Find 4 Seasons’ Worth of Outdoor Activities in the South Bend, Indiana, Region
The changing seasons bring new, fun ways to spend time outside.
One of the best things about living in the South Bend, Indiana, region is the area experiences four distinct, beautiful, mostly moderate seasons – think fresh springs, warm summers, crisp autumns and chilly winters.
And thanks to the region’s collection of parks and trails, waterways and local businesses, residents have more than enough ways to enjoy the beauty and fun that each time of year brings. Plus, there is a little something for everyone here, from serious mountain biking and whitewater rafting to calm walks and family bike rides along the Mishawaka Riverwalk. And if you’re looking to relax and take in some vitamin D, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors that don’t require a lot of physical activity. Examples include relaxing on patios, strolling through gardens and shopping at the farmers market.
For local Clark Richardes, the perfect day spent outdoors in the South Bend area starts at the South Bend Farmers Market, which sells everything from fresh produce and flowers to eggs and meat. Then, it’s off to the 6-mile Rum Village Bike Trail for an adventurous mountain biking excursion before grabbing lunch along the Mishawaka Riverwalk and drinks from Sun King at the Robert C. Beutter Riverfront Park’s Ball Band Biergarten. To finish the day, he’d walk his dogs at Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty and watch the sun set over Worster Lake.
“This is the perfect day spent outdoors in and around The Bend,” he says.
Richardes, whose family owns the InRugCo. Studio & Gift Shop in Mishawaka, loves the South Bend region and its changing seasons. In fact, after growing up in the region, he left in 2015 for the mountains in Colorado. While there, he found himself missing the way the region’s muggy summers shifted into cool falls and how while winter brought snow, the season didn’t require survival training. In 2019, he decided to come home.
“The South Bend area is my home, and I felt the best thing I could do was move back and try to help improve it,” he says.
Given Richardes’ love of the outdoors and knowledge of the region, we looked to him for suggestions on how to best experience the South Bend area throughout the year. Here are four seasons’ worth of outdoor activities in the region.
In This Article
Spring in the South Bend, Indiana, Region
- Picnic at Potato Creek State Park.
- Attend the community’s First Fridays, which feature live music, food, art and kid-friendly activities.
- Stroll through the Shiojiri Niwa Garden, an authentic Japanese garden in Mishawaka.
- Play a few rounds at Blackthorn Golf Club.
- Take a group ride with the Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association.
- Interact with more than 135 species of animals at Potawatomi Zoo, which is one of Indiana’s oldest zoos.
- Catch a South Bend Cubs game. The team is a High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
- Go bird-watching at Beverly D. Crone Restoration Area.
- Take your family for a leisurely bike ride along the Mishawaka Riverwalk.
- Meet friends for drinks on the patio at Ironhand Wine Bar or Chicory Café.
- Visit nearly 100 exhibitors at Leeper Park Art Fair.
Summer in the South Bend, Indiana, Region
- Brave North America’s first artificial whitewater course at East Race Waterway.
- Cool off at the splash pad at Potawatomi Park or Kennedy Water Playground.
- Take a guided Summer Solstice hike at Rum Village Park.
- Have a blast at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair.
- Enjoy the free Potawatomi Park Summer Concert Series at Chris Wilson Pavilion.
- Play volleyball at Mishawaka’s Outpost Sand Volleyball & Event Center.
- Attend the Art League’s Arts in Bloom Garden Walk.
- Listen to great music at Mishawaka’s Firefighters Blues Festival.
- See a Shakespeare performance at the University of Notre Dame.
- Unleash your inner rulebreaker at Rebel Art Fest at Potawatomi Park.
- Spend a few nights camping under the stars at Potato Creek State Park.
- Explore the city using the #OnlyinTheBend Parks Pass, a mobile passport featuring 20 of the region’s best parks.
Autumn in the South Bend, Indiana, Region
- Cheer for the Fighting Irish at a Notre Dame football game.
- Take a hayride and admire the fall leaves at New Carlisle’s Bendix Woods Park.
- Enjoy pumpkins, a corn maze and a sunflower field at Thistleberry Farm.
- Attend Fusion Fest, a two-day event that reflects the region’s vibrant, diverse community.
- Fish for salmon on the St. Joseph River.
- Get in the Halloween spirit by attending Unity Gardens’ Spooktacular Haunted Trail.
- Take in the fall foliage at the University of Notre Dame campus.
- Go kayaking or canoeing at St. Patrick’s County Park.
- Enjoy a day or night climb at Rum Village Adventures Aerial Park.
- Play disc golf at Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park in Osceola.
- Have a meal with a view at The General Deli & Cafe overlooking Howard Park.
- Round up your friends for a trip to Mishawaka’s Fear Itself at Legend Park, a must-visit haunted house/scream park.
Winter in the South Bend, Indiana, Region
- Ice skate on the ice trail at Howard Park.
- Go cross-country skiing at Mishawaka’s George Wilson Park.
- Take advantage of the bare tree limbs and go bird-watching at New Carlisle’s Bendix Woods Park.
- Check out the ice bumper cars and “icebykes” at Mishawaka’s Ironworks Ice Rink.
- Go ice fishing at Potato Creek State Park.
- Book a private snow tubing party at St. Patrick’s County Park.
- Welcome the holidays with Mishawaka’s Winterfest, where you’ll find Santa, ice skating, fire performers, a parade and food trucks.
- Find beauty in the stark solitude while hiking through Potato Creek State Park.
- Go sledding at LaSalle Park.
- Enjoy the Gift of Lights at Potawatomi Zoo.
This article was sponsored by the South Bend Regional Chamber and Visit South Bend Mishawaka.