The Best Things to Do in Lafayette, Indiana

Some of the best destinations in the Midwest are college campuses and the surrounding areas. And Indiana has a few trip-worthy ones including Lafayette and West Lafayette, home to Purdue University. When planning your trip, do not miss these fun things to do in Lafayette Indiana!

 

Snack on an Individual-sized Pie from Sweet Revolution Bake Shop

As we browse the selection through the display case, a conversation is taking place between an older gentleman and the young girl behind the counter.
“Do you want your usual?” she asks.

“Of course,” he replies, not even glancing at the daily specials on the board behind her.

As he sits down in what I’m assuming is his usual seat, the exchange continues, “How did the visit with your son go?”

I take this as a clear-cut sign that we are in a quality establishment that is a favorite in the neighborhood.

One of the best things to do in Lafayette Indiana is to start your afternoon with an individual pie from Sweet Revolution Bake Shop.
Figuring out our next stop in downtown Lafayette.
One of the best places to eat in Lafayette, Indiana: Sweet Revolution Bake Shop.
Wide selection at Sweet Revolution Bake Shop.

The quaint Sweet Revolution Bake Shop is a dream come true for Sarah McGregor-Ray, a Culinary School graduate who worked as a pastry chef for over ten years before settling in Lafayette. With the help of her family, opening up her own bakery became a reality in 2017.

Serving up daily seasonal pastries, quiches, and pies along with coffee and tea, Revolution should be your first stop in downtown Lafayette, Indiana.

Where: 109 N. 5th Street, Lafayette, Indiana

Sweet Revolution Pies in Lafayette, Indiana
Sweet Revolution, One of the Best Places to Eat in Lafayette, Indiana

Check out the Tippecanoe County Courthouse

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Tippecanoe County Courthouse stands tall at the epicenter of town.

The two-and-a-half story limestone building ornamented with one hundred columns, a 3,000-pound bell, nine statues, and a pointed dome topped with a liberty statue has been a fixture since 1884.

The Courthouse is definitely a must-see and one of the best places to take pictures in Lafayette Indiana!

Where: 301 Main Street, Lafayette, Indiana

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Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette, Indiana.
Visit the Tippecanoe County Courthouse, one of the free things to do in Lafayette

Grab a Burger & Root Beer from Triple XXX Family Restaurant

If you’re looking for iconic places to eat in West Lafayette, look no further than Triple XXX, Indiana’s first and oldest drive-in restaurant. The orange-and-black striped restaurant, named after the root beer it serves, is an old curbside diner. 

You may not be able to pull your car underneath and get your food from roller-skating carhops, but you can sit at a picnic table and enjoy your meal outside. 

Grab a signature “chop steak” burger and a cold mug of root beer for a must-do Purdue experience.

Where: 2 N Salisbury Street, West Lafayette

Triple XXX Restaurant Sign in West Lafayette, Indiana - Home of the Famous Chop Steak
Famous Chop Steak Sign
Triple XXX Restaurant outdoor patio in West Lafayette, Indiana - Home of the Famous Chop Steak
The outdoor patio at Triple XXX near Purdue University.
Triple XXX Burger in West Lafayette with Sweet Potato Fries.
Purdue Bucket List – A Burger and Root Beer from Triple XXX Restaurant

Snap a Selfie on the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge

Cross over the Wabash River by walking across the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, connecting Lafayette to West Lafayette. A local hotspot for festivals and events throughout the year, the bridge is an iconic place to snap a selfie.

Where: 200 N. 2nd Street

Take a tour of West Lafayette, Indiana, home to Purdue University.
Obligatory Selfie Snap on the Myers Bridge in Lafayette!

Explore Prophetstown State Park

Just minutes from downtown Lafayette, Prophetstown State Park is open for visitors. The area is rich in cultural, natural, and geological history. 

The glacial land is woven with river channels and streams and unique wetlands and prairies where you can hike, bike, and observe wildlife. Hiking trails include nine miles of dirt trails that range from easy to moderate and a five-mile paved walking/biking trail. 

At the Native American Village, learn about the American Indians and the first European settlers in Indiana that used to call this tallgrass prairie home. You’ll discover several teepees and shelters and various exhibits with rawhides and pottery. 

The 1920s Farm is another highlight of the park with farm animals, an open-air museum, and living history exhibits.

A great way to cool off in the summer is to visit the Aquatic Center within the park. It offers a respite from the heat offering a 30-foot tube slide, lazy river float area, splash zones, and zero-entry wading area.

Sunset at Prophetstown State Park in Lafayette, Indiana.
Beautiful sunset over Prophetstown State Park. Photo Credit: Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette

Have an Unforgettable Dinner at 8Eleven Modern Bistro

8Eleven is found inside the newly renovated Purdue Memorial Union Club Hotel and it should not be skipped just because it’s out of the downtown area.

The contemporary restaurant pairs farm-fresh vegetables and local seasonal ingredients to create an exquisite twist on comfort dishes. My mouth is watering just thinking about the meal I had – braised beef with mushrooms, bacon, and carrots. Not to mention, the delicious croquettes and scallops.

Read more about our experience eating, drinking, and staying at Purdue Union Club Hotel here. 

Where: 201 Grant Street Suite 100, West Lafayette

The braised beef dinner meal at 8Eleven Bistro at Purdue University.
I would plan a trip around this braised beef!

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Take Self-Guided Tour of Purdue University

Established in 1869, Purdue University is one of the largest university systems in the United States with more than 68,000 scholars many of which are international students. A stroll through campus tops the charts on things to do in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Best things to do in Lafayette, Indiana: A self-guided tour of Purdue University.
Taking a short detour to explore Purdue University on our Girls Trip! One of the best things to do in Lafayette Indiana.

Start at the Purdue Memorial Union to pick up a self-guided map from the Great Hall Welcome Center kiosk located inside the east door on the main floor. Another option is to download Purdue’s free campus app, Purdue Campus Tour.

Best things to do in Lafayette, Indiana: A self-guided tour of Purdue University.
The first stop is at the Purdue Memorial Union Building on Campus!
One of the best things to do in Lafayette Indiana is a tour of Purdue's college campus.
Photo Opp on a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Purdue University: The Unfinished Block P Statue.

Walk through the Purdue Memorial Union building to see where all the action takes place. Inside you’ll find the Union Club Hotel, dining options, banking services, and many gathering spots for students and visitors alike.

A few do-not-miss stops on the tour include the “Unfinished Block P” sculpture, the Gateway to the Future arch, the Stadium Mall, the Purdue Mall Fountain, and the John Purdue Statue.

Where: 101 Grant St, West Lafayette, Indiana

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Fill up on Pizza and Pasta at Bruno’s Pizza and Big O’s Sports Room

UPDATE: As of 2020, Bruno’s will not be open for indoor dining (the restaurant is currently only holding events and meetings inside the restaurant), but it is still open for carryout.

End your day of exploration with dinner at Bruno’s Pizza, a local favorite since 1955.

Bruno immigrated from Switzerland to Indiana and eventually opened the only pizza joint in town back then. The restaurant is a classic West Lafayette experience. It is still family-owned and reflective of Bruno’s Swiss heritage but also sprinkled with some Hoosier love.

One of the best places to eat in West Lafayette Indiana: Bruno's Pizza and Big O's Sports Room.
Margherita Pizza at Bruno’s in West Lafayette.

The menu, similar to the décor, reflects a little bit of everything. Take your pick from pasta and pizza to Wienerschnitzel and bratwurst.

As for our meal, we chose to split a mushroom ravioli with spinach served in a garlic cream sauce that came with a bowl of homemade soup and a large margherita pizza topped with basil, tomatoes, oregano, and mozzarella. It’s apparent all the dishes are made with fresh ingredients and prepared with a dash of expertise only an establishment with over sixty years of experience could add.

Where: 212 Brown Street, West Lafayette, Indiana

One of the best places to eat in West Lafayette Indiana: Bruno's Pizza and Big O's Sports Room.
Mushroom ravioli at Bruno’s Pizza in West Lafayette.

If you are looking for an indoor alternative, check out Arni’s Restaurant, a family-owned pizza place that started back in 1965. It’s another popular community restaurant located in Lafayette’s Market Square. Offering soups, salads, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches, it’s been a family favorite for decades. 

Stay at the Purdue Union Club Hotel

If you are looking for a nice place to stay on your visit to Lafayette, check out the Purdue Memorial Union Club Hotel, situated in the heart of the campus.  

They offer eleven types of rooms, but they are all delightfully decorated with Purdue paraphernalia and have a few great restaurants and bars. 

Where: 201 Grant Street, West Lafayette

The inside of a hotel room at the Purdue Memorial Union Club Hotel in Indiana.
Check out that Purdue plaid!

Try a Local Craft Brewery… or Five

We counted five local craft breweries in and around town. So why not add a brewery tour to your list of things to do in Lafayette Indiana. 

Lafayette Brewing Company, the oldest, has been around since 1993 and is a staple downtown. Brokerage Brewing Company is known for its food trucks and gold medal-winning Imperial Stout, Charlie. Teays River Brewing and Public House offer a wide range of quality brews from seasonal yam beer to American stouts to blueberry sours. 

Escape Velocity Brewing ranks really high on the ratings and people love the vegan food options. And the Thieme and Wagner Brewery is a small but friendly German-influenced brewery that has a loyal following.

The front of the Lafayette Brewing Company Building in Indiana.
One of the oldest breweries near Purdue is the Lafayette Brewing Company, established in 1993.
Cheers from People’s Brewing Company!

Follow the Public Art Trail

With over 115 murals, fountains, and sculptures the Art Trail provides many “Instagram-worthy” backdrops. A few favorites were the Art Gallery Alley (off of 500 Main Street), the Farmers Market (500 Columbia Street), George the bison statue (on the side of the courthouse), the Elephant in the Room below (316 Ferry Street), the Boilermaker statue (across from Ross-Ade Stadium), and the Bell Tower on campus. 

Elephant in the Room Mural in Lafayette, Indiana.
Elephant in the Room is just one of the many murals in and around Lafayette.
316 Ferry Street

Wolf Park

Take a twenty minute drive north of Lafayette to Wolf Park in Battle Ground. It is a research, education, and conservation facility that is dedicated to the protection and conservation of gray wolves. Visitors can also see coyotes, foxes, and bison.

Wolf Park offers many events and public programs, the most popular tour, Follow the Pack Tour, is a guided 45-minute golf cart tour for all ages. Throughout the tour, you’ll learn all the important facts about the wolf population and why it’s important to protect them.  

If you are looking for a unique experience, join a Howl Night where you’ll visit the park in the evening and discover how wolves communicate firsthand. 

The park is open from May through November (Tuesday-Sunday 1-5 pm) for guided tours and Howl Nights are offered on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. year-round and also on Friday evenings from May through November.

Two wolves at the Wolf Park in Lafayette, Indiana.
Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana Photo Credit: Monty Sloan, Wolf Park

*DISCLAIMER: We were hosted by two restaurants on our visit but it in no way influenced my opinion. Like always, all my experiences and thoughts are my own.*

Other Fun Things to Do in Indiana Nearby

What are your favorite things to do in Lafayette Indiana? Share with us in the comments below for our next visit!

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Visiting Purdue University? Here are the best things to do in Lafayette and West Lafayette Indiana for a perfect afternoon.

All the fun things to do in Lafayette Indiana including places to eat, where to stay and what to do. #WestLafayette #Indiana #travel #triplexxx #purdue

Plan the best day in Lafayette Indiana with these favorite places to eat: The classic Bruno's Pizza, a local favorite, and Sweet Revolution Bake Shop, a new tradition in the neighborhood.

 

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Angela E. is a travel writer from the Chicagoland area who has visited all 50 states in the US and has traveled extensively around the world. She is passionate about exploring the great outdoors and hiking in particular. Her love for nature has taken her to some of the most beautiful locations on the planet. She has written extensively about her travels on her own website, Dang Travelers, and has been published in collaboration with other travel websites and multiple visitor bureaus around the country.

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