The Indiana Arboretum Worth Driving Across The State To Explore
By Tori Jane|Updated on April 25, 2024(Originally published July 31, 2023)
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Here in Indiana, there is certainly no shortage of public gardens, including county and state parks, town parks, botanical gardens, and arboretums. Of course, with so many to pick from, it’s easy to lose some of them in the mix; today, I’d like to take a moment to appreciate a cute, low-key little arboretum in Indiana that’s sure to charm. It’s not huge, but it’s no slouch, either: It’s the gorgeous Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Arboretum in Bloomington, also known as the Bloomington Arboretum or even the Cox Arboretum. Don’t worry; it’s all the same place and, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful arboretums in Indiana. Read on to learn more!
Once upon a time, what is now the Cox Arboretum was the Memorial Stadium.
Bloomington Arboretum, E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Nestled perfectly between the Kelley School of Business, the Herman B Wells Library, the Eskenazi Museum of Art, and the School of Public Health, Cox Arboretum is 11 pristine acres of peace, quiet, and meditative space in the middle of it all.
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Here, you'll find many places to sit and collect your thoughts. I personally love this little waterfall you'll find by following the stream.
Eleven acres might not sound enormous, but when you're exploring it on foot (which I definitely recommend) it can seem like quite a bit. Make sure to wear comfy shoes that are good for walking, and bring water, of course.
On some days, you'll spot geese and ducks. On other days, you might be surprised - you never know what's passing through, especially depending on the time of year. For a place that was completed relatively recently - during the late 1980s - it sure has an old soul.
The Indiana University campus itself is known for being quite beautiful, but it's this little hidden arboretum in Indiana that really drives the beauty of it all home.
I could spend hours here closely examining various plants and animals I find here - and there's plenty to be found! You'll encounter ponds, trails, and more. Take your time... it's worth it.
No matter which part of Indiana you're from, I strongly suspect a drive out to IU in Bloomington is worth it JUST for the arboretum.
Of course, if you want to tour the rest of it, you definitely can. And if you can’t make the drive to the scenic gardens, I highly recommend the awesome virtual Woodland Tour of IU, which will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about various woodlands at IU (including Cox Arboretum).
For more beautiful places in our state, here are some stunning gardens in Indiana that are worth the drive, too.
