Communities
Elkhart
City Fun, Hoosier Hospitality
Sophisticated Dining
Arts and History
Welcoming Parks and Special Events
Downtown
There’s a lot happening in downtown Elkhart, a must-stop destination for city fun during your visit to Indiana’s Amish Country. Elkhart’s ongoing revitalization efforts have lured unique shops, restaurants and nightspots to a vibrant riverside retail and entertainment district rapidly being restored to its original luster.
You’ll find ample free parking as you set out to explore on foot in a downtown built for walking. In fact, downtown sidewalks link up with the city’s pedestrian and bicycle friendly Riverwalk that connects several nearby parks and green spaces along the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers.
Shopping
As you stroll, browse Indiana antiques at The Loft, buy quirky and shop for upscale gifts, clothing, jewelry and art at owner-operated shops where customer service hasn’t gone out of fashion. You can relax and refuel at John’s Bagels and The Daily Grind coffeehouse.
Restaurants
Downtown Elkhart’s restaurants are distinctly different from Amish Country’s traditional family-style eateries serving hearty farm fare. Lucy’s Rhythm Room features tapas appetizers and live music. And Stirred serves up martinis, sushi and elegant deserts.
Events
Downtown also is home to several of Elkhart’s historical treasures and popular annual events. Both the Elkhart Jazz Festival and the Island of Blues are staged near the retail district. Downtown’s elegant old Elco movie theater now hosts stage productions, musicals and symphonies. Nearby, you can browse more than 2,500 paintings and sculptures at the Midwest Museum of Art, and then take a journey into the history of railroading at the National New York Central Railroad Museum. And Ruthmere Mansion provides a glimpse of gilded-era opulence in a park-like setting.
Parks
If you enjoy parks, you’re never far from one no matter where you travel in Elkhart. The city’s takes great pride in its immaculately maintained 20 major parks. Several of those preserves unfurl along the rivers. The gem of the system, Island Park, commands the waters just off-shore where the St. Joseph and Elkhart rivers merge downtown. Visitors cross a footbridge onto the island and into the cool shade under arching branches of giant sycamores and oaks that were here when the first settlers arrived. Here and at the other riverside parks, you can fish, picnic, gather for reunions in rustic shelters or just relax and watch ducks and geese glide on the river current.
Ideal Beach Water Park at Exit 96 on the Indiana Toll Road is a perfect place to take the family after a day exploring Amish Country. Visitors swim, canoe, cruise on aqua-cycles and test their putting skill, and patience, at the miniature golf course.
For detailed downtown information: downtownelkhart.org. For more about Elkhart’s parks: 800.517.9739, Amishcountry.org
For complete event details visit elkhartindiana.org or call 574.295.7275.
Elkhart County Visitor Center
219 Caravan Dr.
Elkhart, IN
800.517.9739
Amish Dining
Things To Do
RV Scene
Lodging
Upcoming Events
Location: Winding Waters Brethren Church on CR 4
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Hours: 1:30PM - 4:00PM
Admission: Presale $10, At Door $12
