Things to do in Indianapolis
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Indiana Medical History Museum
The Indiana Medical History Museum, a guide leads visitors through century-old pathology labs. The highlight, especially for zombies, is the room full of brains in jars. There's also a healing herb garden to walk through.
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Indianapolis Museum of Art
This museum has a terrific collection of European art (especially Turner and some post-Impressionists), African tribal art, South Pacific art and Chinese works. The museum is linked to Oldfields - Lilly House & Gardens, the 26-acre estate of the Lilly pharmaceutical family, and Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, which features sculptures and audio installations amid 100 acres of woodlands.
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500 motor race, is Indy's supersight. Tickets (www.imstix.com; around US$20-140) are hard to come by for the big event, held on Memorial Day weekend and attended by 450,000 crazed fans. Tickets for pre-race trials and practices are more likely (and cheaper). Other races at the Speedway are the MotoGP World Championship in September and NASCAR Brickyard 400 in late July.
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Plump's Last Shot
Bobby Plump inspired the iconic movie Hoosiers. He's the kid who swished in the last-second shot, so his tiny school beat the 'big city' school in the 1950s state basketball championship. There's sports memorabilia everywhere, and sometimes Bobby himself is on site. It's located in a big house in Broad Ripple overlooking the Monon Trail - great for people-watching and sipping a cold one on the dog-friendly patio.
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NCAA Hall of Champions
The NCAA Hall of Champions reveals the country's fascination with college sports. The NCAA renovated the museum recently, making it much more interactive, so you can now shoot free throws or climb onto a swimming platform à la Michael Phelps. You'll probably find most Hoosiers hovering around the basketball exhibits, as locals are renowned hoop-ball fanatics.
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Mug 'N' Bun
The mugs are frosted and filled with a wonderful home-brewed root beer. The buns contain burgers, chili dogs and juicy pork tenderloins. And don't forget the fried macaroni-and-cheese wedges. At this vintage drive-in near the Speedway, you are served - where else? - in your car.
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Rathskeller
Quaff German brews at the outdoor beer garden's picnic tables in summer, or at the deer-head-lined indoor beer hall once winter strikes. The six-beer sampler gets you acquainted with the wares. It is located in the historic Athenaeum building near Mass Ave.
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Slippery Noodle Inn
Downtown's Noodle is the oldest bar in the state, and has seen action as a whorehouse, slaughterhouse, gangster hangout and Underground Railroad station; currently, it's one of the best blues clubs in the country. There's live music nightly, and it's cheap.
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Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art
The adobe Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art features Native American basketry, pots and masks, as well as a realistic/romantic Western painting collection with works by Frederic Remington and Georgia O'Keeffe.
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Bazbeaux
A local favorite, Bazbeaux offers an eclectic pizza selection, like the 'Tchoupitoulas, ' topped with Cajun shrimp and andouille sausage. Muffalettas, stromboli and Belgian beer are some of the other unusual offerings.
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City Market
At lunch it's hard to beat the cheap eats at the old City Market, which is two blocks east of Monument Circle, and filled with ethnic food stalls and local produce vendors.
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Monon Coffee Company
This locally owned, art-infused shop takes its lattes seriously, as well as its fruit smoothies, sandwiches and baked goods. It's located in Broad Ripple, just off the Monon Trail.
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Lucas Oil Stadium
The motor races aren't the only coveted spectator events. The NFL's Colts win football games under a huge retractable roof at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Chatterbox Tavern
Chill out with the varied clientele at this intimate, candlelit bar in the Mass Ave 'hood. It features live jazz nightly, and a hearty stock of beer and wine.
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Shapiro's Deli
Chomp into a towering corned beef or peppery pastrami sandwich on homemade bread, and then chase it with fat slices of chocolate cake or fruit pie.
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Hall of Fame Museum
The Hall of Fame Museum features 75 racing cars (including former winners), a 500lb Tiffany trophy and a track tour ($3 extra).
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Borders Books & Music
The ubiquitous chain bookstore has a large branch in the center of town for all your reading, coffee-slurping, and listening needs.
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Abbey Coffeehouse
Serene? Check. Art-filled walls? Yep. Comfy armchairs? Got 'em. The sandwiches, wraps and tempeh burritos are delicious, too.
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Conseco Fieldhouse
Basketball is huge in Indiana, and Conseco Fieldhouse is ground zero, where the NBA's Pacers make it happen.
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Civil War Museum
The Civil War Museum, which neatly outlines the conflict and Indiana's abolition position.
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