College Tour: Notre Dame

• More about your oliver guide: Courtney Leary
• Trip type: Adult, Family, City
• Activity level: easy
• Ideal length of trip: Two days

to & from

South Bend is a tricky airport to get to from the West Coast especially– once you get there it is a very easy airport to navigate though!
– Plan ahead, flights for game weekends especially are expensive
– Some opt to fly into Chicago and drive. If on a Friday afternoon especially, Midway is easier than O’Hare.
– Uber’s were easy to get in South Bend on a game weekend, apparently drivers come down from Chicago. Renting a car gives you more flexibility though and is very easy at the South Bend Airport.

Where to Stay

Be warned, prices on all lodging is much more expensive on football game weekends and needs to be booked well in advance.

• The Morris Inn is on Notre Dame’s campus and is the nicest place to stay. Rooms book up well in advance for game weekends.
• The Inn at Saint Mary’s is across the street from Notre Dame and offers a shuttle to campus on game weekends. The staff is friendly and festive and there is a coffee and snack situation in the lobby that serves Starbucks. Rooms are spacious and comfortable but tired.
• There is also a Hilton Garden Inn right next door to the Inn at Saint Marys. We did not stay here or go inside but the location is very convienient.

Where to Eat and Drink

– The Lauber– fun atmosphere with “sports” bar, casual food, large portions
– The Crooked Ewe– brewery serving a very good asian inspired menu (wine and beer only)
– Rorhs at the Morris Inn- did not eat here as it was booked but was highly recommended
– Cafe Navarre– upscale restaurant in downtown South Bend, good food and drinks
– PEGGS was also recommended for brunch

What to Do

– If you can swing it, there is nothing like a Notre Dame football game — just remember to book everything well in advance and buy your football tickets!
– College tour/ information session
– Bookstore is huge and always worth a stop
– Run or walk around Saint Mary’s and Saint Joseph’s lakes on campus, they are both approximately one mile around.

skip it

We ended up having lunch at Perkins– not ever to return!