7 Best Things To Do In Mishawaka, Indiana

things to do in Mishawaka IN
Joyce
Joyce 
Updated
| 4 min read

Mishawaka is a city found on St. Joseph River, Penn Township of Indiana. If you are looking to travel to a destination that features the beauty and majestic sceneries of nature, then Mishawaka is a good place to start. It has a population of around 48,252. The city is nicknamed Princess City after the daughter of Shawnee Chief Elkhart, Princess Mishawaka. There are a number of locations throughout the area that talks more about the Princess’ legend with white trapper Deadshot, as well as her abduction by Grey Wolf, an Indian suitor. Nevertheless, Mishawaka, Indiana, is a great place for the entire family to travel to. Read on as we guide you through the top things to do in Mishawaka, Indiana.

1. Enjoy a nice picnic with your loved ones at Battell Park

Battell Park Civil War monument 1884
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Brent of All People used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Battell Park is one of the more popular spots in Mishawaka. This place has everything you need to spend a nice and quiet afternoon with the family. It has an area for those who simply want to set up a picnic, playground equipment for the children, and a lighted tennis court. Battell Park also features a terraced rock garden as well as a gazebo. Oftentimes, during the summer, people would book the Battell Park gazebo for weddings and receptions. There’s also a splash pad, a basketball court, and an area for summer concerts as well as theatrical productions.

Battell Park

Address: 301 W Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, Indiana 46545

Website: Battell Park

Opening hours: 7am - 10pm (daily)

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2. Admire the botanical brilliance at Shiojiri Garden


Shiojiri Garden is a Japanese strolling garden that contains about 20 varieties of plants and flowers. It symbolizes the relationship between the city of Mishawaka and its sister city, Shiojiri City, which is located at Nagano Prefecture in Japan. Aside from the wide range of plant varieties, Shiojiri Garden also has 200 large boulders, a teahouse pavilion, as well as a donated statue. This makes the spot another perfect location for summer weddings and receptions. Upon visiting, you’ll notice that the place somewhat embodies the Japanese aesthetic principles. The materials used to construct some of the bridges are made of natural materials—stone, earth, and wood. People believed that this garden is the epitome of long life and eternity.

Shiojiri Garden

Address: 450 N Niles Ave, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544

Website: Shiojiri Garden

Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)

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3. Go on a bike ride along Mishawaka Riverwalk


Mishawaka Riverwalk’s actual name is River St. Joseph of the Miamis Trail. This is a system of circular bicycle trails and pedestrians found on both banks of the river. There are pedestrian bridges as well, which make it easier to travel around the area on your bicycles. Most of these have been strategically placed all across Mishawaka Riverwalk. In fact, there are also pedestrian bridges that connect Mishawaka Riverwalk to Kamm Island, Central Park, as well as the new installation of Robert C. Beutter Riverfront Park. There is a footbridge that connects Mishawaka Riverwalk to Battell Park on the north and Beautter Park on the south too.

Mishawaka Riverwalk

Address: N Spring St, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544

Website: Mishawaka Riverwalk

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

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4. Take a stroll through Henry Frank Park


Henry Frank Park is conveniently located near Walt Disney School. Here, you can spend some time with the family by setting up a picnic or playing tennis. However, it is highly advised that you take a stroll at Henry Frank Park in the afternoon—not only because the trails are very accessible and strategically placed across the park, but also for the majestic view, during late-noon hours. The best part about this activity is that you do not need to shell out a single cent! Visiting Mishawaka, Indiana, is all about spending time with the people you care about and appreciating what nature has to offer.

Henry Frank Park

Address: Mishawaka, Indiana 46545

Website: Henry Frank Park

Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)

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5. Play miniature golf at Putt-Putt Fun Center

Miniature golf
Source: Pixabay

Every year, Mishawaka gets a lot of family tourists. While other travel destinations within the state cater to a bunch of family-friendly activities, Mishawaka is still one of the top choices because of its Putt-Putt Fun Center. Now, this fun center features a number of activities and rides, but you’ll find that this is more famous for its miniature golf courses. Putt-Putt Fun Center also has branches worldwide. It has some in Australia, Lebanon, and Indonesia. There are obstacles for beginners and more challenging courses for advanced miniature golfers. Be sure to look out for the themed golf courses, as well as others that feature man-made waterfalls, caves, lakes, and mountains.

Putt-Putt Fun Center

Address: 3615 N Main St, Mishawaka, Indiana 46545

Website: Putt-Putt Fun Center

Opening hours: 9am - 10pm (daily)

Price: 6 - 39 USD

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6. Indulge your senses at Corndance Tavern


Corndance Tavern is all about fine dining at its best. Not only will you get fresh and local ingredients every day on the menu, but you also have a balanced meal from how each dish is prepared. In Corndance Tavern, the chefs make it a habit to buy ingredients that are responsibly sourced, from local suppliers, in order to maintain respect for the place, as well as the recipes they serve. Coming here is something you shouldn’t miss if you’re traveling to Mishawaka, Indiana. The venue has a welcoming ambiance that creates the perfect environment for friends and family to enjoy good food, as well as their companies and that of others.

Corndance Tavern

Address: 4725 Grape Rd #1315, Mishawaka, Indiana 46545

Website: Corndance Tavern

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

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7. Enjoy sumptuous food and great music at Smokestack Brew


If you’re wondering where in Mishawaka do music and food meet, then you better head on to Smokestack Brew. This is a sports bar and a live-music venue. Do keep in mind that this is not a brewery. However, you can expect a great selection of craft beers. Moreover, it is advised that if you are going to attend a live performance, be there before seven in the evening as, oftentimes, Smokestack Brew is almost always a packed house and there are no reservations. There is a private parking lot, as well as bicycle parking, on-site.

Smokestack Brew

Address: 100 N Center St, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544

Website: Smokestack Brew

Opening hours: 4pm - 11pm (daily)

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Final thoughts on your trip to Mishawaka

Mishawaka-indiana-st-joe-river
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Tysto used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Now that you are familiar with some of the best spots in Princess City, it’s time to narrow down that list. Of course, depending on how long you are planning to stay in Mishawaka, there are other mainstream locations around the city that you may want to visit. This list offers you the best of the best tourist destinations. All you need to do now is to book that trip and pack your bags.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Joyce Gonzales has always had the case of wanderlust. She was a former financial analyst who took a leap of faith and started writing about her travels. She is intrigued by the existence of...Read more

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