Top Things to do in Indiana
Top Hotels in Indiana
- 1. Hampton Inn Indianapolis Downtown Across from Circle Centre
- 2. West Baden Springs Hotel
- 3. Bottleworks Hotel
- 4. Indianapolis Marriott East
- 5. The Inn at Saint Mary's
- 6. Drury Inn & Suites Terre Haute
- 7. Hyatt Place Indianapolis Downtown
- 8. Ironworks Hotel Indy
- 9. JW Marriott Indianapolis
- 10. Drury Plaza Hotel Indianapolis Carmel
Countries
Things to do in Indiana, United States: The Best Gardens
With beaches, boating, and salmon fishing in Michigan City and Gary bordering Lake Michigan, there is more to Indiana than might appear at first glance. The agricultural heartland even has cross country skiing and snowmobiling to go with the Cornball Express. Southwest Indiana near Evansville is renowned for the well-preserved Native American Angel Mounds State Historic Site. The largest city and state capital is famous worldwide for its Indianapolis 500 race. Even locals living in the suburbs often overlook the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Eiteljorg Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, the old Union Station museum cluster, and downtown Canal Walk, to name but a few landmarks. South Bend is synonymous with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
Forested Nashville’s art colony fame dates to the early 1900s when Impressionist Theodore Clement Steele overwintered in The House of the Singing Winds. It is now the T.C. Steele State Historic Site. View paintings and sculpture at the I.M. Pei-designed Indiana University Museum of Art. Attend an IU sports event or an opera, ballet, concert, or theater performance. Treat the family to The Little Nashville Opry or The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Park. For healing mineral springs, head south to Orange County, Indiana’s spa resort center.
Enjoy golf, fishing, boating, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice skating in the nation’s agricultural heartland. Monticello and Rensselaer are west of Logansport and north of Lafayette. Take the family on the Cornball Express and Hoosier Hurricane at the Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello. Play boardwalk carnival games, or let the kids loose on the go-carts. Pile the family into their vehicles for an old-fashioned movie experience at Monticello’s Lake Shore Drive-In. Indulge in a weekend dinner boat cruise to hot band sounds as the Madam Carroll plies Lake Freeman.
Restaurants in Indiana
1. Shiojiri Niwa
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
2. Altherr Nature Park
3. The Miller House and Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 189 reviews
The Miller House and Garden is accessible by guided tour only. Tours are scheduled March - December. The property is closed January - February for conversation work. The 1957 Miller House and Garden showcases the work of leading 20th-century architects and designers Eero Saarinen, Alexander Girard, and Dan Kiley. In 2000, the Miller House and Garden was awarded National Historic Landmark status. The Miller House is only accessible on guided tours because it is located in a private residential neighborhood. Tours begin and end at The Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 Fifth Street (not at the house). The tour is oriented to adults and children over 10 – please note only children over 10 are allowed on the tour and all guests must purchase a ticket.
Reviewed By StaunchCharacter
The Miller House is a gem and must-see for anyone who appreciates mid-century modern and/or the perfect artistic expression of wholistic architectural design - where the house design, siting and interior design elements all perfectly achieve the client's personality and needs. The home is one of the best examples of this type of architecture. It had the perfect marriage of client and architects and now its stewards are doing a great job keeping it in tip-top shape and relevant. The tour operations are smooth. At check-in we were greeted with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable top-level employee and then presented with a helpful and insightful video introduction. A short and comfortable bus ride to the property was followed by a relatively leisurely and immersive house tour experience. The group size was just right and we were given ample opportunity to photograph to our heart's content in certain spaces. A very enjoyable experience that I recommend whole-heartedly.
4. Willowfield Lavender Farm
5. The Gardens at Matter Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By ColoradoTravelsWorld
When we go back to visit my grandmother, we always take a quick trip to Matter Park to walk through the gardens and then play at Friendship park. Plus when you do the drive through Matter Park at the holiday time, you'll see a great light show!
6. DeFries Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Nestled in the River Preserve County Park, DeFries Gardens is a reminder of our human connection to the environment. This 13-acre site was once a private homestead and features several gardens including a four-season Calendar Garden, Homestead Garden, and Culinary Garden.
7. 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!!!!!
8. White River Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By MomOfBoysTravel - Indianapolis, United States
We have a Zoo membership and with that we are able to visit White River Gardens as well. We took a day and just visited the Gardens and the Butterfly exhibit and it was so beautiful. I would come here weekly if I had time to do so. Outside we heard frogs near the lily pads, saw a birds nest and all the gorgeous plants. The only thing I wonder is why the fountains weren't working. Years ago when we visited the fountains squirted water out and the day that we visited (late May) the fountains weren't on. There was a fun activity center on the *inside* that included sensory play activities for little children, books, things to see, etc. The lady inside said that they change out things in there every now and then so while I have a picture here of a sensory bin and magnetic shapes, there might be other activities at different times.
9. White River State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 466 reviews
White River State Park is an extraordinary park in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, offering 250 acres of vibrant green spaces, waterways, trails, and attractions. The park boasts world-class attractions and destinations that offer distinctive experiences for every visitor. Enhancing the health and well-being of visitors is the mission of WRSP by providing cultural, entertainment, and recreational benefits to millions of Indiana citizens and visitors from all over the world.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
White River State Park is a 250-acre urban park located on the western edge of downtown Indianapolis that features many attractions, including the Indiana Central Canal and cultural, educational and recreational points of interest that make the park a go-to destination for one and all. Located at 801 West Washington Street, it also is a luscious piece of green space, trails, trees and waterways that provide locals and visitors with an opportunity to take a leisurely stroll through the park. Along the way, you can visit the Historic Pumphouse that opened in 1870, the Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, the NCAA's Hall of Champions, the Indiana State Museum, the IMAX 3D Theatre, the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, the Historic Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge that opened as part of the National Road in 1916, Military Park, the Indiana Historical Society, the Indiana State Capitol building, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Victory Field and the Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn, named one of the top 100 outdoor concert venues in the world. Over 3.5 million people visit the park annually. For trivia buffs, it is noted that one of the proposed focal points of the park, the Indiana Tower, was never constructed.
10. Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 190 reviews
Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest serves as a living laboratory for education, research, conservation and engagement with the natural environment. Gabis Arboretum offers a wide variety of activities, events and classes for people of all ages and interests. With 300 acres of magnificent landscapes, education programs and community events the arboretum has something for any interest. Popular attractions include the Railway Garden, which tells the story of American railroads in the context of a large display garden. Miniature trains run through outdoor displays showcasing American history.
Reviewed By sney3625 - Valparaiso, United States
I went mainly to see the magnificent outdoor train set and it was awesome. The rest of the place is very nice very pretty and if you have younger children there is a farm area that they would enjoy. Actually my wife and I enjoyed it to we sat and had lunch at the picnic benches near the farm. The gardens are very nice no matter what the season. There is a nice walking trail through the fields. Now back to the trains one of the best train setups I’ve ever seen probably a city block and half long and 1/2 block wide. It takes you around the country and is set up beautifully many different areas are shown including Lincoln’s funeral train and the old west I loved and and will revisit this place often
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