By: The Gateway Mile
You don’t need to plan an expensive trip out of state to have a great vacation — there are more than enough things to do right in downtown Elkhart! Here’s a long list of things to do to have a fantastic summer “staycation” vacation day on the Gateway Mile.
Start With Breakfast
Every great day should start with a good meal. Lucky for you, there are several great spots to get breakfast along the Gateway Mile, whether you want coffee and a muffin, classic bacon and eggs, a stack of pancakes or a giant cinnamon roll. We recommend stopping by Around the Corner, Black Crow on Main Cafe and Gourmet Shoppe, The Electric Brew, Old Style Deli, Hotdogeddy’s, b on the River or The Baker’s Nook.
Explore the Wellfield Gardens
Elkhart is home to one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Indiana — Wellfield Botanic Gardens. Located on the north end of Main Street and nestled along Christiana Creek, visit the gardens for a lovely walk through more than 20 gardens across 36 acres of land.
Go Fishing on Main Street
There’s a reason you see a lot of people with fishing poles around Elkhart. Grab your pole (and your fishing license) and head over to the Main Street bridge or to Island Park to cast a line and catch a few fish.
Kayak on Christiana Creek and/or the Elkhart River
Get on the Elkhart River at Beardsley Park near the intersection of Beardsley Avenue and Main Street.
Get on Christiana Creek on CR 7 across from the Elkhart Municipal Airport and you can get out at High Dive Park (just before getting to downtown), letting you get to everywhere else for the rest of the day.
Walk Along the Elkhart Riverwalk
This short path will take you through multiple parks in downtown Elkhart along the scenic Elkhart River. You’ll find statues, benches and flowers along the spacious path and get a great look at the construction of the Elkhart Health, Fitness, Aquatics and Community Center. If it’s a hot day, bring your swimsuit so you can make a pit stop at the NIBCO Water and Ice Park splash pad.
Grab Some Lunch
Whew, what a morning! Refuel with a hearty, homemade lunch. Choose from one of the restaurants from the breakfast list, or find something to eat at The Moringa Tree, Five Star Dive Bar, Iechyd Da Brewing Company, McCarthy’s on the Riverwalk, La Esperanza, 523 Tap and Grill, New Paradigm Burgers and Brew, The Vine, Fiesta Mexicana, Michael’s Italian Restaurant or Volcano Pizza.
Go on a Museum Tour
The Gateway Mile is home to three museums. Tour The Ruthmere Museum to see a beautiful historic Elkhart estate and learn about the Beardsley family, who had a major impact on Elkhart in the 1800s. The Midwest Museum of American Art is home to thousands of pieces of art from America’s history, including original paintings by Grandma Moses and Norman Rockwell. There are scavenger hunts for kids and rotating exhibits. Like trains? Learn more about locomotives and why Indiana is the crossroads of America at the National New York Central Railroad Museum.
Go on a Shopping Spree
You can shop ‘till you drop in downtown Elkhart. Whether you’re looking for books, clothes, home furniture and decorations, board games or gifts, you’ll find what you need and a lot of what you want in downtown Elkhart.
Shake Your Groove Thing
The Gateway Mile is home to three different dance studios that you can check out. Visit The Tutu School, stop by Robin’s School of Dance or drop into a class at That’s Dancing. Call ahead for visitor and class information and schedule a time to visit.
Dinner Downtown
All that exploring will work up an appetite! Order a delicious dinner at one of the restaurants you didn’t visit for lunch like New Paradigm Burgers and Brew (they have the Best Burgers in the 574 according to local podcast Flavor 574), The Vine or La Esperanza. You can also enjoy a meal at Artisan, a fine dining dinner-only restaurant located in the heart of Main Street. There are at least 25 restaurants in downtown Elkhart, so you’re sure to find something for whatever you’re craving!
See a Show at The Lerner Theatre
The Lerner Theatre is one of the most beautiful buildings downtown (which is saying something with all of the historic architecture on Main Street) and the inside is even more impressive. Here, you’ll find plays, musicals and live performances by musicians from every genre. Check out The Lerner’s website for the full list of upcoming shows so you can plan your Elkhart vacation day.
