Between busy schedules, school pickups and family responsibilities, finding time for a grown-ups-only getaway can feel almost impossible. But parents need to make time to recharge and reconnect with friends, too!

Enter Lafayette and West Lafayette. Located in the heart of Indiana and home to Purdue University, these neighboring cities offer an easy weekend escape that doesn’t require complicated planning or a packed itinerary. You’ll find locally owned restaurants, cool downtown areas, scenic parks, fun museums and many opportunities to slow down and reconnect with friends.

Lafayette and West Lafayette offer a little bit of everything, making it a great destination for your next group vacation. Here’s what you should consider experiencing during your trip to the area!

What to Do 

Immerse Yourself in Art

See the largest collection of Indiana art in the world at Haan Museum in Lafayette, which celebrates the state’s artistic history. Located inside a historic mansion that was originally built for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, the museum features paintings, Indiana ceramics, sculptures, and antique American furniture. Visitors can explore rotating exhibitions with a guided or self-guided tour Wednesdays through Saturdays. Outside, the sculpture garden provides a peaceful space for reflection and creativity.

Lovers of mid-century modern architecture need to make a point to tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Samara, a home completed in 1956 for Dr. John and Catherine Christian in West Lafayette. The home is an example of Wright’s Usonian style, which focused on simple and functional living spaces. During the guided tour of the carefully preserved house, you’ll get a close look at the house’s original furniture, décor and thoughtful design details.

Experience Lafayette’s local art scene with a stop at one of the galleries in the downtown area.  Artists’ Own is a cooperative gallery that features handmade work, including jewelry, pottery, photography, paintings, glass art and home décor. Because the artists help run the shop, visitors often have the chance to talk directly with the people who created the pieces. At Beyond Gallery & Gift Shop, not only can you find one-of-a-kind art pieces and gifts, but the store also offers rotating exhibits, giving visitors something new to see all throughout the year.

Get up close and personal to Lafayette’s public art scene by doing a self-guided tour around the downtown area. The city is home to 119 (and counting!) pieces of art that the public can enjoy, including colorful murals and sculptures. It’s a fun way to take in the culture of the city while spending time dining and shopping in downtown Lafayette.

“Wine” Down with a Wine Tasting

Wine with girlfriends: Is there anything better? Enjoy a glass (or two!) at Wildcat Creek Winery in Lafayette, a charming woman-owned winery. It offers a variety of locally made Indiana wines, including sweet and dry, making it easy for groups with different tastes to find something to enjoy. You can sample wines in the tasting room, opt for a wine flight, or pick up bottles to take home. It’s also a great place to hang out, as there are lots of tables on the patio or in the beautiful grassy outdoor area.

Located in downtown Lafayette, The Cellar Wine Bistro is a cozy spot to enjoy a glass or wine flight featuring wines from around the world. They also offer an extensive wine bottle list of over 100 wines, so you can take some of the magic back home with you.

Treat Yourself to a Spa Day

A visit to The Spa Union Club Hotel is a good way to slow down during a girlfriends’ getaway. The spa offers massages, facials, nail services and other treatments, so everyone can get their preferred pampering treatment while also spending together in the communal relaxation room with a complimentary beverage and snacks. The spa also offers Aescape, technology that combines massage with robotics and artificial intelligence to deliver a customizable, relaxing experience.

Visit a State Park and Farm

For some outdoor fun, Prophetstown State Park and The Farm at Prophetstown offer a mix of outdoor activities, local history, and food experiences that will enhance any adult getaway. Prophetstown is Indiana’s newest state park, and it’s a place where you can explore hiking trails, prairie landscapes, and the park’s Native American and pioneer history exhibits. Be sure to stop at The Farm at Prophetstown, which features gardens, heritage livestock and demonstrations that show daily farm life from the 1920s. One of the highlights is the farm-to-table dinners held throughout the year, where guests enjoy meals made with seasonal ingredients grown or raised on-site.

Discover Local History

For a mix of history and time outdoors, the Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum is worth the short drive from Lafayette. Located in the town of Battle Ground, the museum shares the story of the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe through exhibits, artifacts, maps and displays about Tecumseh, The Prophet and William Henry Harrison.

The surrounding park includes walking trails, picnic areas, and an 85-foot battlefield monument. Nearby, the Wah Ba Shik A Nature Center offers wildlife exhibits and scenic trails.

Meet Some Wild Animals

The Lafayette and West Lafayette area offers many animal encounter opportunities, giving you your cute-animal fix!

For a howling good time, a trip to Wolf Park will add something unique to your visit to the area. Known for its wolves, foxes and bison, the park offers guided tours and demonstrations that give visitors an up-close look at animal behavior and conservation.

At the Columbian Park Zoo, you can see animals including wallabies, monkeys, penguins and reptiles while spending time outdoors. And if you visit during the springtime when the babies are born, you might even get to pet some lambs and kids! The small zoo is walkable, relaxed and easy to enjoy without committing an entire day. Located inside Columbian Park, the area also includes gardens, walking paths and places to sit and relax between exhibits.

Where to Eat 

Triple XXX: Indiana’s first and oldest drive-in, eating at Triple XXX is a West Lafayette tradition. Known for its classic diner atmosphere, breakfast served all day and homemade root beer (and root beer jelly!), this restaurant is beloved by the Purdue community.

Ripple & Company: Serving up a creative menu of smoked meats, tacos, sandwiches and desserts, Ripple & Company is a great place to find a casual meal in a fun atmosphere. Its sister location across the street, East End Grill, offers an elevated but still down-to-earth meal in downtown Lafayette.

Arni’s: With multiple locations all around Indiana, Arni’s began in the 1960s in Lafayette, and has been an institution ever since. They are known for their thin-crust pizza, which you can get in sizes that range from an individual pie to a 14-inch that will feed a group. Arni’s also has a wide variety of salads, pasta dishes and Stromboli, so everyone leaves happy.

Boilerhouse Prime: Celebrating the legacy of Purdue University and its golfing legends, Boilerhouse Prime is an upscale restaurant that is known for its steaks, seafood, bourbon selections and craft cocktails. This intimate restaurant is located in the Pete Dye Clubhouse, and is the place for steak lovers, as you can find USDA Prime, Linz Heritage, American Wagyu, and A5 Japanese Wagyu cuts on the menu.

Black Sparrow: A place for the grown-ups only, Black Sparrow is a 21+ restaurant and bar serving offbeat pizzas, creative sandwiches, a rotating menu of specials and eclectic cocktails.

8Eleven Modern Bistro: Located inside Union Club Hotel at Purdue University, 8Eleven Modern Bistro serves American classics with a French twist. Bonus: There are lots of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options on the menu, too.

Ritual: One of the cooler places in the area, Ritual is an intimate bar with creative and friendly bartenders. Each month, a new menu of creative cocktails is available, made with ingredients that you might not expect, like thyme-infused gin, saline and tomato-raspberry shrub.

McCord Candies: McCord Candies has been serving handmade chocolates, old-fashioned fountain sodas and ice cream in downtown Lafayette for generations. They also have a large selection of candies and treats to take home!

Igloo Frozen Custard:  A longtime local favorite for frozen custard, sundaes, shakes and other cool treats, Igloo Frozen Custard is open seasonally, so it’s the perfect spot to hit up during the warmer months. The walk-up stand draws Purdue students and visitors alike as a nostalgic, casual stop for dessert.

Scones & Doilies: Just as the name implies, this artisan bakeshop is the perfect place to grab a scone, but they offer lots of other delicious goodies, including cookies, cupcakes, rugelach and savory galettes.

Kurtoskalacs Chimney Cakes: Indiana’s only chimney cake bakery is located in downtown Lafayette, and serves up kürtőskalács, an Eastern European pastry filled with anything from ice cream to fruit.

Where to Stay 

There are many accommodation options in Lafayette and West Lafayette. But for an elevated experience during a girlfriend’s getaway or adults-only trip, the Union Club Hotel at Purdue is a great option. Located right on the campus of Purdue University, the recently renovated hotel puts you just steps away from Purdue landmarks, sporting events, restaurants and walking paths.

Grab coffee downstairs at one of the cafes, find a bite to eat in the adjoining Purdue Memorial Union, or relax in the lobby bar during happy hour. The atmosphere at Union Club Hotel feels polished but down-to-earth. Beyond campus, downtown Lafayette is just a short drive away. It’s a great home base for a weekend full of activities exploring the area.