Two days in South Bend...what should I make sure to do? (Mishawaka: rental car)

[annagrl775]

Hi Everyone, I'll be visiting the South Bend/Notre Dame area with my husband in two weeks while he interviews for a position at ND. I'll have two days and a rental car to check out the area and I'd like some input on what to make sure I see and do. I plan to meet with a realtor that the school recommended, to get a feel for the housing market. But, I'd love the input of anyone that lives in the area that could advise me on places to go and things to see that would give me a good feel for what it would be like to live there. Are there any great restaurants, libraries, parks, schools, hospitals, or shopping that anyone strongly recommends I check out? I basically want to get a good idea of what Indiana is like so we have a realistic picture of living there (minus the winter weather, which I know we're too early for!) Thanks!

[domergurl]

You'll love campus. You could spend a day there just hanging out. The leaves should be turning soon up there, so you'll really see things in their glory.

Granger is very popular with the ND folks. You'll probably look at a lot of houses there, especially if you want good public schools. But there are 2 good private Catholic high schools and many grade schools, which means you could live anywhere.

The main shopping mecca is Grape Road. When I was in high school, the only thing out there was University Park Mall, now it's just a "name it and it's there" place.

The Hesburgh library on campus is fan-tab-ulous and I don't say that lightly, being a former librarian. The St. Joe County public library is also very good.

Back in the day, I used to like to eat at the Mishawaka Brewing Company on Main Street.

Living there? Don't know where you are coming from, but chances are, it's cheaper. People are generally friendly, not in your face friendly. The weather is the weather. It gets cold, but the city is ready with plows and salt trucks. Get a house with a basement .. tornados.

Enjoy! Are you going to be there for a football game too??? That's an experience!

[DLK55]

I remember you AG775, about time for that visit is it? I agree with visiting the ND campus. The trees are just starting to turn some here and should be pretty much in swing by the time you arrive. Campus is beautiful this time of year.

It will be a little on the cool side around here by that time so if you're not used to it, a light jacket might be a good idea. Our one local station's long range forecast has our highs two weeks from Saturday in the low 60's which is probably what you're used to for a low this time of year. The lows will probably be in the low 50's, possibly into the mid-high 40's or so at night/in the early morning.

Two of the main hospitals are St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend and Memorial Hospital in South Bend. There is also St. Joseph in Mishawaka but the Mish/SB hospitals are basically going to be merged after the new facility in Mishawaka is built. It's currently well into construction.

This is the website for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center(South Bend, Mishawaka and Plymouth, around 20 miles to the south.)

Welcome to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center | South Bend, Indiana

This is the website for Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

www.qualityoflife.org - Memorial Hospital & Health System - South Bend, Indiana

This link is for visitors to South Bend/Mishawaka.

South Bend / Mishawaka

This one is just Mishawaka.

Mishawaka, Indiana Restaurant, Hotel & Business Directory

I hope you enjoy your visit. I don't know if you'll make it down our way but I'll probably be outside getting leaves up and I might keep an eye out for some tanned(Stereotype alert!) tourist looking types.

Best of luck to your husband with his interview.

[claremarie]

If you want a realistic idea of living here, then focus on what your daily life would be like. For most people, that's the commute to work and schools, the job itself, shopping, and neighborhood living. So after you've checked out a few neighborhoods, pick out the one you like best and drive around. Drive to the nearest grocery store and shopping center. Drive past the parks and playgrounds. And consider striking up conversations with random folks in parks or stores -- we've found that people here are incredibly friendly (by East Coast standards, anyhow) and most of them really do enjoy living here.
If you have school-age kids, just be aware that the South Bend school system (which has pretty dismal stats) serves some neighborhoods in Granger, even though most of Granger is part of the Penn school district.