When I moved to Indiana more than 20 years ago, my friends and coworkers in Massachusetts usually mentioned their two first impressions about my new home—Larry Bird and the Indy 500.
That was first and foremost what the state of Indiana brought to their minds. It is true that the great Bird (a former Boston Celtic, now the Indiana Pacers’ president) and the world-famous auto race are a big part of what makes Indianapolis special. But there is so much more. I am still discovering little gems about the place I now call home.
Of course, Indy is a great sports mecca, has wonderful memorials, monuments, and museums, and is home to one of America’s loveliest urban spaces—White River State Park. Then there are the award-winning restaurants, shops galore, trendy and tried-and-true nightspots, and top-notch professional performance venues.
Indy is also winning praise for reinventing the bicycle and pedestrian experience downtown with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, the first of its kind. The 7.5-mile path allows users to pass by and though many destinations that make Indianapolis a recognized leader in the arts community. Since 2007 the trail has been completed in phases and is scheduled for final completion in 2011.
The Glick Peace Walk, scheduled for completion in 2010, is already drawing accolades. The walk will offer 12 distinctive sculptural gardens that celebrate the lives and accomplishments of “luminaries”—Susan B. Anthony, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt, Jonas Salk, Mark Twain, Booker T. Washington, and the Wright brothers. The gardens will feature granite terrazzo plazas depicting the individuals’ contributions to society and a timeline noting significant events that helped shape their lives. Signs will tell their stories through text and images. The centerpieces of the gardens will be 12-foot stainless-steel and glass “luminaries” featuring lighted glass etchings of the individuals. Ten of the luminary gardens will be located on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail along a median to be constructed on Walnut Street between Meridian Street and Capitol Avenue.
One of the biggest assets of the capital city is its friendly people. Hoosier hospitality is not just a catch phrase. It actually exists here. I learned that firsthand when moving from New England. And that friendly, helpful nature was demonstrated time and again when I was working on this book. People went out of their way to help me and were very excited about their city having an Insiders’ Guide.
Founded on the banks of the shallow White River in 1821, the capital city is a major transportation hub known as the “Crossroads of America.” The 12th largest city in the United States, Metropolitan Indianapolis includes nine counties—Marion County/Indianapolis, Hamilton County, Madison County, Hancock County, Shelby County, Johnson County, Morgan County, Hendricks County, and Boone County. It also has several suburban towns with interesting attractions of their own.
Once you’ve visited Indianapolis proper, try branching out and seeing what else Metropolitan Indianapolis has to offer. This chapter will help you understand the lay of the land and give you some information about the Greater Indianapolis area.
Once nicknamed “Naptown,” Indianapolis has grown to become a vibrant city filled with a diverse array of surprising and world-class attractions. Sure, it’s home to the spectacular Indy 500 and boasts more than its fair share of spectator sporting events but Indianapolis has a tremendous amount to offer. Indy is the kind of place you love to show off to visitors, a treasure-filled city that invariably leads to comments like, “Wow, I didn’t know Indianapolis had that!” Yep, we certainly do and so much more.
With a commitment to green, Indianapolis is home to some of America’s great urban spaces. The fact that White River State Park exists in the heart of a city with more than three quarters of a million people is a big clue that this is not your traditional state park. Campsites? Nope. Park admission? Nope. In fact, the city and the 250-acre park mingle so naturally that visitors might saunter into the park without being aware they have done so. Enjoy the splash of fountains and whisper of ornamental grasses along the city’s Canal Walk, a ribbon of water that flows through White River State Park and provides a peaceful respite.
A patriotic city, the Hoosier capital has more memorials and monuments with more acreage devoted to honoring veterans than any other U.S. city except Washington, D.C.
Scattered throughout downtown are statues immortalizing the likes of a young Abe Lincoln (he lived in Indiana from ages 7 to 21), explorer George Rogers Clark, and Miss Victory herself atop the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
In fact, we have so many great places to visit and so many fun things to do that we can’t possibly list them all here. We’ve highlighted some that we recommend and know that you will find even more. That is part of the thrill of exploring Indianapolis. Put on your walking shoes, head off with a map, and you might be surprised at what treasures you will find. Indy is a great walking city, or you can get a pleasant overview by touring in style in a horse-drawn carriage. If you’ve never been to Indianapolis before, welcome. This could be the start of a lovely lasting relationship.
No doubt about it, Indianapolis is a kid-friendly place. If you ask someone why they choose to live in the Hoosier capital, the answer is often that “It’s a good place to raise a family.” It’s also a great place to visit with a family.
That’s not an exaggeration either. After all, Indianapolis is home to the world’s largest children’s museum and one of the biggest city parks in the nation. You’ll see whole families heading to local sporting events, concerts, and festivals. For a wonderful holiday tradition, bundle up and watch the annual Circle of Lights in downtown Indy the day after Thanksgiving. It’s sure to warm your heart to see all the bright young faces watching Monument Circle come alive with thousands of lights, giant toy soldiers, and old St. Nick himself.
This chapter points out some kid-friendly activities and fun spots. It’s only a drop in the bucket of what children love to see and do in Indy. Use this as a start to make your own family memories. It’s stuff like this that your children will remember for the rest of their lives.
The challenge with this chapter—as with so many other chapters—is not enough space for all the goodies I would like to share. When I sat down with a map to choose which day trips and weekend getaways to spotlight, the map was soon filled with more red dots for possible places than there was room in this book to put them all.
Since Indianapolis is situated in the middle of the state, it offers easy access in any direction to a myriad of fascinating destinations. Many of the suggested sites are close enough so that you can make it back to Indianapolis for the evening and still feel as though you had a wonderful getaway. Using Indy as your base, you can howl with the wolves in Battle Ground, understand how the Amish live in Nappanee and Shipshewana, learn about the Underground Railroad stations run by Quakers in Fountain City, read World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle’s writings at his Dana birthplace, see where rebel actor James Dean is buried in Fairmount, marvel at the penny ceiling in Marengo Cave, inspect a fossil bed in Clarksville, walk the same halls automotive giants once did in Auburn, watch windmills in Kendallville, be entertained by Garfield the cat in Muncie, celebrate July 4th at the famed Madison Regatta on the Ohio River, and so much more. See what I mean about a wealth of activities? These tantalizing attractions aren’t even among the ones I have listed. (But if their mention has sparked your interest, you can contact Indiana Tourism at www.VisitIndiana.com for more information.) If you’re not familiar with the Hoosier state, you might be surprised at how varied the terrain and towns are. After traveling around Indiana for decades, I have discovered so many attractions I never expected to find and hope to return to explore once again.
The list below is only a start. If your favorite is not included, maybe it will be in the next edition. So get out there and see what you discover. Adventure awaits.