20 Fun Things To Do In West Lafayette, Indiana

After visiting the modest but entertaining Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette, which is open seasonally from April to October, you will eagerly anticipate returning each summer. The 2024 season will begin on Saturday, April 13. Younger children are the target audience for this zoo.

Nevertheless, the whole family will love viewing farm animals, including goats who give birth each summer, as well as African penguins, wallabies, and a petting zoo. The zoo also offers educational programs for children, including summer camps for elementary-aged youngsters, and a train (for an extra charge).

Nothing beats an autumn Saturday on the football field with the Boilermakers. Thanks to the $70 million renovation of the football stadium since the turn of the century, as many as 62,500 fans can enjoy wider aisles and more roomy seats. The 100th season of Ross-Ade's fall spectacular occurred in 2024.

Also, this stadium is one of the top destinations for collegiate football fans, where you can attend games throughout the season. Basketball fans may see the Boilermakers play their home games at Mackey Arena.

Across the two cities, the Lafayette-West Lafayette Public Art Trail features more than 115 public art installations, including fountains, murals, and sculptures. One of the finest ways to explore the greater Lafayette region with a purpose was by following the art trail. Even if there are a lot of enjoyable activities, this is one of the free ones.

From classic bronze sculptures to modern murals and interactive installations, the art trail features a wide range of styles and media. It offers an easy and cost-free option to interact with art in public areas.

One of the trail's noteworthy installations is Brickhead Conversations, which consists of two enormous head sculptures that form an eye-catching visual dialogue.

The location of Mackey Arena is West Lafayette, Indiana. It resides on the Purdue University campus and serves as the home court for the basketball team. The volleyball and wrestling teams also play there on occasion.

With a 14,804-seat capacity, the stadium's domed aluminum roof is widely regarded as one of the loudest venues in the country. The 1980 NCAA tournament's first and second rounds were held at Mackey Arena. The 2021 tournament's opening Four and opening round matches were also held at the venue.

One of the best places to watch Division One college basketball, for that reason. Another one of those prestigious college venues on a bucket list, it's noisy and thrilling.

This half-acre garden is the perfect area for your group to unwind and rejuvenate after touring various locations in West Lafayette, Indiana. It features a striking display of herbaceous landscaping plants and winds around the school's horticultural building.

Throughout the year, this visual feast is available seven days a week. Photographers stop here to snap pictures, art students come to sketch, and amateur gardeners look about for inspiration.

Every time visitors go through the garden, they will be struck by the peace and the constantly shifting colors of the plants and flowers. The Janick Garden is always open to the public.

There is a serene nature haven northwest of town with an interesting past. In addition to rabbits, opossums, coyotes, and other creatures, the nature area is home to more than 100 different kinds of birds. There is also a lot of unusual plant life.

The Lily Nature Center and five wetland basins are part of the 105 acres. For a large portion of the 20th century, the park was a vegetable farm, thus its name.

The Indiana Natural Heritage Program has now designated the Celery Bog as one of the state's "significant ecological sites."

The French founded the fort as a trading post in 1717, and it has stood along the Wabash River west of Lafayette ever since. In its prime, one of the first towns in what is now Indiana had between 2,000 and 3,000 residents.

These days, it's a nice place to have a picnic or visit a reproduction of the fort's blockhouse, which is accessible on weekends from mid-May to August from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. The Feast of the Hunter's Moon, a recreation of the yearly assembly of the French and the natives, takes place in early October.

There are three farmer's markets in the Lafayette/West Lafayette region. One of the oldest markets in the Midwest is Lafayette, which opens on Saturday mornings. The Purdue market on campus sells its goods on Thursdays at midday, while the West Lafayette market in Cumberland Park is open Wednesdays from 3:00 to 7:30 PM.

Early May until late October is when markets are open. Along with the usual abundance of fruit, you'll also find fresh meats, baked items, soaps, jewelry, cut flowers, clothes, music, and takeout choices for restaurants.

To enjoy a beautiful park, you don't need to travel to the countryside. Happy Hollow is located on Happy Hollow Road in West Lafayette and spans 81 acres. You may have a family dinner at the picnic area after exploring the walking and hiking routes.

The park is a popular location for both formal and casual photographs. As a memento of your trip, make sure to take a few pictures.

In addition to being lovely, it is dog-friendly. Even in the cold, the beauty of this place is evident. The distance isn't very near or far. You and your loved ones will have a great time on this vacation.

Frank Lloyd Wright built this house, also known as Samara, for a Purdue professor and his spouse in the 1950s. With almost 40 of Wright's inventions, it's one of his most comprehensive residences. From April through October, a guided tour lasting 90 minutes is available.

The house, like all Wright homes, is stunning, intriguing, and one-of-a-kind. It's entertaining to find out even what it has in common with other Usonian houses. Hearing the histories of the families who owned the homes and how they were constructed is one of the things you will undoubtedly like most about touring Frank Lloyd Wright's creations.

Walking the paved track to a little place where water covers a portion of the trail could also be enjoyable.

Less than ten miles northeast of Lafayette, Prophetstown State Park ranks among the newest additions within the Indiana State Park system. The state park's top family destination is The Farm at Prophetstown, featuring a living history exhibit showcasing local indigenous cultures and homesteading history.

Another hot destination within the state park is the Prophetstown State Park Aquatic Center, which operates only during the summer months. Admission to the aquatic center does require an entrance fee.

Additionally, the state park offers a number of opportunities to engage with the natural world. The Tippecanoe River's floodplain and tallgrass terrain are traversed by a system of hiking and bicycle routes.

The sole recognized art repository in northwest Indiana is the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. It has a constantly changing show with a permanent collection of 15,000 items in various media and styles. The museum receives new artwork four times a year.

Except for significant holidays, the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette is open seven days a week and entry is free. As a result, the museum is a well-liked free activity and a great family destination. The Art Museum serves as a resource for youngsters in several kid-friendly and teen-friendly programs.

The Art Museum has a number of weekly events on its event schedule. The most well-known is probably Friday Night Live, which takes place on the last Friday of each month and features live music. This family-friendly event offers a pleasant nighttime activity with evening entertainment.

Visitors have many things to do while going on a tour of Purdue University's campus in West Lafayette. University Hall is the oldest building on campus at Purdue University. Being home to many sculptures and murals along the Public Art Trail, the campus is one of the most wonderful places for art lovers.

Many famous alumni have passed through the university and gone on to excel in their respective career fields. Neil Armstrong and Drew Brees are the most renowned examples. The famous, Neil Armstrong, was an aeronautical engineer and astronaut. He was the first person to step foot on the moon.

Beginning at Tippecanoe Battlefield Park, the 13-mile Wabash Heritage Trail travels across the Wabash River at Davis Ferry Park. It travels south to Fort Ouiatenon after following the Wabash River to Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette and then crossing it once again. The difficulty ranges from easy to medium, depending on the section of the path.

You'll need to plan because the route is linear rather than looping. At some point, you can either park your car at the finish and catch a ride to the beginning of your journey, or you may turn around and double back.

This trail provides the Heritage Trail for walkers and hikers alike with the following activities: exploring, exercising, viewing animals, and bird watching. It's a great time to eat lunch outdoors because there are picnic tables and seats along the route. Bikes, horses, and motorized vehicles are not permitted on this strolling hiking track.

Chauncey Village in West Lafayette is home to Indiana's first and oldest drive-in restaurant, which was highlighted on the Food Network program Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Since 1929, Triple XXX Family Restaurant has been located here, prominently displayed on the State Street hill, just a short distance from the Purdue campus.

The Triple XXX Root Beer brand, which ran almost 100 "Thirst Stations," or wayside eateries, along the US-Canada border in the 1920s, is the source of the restaurant's name.

Whatever you choose, whether it's a trademark burger (100% sirloin) or a comfortable breakfast special (anytime), you're nearly obligated to accompany it with an icy cup of Triple XXX Root Beer, produced with pure cane sugar.

This huge auditorium is one structure on the Purdue campus that is worth seeing. J. Andre Fouilhoux, one of the architects of New York's Radio City Music Hall, created the Elliott Hall of Music in the Art Deco style.

With 6,005 seats, this is one of the largest proscenium theaters in the world. Among the many groups calling Elliott Hall of Music home are the Purdue All-American Marching Band, Purdue Bands and Orchestras, the WBAA radio station, and a production firm serving the Purdue campus. It also serves as the venue for commencement exercises.

World-class ballet groups, major concerts, full-scale Broadway productions, and discussions and debates by personalities are being held here the year through.

The Lilly Nature Center is open from Wednesday to Saturday and forms further details about the ecosystems of Celery Bog Nature Area. This modern attraction at its doorstep comes with a lot of interesting, amply presented information on wetlands, grasslands, savannas, and woods in interactive style exhibits.

Along with an independent bird-watching site, the center also aids in the identification of multiple animal species. Other organizations occasionally holding nature-related events here are the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society and the Sycamore Audubon Society.

Harry's Chocolate Shop is located in the Chauncey Village District, close to the Purdue Campus. The name is a little deceptive because this is a vibrant tavern that is popular with students and serves hearty bar meals.

The owner thought he needed something to help him stand out from a rival after Prohibition, so beer took the place of ice cream.

Many Purdue alums find great nostalgia at Harry's Chocolate Shop, which serves beer-friendly small foods, such as wings, nachos, onion rings, egg rolls, and quesadillas along with pizza, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, soups, and salads.

This lively riverside park greets you as you arrive from Lafayette and is especially lively during Purdue's academic year. Tapawingo Park, which translates to Place of Joy, is linked to the magnificent John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, which drops you off in a striking plaza and fountain on the West Lafayette side.

For a pleasing cross-river vista, visit the Brown Street Overlook near the park's high north end. It's especially lovely at daybreak for early risers.

The park is home to the Riverside Skating Center, a 70-by-120-foot outdoor rink that is utilized for ice skating during the winter and for roller skating and parties throughout the year.

This amazing brewery features a bar area, two unique indoor eating sections with different ambiances, and a lovely outside dining area for pleasant weather days. A decent selection of high-quality appetizers, sandwiches, entrees, salads, pizzas, and desserts are offered on the supper menu.

Their own premium-made beers are among the many alcohol and non-alcohol alternatives available on the beverage menu. The appetizers, desserts, and drinks are guaranteed to please.

Staffs there are really friendly, generous, and timely. Both small groups and individuals benefit from a laid-back setting. Mondays are closed, but open most days at 3 p.m.