Lafayette is the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It is located 2 hours Southeast of Chicago and 1 hour Northwest of Indianapolis. The Greater Lafayette metropolitan area consists of the cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette. The combined population is 85,000, not counting a seasonal student population of an additional 38,000. West Lafayette is home to Purdue University, one of the Midwest's finest institutions of higher learning.

Get around

The area is divided by the Wabash river. To the East of the river is Lafayette and to the West is West Lafayette. Lafayette is broken down into several neighborhoods. Starting at the river and heading East is Downtown. Here you will find numerous shops and restaurants as well as most of the museums and theaters. North of downtown is the Historical Centennial Neighborhood. South of downtown is the Ninth Street Hill Neighborhood. Most of the shopping and hotels are either Downtown or along one of the main arteries. State Rd 26 runs East and West bisecting both cities. State Rd 52 curves around the East side of town and crosses the river into the Northern side of West Lafayette. On State Rd 52 near the Southeast side of town you will find the Tippecanoe Mall. Interstate 65 marks the Eastern edge of Lafayette. From South to North there are 4 exits for Lafayette, St Rd 38, St Rd 26, St Rd 25, and St Rd 43 (for West Lafayette).

A pedestrian bridge connects downtown Lafayette with West Lafayette. Starting at the river and heading West into West Lafayette is the Levy area. This area is fairly new with several shops and a multiplex. Continue West up the hill to the Chauncy Hill area. There you will find most of the college bars and several restaurants. Just a bit further West is the main campus of Purdue University. To the North and East of Purdue is the main residential area of West Lafayette.

 There are 15 bus routes around the cities. Tickets are $1, 10 tokens for $7.50 (you can ask for one free transfer ticket), $28 for a calendar month pass, free for students and staff at Purdue. There is a free trolley bus going from Lafayette to West Lafayette/Purdue and back every 10 minutes.

Attractions

 • Go for a walk in the historic downtown, Main St. from 2nd to 9th St.
 • Tippecanoe County Historical Association
 • Fort Ouiatenon
 • Historic Prophetstown State Park
 • Wolf Park
 • Columbian Park
 • Columbian Park Zoo
 • Lilly Nature Center
 • The Standard Oil station, one of only seven left, is a walk-by museum.

Dining

 • Crescent Moon Cheesecake Co., Corner of CR 350 South and Concord Rd in the Concord Crossing Shopping Center, Lafayette.
 • Triple XXX Indiana's first drive-in restaurant. Known for biscuits and gravy and a famous hamburger with peanut butter.
 • Panera Bread, 328 East State Street, West Lafayette. Have coffee, bagels, sandwiches. Also have free wireless internet.
 • Cajun Connection, downtown Lafayette. Excellent Cajun food, catering. Crawfish etoufee, try it!!

Drink

Lafayette
 • Ben Hur Tavern 1002 S 4th
 • Biltmore Tap Room 1202 S 4th
 • Champ's 610 S Earl Ave
 • Chances Are Showclub 3521 St Rd 26 E
 • Checkerboard Tavern 1521 Kossuth St
 • Chumley's 122 N 3rd
 • Clubhouse Bar and Grill 827 N 6th
 • Cox's Pub 3312 South St
 • Danzer's Show Club 3481 McCarty Ln
 • Filling Station 2603 Greenbush
 • Filly's Gentleman's Club 2311 Concord Rd
 • Knickerbocker Saloon 113 N 5th St. 765-423-2234 Founded in 1835, billed as Indiana's oldest saloon. Tons of live music, usually jazz.
 • Lafayette Brewing Company 622 Main St. Tel: 765-742-2591. Lafayette's only brewery (do not ask for a bud light here, only beer made on site served). Brew pub with very good selection of beers. Also has good food and a second floor stage with live music and open mic nights.
 • Linwood Tavern 1244 N 14th
 • Luxie's, 648 Main St.
 • Mom's Place 1301 Union
 • Overtime Tavern 2511 US HWY 231 S
 • The Pub 407 Union
 • Sgt. Preston's of the North 6 N 2nd
 • Zooleggers 644 Main. Lafayette's only gay bar. Recently renovated and renamed, formerly known as The Sportsman.

West Lafayette
 • Harry's Chocolate Shop 329 W State St. It used to be a soda fountain but don't expect any chocolate to be served in this drinking mainstay.
 • Hooligans 124 Howard Ave
 • Jakes Roadhouse 135 S Chauncy
 • Neon Cactus 360 Brown St
 • Nick's Billiards Cafe 402 Brown St. More pool tables than you can shake a stick at
 • Veno's Bar and Grill 1400 W State St
 • Wabash Yacht Club 135 S Chauncy
 • Where Else Bar 304 State St

Lodging

 • Bed and Breakfast - Perrin House, Loeb House. Both very nice.
 • Super 8 West Lafayette 2030 North Gate Drive. Tel: +1 765 567 7100. Located on the Interstate 65, seven miles away from Purdue University, Wolf Park and a little away from the Columbian Park. Secure Online Reservations.
 • Econo Lodge West Lafayette Hotel 200 Brown Street. Tel: (765) 743-9661. Fax: (765) 743-8253. The closest hotel to the campus of Purdue University - located on the Northeast corner of State Street (Hwy 26) River Road (Hwy 231), near the banks of the Wabash River.