Attractions and Activities
Lafayette’s walkable downtown is divided into three districts: the Arts and Market District; the Wabash Riverfront, where people can walk a portion of the Wabash Heritage Trail; and Chauncey Village, with its Purdue-related shops, campus bars and bookstores. Most of the galleries, art shops, bakeries and candy stores and the Lafayette Brewing Company are found in the Arts and Market District. The red-and-white-striped awning of McCord Candies, in business since the early 1900s, invites people to order at its original soda fountain and to browse and buy in its chocolate shop. The shop is known for its candy canes made on-site in November and December.
“At Lafayette Brewing Company, groups tour the brewing process with a brew master and can rent the entire upstairs and bring in a band or comedy troupe,” said Gregory. “Around the corner, art classes at the Bindery at Lafayette Printing focus on individual projects or working as a team to build an art project that can be shipped to the group.”
Close to downtown, the Subaru tour makes a fascinating outing at the only Subaru factory outside of Japan. Groups of 60 wear headsets and tour on a catwalk above the factory floor while a guide narrates. Plenty of history can be found in the area at the Wabash and Erie Canal Interpretive Center, the Hann Mansion, the Tippecanoe Battlefield and Museum, and the Farm at Prophetstown State Park. Nature is front and center at one-of-a-kind Wolf Park, a nonprofit education and research facility that allows for public viewing of wolves in a natural setting.
“If groups stay in town two nights, we’ll generally recommend the Wabash and Erie Canal Interpretive Center, where they can take a ride on the canal, go through the museum and have dinner,” said Gregory. “The next night, they’ll go to Wolf Park’s Howl Night and then enjoy a meal provided by an off-site caterer.”
Service With a Smile
From start to finish, the Lafayette-West Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau makes meetings easy to plan. Preconference site inspections can be arranged, and an extensive meeting planner guide gives suggestions for facilities, itineraries and more. Before the meeting, a FAM tour can be arranged. The CVB’s media kit provides images and local background stories and complimentary copies of the visitor guide to generate interest in the area. With advance notice, a free step-on guide service is available for spouse and family tours during an event.
“We offer the step-on guide when a group wants to tour downtown or see the Purdue campus,” said Gregory “We give a little history about our city and the college and can customize the tour length, which usually takes about 45 minutes.”
During the conference or meeting, Tippecanoe County can provide a welcome letter from the mayors and/or the bureau president, as well as registration assistance. The CVB can also arrange a downtown dine-around with customized maps. Group members can choose a restaurant from a specified list, or the entire group can enjoy a progressive dinner at several establishments.
“We will create welcome bags and customize the bags’ items to a specific group to get them acquainted with the area,” said Gregory. “We like to organize a group’s every need and act as the liaison between all venues and the supplier, which streamlines the process for planners.”
Lafayette-West Lafayette
Location: Western Indiana
Access: Indianapolis International Airport, Interstate 65, Indiana highways 25, 26 and 38
Major Meeting Spaces: Courtyard by Marriott Lafayette and Conference Center, Four Points by Sheraton West Lafayette, Holiday Inn Lafayette-City Centre, Purdue Conferences
Hotel Rooms: More than 2,400 rooms citywide
Offsite Venues: Lafayette Brewing Company, The Farm at Prophetstown, Wolf Park, Wabash and Erie Canal Interpretive Center
Contact Info
Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette
800-872-6648
www.homeofpurdue.com
