What are the top activities in Indianapolis? First, let's ask if Indianapolis is a tourist destination? According to Visit Indy, they are. In 2016, Indianapolis hosted more than 28.2 million visitors who spent nearly $5 billion. I guess there's more than just little pink houses in Indy, but where do we start?
We pay tribute to Indianapolis' master of top ten lists David Letterman with tonight's top ten list. This Broad Ripple poet was a great inspiration to me as a child. His comedic sarcasm and deadpan delivery not only inspired my Midwestern pride, but also taught me the fine art of powerful poetic contemplation. And now, from the home office, our top ten things to do in Indianapolis…
Indianapolis Cultural Trail and Canal Walk
Indianapolis grew up at the confluence of the White River and Fall Creek and the first thing the city did was build a canal to increase trade on the White River. Now, modern Indianapolis has revitalized its downtown with an eight-mile world-class bicycle and pedestrian path called the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. This route features eight different paths connecting historic downtown neighborhoods to any number of public art displays. If you want to continue the ride, the cultural trail connects to moneythe Nice runningand White River Wapahani TrailFor the fun of cycling.
It was our favorite route Canal walkwhich travels along both sides of the canal to form a 3-mile loop. If you prefer, you can travel across the canal by chartered rowing boats Indiana State Museum Or even the gondolas in La Venezia.
Another great way to explore the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is by Easily share a bike. We found the bikes to be well maintained and easy to ride. It even comes equipped with a light-sensitive headlight. One downside is that you only have 30 minutes of rental time between timeshare stops. However, you have an unlimited number of daily rentals and 29 bike share stations to choose from. It's a bit of a journey, a bit of a look, an adventure for sure.
Explore the city center off the cultural track
The Cultural Trail provides access through the city centre, but if you don't venture off the trail, you won't see everything. There are plenty of delicious cuisines and special attractions, so we'll highlight just two. Memorial Department It is a park surrounding the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors' Monument with a more attractive name. It's a great example of neoclassical architecture and overall just a stylish place to wander. We also liked how… Central Library He had a circular library of books waiting for people to pick them up.
Take the beer bus or wine bike
Indianapolis' craft beer scene bounces around with about fifty different breweries in the city. If you want to make your drink with your crew simple, we have some great suggestions for you.
- Take a brewery tour and leave the driving to your guide. Options include Indy Pro Busa converted school bus, and Indianapolis brewery tour Which features a luxury package. They take you to four different breweries with samples galore and purchase packages for your favorites.
- Try a pedal powered bar like Handle bar or Pickle seller. You and a dozen of your friends can take advantage of Indianapolis' liberal open container laws and stroll through downtown Beer City at the same time. Talk about replacing spandex with suds.
Go to the museum
We visited Children's Museum We loved it so much we want to return with our young nieces. They will be amazed by the Children's Power Exhibition. It tells the stories of Anne Frank (a Holocaust victim), Ruby Bridges (the first wave of students in desegregated New Orleans) and Ryan White (an AIDS patient in the early 1980s). All these wonderful children bravely faced extreme hardships and changed the world. Their stories are not told with flat banners. The exhibition takes you into their world, literally. You walk into replicas of the Anne Frank Annex, Ruby Bridges' classroom and Ryan White's bedroom filled with live theater performances. The other exhibits at the Children's Museum are interactive and informative, with absolute attention to detail.
Museum abundance
Indianapolis has more museums to offer including:
- Indianapolis Museum of Art – Could this be the best place to fall in love in Indianapolis?
- Indiana War Memorial – Did you know that Indianapolis is second only to Washington, D.C. in memorials to veterans?
- Indianapolis State Museum -More than just rowboats on the canal.
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum – The complete history of going fast and turning left in Circle City. Which brings us to our next entry…
Race to Indianapolis Speedway
With a seating capacity of more than 400,000 spectators Indianapolis Motor Speedway It is the largest sports venue in the world. Indianapolis is home to IndyCar racing as well as the NASCAR Brickyard 400, Formula 1, Grand Prix, motorcycle racing and even marathons. With the largest seating capacity comes the largest wallets, which in turn attracts the best drivers. It's no wonder Indianapolis is called the racing capital of the world.
Dare to experience the Indy racing experience
Next time we go to Indianapolis, we'll do the following Indy racing experience. First, you can choose the car between IndyCar or Stock Car. Next, you can choose whether you want to drive or ride as a passenger. Now you're ready to take two laps of the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway at speeds in excess of 180 mph.
Catch an event at Lucas Oil Stadium
This sports entertainment district is home to the Indianapolis Colts, B1G Ten Championships (defend our honor, so we'll fight to the end) and many other signature events. You can even take Tour of Lucas Oil Stadium Almost any day of the week or Catch the Colts game.
Head to Eagle Creek Reservoir for outdoor adventure
Eagle Creek Reservoir is one of the ten largest municipal parks in America with more than 1,400 acres of water, 3,900 acres of land, and 14 miles of trails.
Garden activities include:
- Runway – Home of Jazz in the Park and many other outdoor concerts.
- Go on a treetop adventure – Legal ropes course. Great for everyone ages 10 and up (Tree top Jr. for ages 6 and up)
- Park park – Where dogs and their owners come to play.
- Boat ramp and slips – If you have to ask, you probably can't support the trailer anyway.
- Cross country skiing – There's more to skiing in Indiana than just Terre Haute.
- Hunting areas – A lot of people like to fish at Eagle Creek.
- Eagle Creek Golf Club – 36 holes of golf in a natural setting. No wonder Golf Digest rated this course a “Place to Play” in Indiana.
- Ornithology Centre This bird lover's center features a Meet a Raptor program and an observation deck above the Marsh and Bird Sanctuary where you can see bald eagles, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, crows, or some of the other 265 bird species in the park.
- Earth Discovery Center -$3.4 million installation opens classrooms to nature.
- Eagle Creek Outfitters – If you need a boat or bike, you can rent one here. From all your personal powered watercraft to pontoon boats to sailboats, they have you covered.
- Sunset and moon cruises -Water is magic in itself. Combine that with a blazing sunset or a sparkling moon and look out. You may find yourself at the Art Proposal Museum in no time. Eagle Creek Outfitters offers guided and self-guided trips.
- Swimming beach – A no-joke beach with sand volleyball, water bouncy games, and lifeguards.
- blasphemy -Home of the Indianapolis Rowing Center, Eagle Creek has hosted the NCAA Championships and Pan Am Games.
Indianapolis Zoo
Did you know that Indianapolis Zoo Was it the first facility to be certified as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden? It is located on an area of 64 acres White River State Park It receives more than one million visitors annually.
The zoo is organized along biomes, or habitat areas of forests, deserts, oceans, plains, and commons. Our favorite exhibit was the $21 million International Orangutan Center.
Your zoo ticket includes admission to the White River Gardens and Hilbert Conservatory. This three-acre facility is located adjacent to the zoo and is definitely worth a visit.
Cue Paul Shaffer and an index card toss
To be fair, we're not ranking these from 1 to 10, just one out of ten, but it was either a top ten list or some stupid travel writer's trick, so which one do you think we'll pick? One of the writer's tricks we choose to employ is…wait for it…yes, wait for it. More top ten lists!! You will have to wait for the food and cool stuff. We promise we won't keep you waiting long, and it will be worth the wait.
Until then, in the words of John Green – don't forget to be great!
Hello! We are Jane and Ed Coleman also known as Coleman Concierge. In short, we are a 10th generation couple from Huntsville sharing our stories of amazing adventures through transformative and experiential activity-based travel.
