Why You Should Go to Indianapolis Now
There’s a lot to love about Indiana’s capital city, and this love extends well beyond race tracks and stock cars.
If NASCAR is what first comes to mind when you think of Indianapolis, you may be curiously surprised to learn that there is so much more to the second largest city in the Midwest. Airbnb recently released their 2018 Travel Trend Forecast and found that bookings in Indianapolis were up 256 percent year-over-year. From a red-hot culinary scene to flourishing arts and culture, here’s what makes Indianapolis the new must-go city.
It’s Easier Than You Think to Get to Indianapolis
Visit Indy
For a mid-sized city, there are a surprising number of non-stop flights (more than 50), making it quick and easy to get to Indianapolis from a range of cities, including San Francisco, Boston and Seattle. As a bonus, new Global Entry kiosks opened up earlier this month, helping to trim time spent in customs lines, just in time for the inaugural non-stop flight to Paris in May, the airport’s first-ever route to Europe. As for kudos, Indianapolis International Airport was recently recognized as the Best Airport in North America (again).
The Award-Winning Children’s Museum Just Unveiled a Major Expansion
Children's Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has long been considered a bucket list destination for kids, but thanks to a massive expansion, there are even more reasons to visit the world’s largest children’s museum. The new Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience, which opened in mid-March, took over 7.5 acres, integrating immersive indoor and outdoor sports experiences into the wildly popular museum in order to celebrate family health and fitness. Kids can try out multiple sports, including tennis, soccer, basketball and golf, even create sports-oriented artwork.
The Food Scene Is on Fire
Crispy Bird / Patachou, Inc.
Indianapolis may (still) not be able to count any James Beard award winners, but that doesn’t mean that the city’s food scene is any less scorching. The uber-trendy Crispy Bird, which opened last fall, has been lauded by both Tasting Table and Eater for its creative fried chicken, from-scratch biscuits and oh, the mac n’ cheese. Meantime, Indianapolis made Zagat’s annual list of the Most Exciting Food Cities in America. Starting in April, sign up for a walking food tour to sample Indy’s temptingly delicious culinary scene.
Spectacular Creatures Are Coming to Newfields
Newfields
They’re coming, and they’ll be here on June 1. Yes, more than 200 brightly-colored animal sculptures are on their way to Newfields, also known as the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This new art installation, Summer Wonderland: Spectacular Creatures, will introduce larger-than-life plastic sculptures across the campus as a way to grow awareness for environmental concerns impacting the planet. Keep your eyes open for giant penguins, snails, alligators and elephants both inside the museum and outside in the gardens and nature park.
The Cultural Trail Has Beautified the City
Visit Indy
Indy’s Cultural Trail turns five this year, welcoming visitors with its world-class bike and pedestrian path that connects cultural districts and vibrant neighborhoods. This eight-mile urban thoroughfare has beautified the city thanks to thoughtful landscaping, colorful public art projects and bike-share locations across the trail that encourage exploration and contemplation. Between April and October, sign up for a bike tour to learn about the history of the trail, the neighborhoods the trail passes through and the various works of art you see along the way.
