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By: Jayden Kruft
5/20/26
Have you ever been to the Bloomington, Indiana area? If so, you’ve probably been really bored with just watching TV or playing video games. Well, if so, do I have news for you! There are so many various activities in this town, from parks to nature, to even waterparks! So, be prepared to have a blast this summer!
Let’s start with parks, and man, there are a lot! For starters, there are many awesome parks in the area! Such as Cascades Park (Lower and Upper, with the playground located in the lower), Brian Park, Switchyard Park, and various others. Of course, there are other types of parks; Skate parks and waterparks, and splash-pads! The skate parks are all over, but some of them are Switchyard Skate Park and Upper Cascades Skate Park. Some waterparks and splash-pads are Brian Park Pool and Switchyard Splash Pad.
There are also various nature-related activities, including Griffey Lake, Monroe Lake, Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, Cedar Bluffs Nature Preserve, and Leonard Springs Nature Park. All these are fairly local and completely free. Conner Prairie is also a good choice. The Wonder Lab is another great choice for younger kids and even some adults. Bloomington, Indiana, is a premier nature destination, so if you're ever up for some nature, Bloomington is your place.
Some other activities that may catch your attention are the famous yearly special celebrations! Let’s start with The Farmers Market; The Farmers Market is held once a year, with unique items only held on Saturdays. It is located downtown at Showers Common (next to City Hall at 401 N. Morton St.) Another yearly activity is the famous Hot Air Balloon Festival! This comes once a year, from Friday, August 28, to Saturday, August 29, 2026. You can go eat, watch the Hot Air Balloons fly, and celebrate! The last location is the Fair. Located at the same place, the Fair hosts rides, food, and fun for all ages!.
The College Mall is very popular among the community. The college mall is the 1st most popular, competing with various different Malls like Fountain Square Mall, Bloomington Antique Mall, Etc. The College Mall also has very unique stores, including Food courts, Spencer, and even a whole store with just foods from around the world. Target also gets some credit for being connected with the Mall. (Jackson’s house is also a great choice, by the way, a really cool guy.)
In conclusion, as boring as this town may seem, it has so many fun activities! All you have to do is explore. By exploring, you may find things you’d never expect in Bloomington, IN!
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