South Bend travel guide

Ideally, if you go to South Bend, it's during a fall Saturday when the Irish football team has a home game. Even if you don't have tickets to the game (which can be hard to come by), you've got to check out the tailgating and get a view of historic Notre Dame Stadium, a shrine of college football. Perhaps the most successful program of all time, Notre Dame is synonymous with college football. Check out “Touchdown Jesus,” and before kickoff should go to Bond Hall and listen to the band prep.

This place reminds me so much of cake shops in Chicago. It really “spruces” up the South Bend with its cute and charming interior. They make everything right in the shop (pastries, cookies, cakes, sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and coffees). Plus they use Intelligensia beans for their coffee. I particularly like their Danish treats, they’re super fresh, perfectly flaky, and kinda melt in your mouth. Indulgence also participates with “Cupcakes for a Cause."

The Oliver Inn B&B is a truly beautiful Victorian, 25-room mansion in South Bend. The prices are reasonable and the rooms are all unique, spacious, and decorated with original antiques. There are nine bedrooms to choose from and some have fireplaces, private balconies, and two-person Jacuzzis. Every room includes a hair dryer, free wi-fi, and efficient heat and/or A/C. We loved our experience here and the owners, Alice and Tom, are incredibly thoughtful and excellent cooks to boot.

My friends and I agree that this is the best restaurant in South Bend. Some of us are ex-pats from Chicago, here for work, so it can be hard going from a zillion interesting restaurants to nil. Anyways, Elia’s serves authentic Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine that you can brag about. We always order the baba ghanoush (mashed up eggplant with spices) appetizer with nan. It’s thick, creamy, smokey-flavored, and though there’s a pool of oil sitting on it we’re convinced we’re eating healthy.

We stayed here while visiting our friends who were renewing their vows one weekend. I guess we caught the romantic spirit too because my husband and I ended up pulling up to this B&B and asking for “the nicest room you’ve got.” We ended up staying in the “Victoria Grand Suite” which was $390 for the night. I know, we splurged. The windows are huge and great for checking out the lake and gardens. The bathroom has a big Jacuzzi and the bed, also huge, is very accommodating and romantic.