Indiana is best known for its sports triumphs, and Indianapolis is home to a number of family-friendly activities that make it perfect for a Midwestern getaway.

Indianapolis, Indiana is probably best known for its sports triumphs: the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NFL Colts, and its NBA team, The Pacers. There is also a vibrant and diverse city supporting those franchises with much to offer visiting families. From world-class museums to a nationally recognized historical restoration village, to one of the largest urban parks in the country, Indianapolis has earned its place among the top cities for family visitors in the country.

Indianapolis Outside: Parks & Zoos

Your Indy exploration should start in the heart of downtown with the White River State Park, which hosts several museums and a zoo within its web of trails and waterways (mainly the White River). There’s also an IMAX theater and a large outdoor concert venue. You can explore the park via multiple means of conveyance—on rental bikes, by Segway tours, aboard gondola rides, and self-propelled pedal boats and kayaks.  Start your tour at the Visitor’s Center for maps and information.

Within the state park, the Indianapolis Zoo is a zoo and more -- it also includes an aquarium with a swim-with-dolphins experience, an ocean touch tank, and a botanical garden.  There are over 2,000 animals in residence, and the zoo also offers special opportunities (with special fees) to experience an elephant painting with his/her trunk, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo, and ride with the engineer on the miniature train that circles the zoo.

Indy has Museums of all Types

Museums abound in Indianapolis, with two of them in the White River State Park.  Of particular interest is the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, which houses of a major collection of both Western Art and Native American Art. Special activities for children are regularly scheduled in their Discover Junction area, which features a stagecoach you can climb in, puzzles, toys and more. A Family Adventures Pack is also available to help moms and dads engage their kids with the exhibits. 

The other museum in the park is the Indiana State Museum, which includes artworks from each of the state’s 92 counties as well as a three-story overview of Indiana’s history. By the time you leave you’ll be an honorary Hoosier.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the world’s largest children’s museum and is not to be missed. On the second floor, the “Take Me There: Egypt” exhibit is a clever and immersive experience. Kids start their trip to Egypt in the cabin of an airplane. From there they can explore created Cairo streets, go inside a typical apartment, and try other simulations of life in Egypt. Future archeologists can explore the Dinosphere, which houses a significant collection of real dinosaur fossils (including a full-size mastodon), a dinosaur dig, a question lab with in-depth dinosaur information, and more. Don’t miss the train exhibits in the basement, the full-size polar bear on the second floor, and the giant Water Clock. Many other exhibits will entertain and inform, and for pure fun, there’s an antique working carousel.

For the car guys and gals, a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum -- even on a non-race day -- is an easy way to taste the experience of one of the most famous auto races in the world, the Indianapolis 500, which draws over 400,000 people each Memorial Day. The Speedway Museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of race cars and trophies. Bus tours are available around the famous track year-round (except during a race!)

Best of the Indianapolis Art Museums

Parents and older kids will enjoy the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which houses over 50,000 works of art and features traveling exhibits year-round. One of the top 10 art museums in the country, the IMA is located on 152 acres showcasing botanical gardens, a greenhouse, Puck's restaurant, and nature trails. Collections within the museum cover nearly every era of art around the world, ranging from Oceanic art to textile and fashion arts to a large collection of Asian art. Also within the grounds is Oldfields - Lilly House & Gardens, an elegant 26-acre estate. Lilly House is a historic house museum and has been restored to its 1930s splendor. General admission is free; however, special exhibits may require a fee.

If the words “art museum” incite a groan from your relatives, try linking them with the word “sport.” Check out the free tour of The National Art Museum of Sport, a unique museum that combines the universal languages of art and sport together through exhibits, outreach programs, and education.  View collections of over 800 paintings, sculptures and works on paper representing over 40 sports. The passion, tradition, and competition of art are captured in the collection, inspiring visitors to consider the discipline and honor of sports.

Step Back in Time to Conner Prairie

Every generation of the family will adore the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, about 10 miles north of the city in Fishers, Indiana. Within the park’s 200 wooded acres are four themed historic areas, offering interactive learning experiences that are just plain fun and that illuminate life in another century.

The activities run the gamut with everything from Native American dancing to tomahawk throwing, candle dipping to pie making, and pioneer kids' games to helping a carpenter. It’s not based on the “don’t touch” approach, but rather on the please “look, touch, smell, taste and hear” approach to opening doors to knowledge, a concept that Conner Prairie has developed over many years.

The newest and most dramatic Conner Prairie experience is taking a helium-filled balloon ride 350 feet above the village.  This experience replicates a famous 1859 hot-air balloon ride which caused a sensation in Layfayette, Indiana.  It’s a weather sensitive activity, but if the weather is against you, you’ll not want for other activities. Don’t let your kids leave without some quality time in the Discovery Station, built just for kids. Children can try on costumes, explore a marketplace, ride a train, and milk a pretend cow.

Explore Indy's Neighborhoods

If historic neighborhoods are your thing, don’t miss the Lockerbie Square District, which is the oldest surviving neighborhood in Indianapolis. Lockerbie Square features an eclectic mix of Italianate, Federal and Queen Anne homes on cobblestone streets in the shadow of downtown Indianapolis.

Another interesting neighborhood for walking, shopping, and exploring is Broad Ripple Village, an area of quaint boutiques and art galleries. You'll find a variety of cuisines represented by some great cafes and restaurants, as well as an active nightlife. There’s an arty tone with public sculpture and graffiti murals, complete with beautiful greenways and parks. The historic Central Canal runs through it, offering water fun and kayak rentals plus hiking trails on the canal’s towpath.  The Indianapolis Art Center is found on the north end of the village, with exhibits and classes.

The Mass Ave Arts District is a five block area rampant with art galleries, theaters, restaurants, and eclectic boutiques for those who want to shop. Kids might enjoy a stop at The Best Chocolate in Town, a chocolate shop best described by its name.

Indianapolis Trip Planning Details

Downtown Indianapolis has a plethora of hotels, including brands such as Omni, Westin, Embassy Suites and Homewood Suites. A top pick is the Conrad Indianapolis, rated as the best hotel in the United States by the Expedia Insider's Select in 2009. The Conrad offers 241 guest rooms, all with upscale amenities. Cribs and high chairs are available free, and there is a babysitting service and children’s video rental available. In the heart of downtown Indy, the Conrad is still just 20 minutes from the airport and also boasts a fitness center, indoor pool, spa, and sauna.

For an easy and free way to get around Indianapolis, hop aboard the Blue Line with IndyGo (317/635-3344) and wind your way through downtown. You'll see major attractions including White River State Park, City Market, Victory Field, The Indiana Convention Center, Circle Centre mall and more.

For more information on attractions and accommodations in Indianapolis, check out the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association’s website or call 800/556-INDY.  For more information on where to stay, see Indianapolis Hotel Reservations.