Spread the love!

Bedford, Indiana: The Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit (That You Never Knew Existed!)

Bedford is the Limestone Capital of the World, and that is not a slogan the chamber of commerce invented. The stone cut here ended up in buildings across the country. You can tour the quarries, then walk downtown and see what the same material looks like when the carvers have finished with it. Bluespring Caverns is the other reason to stop.

Bedford, Indiana is a small town with a longer list of things to do than its size suggests. History, art, food and outdoor country are all here, and none of them takes much organising.

If you’re an art lover, you’ll appreciate the town’s artistic side. Bedford is home to several art galleries and studios, showcasing local artists’ work. You can also take a stroll through the town and admire the many murals painted on buildings throughout the area. Foodies will be delighted by the culinary delights in Bedford, from farm-to-table restaurants to local breweries and wineries. Don’t forget to try the famous Limestone Pie, a local specialty made with limestone-filtered water.

The history and the outdoor country are the two halves of Bedford. The Lawrence County Museum of History covers the town’s past, and Bluespring Caverns covers what is underneath it. Hoosier National Forest handles the hiking and the East Fork of the White River takes a kayak. There is live music and theater through the year, and Bloomington and French Lick are both close enough for a day out.

Key Takeaways

• Bedford offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors, including art galleries, farm-to-table restaurants, and outdoor adventures.
• History buffs can explore the town’s rich past at the Lawrence County Museum of History, while outdoor enthusiasts can hike in the Hoosier National Forest or go kayaking on the East Fork of the White River.
• Don’t miss the unique experiences Bedford has to offer, from exploring underground wonders to trying the famous Limestone Pie.

The Artistic Side of Bedford

Bedford, Indiana carries more culture than a town this size normally sustains, across galleries and cultural centers. The places worth the time:

Local Art Galleries

Bedford is small and its art scene is not. Several local galleries show work by artists from the area and beyond. Gallery on the Square sits in the heart of downtown Bedford and covers painting, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry. Check the schedule before you go, because the events and exhibitions turn over regularly.

The Lawrence County Art Association Gallery is the other one. The non-profit exists to promote art locally and runs classes and workshops across the age range. The gallery itself rotates work by local artists, so it is different on a second visit.

Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center

The Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center is the stop nobody expects to find here. It exists to preserve and share Tibetan and Mongolian tradition. The temple is open for tours and the artwork and architecture inside repay a slow look. There are meditation sessions and other events, and the gardens are worth an hour on their own.

The centre’s museum is the part that surprises people, holding artifacts and artwork from Tibet and Mongolia. What you come away with is the history and culture of those regions, and a better sense of what their art is actually doing.

Committed to art or simply curious about somewhere else, Bedford has more to offer than expected. Take a break and work through the town’s artistic side properly.

Culinary Delights in Bedford

Bedford eats and drinks well for its size, from local breweries to the tenderloin stops. The places to try:

Local Breweries

Anyone who follows beer is well served here. Salt Creek Brewery is the popular one, pouring IPAs, stouts and lagers across a proper range. Take the brewery tour to see how it is actually made.

Tenderloin Stops

The tenderloin sandwich is the classic Indiana dish and Bedford does it properly. It is breaded and fried pork tenderloin, and the portions in the Hoosier State are not modest. The Bedford Dairy Bar is the popular stop, serving one large enough to settle the argument. The Super Tenderloin Challenge is the version for the brave: a 2-pound tenderloin in under 30 minutes.

A cold beer or a very large sandwich: Bedford covers both. The breweries and the tenderloin stops are where the town actually eats.

Historical Bedford

If you’re a history buff, Bedford has plenty of fascinating sites to explore. Here are a few you won’t want to miss:

Lawrence County Museum

The Lawrence County Museum is where the history is kept. The collection runs from Native American artifacts through to Civil War-era items, with exhibits on the Quaker and Lick Creek settlements alongside the other events that shaped this area.

Potts Creek Rockshelter Archaeological Site

The Potts Creek Rockshelter Archaeological Site takes you considerably further back. Native Americans lived here over 10,000 years ago, which makes it one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. The artifacts and the account of the people who lived here are the reason to make the trip.

Jacobs Rickenbaugh House

The Jacobs Rickenbaugh House closes the list, a well-preserved example of early 19th-century architecture. It was built in 1825 and has been restored to its original condition. Walking through it gives you a clearer sense of what life involved for the early settlers than any museum case does.

Bedford’s history is on display across these sites and others around the city. Native American culture, the Civil War or early American architecture: all three are covered and all three are close together.

Outdoor Adventures in Bedford

Bedford is better outdoor country than its reputation, with a range that goes from a flat walk to something genuinely demanding. The best outdoor adventures around Bedford:

Hiking in Hoosier National Forest

Hoosier National Forest is where the hiking is. Over 200 miles of trails covers every level, from a first-timer to somebody who has been walking for decades. The forest is dense and the vistas open up without warning. Deer and foxes are common and a black bear turns up occasionally.

Boating on White River

For something slower, take a boat down White River. It winds through the heart of Bedford with the surrounding countryside opening out along it. Kayaks, canoes and pontoon boats are all available to rent, so you can set your own pace. Pack a picnic.

Mountain Biking Trails

The mountain biking trails around Bedford are the fast option. There are several outstanding routes here, with demanding terrain and long views, and they run at every level. Wear a helmet and carry more water than you think you need.

Whatever gets you outdoors, Bedford has a version of it. Hiking, mountain biking, boating and horseback riding are all here, across the wilderness areas and state parks around the town.

The town splits three ways. The limestone is the first: quarry tours, and the facades downtown that show what the stone becomes. Underground is the second, and Bluespring Caverns runs a boat down America’s longest navigable underground river. The third is everything around Bedford, from Hoosier National Forest and its 200 miles of trails to the White River. Bloomington and French Lick are both short drives.

Underground Wonders

The most unusual thing about Bedford, Indiana is underneath it. There is a landscape down there worth the ticket. The underground to see:

Bluespring Caverns

Bluespring Caverns is the one everybody comes to Bedford for. The cave system holds America’s longest navigable underground river, running for a staggering 21 miles. The guided tour takes you through the caves and along the water.

The boat is what makes it. You get on and float down an underground river, which is not an experience available in many places.

The rock formations and the clear water are what you see going through. Watch for the amphibians and aquatic creatures that live in the river; several of them exist nowhere else. An experienced guide pilots the boat, so your only job is to look.

Bluespring Caverns is the attraction in Bedford. It is genuinely unlike anywhere else and people talk about it for years afterwards.

Bedford’s Entertainment Scene

Bedford covers the evening better than a town this size normally does. The places to check:

Regal Cinemas Bedford 7

Regal Cinemas Bedford 7 runs first-run Hollywood films on digital projectors, with closed captions available. There are discount matinees if you would rather not pay full price. Get popcorn and settle in.

Broadview Bowl

Broadview Bowl is the evening out with friends or family. Open bowling, cosmic bowling and electronic scoring, plus league and tournament play for anyone who takes it seriously.

Premiere Theatre 7

Premiere Theatre 7 runs a loyalty program that gives you points on every dollar spent, redeemable against tickets and popcorn. If you go to the cinema often, it pays for itself faster than you expect.

A film, a game of bowling, or both: Bedford has the evening covered.

Exploring Nearby Cities

With Bedford covered, several nearby cities are worth a day. The ones to consider:

Day Trip to Bloomington

Bloomington is a short drive north of Bedford and it is a proper college town, which means there is always something on. The Indiana University campus is worth walking, the local boutiques and galleries are worth an hour, and Hoosier National Forest carries the hiking. The Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course is the zip lining. The breweries and wineries are how the day ends.

Excursion to French Lick

French Lick is about 40 minutes west of Bedford and it is the resort town on this list. Tour the historic French Lick Springs Hotel, try the casino nearby, or take the French Lick Scenic Railway for the ride. Golfers should play the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort, which is the reason some people come at all.

Visit to Nashville

For small-town charm, head south to Nashville, Indiana. The village is known for its artisan shops, galleries and restaurants, and for the country around it. Brown County State Park takes the hiking, Rawhide Ranch does the horseback riding, and the roads through Hoosier National Forest are worth driving slowly. The candy stores and fudge shops are the part children remember.

Whichever nearby city you pick, the day works. Louisville, Kentucky is a long morning by car if you want to go further. Fill the tank and go.

Unique Bedford Experiences

Bedford, Indiana has a couple of things you will not find elsewhere. Where to start:

Apple Adventures

Bedford has apple orchards, which is not what the town is known for and should be. Pick your own, sample the cider, and work through the apple pie and caramel apples while you are there. A crisp fall day is when this is at its best.

The orchards are not the end of it. Bedford runs an annual Apple Butter Festival, where locals make apple butter the old way over an open fire. Watching it happen is the point, and the smell carries across the whole site.

Limestone Explorations

The limestone cuts are everywhere once you start looking, which is why Bedford is called the “Limestone Capital of the World”. Take a tour of the local quarries to see how the stone is actually taken out of the ground.

The other half is what happens to it afterwards. Walk through downtown Bedford and the limestone buildings around you have stood for a century or more. Take photographs, because the light on cut stone is worth the trouble.

Apple orchards or limestone quarries: Bedford does both, and neither is what you expect from a town this size. Give it a weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top spots for a night out in Bedford, Indiana?

Bedford has a better nightlife scene than its size predicts. 37 Taps is the relaxed one, with a strong craft beer selection and a room built for conversation. The Limestone Cafe is where the live music is, running local bands and artists through the week.

Where can I find the best grub in Bedford, Indiana?

That is a hard question here, because Bedford has more good restaurants than it needs. For classic American cooking, the Stone Pig is the answer and the BBQ there is exceptional. For something smarter, the Cork & Cleaver has the steak selection.

What’s the deal with Bluespring Caverns Park?

Bluespring Caverns Park is the best thing in Bedford. It holds America’s longest navigable underground river, running through a cave system with over 21 miles of surveyed passages. The boat tour takes you along it, past the rock formations and the underground waterfalls. Do not skip it.

Where’s the best place to stay in Bedford, Indiana?

It depends what you are after. On a budget, the Super 8 by Wyndham is clean, comfortable and cheap. For something better, the Spring Mill Inn sits inside a state park and comes with a golf course and an indoor pool.

What are some other must-see attractions in Indiana?

Indiana has plenty beyond this town. Sports followers should get to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or catch a game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Indiana State Museum is the one for history. And Turkey Run State Park is where the hiking and camping are.

What’s the story with French Lick, Indiana?

French Lick is a small town in southern Indiana known for its historic hotels and mineral springs. The French Lick Resort is the reason to go, a hotel over 100 years old that has taken guests including Al Capone and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The casino nearby is there if you feel lucky.

Frequently asked questions about Bedford, Indiana

What is at Bluespring Caverns in Bedford, Indiana?

America’s longest navigable underground river, seen from a boat on a guided tour through the cave system, which has over 21 miles of surveyed passages. Watch for the amphibians and aquatic creatures down there. Several of them live nowhere else.

Why is Bedford, Indiana called the Limestone Capital of the World?

Because of what comes out of the ground here. The limestone cuts are visible all over town, the quarries run tours showing exactly how the stone is taken out, and the whole of downtown Bedford is built from the material. Walk it. The claim explains itself.

How many miles of trails are in Hoosier National Forest near Bedford?

Over 200 miles, running at every level from a flat walk to something genuinely demanding. Deer and foxes are common and a black bear turns up occasionally. The White River is the other outdoor option, for a kayak, a canoe or a pontoon boat.

Spread the love!