RECREATION AND FUN

http://exploresouthbend.org/index.php
South Bend/St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau

http://www.mygranger.com/
list of restaurants that are not on the South Bend site as well as stores, services, housing etc.

http://www.mishawakacity.com/
Not as social, more about public services like police and fire

Family Food Favorites from the 2007 Family Life Survey:

Mandarin House Chinese Restaurant – “good, filling Chinese food”
2104 Edison Road
South Bend, Indiana
574-287-4414

La Esperanza Mexican Restaurant
1636 N Ironwood Drive
South Bend, Indiana
574-273-0345

Rocco’s: Pizza and Italian – cash only!!
537 N Saint Louis Boulevard
South Bend, Indiana
574-233-2464

Oaken Bucket: A Really Good Burger
1212 S Ironwood Drive
South Bend, Indiana
574-289-1616

The Vine: Upscale dining at a reasonable price, excellent wine list and desserts
103 W Colfax Avenue
South Bend, Indiana
574-234-9463

New Saigon: Vietnamese
2370 Miracle Lane
Mishawaka, Indiana (Corner of Hickory and McKinley)

Polito’s Pizza: New York Style, can get pizza by the slice
4615 Grape Road
Mishawaka, Indiana
574-243-5385

Star of India
620 W. Edison Road
Mishawaka, Indiana
574-254-9924

Elia’s Mediterranean Cuisine
115 N. Dixie Way
South Bend, Indiana
574-277-7239

Toyo Grille: Japanese and Korean
620 W. Edison Road
Mishawaka, Indiana
574-254-9120

Family Life Entertainment and Recreation Favorites:

• Mendoza Alumni Tailgate on Notre Dame Football Saturdays: gives all MBA students and their families a chance to socialize in a family-friendly atmosphere prior to the game.  Free Barbeque!

• Family Recreation at the University: Notre Dame’s recreational facilities offer “family hours” for swimming, ice skating and other fun-filled activities.  Spouses are given the same privileges as students at the many on-campus recreational facilities, including exercise classes.
• http://recsports.nd.edu/

• The Soccer Zone has a nice/new play area for about $3/ hour per kid.
• http://www.soccer-zone.com/southbend.htm

• Potawatomi Zoo
• http://www.sbpark.org/zoo/zoo.htm

• Notre Dame Bookstore storytime every week
• currently Tuesdays at 11 am or 1 pm
• http://www.bkstr.com/Home/10001-10900-1?demoKey=d

• MOPS group: Mothers of Preschoolers
• for anyone with kids under 5 years old)
• many groups in the area, but particular: Trinity Evangelical Free Church
• http://www.mops.org/index.php?srctype=menu

• South Bend Chocolate Factory and coffee shop
• http://www.sbchocolate.com/

• Harris Library in Granger
• great selection of books, wonderful kids area
• http://www.mphpl.org/

• St Joseph County Public Library
• Downtown South Bend Location has great Video/DVD selection, good children section, different activities throughout each month for different ages
• http://www.libraryforlife.org/

• Health Works – hands-on science for younger kids
• http://www.qualityoflife.org/healthworks/

• History Museum – indoor hands-on activities
• http://www.centerforhistory.org/

• U-Pick Farms, Michigan (20-30 min. from ND)
• Farm store in scenic rural setting with donuts, pretzels, sausage. Home-grown honey.  Pick your own apples and pumpkins (Autumn)
• http://www.mda.state.mi.us/market/u-pick/result_template.asp

• College Football Hall of Fame
• hands-on exhibits: throw, catch, run!
• http://www.collegefootball.org/

• Studebaker Museum
• http://www.studebakermuseum.org/

• St. Joseph River Running Trails, South Bend, St. Joseph County and Mishawaka Parks
• http://www.sbpark.org/info/info.html
• http://pages.ripco.net/~jwn/southbend.html
• http://www.sjcparks.org/

• University of Notre Dame Campus is a beautiful place to walk and play with kids.
• http://www.nd.edu/visitors/
• “Campus, with its lakes and the Grotto and the wide, green quads, is a wonderful place for children.”

• Concerts at the DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts, on Campus
• http://performingarts.nd.edu/
• Students and spouses qualify for tickets at student price

• MegaPlay (on McKinley Rd)
• A large play area for kids for only $3/day
• http://www.mega-play.com/

• Shipshewana, Indiana
• Northern Indiana Amish Country
• http://www.shipshewana.com/

• Amish Acres (30-40 min. south of ND) – great food, art festival in early fall
• http://www.amishacres.com/

• Saugatuck, Michigan – about 1 ½ hours north, great day trip
• http://www.saugatuck.com/

• St. Joseph, Michigan and Silver Beach
• http://www.sjcity.com/

• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
  • http://www.nps.gov/indu/

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