Lafayette IN offers a vibrant culture and a variety of exciting things to do. Its historic parks, rich university connections and friendly community make it an ideal getaway for families.
Try out the local favorite Triple XXX family restaurant for old-school burgers and soda fountain treats. Other top food choices in Lafayette include the vegetarian burger at Azzip Pizza and chicken tikka masala at Black Sparrow.
Wildcat Creek Park
A portion of Wildcat Creek, designated as a state scenic river, passes through the park. The stream stretches 84 miles from Kokomo to Lafayette, and there are multiple access points in the area. The most popular is Peter’s Mill Landing, located at the end of Eisenhower Road.
The cliffs and canyon slopes are covered by a riparian forest of alder, willow, creek dogwood, and bay laurel. The banks are largely covered by native bunch grasses, and the watershed supports a variety of birds, mammals, and insects.
The park features four lakes where kayaks and canoes are welcome. The lakes are a short walk from the parking lot, and life jackets are required for anyone who enters the water. The park is open 5:00am to 10:00pm. Dogs are allowed on the Nimitz Way and in the parking and staging areas, but must be leashed at all times in developed and wild spaces. The park is popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians.
Tippecanoe County Courthouse
The Tippecanoe County Courthouse is a historic building in Lafayette, Indiana. It was designed by master builder Elias Max in collaboration with Chicago architect Otis Henry Placey. Its eclectic design includes elements of the Baroque, Gothic, Victorian, and Beaux-Arts styles. It also contains temple-like porticos and sculptures that evoke classical architecture.
The building is a focal point of the city’s historic district and is an important architectural landmark in the area. It is also a popular tourist attraction, and the courthouse hosts various events throughout the year.
The Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office provides access to a variety of public records. These include marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and case filings. The office also holds naturalization records for Tippecanoe County. These records are available at the Tippecanoe County Clerk’s office or at the Alameda McCollough Research Library.
Clegg Memorial Garden
Overlooks and trails running along scenic Wildcat Creek highlight this memorial botanical garden with prairie, oak woodlands & a scenic creek. The property is open year round and offers a different experience each season. For example, spring woodland blooms dapple the understory, summer prairie & oak savanna wildflowers add color, and fall leaf change presents a panoply of colors in the forest canopy.
NICHES Land Trust’s mission is connecting people to nature. But that becomes harder at Clegg Garden when hikers have to dodge traffic barreling down county road 400 East before they even reach the parking lot or the trail head. That’s why NICHES launched a campaign to get signatures for a flashing crosswalk at the entrance to the park and trails.
This is a 100% community-supported event, and the organization is seeking Pumpkin Picassos and Gourd Van Goghs to create and donate jack-o-lanterns for this year’s hike. The top-voted pumpkin will win a prize.
Wildcat Creek Winery
Located in an antique Hoosier farmhouse that serves as their tasting room, this small rustic winery fashions hand-crafted fine wines from local fruit. They opened for business in December 2008 and have since received many awards. Some of their most successful wine offerings include the dry Riesling and Cayuga white, which has a light citrus flavor; the semi-dry Steuben blush wine with its cranberry/ strawberry accents; and the sweet berry and fruit wines, such as the Lafayette Red and Blue, Peters Mill White and Aunt Minnie’s Cherry Tree.
Whether you’re planning to hit the vineyards on a day trip or need to book an extended stay, Hotwire offers vacation packages that include flight and hotel deals for as low as $48, so you can get your trip started on a budget. To score an incredible deal, all you need to do is plug in your dates and desired travel dates, then let Hotwire do the rest.