Things to do in Indianapolis
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Indiana Medical History Museum
A guide leads you 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. It's a few miles west of White River park.
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Indianapolis Museum of Art
The museum has a terrific collection of European art (especially Turner and some post-Impressionists), African tribal art, South Pacific art and Chinese works. The venue 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 Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500 motor race, is Indy's supersight. The Hall of Fame Museum features 75 racing cars (including former winners), a 500lb Tiffany trophy and a track tour ($5 extra). OK, so you're on a bus for the latter and not even beginning to burn rubber at 37mph, but it's still fun to pretend.
The big race itself is held on Memorial Day weekend (last weekend of May) and attended by 450,000 crazed fans. Tickets can be hard to come by. Try the prerace trials and practices for easier access and cheaper prices.
Other races at the Speedway are the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in late July and the Motorcycle Grand Prix in late August. The track is about 6…
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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 – great for people-watching and sipping a cold one on the dog-friendly patio.
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D
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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E
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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G
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. Muffaletta sandwiches, stromboli and Belgian beer are some of the other unusual offerings.
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City Market
Ethnic food stalls and local produce vendors fill the city's old marketplace, which dates from 1886. It's ideal for lunchtime grazing.
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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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World War Memorial
The World War Memorial is an impressively beefy monument.
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White River State Park
The expansive park, located at the edge of downtown, contains several worthwhile sights. 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.
The NCAA Hall of Champions reveals the country's fascination with college sports. The interactive exhibits let you 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.
Other park highlights include an atmospheric …
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New Day Meadery
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Monument Circle
At Monument Circle, the city center is marked by the jaw-dropping 284ft Soldiers & Sailors Monument. For a bizarre (and cramped) experience, take the elevator ($2) to the top. Beneath is the Civil War Museum, which neatly outlines the conflict and Indiana's abolition position. A few blocks north, the World War Memorial is another impressively beefy monument.
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Massachusetts Ave
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