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Photo: Durin at English Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Located in the northeastern part of Monroe County, this is another artificial lake created to ensure reliable water supply for Bloomington and Vicinity. The lake is popular with swimmers (public beach at Riddle Point), yachtsmen (Indiana University Sailing Center), and other boaters. While there are roads both along the northern and southern sides of the lake, E South Shore Drive offers better lake access, as well as good views of the lake, the Indiana Railroad railway trestle, and the upscale waterfront homes ("the Bloomington Riviera"). The small Little Africa Wildlife Viewing Area (off E South Shore Drive, near the eastern end of the lake), has a pleasant forest trail with some water access. The eastern end of Lake Lemon, where the Beanblossom Creek forms a labyrinth of channels as it enters the lake, is best explored with a boat of any kind - if you have one.
Lake Lemon is a reservoir located in southern Indiana approximately 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bloomington, Indiana. It is bounded by private and public property in Monroe County and Brown County, with the eastern end of the lake in Brown County. The surface area of the lake is 1,650 acres (670 ha), making it the 11th largest lake in Indiana. There are 24 miles (39 km) of shoreline. The lake has an average depth of 9.7 feet (3.0 m) at full pool level. The greatest depth is somewhat in excess of 20 feet (6.1 m), matching with the original Bean Blossom Creek bed.
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Little Five
The Little 500 is the biggest intramural event on the IU campus and the largest collegiate bicycle race in the United States. Riders compete in four-person teams in separate races for men and women around a quarter-mile track. More than 25,000 people attend the races every year, with the proceeds used for working student scholarships at IU. The race was founded in 1951 by Howdy Wilcox Jr., Executive Director of the Indiana University Student Foundation, who modeled the race after the Indianapolis 500, which his father had won in 1919. "Little Five Weekend" is a landmark event at IU and the race is somewhat secondary to the parties. Students from all over the country flood Bloomington to attend both public and private parties and usually a large concert with nationally touring acts sponsored by the college. The climax of the 1979 film Breaking Away is set at the Little 500.
17,222-seat arena, home of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team, traditional powerhouse
The Playhouse
Just a 20 minute drive from Bloomington's east side and nestled in the heart of Brown County, the Playhouse serves up light summer fare including musicals and contemporary classics. The theatre is in historic Nashville, a 19th century artist colony made famous for its fall foliage. Have dinner, see a show, and check out Nashville's more than 350 shops and galleries.
Indiana University Caving Club
The IUCC provides students, faculty, staff, community members, and dedicated visitors the opportunity to crawl around in holes in the ground while practicing cave conservation. Monthly trips offer members of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy a safe caving experience with qualified guides. They even provide a helmet and light for the novice! This is a great way to go spelunking legally in Bloomington as many of the area's caves are under restriction for reasons of safety and conservation. Dues are $10 per calendar year. These dues include use of club gear (helmets and helmet-mounted lights) and the opportunity to go on IUCC-led caving trips. You must be a paid member prior to participating in any club trips.
53,524-seat stadium, home of the Indiana University football team, 2025 national champions
No matter what your perspective, you can experience art from all angles at the Indiana University Art Museum. From world-renowned architect I.M. Pei's soaring triangular atrium, to galleries filled with extraordinary works of art from all corners of the globe, the IU Art Museum will engage, stimulate, and satisfy your curiosity about the worlds of art. Since its establishment in 1941, the IU Art Museum has grown from a small university teaching collection into one of the foremost university art museums in the country. Today, the IU Art Museum's internationally acclaimed collections, ranging from ancient gold jewelry and African masks to paintings by Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso, include over 40,000 objects representing nearly every art-producing culture throughout history. Partially Accessible.