The city of Bloomington is located in McLean County, in the heart of central Illinois, and is more populous than the neighboring municipality of Normal. Together, these two destinations are recognized as the ‘Twin Cities’, ‘Bloomington-Normal’, or simply ‘B-N’. Bloomington hosts the annual Illinois Shakespeare Festival, renowned nationwide as one of the country’s leading Shakespearean events.
The city’s most important landmark is the McLean County Courthouse, which is placed at the ancient core of Bloomington. The courthouse square is flanked by turn-of-the-century buildings with fascinating historical pasts. Visitors can find plenty going on in the cultural district, from gallery exhibitions to a vivid musical and night entertainment scene.
Bloomington offers its residents and guests a variety of special events including the Tour de Chocolat, which help to keep the city’s reputation as one of the liveliest places in Indiana intact. Shopping is good too, particularly in the architecturally interesting downtown. If you have ever wondered where beer nuts came from, the only place on the planet where they are made is Bloomington.
Highlights
Illinois Shakespeare Festival: created in 1978, this festival has become a cherished summertime cultural tradition in Bloomington-Normal.
David Davis Mansion: also known as Clover Lawn, this Victorian home has been a museum since 1960 and was selected as a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
Miller Park: features an artificial lake, pavilion, zoo, two war memorials, softball fields, and a preserved steam locomotive.
Constitution Trail: this rail trail is a popular recreation area for walkers, bikers, runners, inline skaters and skiers.
Indiana University Art Museum: set in a building designed by IM Pei, this is the place to admire an impressive collection of international artworks.