Loving the Art, History & Culture of Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is one of those large cities that feels small. Quaint pocket neighborhoods are tucked throughout and the city is incredibly walkable. There is just so many great things to do you can’t possibly cover everything in a weekend, but I will hit some highlights to give you a taste of what this city offers.

I was blown away that the heart of the city has an extensive museum complex, state park, zoo and canal that is a great place to spend some time. The Central Canal is a 3 mile loop that flows through the middle of it all and you can even kayak or paddleboat or have a gondolier ride. You could spend far more than a weekend touring the many museums located here - the Indiana State Museum, the Historical Society Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Eiteljorg Museum devoted to Native America art. Victory Field for minor league baseball and the  are right here too. I loved that you could rent bikes and pedal through the adjacent White River State Park and picnic here. It’s one of the most thoughtful and well-laid out cities that I’ve visited.

We didn’t have far to walk to Monument Circle and see the Soldiers and Sailors Monument that stands out in the middle of the city. The nearby Wholesale District had plenty of dining options as well and it was great to see this area of the city revitalized.

The city has six cultural districts and I love this concept - the city seems to embrace its unique neighborhoods and history instead of letting that divide them. You can’t fit everything in a weekend, but I will touch on the few we visited.

The area along Mass Ave is knows as the arts and theater district and is within walking distance of downtown. Full of performing arts theaters, plenty of art galleries and indie shops make it a fun place to wander. Then when you’re hungry, there are so many restaurants to choose from.

Fountain Square and Indiana Ave are a little further from downtown and these individual neighborhoods full of vintage and antique shops as well as ethnic restaurants will have to be saved to explore another day. Finally, the Broad Ripple neighborhood is a village in its own right. Wonderfully walkable, the village has a great combination of outdoor spaces and art, sidewalk cafes and eateries, boutiques and galleries to spend the day at.

I love that my Indy bucket list designs show so much that this city has to experience. There really is something for everyone - sports enthusiasts, history buffs, craft beer lovers, foodies, and art and boutique shoppers!