Bloomington sits in Monroe County in Indiana. It is known as the "Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana" and is the home of Indiana University Bloomington. The towns population is an estimated 80,000 people. This area is known for its irregular limestone terrain. Bloomington has a rich and continuing history in the theatrical arts. Bloomington is considered the sixth largest city in Indiana based on its population size. In addition, this area is known for its abundance of rain. Bloomington and surrounding areas are known to get nearly 45 inches of rain each year.
When to Search
When looking for an apartment it's best to start as early as possible. With this being a college town and the college being one of the major employers in the area, you can imagine that competition for apartments is stiff. The earlier you look the better your chances are as many of these apartments' house faculty and staff from the university.
Staying in the Know
While there are an abundance of apartment locations to choose from you still want to stand out in the crowd when it comes to applying. Competition is high so come prepared to pay all application fees as well as have supporting documentation for your application. The sooner you get the application process started the better.
Life in Bloomington
Transportation
In order to get around Bloomington we suggest a bicycle if you live in the downtown or college area. Many areas are close and convenient to get to this way. However there are local taxi vendors to transport you as well. It's advised to have a car if you plan on doing anything outside of the downtown area.
Where to play
Bloomington is strong in the area of performing arts so theatrical enthusiasts will find something for everyone. In addition there is a wide variety of fairs and street performances through out the year. If nightlife is what you are looking for then the City of Bloomington has numerous bars and other nightlife establishments for you. You'll also find wineries and brewing companies making a selection of local beverages.
Attractions
The Bloomington Area has a surprise for many visitors in the Oliver Winery. Just north of the city is a world-class winery that has been around for more than 30 years. You can tour the facility and enjoy a tasting if you make the visit north of the city. Indiana University is probably the largest and most well known attraction in the city. Visitors regularly take tours through the extremely beautiful campus during their visits to Bloomington. Wonderlab is a fantastically named science museum in Bloomington. Technically speaking, it is the Wonderlab Museum of Science, Health and Technology. The facility is geared mostly towards getting children interested in the sciences.
Dining
If you love deep-dish pizza, then you should head straight to Mother Bear’s Pizza whenever you find yourself in Bloomington. Reviewers absolutely rave about the quality of the pizza, and if you want to sit in you can enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with your meal. Darn Good Soup is an American style soup restaurant that prides itself on offering some excellent options for vegetarians. If you like to enjoy your meals out on a patio when the weather is good, Runcible Spoon has a beautiful patio that pairs nice with the café style food.
Bars
The Irish Lion Restaurant & Pub is everything that you hope for in an Irish pub. A good collection of American food and a varied drink selection make this place a sure bet. The Tap is the standard by which beer selection in Bloomington is defined. This is a modern bar that also features live music, and the multiple draws mean it can get very busy on certain nights of the week. If sports bars are more to your taste, you've got options there as well. Kilroy’s Sports bar is nice because of the large beer garden out back.
Culture
Bloomington supports the arts so strongly that the city is home to the Bloomington Entertainment & Arts District, a distinct area of town designed to foster a thriving environment for culture in the city. BEAD is especially a strong supporter of the visual arts, and the district is filled with small and large galleries and workshops for artists. Live music is also available at many facilities in the area, including Back Door Bloomington, Brother’s Bar and Grill, and Player’s Pub, among others. There are also great museums spread throughout the city. The Indiana University Art Museum is certainly the largest, with a collection that included more than 45,000 pieces.
Events
Now an annual event, the Bloomington Craft Beer Festival celebrates the growing craft beer movement. Brewers come to offer their newest creations for sampling by fans of great beer. If you're not a beer lover but enjoy chocolate, then the Week of Chocolate held each January will probably appeal to you. Another larger draw to the town is the IU Little 500 Weekend, an extremely high-profile cycling event. In Mid-June there is a combination event, when Arts Fair on the Square and Taste of Bloomington take place simultaneously. This makes for the perfect weekend event, filled with great entertainment and great food.
Shopping
The BEAD is also a very good shopping destination. In many cases, this part of town provides you with the opportunity to shop right in the workshop of the craftsman you want to make a purchase from. The Community Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday between April and November, and allows you to purchase produce and food products direct from local producers. The College Mall is a typical large shopping mall, anchored by a Macy’s, Target, Sear, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Dick’s. If you're looking for something completely different, head to the Bloomington Antique Mall. You can spend hours combing the antiques for treasures that might be completely unique.
Sports
Indiana University Bloomington has a strong athletics program, and the support from the town for the program might be even stronger. Sports Illustrated has even recognized the Big Ten program as being supported by one of the best college sports towns around. The team is known as the Hoosiers, and they have a proud tradition of winning, including 8 championships in soccer. Although many of the sports the Hoosiers play in locally are popular, perhaps the most popular sport is basketball. The team plays at Branch McCracken Court, and has brought home five NCAA championships. The most recent was in 1987.
Outdoors
To enjoy a trail that cuts right through the heart of the city, run, walk or ride your bike along the B-Line Trail. If you're willing to get a bit outside of the city your options for outdoor recreation are endless. The Blue Spring Caverns Park lets you take a river ride through a natural wonder. The longest local hiking trail is within the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. This trail allows you to wander for more than 10 miles among perfectly preserved natural parkland. The protected area has a campground, and Griffy Lake was recently reseeded with a wide variety of fish to make for some excellent angling.