Indianapolis may not have an abundance of theme parks which other cities can boast about, but there are a number of interesting sites which can both educate and entertain your kids. From the pioneering days of the Wild West to the modern speed and thrills of the Indy 500, there should be enough to do.
Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park
This 50,000 square foot indoor facility offers all kinds of water attractions and activities. There are a number of pools, slides and spas, as well as a leisure river for floating along, a kid’s island and video arcade. The only catch is that the park is only open to guests staying at the Holiday Inn Select Indianapolis North Hotel. But if you’re looking for a place to stay, this could make a perfect combination. Phone: +1 317 872 9790
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
As one of the largest children’s museums in the world, the numerous interactive exhibits will be sure to fascinate kids and adults alike. The well-conceived displays cover everything from world cultures to biotechnology. There is an extensive exhibit of toys and dolls, and the recently opened Dinosphere is guaranteed to be a hit. The multisensory dinosaur exhibit makes an excellent attempt to combine serious science with kid-friendly interactive displays. The working laboratory, coupled with the largest display of juvenile and family dinosaur fossils in America creates an absorbing atmosphere. Phone: +1 317 334 3322; website: www.childrensmuseum.org
Fastimes Indoor Karting
If there’s one thing Indianapolis is known for, it’s racing. The Fastimes Indoor Karting centre is a split level facility which provides visitors with the chance to satisfy their need for speed in a variety of different vehicles, some of which can reach 40 miles per hour. Digital timing devices allow drivers to keep track of their lap times and compete against friends. Phone: +1 317 566 0066
Greatimes Family Park
This family fun park sits on five acres of land packed with a wealth of indoor activities for kids and parents alike. When the weather turns bad, spend the day indoors playing miniature golf, driving around the go-cart track or hitting baseballs in the batting cages. There is also a 15,000 square foot arcade if electronic activities are what interest you. Phone: +1 317 780 0300
Indianapolis is not known as a cultural centre and as such, there is a limited range of things to do in this city. The main cultural attraction is the pioneer legacy of early Americans who travelled westwards in search of open space and the promise of a new life. There are a couple of historical museums which shed light on this era of American expansion. However, these days, Indianapolis is best known for the Indy Speedway and is a pilgrimage site for auto racing enthusiasts. It’s unlikely you’ll be overwhelmed, but you should be able to pleasantly fill a couple of days.
Conner Prairie Pioneer Settlement
This restored 19th century frontier village accurately recreates the environment of pioneer life between 1820 and 1840 through a backdrop of 36 authentically restored buildings. Re-enactments of frontier events and crafts demonstrations add to the fun. During the summer months you can bring a picnic and enjoy the Indiana Symphony Orchestra as they perform in the 1,400 acre village. This open-air living museum is a great way to learn about pioneer life in Indiana. Phone: +1 776 6000; website: www.connerprairie.org
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
This impressive modern museum is home to one of America’s most notable collections of Western and Native American art. The collection named ‘Art of the American West’ contains works by Frederic Remington and Georgia O’Keefe among others. But it’s the Native American collection that really stands out. Artefacts include clothing, beadwork and pottery from all across North America, providing an excellent insight into native cultural heritage. Visiting exhibits frequently tour the museum, adding to the already amazing permanent collection. Phone: +1 317 636 9378; website: www.eiteljorg.org
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Most auto racing fans place the Indy Speedway at the top of their list of magical raceways. Built in 1909, Indy is one of the most famous auto racetracks on the planet, attracting over 40,000 spectators each May to watch the Indianapolis 500, which is the largest single-day sporting event in the world. This legendary oval course also hosts the United States Grand Prix in June and the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in August. It’s hallowed ground for every auto racing fan and well worth a visit if you’re interested in the sport. Also on the grounds is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, where you can learn about the history of the track, and those who won here. There’s even a PGA golf course within the oval, if you feel like swinging the clubs. Phone: +1 317 481 8500; website www.brickyard.com
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art houses a wide array of artwork by both American and international artists. The spacious and well-designed galleries display the works of El Greco and Rubens, as well as a number of notable American Impressionists and European neo-Impressionists. Among the other interesting pieces of artwork are items from Africa and Japan. American furniture, costumes and textiles round out the collection. The museum’s grounds also have items of note. The Oldfields-Lilly House is a historic 22-room mansion which offers an authentic perspective on the lives of the rich during the early days of the city. A delightful sculpture garden is also on the grounds, and during the summer the museum hosts a series of Summer Nights concerts and classic films. Phone: +1 317 923 1331; website: www.ima-art.org
Indianapolis Zoo
Indianapolis’ Zoo sits on an expansive 64 acre site in the heart of the city. More than 2,000 animals roam freely in their naturally recreated habitats. The zoo encourages an environment of getting up close and personal with many of the animals, allowing giraffes to be fed and armadillos to be played with. The immense Dolphin Pavilion is one of the zoo’s highlights, as is the newly opened seahorse exhibit. Also on the grounds is the White River Botanical Garden, which presents a range of exotic and local plants in an educational setting. Phone: +1 317 630 2001; website www.indyzoo.com
With a population of nearly one million, Indianapolis is home to a wide range of restaurants, cafés and other eateries. The downtown area alone sports more than 200 places to dine and there are dozens more scattered around the edges of the city centre. As part of its revitalisation effort, Indianapolis is striving to create a dynamic and respected dining scene to cater to its emerging cosmopolitan lifestyle. In addition to the typical American menu establishments, there are a significant number of restaurants serving ethnic cuisine from around the globe.
The downtown district is the best area to eat, thanks to the impressive extent of its restaurant selection. It is here that you can find some of the city’s finest international dining options, with everything from standard continental restaurants to places offering more exotic cuisine such as South East Asian and Middle Eastern delights. American-style grills and barbecues are also very popular with the locals in Indianapolis. If you aren’t already from America, you’ll find that these places serve generous portions of well-prepared meat and side dishes.
One of the trendiest neighborhoods in the downtown area is Broad Ripple Village, which is home to a great selection of notable restaurants, bars and nightclubs. This part of the city is the most popular place to head for a drink after dark, with everything from Irish pubs to traditional saloons and sports bars on offer. After a long night, you can indulge in one of the city’s famous breakfast joints, a meal which Indianapolis thrives on. Many hotel restaurants are excellent at this, but for a more charismatic experience, try one of the city’s diners or coffee shops.
The majority of eateries follow standard operating hours, which are the same as in most American cities. They start serving dinner around 17:00 and shut down around 22:00. The city’s diners are famous for staying open 24 hours a day, providing sustenance through the wee hours of the night.
Indianapolis also has a full selection of shopping strips and malls spread all across the city. Compared to some of America’s more excessive and opulent shopping malls, Indianapolis falls short. However, where it excels is in specialty shopping areas, where buyers can search for more unusual products in a much more pleasant and culturally interesting environment.
Broad Ripple Village is perhaps the best place to start. This charming neighborhood on the edge of downtown is full of interesting and quaint little shops selling everything from home furnishings to boutique clothing and jewellery. You won’t find any big name brand stores down here, just the hard working endeavours of local craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
But if you really want to experience the quintessential American shopping scene, then head over to one of the city’s giant shopping malls, where everything is contained under one air-conditioned roof. Circle Centre is the city’s flagship mall. Located downtown, as part of the urban revitalisation scheme, this mega-mall has all the major anchor stores such as Nordstroms, Parisian and Saks Fifth Avenue. There are also more than 100 specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs and a movie theatre.
The Fashion Mall is the city’s other leading shopping centre, housing the usual anchor department stores as well as many national chains such as The Gap and Eddie Bauer. Castleton Square Mall is even larger than The Fashion Mall, but focuses more on budget shopping than high class designer shops. As in most American cities, the shops in the malls open at 10:00 and close by 21:00 on Mondays through Saturdays. Sundays see shorter opening hours, from 12:00 to 18:00 with many smaller independent closing altogether.
Indianapolis may not be able to offer the countless cultural exhibits as in other cities, but it certainly makes up for this shortfall in the recreational realm. The city has an impressive number of public parks, many of which border waterways such as the canal or White River. There are also countless golf courses and even a couple of professional sports teams. And of course, there’s the Indianapolis Speedway.
Parks
White River State Park is one of the finest parks in the state and is situated right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Like an oasis in the desert, there are dozens of green spaces for relaxing, miles of paths for biking or walking and a central canal with pedal boats for hire. You can even rent a private gondola, complete with gondolier to cruise you around. During the summer, the park’s amphitheatre hosts a continual series of outdoor concerts.
Garfield Park is the city’s oldest park. It was created in 1889, and has a wealth of facilities such as a conservatory, sunken garden, picnic shelters, green spaces for playing and the MacAllister Centre for Performing Arts, which hosts musical performances during the summer. Riverside Park is very popular with families who come to enjoy boating along the White River. There are also numerous sports fields, grassy areas and nice walking paths.
The Canal Walk is part of the city’s historic Central Canal, and stretches through White River State Park north to 11th Street. The 19th century canal has paths along its banks which are ideal for walking, biking, or jogging and of course you can rent a boat and paddle along the waterway. Indianapolis Eagle Creek Park offers over 3,900 acres of dry parkland bordered by 1,400 acres of water, which is the central theme of the park. Besides windsurfing, boating and fishing, there is excellent bird watching in the marshlands, which is a protected wildlife sanctuary.
Golf
The region around Indianapolis is home to dozens of scenic golf courses. This area is one of the country’s most popular places to tee-off, thanks to the beautiful scenery and well-designed courses. Many of them have casual dress codes and are open to players of any level. There are also a handful of championship courses within easy driving of the city for players seeking more of a challenge.
Spectator sports
Indiana is famous for its basketball programs, spanning from high school teams all the way to college hoops and the NBA. The Pacers are the city’s professional basketball team. They play their home games at Conseco Fieldhouse from November to April. The Indiana Fever is the city’s contribution to the women’s professional league, which is quickly gaining popularity. They also play their home games at Conseco Fieldhouse from May to August.
American football can be enjoyed from August to January as the Indianapolis Colts play their home games at the RCA Dome. Even if you aren’t a big auto racing fan, you may want to consider experiencing the atmosphere of a major Indy race at the world famous track. Both NASCAR and Formula One races are held here in May, July and August. The rest of the time, there are local races, which are smaller but just as exciting.
