Explore South Bend & Mishawaka

Visit Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and Holy Cross

Brickhaven Inn’s central location provides quick and convenient access to Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and Holy Cross. Guests can easily explore these renowned campuses without the hassle of long commutes or complicated directions. Driving to campus is easy, or you can walk/bike using the brand new LINK Trail that connects downtown to the colleges.
See Visit South Bend for an in-depth guide to gameday experiences and things to do on campus.

If you are visiting for a ND football game, the Gameday Express is a free bus that picks up just 2 blocks away from Brickhaven Inn if you want to avoid high parking rates and traffic.

Museums & Attractions

Studebaker National Museum
The Studebaker National Museum has three levels and features a collection of over 120 historic vehicles including Presidential Carriages that chronicle nearly 200 years of American transportation history.

South Bend History Museum
Located alongside The Studebaker Museum, The History Museum showcases the rich heritage of the St. Joseph River Valley and also includes access to Copshaholm, the 38 room mansion built by the Oliver Family in 1896. You can visit the museum separately or on a combined ticket with the Studebaker Museum.

South Bend Museum of Art
The South Bend Museum of Art offers 15+ exhibitions annually, maintains a permanent collection of more than 1,200 pieces of art.

Civil Rights Heritage Center
Born from the efforts of Indiana University South Bend students and professors, the Civil Rights Heritage Center transformed a once-segregated city swimming pool into an active learning center. It explores the civil rights struggles of the past so people can take action in the present to build a better future.

Indiana Dinosaur Museum
Opened in 2024, the Dinosaur Museum is home to one of America’s largest dinosaur collections featuring 30 skeletons and 43 dinosaur sculptures. This is a must visit if you love dinosaurs.

Potawatomi Zoo
Indiana’s oldest zoo with its roots going back to 1902, the Potawatomi Zoo offers an intimate wildlife experience. Housing over 400 animals on 23 acres, the zoo is a great place to walk around and have animal encounters.

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Located on Notre Dame’s campus, the Raclin Murphy Museum is free to all visitors and offers 23 galleries as well as a sculpture park.

Readers and Gamers

Whether your idea of fantasy is books or boardgames, South Bend has plenty to offer! If you are in the market for a great place to read, add a trophy to your bookshelf, buy a new game, or find new friends to play with, you have options nearby (or see our amenities (internal link to guest room page) page for info about Brickhaven Inn’s extensive library of books and games).

Brain Lair Books
Charming, independent bookstore in downtown South Bend. Their motto says it all – Read Books. Drink Coffee. Fight Evil.

Griffon Bookstore
Potentially America’s first independent boardgame store, sells boardgames and new/used books. Also has a great space for playing board games with a regular Friday night meetup open to the public. The Griffon is nearby and easily walkable from Brickhaven Inn.

Victory Roll
Boardgame Café serves as a vibrant hub for boardgame enthusiasts and casual players. With a collection of over 700 games there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Good food too!

Barnes & Noble
Everyone’s favorite ‘big box’ store can provide some much-needed retail therapy. This bookstore is housed within the University Park Mall in Mishawaka about 15 min away.

Bendix eSports Arena
Plug in and play with or against your friends. The LAN Center is equipped with everything you need to game casually or competitively – all you need to do is plugin!

Fantasy Games
Serving the Michiana gaming community since 1995, offering a wide selection of gaming products covering RPGs, Miniatures, Boardgames and CCGs.

Shop Local

South Bend Farmers Market
Open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the market offers fresh produce, desserts, maple syrup, jams, jellies, flowers as well as handcrafted artwork, jewelry, and unique gifts.

Circa Arts
A sophisticated yet approachable gallery that represents local artists with an emphasis on the Arts & Crafts Movement.

Ali on the Boulevard
What began as an 8’x8’ booth at the South Bend Farmer’s Market has evolved over the years into a burgeoning online business and a vibrant storefront. Come see for yourself why friends & customers alike fall in love with this collection.

Mishawaka Antiques
Sprawling store with a curated collection of great antiques – not stalls of old junk, but furniture and decor that you will want in your home.

The Portage Collective
A group of local makers & small businesses offering goods & workshops to the Near Northwest Neighborhood & beyond

Holly and Oak Yarn Co
Holly & Oak Yarn Co. is a local yarn shop in South Bend’s Near Northwest neighborhood. The shop offers a welcoming space for knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists of every skill level.

Inspire Me Boutique
Recognized as one of the top boutiques in Michiana, Inspire Me has all of the Midwest warmth and feel you would expect. The 3600+ square foot space reflects a historic vintage that meets classic and contemporary styling, selling jewelry, clothes, shoes, and gifts.

Root + River Refillery Co
A small, locally owned business passionate about making soaps, reducing waste, and helping people make simple, eco-friendly swaps that truly make a difference.
Part of Alchemy Healing Arts.

Sky Apothecary
Passion for candle making, affirming that beautiful scents can evoke positive emotions and enhance spaces.
Part of Alchemy Healing Arts.

Theaters & Entertainment

Morris Performing Arts Center
Regularly hosts nationally known Broadway performances as well as music, dance, and comedy shows. Also home of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.

The Dinner Detective
The Dinner Detective isn’t your average murder mystery show. No cheesy costumes, no melodrama…just amazing and hilarious crime-solving in a room full of shady suspects.

Ivy Alley Social House
A neighborhood gathering spot in downtown South Bend blending Duckpin Bowling, craft beer, and a welcoming food menu into one cozy, social space.

Four Winds Field
Do you love going to a baseball game? The new and improved ballpark is just a few blocks away and Brickhaven Inn is a season ticket holder – ask us about tickets! The South Bend Cubs are a High A Cubs affiliate and play from April through September.

Civic Theater
Founded in 1957 by two University of Notre Dame graduates who believed community theatre should be an important part of this area’s culture, and who also believed that living in our community were aspiring actors and actresses who needed to show and form their talents.

Four Winds Casino
Four Winds South Bend offers the same high-level of service and amenities which Four Winds locations are known for. The casino offers 175,000 square feet of gaming and amenities, including six restaurants, a player’s lounge, coffee shop, five bars, a retail outlet, and a parking garage.

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center is the place to see a student led production on Notre Dame’s campus.

Parks and Outdoor Adventures

Want to get outside? Below are a couple of our recommendations or click here for a full list of local parks. Hitting the links while you’re staying at Brickhaven? Check out the list of golf courses.

Howard Park
Features a playground, event center, river walk trail, firepits, and a restaurant – this park has something for everyone. In the winter there is a skating rink too!

St. Patrick’s County Park
Located on Laurel Road, the park covers 398 acres featuring wooded trails, ponds, and frontage along the St. Joseph River.

ND Warren Golf Course
Rated the #4 Course in Indiana and the #9 Best College Course in America by GolfWeek, the course features the beauty and upkeep you would expect from a premier course. A links-style course comfortably nestled on 250 wooded acres. Expertly preserved as a wildlife habitat, lush fescue fairways, softly rolling terrain and the golden dome in the background make the course a beauty to behold.

Studebaker Golf Course
A 9-hole, par 29 course with bent grass greens and bluegrass/fescue course with water hazards in play. South Bend’s oldest golf course, built in 1919, measures 1,900 yards. It’s the perfect course to learn the game or teach the next generation.

ND Burke Golf Course
Consisting of 9 holes in the picturesque setting of Notre Dame’s campus. At 2,355 yards, this par 31 golf course provides golfers with a fair challenge, in a relaxed atmosphere. Open to the public. Enjoy a very well-conditioned golf course, a friendly staff, and scenic views of the Golden Dome and Basilica.

Potato Creek State Park
About 12 miles southwest of South Bend, the park features a wide array of activities and facilities for year-round enjoyment. Making reservations is advisable to enjoy some of this popular park’s facilities.

Bendix Woods
The park spans 195 acres and features wooded trails, ponds, and open fields.

LINK Trail
For urban hiking, the Link trail connects the University of Notre Dame to the heart of Downtown South Bend.

Lydick Bog Nature Preserve
A dedicated Indiana state nature preserve located in South Bend, protects one of the last remaining sphagnum bog habitats in Indiana.