Thursday, October 7, 2010

Bloomington from a Visitor's View

This past weekend, my boyfriend Brian came up to Bloomington to visit me from Atlanta to celebrate his 23rd birthday (yay!). To celebrate the special occasion, I used my new kitchen in the apartment to make my first ever decorated cake. It was Funfetti Ice Cream cake with Marshmallow Fondant. Remember the Fail Cake I posted about a few weeks ago? This was the same cake, but it was slightly more successful to say the least. It tasted delicious, but I had more fun building the roller coaster on top (in the shape of a 23) than I did eating the cake itself.

23rd Birthday Cake

Anyway, on to the rest of the weekend. Brian had been to Indiana during road trips to Holiday World and Indiana Beach, but he'd never stopped in our college town. I wondered what he, a Georgia Tech student, would think of the differences between the big city and my little slice of Midwest paradise. To make sure he had a good idea of what Bloomington was like, I made sure to pick some of my favorite places in and around town to show him. When you're planning your visit to Bloomington, be sure to check them out if you have time. If you've already been to campus, use this info to impress your friends and family with your B-Town expertise!

1. The Musical Arts Center
As an IU student, I've been lucky to have numerous opportunities to enjoy the arts. The Musical Arts Center (or the MAC) is one of my favorite places on campus because of all of the wonderful productions that take place there. On Friday evening I took Brian to his first opera, "Il Barbiere di Siviglia." We had a fantastic time getting lost in the beautiful sets, the unbelievable voices and the jubilant atmosphere that the cast and crew created. It was an incredible production, Brian was dazzled, and the total cost of our tickets was only $34!

2. The IU Art Museum (Aurora of the Midwest)
There is a beautiful, little known (to non-residents) secret on campus that is absolutely breathtaking. After the opera and dinner, I made Brian close his eyes and led him to campus. When I finally gave him permission to open his eyes, he gaped at the light show that was taking place on the wall of the IU Art Museum. Although I nicknamed the show "the Aurora of the Midwest," it is technically named the Light Totem and it casts color upon the wall of the IU Art Museum with the light of 500 million candles. If you're going to be around campus at night, stop by for a dazzling show.

3. The Sample Gates
The quintessential symbol of Indiana University, the Sample Gates are a common spot for everything from first-day photos to protests. As a student you'll be seeing them a lot, but make the effort to show them to your family anyway. In the fall, the trees behind the Gates are painted with autumn colors. If you're going to be on campus, make sure to stop by and take a photo with your family. It will be one to cherish for a lifetime.

Sample Gates

4. The Old Crescent
Once you walk through the Sample Gates, you'll find yourself in the Old Crescent. One of the most beautiful parts of campus, it is often passed over by potential students. If you go through this area you'll be able to experience first hand the "green" feeling of Indiana University as you walk along the brick path that cuts through the woods, shake hands with Herman B Wells (for luck, Brian did!), and take a break in the Rose-Well House. You can also see the oldest piece of IU, a sundial from the original campus on Seminary Square. If you stop by to see it, look through the flowers for a small plaque to learn the secret of two lovers who will be "together for eternity."

Hello Herman!

5. Holiday World
Although it is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Bloomington, Holiday World is the theme park of choice for IU students looking for a day of thrill ride fun. Luckily for me, Brian is a roller coaster enthusiast, so the decision about whether or not to visit the park was an easy one. Admission is VERY cheap when compared to other theme parks (it only cost us $66 for both tickets), and it is one of the top-rated parks in the U.S. thanks to the family-friendly atmosphere, the fantastic rides and the free soft drinks! If you have the opportunity, visit in the fall. There were no lines for any of the rides, and we rode The Voyage (the featured wooden roller coaster) four times. It was a great time!

Holiday World

Of course, there are a million things to love about Bloomington and the surrounding areas. Brian and I had a great time over the weekend walking around town and even though it was a little quieter than Atlanta I think that he had a really great time. If you'd like any more tips about great places to visit or even restaurants to try out, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail!

1 comment:

  1. Hey, Ashley. I love the way you write. It sounds just like how you talk. Good blog!

    ReplyDelete