South Bend Sights: Outdoors and Landmarks

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• Century Center 120 S Saint Joseph St., 574-235-9151. Located along the St. Joe river downtown, this convention center boasts an Art Museum, several large banquet areas, an auditorium and theatre, an historic riverfront area and large patio over the former dam that ran South Bend's electrical supply, a skyway to the Marriot over US 31, and a large lobby with high ceilings and windows that look out toward the river and the East side of town. www.centurycenter.org

Downtown with Century Center at St. Joseph River in foreground

• Indiana University South Bend 574-520-IUSB. It may not IU Bloomington, but IU South Bend has grown substantially over the last decade and is worth seeing! www.iusb.edu

• Lake Michigan Just under 40 miles from South Bend lie the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, MI, popular locales for beachgoers. New Buffalo, MI is the closest waterfront (at under 30 miles away) and is home to Redemack's famous burgers. Michigan City is due west about 30 miles or so and features shopping, dining, and, of course, more beaches. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is also near Michigan City. New Buffalo and St. Joe/Benton Harbor are the best sunset viewing locations.

Benton Harbor Lighthouse on Lake Michigan

• North/South Continental Divide Sure, it's not that exciting, but just driving down the US 20 bypass you can see a sign that alerts you to this fact. And it's true, South Bend lies on the North/South Continental Divide, which is why the St. Joseph River flows north into Lake Michigan while the White River in Indianapolis flows south. www.wsbt.com/news/goodquestion/8213447.html

• Saint Joseph River Though still fairly polluted, the riverfront along South Bend is an interesting walk through the former dam system that used to power the city's electrical supply. This walk leads (or starts from) the Century Center, which is South Bend's convention center. The Mishawaka riverfront has also come a long way near its downtown.

• Saint Mary's College Located across from the University of Notre Dame. www3.saintmarys.edu

• Shiojiri Niwa A Japanese strolling garden that symbolizes the Sister-City relationship between Mishawaka, Indiana and Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It contains more than twenty different varieties of large plant material, over two hundred large boulders, donated statue and a teahouse pavilion. This is also a very popular summer wedding area. www.mishawakacity.com/ShiojiriPark.asp

The Grotto at the University of Notre Dame

• University of Notre Dame 574-631-5000. See the legendary campus for yourself. Guided tours are available through the Alumni Association. Notable attractions include the grotto, the Golden Dome, Notre Dame Stadium, the Wall of Life Mural (Touchdown Jesus) and the Hesburgh Library, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph and St. Mary's Lakes, the stations of the cross, and the Notre Dame Bookstore, which is the largest in the country. www.nd.edu

• www.centurycenter.org
• www.iusb.edu
• www.wsbt.com/news/goodquestion/8213447.html
• www3.saintmarys.edu
• www.mishawakacity.com/ShiojiriPark.asp
• www.nd.edu