Bank neighborhood’s most popular restaurants. Beyond offering a welcoming environment, this eatery is the perfect spot for artisan pizza, beer, salads and sandwiches, not to mention a killer grilled cheese that blends four types of cheeses between toasted sourdough, with the option of adding smoked brisket or fried buffalo chicken breast. Also recommended is the blueberry BBQ pizza, which includes pulled pork, provolone and mozzarella. Want some dessert? The cookie pizza is a must-have—a warm butterscotch treat covered in walnuts, caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream.
For more tasty delicacies, venture to the South Bend Farmers Market, where vendors sell everything from produce, pies and cheeses to flowers, handicrafts and novelty bird feeders. One of the Midwest’s largest and most diverse indoor markets, it has a cafe utilizing vendors’ in-season produce. The market, a South Bend staple, is open year-round from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, plus Fridays from May through October.
Along with a Notre Dame Fighting Irish or South Bend Cubs keepsake, the best souvenir of your trip will be a sweet treat from South Bend Chocolate Company. The factory outlet store on Sample Street is a dazzling family attraction with a full line of chocolates, popcorn, pretzels, cookies and other goodies, including marked-down seasonal items. Factory tours include multiple samples and illuminate the entire chocolate-making process, from harvesting cacao beans to packaging the finished product. .
Must-Dos for History Buffs in South Bend
History hounds and antique car buffs rest assured there are a number of family attractions suited for you. Make your way to the Studebaker National Museum, a shrine to the automaker once based in South Bend. The brand’s spirit lives on in other places around town: a street, golf course, brewery and school bear the company’s name.
A block from the museum, you can dine in style at Tippecanoe Place, a restaurant that occupies the mansion once owned by Clement Studebaker, who, with his brother Henry, founded the company that started as a blacksmith shop and ultimately became the largest producer of horse-drawn vehicles in the world. They entered the automobile business in 1902 and soon ascended to become America’s third-largest car manufacturer. Studebaker closed for good when it shuttered its Hamilton, Ontario plant, which produced a compact line until 1966.
The History Museum is connected to the Studebaker National Museum, a local history treasure trove. The campus also includes the 1896 Oliver Mansion, perhaps the most opulent Gilded Age home in Indiana. One gallery in The History Museum focuses on the South Bend Blue Sox, a team that played all 12 seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The museum’s excellent collection of AAGPBL memorabilia tells the story of the women’s league that started during World War II and lasted until 1954, a chapter in sports history immortalized in the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own.” Directed by Penny Marshall and starring Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Lori Petty and Rosie O’Donnell, the film marked a turning point for women in sports.
For tourism information on The Bend, go to the website of Visit South Bend Mishawaka and subscribe for FREE to Destination Reunions for more intriguing family-friendly destinations and travel planning tips.
By Randy Mink, Senior Editor
Lead Photo: Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs minor league baseball team, offers a Fun Zone for kids. The team store (right) occupies a former synagogue that stands inside the ballpark. (Randy Mink Photo).
