9 Things to Do in West Lafayette and Purdue University
Written by: Weida Apartments
The Purdue University experience is much more than what happens in the classroom. There’s an array of extracurricular events right at the school, and that school is located in a community, the city of West Lafayette. When parents visit, students will want to share this abundance of available activities. Whether students live on or off the campus, they might be casting about for some new adventures. Here are 9 interesting things to do in West Lafayette.
Activities with Purdue University
You don’t have to leave the campus to give your parents a taste of the college’s rich cultural life. Check out a Glee Club concert or a theater or dance performance. Visit the rotating exhibits at the Patti and Rusty Rueff Galleries and Robert L. Ringel Gallery. Enrich yourselves with one of the many lectures and seminars.
1. Visit Ross-Ade Stadium for a Football Game
There’s nothing like a fall Saturday with the Boilermakers on the gridiron. Since the turn of the century, the football facility has undergone a $70 million renovation, leading to more spacious seating and wider aisles for up to 62,500 fans. 2024 opens the 100th season of the autumn spectacle at Ross-Ade.
2. Experience Mackey Arena for a Basketball Game
Both the men’s and the women’s teams are consistently competitive, not only in the Big Ten but also in the national rankings. The updated Mackey Complex brings the facility solidly into the 21st century while honoring the rich 40-year history of the basketball palace. Join the 14,000+ fans that transform the arena into a celebration you won’t soon forget.
3. Jules Janick Horticulture Garden
When your group needs a few minutes to relax and recharge, this half-acre garden is an ideal spot. It winds about the school’s horticulture building, and it offers an impressive display of herbaceous landscape plants. This visual delight is open seven days a week throughout the year. Art students come to draw, photographers stop by to shoot, and amateur gardeners survey the arrangement for ideas to take home. No matter why you visit, you’re sure to leave with some fresh inspiration.
Explore West Lafayette
Situated in the heart of West Lafayette, Purdue University is proud to thrive within a dynamic and welcoming community. What could be a better place to experience your surroundings than the walkable downtown area? You’ll find restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops. There are tree-shaded streets with galleries and outdoor art. Festivals abound all through the year. Enjoy live music, or stop into one of the eateries for family trivia night. (Groups with multiple generations always have a trivia advantage!)
4. Columbian Park Zoo
If you have three dollars to spare for a ticket, Columbian Park Zoo is a fine and budget-friendly afternoon. Located within Columbian Park in Lafayette, it houses over 90 species and 190 animals from the Americas and Australia, including wallabies, emus, kookaburras, prairie dogs, an owl and vulture aviary, as well as a bald eagle exhibit. The zoo is open from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, from mid-April until early October.
5. Celery Bog Nature Area
Northwest of town, you’ll find a peaceful wildlife oasis with a fascinating history. The nature area is home to over 100 species of birds as well as rabbits, opossums, coyotes, and other mammals. Unusual plant life abounds as well. The 105 acres include five wetland basins and the Lily Nature Center. The park’s name derives from its time as a vegetable farm for much of the 20th century.
6. Fort Ouiatenon
The fort, west of Lafayette along the Wabash River, has been around since 1717 when the French established it as a trading post. One of the first settlements in what became Indiana housed 2,000 to 3,000 people in its heyday. In modern times, it’s a great spot to enjoy a picnic or tour a replica of the fort’s blockhouse, which is open from 1:00 to 5:00 PM on weekends from mid-May to August. Early October features the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, a re-creation of the annual gathering of the French and the indigenous people.
7. The John & Catherine Christian House
This home, also called Samara, was built by Frank Lloyd Wright for a Purdue professor and his wife in the 1950s. It’s one of the architect’s most complete homes and features more than 40 of Wright’s innovations. A 90-minute guided tour is offered from April to October. The cost is $20.
8. Happy Hollow Park
You don’t have to venture into the countryside to enjoy a picturesque park. The 81 acres of Happy Hollow are found right in West Lafayette on Happy Hollow Road. You can explore the walking and hiking trails, and then partake in a family meal in the picnic area. The park is a favored backdrop for photos both formal and informal. Be sure to snap a shot or two as a souvenir of your outing.
9. Farmers Markets
The Lafayette/West Lafayette area features not one but three farmers markets. The Lafayette market, open Saturday morning, is one of the oldest in the Midwest. The West Lafayette market, in Cumberland Park, runs Wednesdays from 3:00 to 7:30 PM, and the on-campus Purdue market vends its wares on mid-day Thursdays. Markets are open from early May through late October. You’ll find the expected bounty of produce plus fresh meats and baked goods, soaps, jewelry, cut flowers, and clothing along with music and restaurant take-out options.
Looking to Live Near Some of These Sites in West Lafayette?
One of the best ways to expand your collegiate horizons is by becoming part of the local community. An
off-campus home allows for the ideal balance of academia and residential life. In a Weida apartment, you can find yourself within easy distance of the classroom and also some of the features that make West Lafayette a wonderful place to live.
Contact us to find your new headquarters for university life.
