Location: Indianapolis
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10 Things to do Good for Kids in Indianapolis That You Shouldn't Miss
High-speed, history and good old Hoosier hospitality are a few reasons to put Indianapolis on your list of great getaways. Sports is another. From the legendary Indianapolis 500 to the Pacers and the Colts, the city offers ample opportunities to view professional and amateur sporting events, take part in athletic events and visit sports museums. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall Of Fame Museum you can tour the famous track (try to reserve tickets if there is a race in town) or visit the museum dedicated to automobiles and auto racing. Other sporty museums include the NCAA Hall of Champions. To get in on some of the action, head to SportZone which features six acres of indoor athletic facilities the whole family will enjoy. Those less interested in sports, or with kids in tow, can still find tons to do in and around the city. History, art and other cultural attractions abound. Visit the Children's Museum or checkout the zoo. Stroll along cobblestone streets past 19th-century buildings in the Lockerbie Square District or visit any number of historic landmarks. Known as the "Crossroads of America," more interstate highways bisect Indianapolis than any other city in the country, making it an exciting and easily accessible destination.
Restaurants in Indianapolis
1. Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,894 reviews
The largest children's museum in the world just got even bigger with the addition of a new 7.5-acre outdoor health and fitness area that encourages activity through multiple sports. The new space, called Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience includes basketball, football, hockey, soccer, pedal car racing (drag strip and oval track), golf, baseball, and tennis. The indoor portion of the new area includes the National Art Museum of Sport along with the World of Sport and History of Hoops. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis itself is made up of 500,000 square feet with exhibits and activities that are fun and interesting for the entire family as they explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures and the arts through exciting interactive exhibits on five floors. Families will discover some of the most rare dinosaur fossils in the world and see what it's like to live and work in space. There's also a theater with children's plays and live entertainment.
Reviewed By harp16317 - Indianapolis, United States
Great time wonderful place to take your kids.Big and clean.Staff is always very nice & friendly as well as helpful.Many different exhibits with stuff to keep all ages interested.They sell food and drinks.
2. Indianapolis Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,446 reviews
With a collection of more than 54,000 works of art, an early-20th-century estate, 152 acres of gardens and grounds, including an outdoor art and nature park, the IMA campus offers experiences that feed both the heart and mind.
Reviewed By 732lancel - Denver, United States
IMA has an excellent and very large collection. I focused on the contemporary and modern collection and was very impressed. What is exceptional about IMA, is that in addition to the main complex, the museum is situated on 100 acres of park, including sculpture gardens, AND the Lilly country home, with extensive formal and informal gardens. What a treat!!!!!
3. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,796 reviews
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum presents the stories of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the history of the automotive industry in Indiana, and has vehicles and race trophies and memorabilia from race events around the world. It houses one of the most important collections of racing vehicles and memorabilia in the world.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
I have visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway only once before. I had a seat on the fourth turn, looking down the front stretch to the finish line, and saw Jimmy Clark win the Indianapolis 500 in 1965. The race was significant because it was run without a single accident, not a single yellow flag, only checkered. What amazed me most of all was how swiftly and efficiently all 250,000 spectators were moved in and out of the giant track. I didn't have an opportunity to visit the museum on that occasion. But I made a point of touring the facility on our recent visit to Indianapolis. Located within the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in suburban Speedway, Indiana, the 37,000-square-foot museum houses one of the world's premier collections of automotive and motor racing vehicles and artifacts. It is linked to the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 but also includes exhibits reflecting other forms of motorsports, passenger cars and general automotive history. It also is home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. The original museum was established in 1956. This museum opened in 1976. It features 30 Indianapolis 500 winning cars, pace cars, the Borg-Warner Trophy and other trophies and plaques, racing paraphernalia such as helmets, gloves and driver's suits, model cars, photographs, toys and paintings. Displays include highlights of the history of the Speedway's ownership, evolution of the track and other memorabilia. Take a bus tour of the track, a lap around the oval and do what the Indianapolis 500 winners do, kiss the 1909-vintage paving bricks at the finish line. Stroll through Gasoline Alley. Also see a short film of the history of the Indianapolis 500 in the Tony Hulman Theatre. See the 1911 Marmon Wasp, the first Indianapolis 500 winner driven by Ray Harroun, all four of A.J. Foyt's winning cars, the 1965 Spirit of America that set a world land speed record, the 1931 Cummins Diesel driven by Dave Evans, the first car to complete the Indianapolis 500 without a pit stop, the 1977 Bryant Heating & Cooling Lightning/Offy driven by Janet Guthrie, the first female to qualify for the 500 and the 1965 Le Mans winning Ferrari 250 LM. Also see the picture wall featuring the drivers and cars of all Indianapolis 500 winners. Finally, visit the Auto Racing Hall of Fame, which dates to 1952 and highlights 155 inductees from Ray Harroun to Barney Oldfield to Eddie Rickenbacker to Mauri Rose to Fireball Roberts to A.J. Foyt to Mario Andretti to Al and Bobby Unser to Parnelli Jones to Roger Penske. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
4. Indianapolis Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,453 reviews
The Indianapolis Zoo is located in White River State Park, conveniently located in beautiful downtown Indianapolis with easy access to walking and biking trails into the city. The Zoo is also just minutes from multiple interstates to make travel convenient for out-of-town visitors. Triple accredited as a zoo, an aquarium and a botanic garden, visitors can experience all of these attractions for one admission price. Open year-round with 64 acres of indoor and outdoor habitats, the Indianapolis Zoo is home to nearly 1,300 animals of approximately 230 species as well as 47,000 plant specimens.
Reviewed By 932all
My husband and I and our 3 married children and their families (17 total) visited the Indy Zoo to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. We greatly enjoyed our day at the zoo....the dolphin show was a highlight as well as the Butterfly Kaleidoscope and the Dog Show. The "climbing" gorilla was fun to see. The zoo was very clean and we hope to visit it again in the next year.
5. Indiana Historical Society
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
History should be more than read or viewed – it should be experienced. Immerse yourself by planning your visit to the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. Located along the Central Canal in downtown Indianapolis, the History Center invites you to experience Indiana’s past in new and exciting ways. We do history.
Reviewed By EagleTravel29 - Indianapolis, United States
We really enjoyed the Christmas trees decorated by various institutions throughout the museum. We also really enjoyed the Madam Walker exhibit. Definitely makes us want to read more about her life and career. Well done!
6. Indiana War Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 648 reviews
A tribute to Indiana war veterans, from World War I to the Vietnam War.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Perhaps no city outside Washington DC does more to honor our nation's veterans than Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indiana World War Memorial Plaza, originally built in 1924 to honor the veterans of World War I, is a plaza that covers five city blocks that includes the Indiana World War Memorial, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Cenotaph Square, Veterans Memorial Plaza, Depew Memorial Fountain, University Park, American Legion Mall and a don't-miss military museum. Located at 51 East Michigan Street, bounded by St. Clair, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Meridian Streets, the centerpiece of the plaza is the Indiana World War Memorial, which is modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and contains "the Altar of the Flag" in the Shrine Room. The memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The War Memorial, whose cornerstone was laid in 1927 by General John Pershing, is 210 feet tall or 75 feet taller than the original Mausoleum. Made of unrelieved ashlar Indiana limestone with six Ionic columns on each side, it is one of the most imposing neoclassical structures in the country. There are several sculptures. Most notable of all is Henry Hering's colossal male nude bronze Pro Patria, which is 24 feet high and weighs seven tons, the largest cast bronze sculpture in the United States. Also impressive is the 100-foot-tall black granite obelisk in the Veterans Memorial Plaza. Be sure to visit the Indiana World War Memorial Military Museum, which honors Hoosier soldiers in a timeline from the American Revolutionary War to modern conflicts. World War I and World War II are featured most prominently. Among the exhibits are a replica of the radio room of the USS Indianapolis, which was sunk after delivering the first atomic bomb to Tinian in WW II, a Cobra helicopter, the USS Indiana's commission plate, 300 Civil War flags, firearms of all types and a replica of Indiana's Liberty Bell. Lots of history, lots of memories, lots of time for sober reflection.
7. The Eiteljorg Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 843 reviews
The museum houses Indian artifacts, as well as works by famous Western artists.
Reviewed By juliev593 - Auburn, United States
First of all, we were happy to park so close in the underground parking garage, and it was even better that they validated the parking ticket ay the museum entrance so we didn't have to pay. We expected to see Remingtons and Russels, which we did, but there was so much more. We loved the huge Grand Canyon murals and finding a hidden treasure around every corner. We spent about 3 hours there, which included a visit to the cafe (food was good and generously portioned). We happened to catch the Jingle Rails exhibit and it was outstanding. The galleries would be less interesting for younger children, but for anyone interested in the American West or history, there is a lot to see and explore.
8. Soldiers & Sailors Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 500 reviews
A monument built in 1902 as a tribute to the Indiana soldiers who served in the Civil War.
Reviewed By lemonshakeup1
Dedicated to war heroes. Beautiful piece of Indiana history. From the basement (which I am sure was part of the underground railroad), to the Victory at the top. Look for soldiers bricks, have lunch on the steps, climb the zillion stairs to the top. Learn why the circle city, cross roads of America are all names for Indianapolis. Even at Christmas when it becomes a beautiful giant winter wonderland. Great for all ages.
9. Eagle Creek Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 335 reviews
Reviewed By Beachykeen7684
Always a wonderful park to visit for hiking, biking and getting out of the house. Social distancing adventures. Creeks to stomp in and nature to quietly observe. Indianapolis Gem.
10. Indiana State Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 508 reviews
Take a journey through Indiana's history, from the age of mastodons and mammoths to 21st century science, art and culture. Families can enjoy hands-on science in our Naturalist's Lab, wind their way through cave replicas in "Frozen Reign," learn real stories about historic Hoosiers in our cultural galleries, and more. The museum features two floors of permanent experiences and one floor of changing galleries. The Indiana State Museum is part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, a statewide museum system with 12 locations.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
I'm a history buff so it follows that my wife and I always make it a point to visit the history and art museums in all of the major cities that we visit from coast to coast to accumulate knowledge about the people and the area. In Indianapolis, the Indiana State Museum, which was founded in 1869, offers more than 40,000 square feet of exhibit space and more than 500,000 artifacts that cover the history of the natural world, Native Americans, cultural history and the future of Indiana. There are exhibits on the science, art, culture and history of the state from prehistoric times to the present day. It also is the site of the state's largest IMAX screen. Located at 650 West Washington Street, on the Indiana Central Canal within the White River State Park, this magnificent, glass-enclosed $105 million structure opened in 2002. Start with the "Back Home Again" steam clock outside the front entrance. Learn that Indiana is more than basketball and the Indianapolis 500. The journey begins with mastodons and Native Americans and continues with early settlements, farming, schooling and manufacturing. Meet inventors, statesmen, businessmen and other famous Hoosiers, all profiled in the American Originals exhibit. Also view the exhibits that highlight Indiana, including the 19th State, The Hoosier Way, the Crossroads of America, Enterprise Indiana and Global Indiana.
