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
10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Indiana That You Shouldn't Miss
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. Indiana University
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 639 reviews
Center of many activities in Bloomington - arts, music, sports and events.
Reviewed By BillWaconia
My wife and I attended IU from 79-83. Our 23 year old son graduates from IU in 5 weeks. First, it's a top notch school with nice, clean kids and a beautiful campus. We have visited our son frequently the past few years. If you want to visit IU here are some of our favorite ideas... 1 Park at the square in downtown Bloomington, walk down Kirkwood to feel the youthful energy, enter the campus, stop in the Union to check out the art and the book store, and continue along the Jordan River to the far side of campus. Take an uber back to your car. 2 Time your trip to coincide with an Opera. Best opera school anywhere and great performances of popular and not popular operas. 3 Eat breakfast at The Runcible Spoon one day even if there is a line, the next day eat breakfast at The Uptown Cafe order two cornmeal pancakes. 4 avoid he campus on busy game days.
2. University of Notre Dame
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,045 reviews
Renowned for its rich athletic tradition, the university is a beautiful place to visit, with such religious attractions as the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the park-like setting of its huge stadium and the abundant artwork.
Reviewed By 408tracyp - Charlotte, United States
What a beautiful campus to explore - all ages If in the area please go and visit , so much to see and do From basketball , ???? trophy display, court, football arena, the Golden dome ...and of Course Touch Down Jesus !
3. Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,169 reviews
#1 Summer "Gotta-Do" Attraction in a contest sponsored by the Indiana Office of Tourism & Development. The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is operated by the non-profit Fort Wayne Zoological Society under a cooperative agreement with the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreations Department. The zoo receives no tax funding for operations and operates solely on earned revenue and donations. Our Mission: Connecting kids and animals, Strengthening families, Inspiring people to care.
Reviewed By whereverimayroamblog - Vero Beach, United States
I’m a big fan of this zoo, especially the penguins, sea lions, and otters. Appreciate the good food choices (not typical hamburger joints), the touch tank, and kid’s play areas. Definitely one of Fort Wayne’s top attractions.
4. 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.
5. Parkview Field
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 681 reviews
Reviewed By tmaleonard - Fort Wayne, United States
ParkView Field and the Tin Caps is a great place to get together and watch a ball game, eat some GREAT food and just enjoy the outdoors!
6. Candles Holocaust Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By IllinoisMrsZ
This was my second visit. Such a wonderful display of reading material about a survivor's story. Very somber to read about the accounts the Jews and others endured. Very educational! The talking hologram of Eva's interviews that allowed one to ask a question for her to answer was very innovative. The new computer kiosk that allowed you to hear interviews with other Mengela twins and their personal experiences was haunting! I hope all students in the area get the opportunity to visit this museum on a field trip!
7. Clifty Falls State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 644 reviews
This scenic area, known for its hiking, has beautiful waterfalls and a canyon.
Reviewed By R3401KXkathyl - Crawfordsville, United States
Your covid destination for social distancing in southern Indiana. Challenging hiking trails to waterfalls, tunnels that you can walk thru and rugged scenery. The state park has implemented all the proper precautions at the Inn, campgrounds etc
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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!!!!!
