Indianapolis might be known for hosting the Indy 500, but the Indiana state capital also has many other fun things to do when visiting with friends, partners or children. In addition to visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, add a few more exciting local attractions. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis and the Indiana State Museum are both sizable and immensely delightful for both adults and kids.
Enjoy art at The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and at Newfields. Learn about weird medical history at the Indiana Medical History Museum. With so much to do, you won’t get bored in Indiana's capital, whether visiting on vacation or a weekend trip.
Keep reading to find what we think are the best things to do in Indianapolis.
1. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
3000 N. Meridian St.
The fun starts before you even enter The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. You'll see a family of dinosaurs bursting through the walls to explore the outdoors; meanwhile, a couple of long-necked dinos are peering in through an upper window, getting a view of what the patrons inside are up to.
Inside the museum, you'll find multiple levels with interactive exhibits and learning stations. On the lower level, you and your little ones can take a simulated train ride powered by an 1868 steam locomotive and examine space and the International Space Station. Level one is my favorite, the dinosaurs! Sculptures show what dinosaurs may have looked like. Infants and toddlers will enjoy level three – sensory stimulating play areas like a music studio, water table and sand table.
Among the many museum-run programs are trivia, lessons about dinosaurs and hands-on exhibits in the STEMlab. This children’s museum is a must-see if traveling with kids.
Buying your tickets ahead of time will save you time and money.
The museum is wheelchair accessible, though some exhibits are not. Museum My Way days are special events for families with disabilities or sensory sensitivities. Phone (317) 334-4000 for additional information on disability services.
2. Indianapolis Zoo
1200 W. Washington St.
The Indianapolis Zoo is great for all ages. The 64-acre complex, accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums, is a fun place to learn about conservation efforts and houses many animals. The Orangutans Center might be the most popular spot in the zoo. The facility was designed to stimulate the orangutans allowing them to live enriched lives while supporting conservation efforts.
Another notable place within the zoo is the Forests. This area represents forests around the globe and features Alaskan brown bears, Amur tigers (also called Siberian tigers) and kangaroos. You'll also find red pandas; with a little waddle as they walk, they might be the most adorable creatures at the zoo.
Reptile lovers will enjoy Deserts. This dome structure is like walking into a giant terrarium where snakes and lizards live in warm temperatures year-round.
Skyline is a treat. It's an 8-minute gondola ride over the park that gives a different perspective of all the animal habitats.
Purchase tickets ahead of time. Budget-conscious travelers should consider visiting on weekdays when they can get the best discount on admission.
Per the Indianapolis Zoo, it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements. If you or a person you are traveling with may need special accommodations or you would like more information, contact guest services; phone (317) 630-2001.
3. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
500 W. Washington St.
Despite not being in the West, the museum offers an impressive collection of Western art in the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. The exhibit Attitudes: The West in American Art explores art from the 1820s to the present, including works by Frederic Remington, Daniel Smith, Albert Bierstadt and Georgia O'Keeffe.
The curators of the exhibit Expression of Life: Native Art in North America designed the space to tell the history of Native American people through their point of view. Marvel at the tapestries, woven baskets, sculptures, headpieces, masks, decorative clothing and more from indigenous people across North America, including the Miami and Potawatomi people who lived on the land that now makes up Indiana, as well as Ho-Chunk, Mohawk and Ojibwa people. Multimedia elements within the exhibit help visitors understand the art and history, allowing for a more personal connection with the art.
Your littlest art lovers will have fun at the Nina Mason Pulliam Education Center, which features hands-on activities and immersive experiences for children as well as a quiet sensory room.
The museum features temporary exhibits and hosts two major festivals annually. The Indian Market and Festival occurs in June and has an art market where you can purchase contemporary Native American art from the artists and enjoy performances. Quest for the West in September is an exhibition of contemporary Western artists.
Per the Eiteljorg, the museum is ADA-compliant.
4. Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art)
4000 Michigan Rd.
In addition to the many temporary exhibits that Newfields hosts, you will view abstract expressionism, contemporary, impressionist, pop and minimalist works of art. Roy Lichtenstein, Rembrandt and Sol LeWitt are only some of the notable artists whose works are on display.
In addition to the indoor galleries, stroll through the gardens on the museum grounds. The formal garden harkens back to the 1920s – hedges line gravel paths that lead to a fountain. In The Orchard, see apple trees, cherry trees and plants growing heirloom vegetables, and The Garden for Everyone is wheelchair accessible. It's a multi-sensory experience from February through November when fragrant plants bloom.
Per the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the building is ADA-accessible, and transcripts are available for some presentations. For additional questions about accessibility and accommodations, contact Newfields at (317) 923-1331.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
5. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
4750 W. 16th St.
At The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, you can see Indianapolis 500 winning cars and learn the history of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Serious racing fans will love the Basement Collection. Formerly reserved for VIP guests, you can now take a 30-minute tour to see the Indy 500 pace cars, winning race cars and early motorcycles. This tour carries a hefty price tag, so if you are only a casual fan or traveling on a budget, consider adding on a guided museum tour instead. Your host will regale you with stories and interesting facts about the speedway and the race.
If the race is a must-watch event for you, book a track tour. A few options are available, and they include a guide who will take you onto the track where you'll experience the same views as your favorite drivers. No matter which tour you choose, plan for advance reservations. Walk-ins are possible, but booking your spot ensures you'll get your desired experience.
Per the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, the elevators and tour buses are ADA-compliant, and videos and bus tour narration have subtitles. For additional information about accessibility accommodations, phone (317) 492-6784.
6. Indiana Medical History Museum
3270 Kirkbride Way
The Indiana Medical History Museum is located in the Old Pathology Building on the grounds of the former Central State Hospital. The hospital has a 150-year history, and starting in 1896, doctors studied and treated diseases like alcoholism, dementia, epilepsy, hysteria and schizophrenia here. Today, you can take guided tours to see the teaching theater and autopsy room as well as view preserved specimens.
The hour-long tour may not be for everyone as death and mental illness are discussed. Human skeletons and preserved organs also are on display. But for those interested, the museum offers a fascinating look into medical history.
The tour requires visitors to walk upstairs. If unable to use stairs, request a video tour at the front desk. They also offer tours in American Sign Language; make the request when booking.
After your tour is complete, walk through the Medicinal Garden. About half the plants are native to America, while the other half come from Africa, Asia and Europe. Free guided tours of the garden are offered on the first and third Saturdays of the month from June through September.
7. Eagle Creek Park
W. 56th St. & Eagle Creek Pkwy.
When you need a break from urban activities, head to Eagle Creek Park. Spend time on the water in a canoe, kayak, paddleboat, pontoon boat or stand-up paddleboard rental from Eagle Creek Outfitters. Or mountain bike on some of the trails. If you prefer fishing, head to the marina to get bait and tackle. Among the fish you can catch are largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie.
Hikers will like the 16 miles of trails, some natural and some gravel. If you'd like to join a group hike, either because you're new to hiking or enjoy socializing, check out the Indianapolis Hiking Club's schedule here. Their hikes are free (except for the park entrance fee), and children under age 18 are permitted when accompanied by an adult.
At Go Ape Treetop Adventure, experience the park from a height by traversing a ropes course going higher and higher into the trees and taking five ziplines.
8. Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
1230 N. Delaware St.
President Benjamin Harrison is the only U.S. president to call Indiana home, making his home a must-do for history buffs visiting Indianapolis. Benjamin and Caroline Harrison had the 10,000-square-foot, 16-room Italianate home built between 1874 and 1875.
Today, you can visit this presidential home on guided tours and see paintings, furniture and political memorabilia that belonged to the Harrisons. On the third floor, find rotating exhibits in the space that served as the ballroom.
Take time to visit the gardens. The Elizabeth Harrison Rose Garden is a joy to walk through when the heirloom roses are in bloom, and the presidential Lilac Garden is a feast for the eyes, with flowers of multiple colors all around. There is even a vegetable garden and Concord grapes.
Buy your tickets ahead of time to save a few dollars on your tour. The house has elevator access to all three floors.
9. Indiana State Museum
650 W. Washington St.
The Indiana State Museum is a vast space packed with Indiana history. Part of level one is an interactive space designed for children and adults to play and think about the world in new ways. The rest of the floor is dedicated to ancient history. Immerse yourself in exhibits about the seas that once covered Indiana and fossils of sea creatures, as well as fossils from the animals that lived during the Ice Age, such as mammoths and mastodons.
Level two details Indiana's history, starting with the vibrant communities who called the land home in pre-Columbian America – the Miami and Potawatomi. Exhibits move forward in history, showing how the territory was contested between native peoples, such as Miami Chief Little Turtle and pioneer settlers up to modern-day Indiana. Level three houses rotating exhibits.
Elevators service every floor of the museum. American Sign Language interpreters are available but must be requested in advance; phone (317) 232-1637. Save by purchasing your tickets before your visit.
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