One day in Indy (Indianapolis, Greenwood: how much, hotels, movie theater)

[maestro]

I was thinking of coming to Indy with my wife and our 10-month old for a day/overnight trip to Indy. It's my wife's birthday and she was actually born in Indy, so I figured that would be a good idea.

What do you all you experts suggest in regards to an itinerary? Any must-see's or must-do's? With our baby in tow, we may be a bit limited.

Thoughts?

[sweetana3]

There are a lot of museums(State, Western, Art) of various kinds, the drive up Meridian from about 38th to 58th has a lot of historic mansions.

All kinds of eating places. For a chef owned evening experience, Oakleys Bistro on 86th or RBistro on Mass Ave. Or for good food and a beautifully decorated place, Scholars Inn on Mass Ave. Great for lunch.

If your wife is a shopaholic, I would suggest with a baby, Keystone at the Crossing Mall. Very very upscale, inside, with a Cheesecake Factory, Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware, etc. There is also an art film movie theater there. I think there is a Marriot right next door and a Homewood Suites just down the road. (if you are downtown, the Circle Center Mall is there with a Nordstrums.)

It would be easy to drive from there to Meridian and then straight downtown.

Hard to make suggestions without knowing what your wife likes to do. If she likes walking on a canal, the canal in Broad Ripple is a favorite walk from Broad Ripple to Butler University. It also connects to the Monon Trail.

[domergurl]

You could also take in the Children's Museum on 30th & Meridian. I started taking my youngest there when he was 12 weeks old ... a 10 month old would have a good time!

[Zig'sbird]

It really depends on what interests you.

For me, a perfect day would be breakfast at Le Peeps downtown, followed by a trip to the canal with the rest of the day spent in the State Museum, with possible some time also spent at the Zoo. Dinner then will be at the Old Oaken Barrel in Greenwood.

But, my interest differ from most people.

[maestro]

Originally Posted by Zig'sbird

It really depends on what interests you.

For me, a perfect day would be breakfast at Le Peeps downtown, followed by a trip to the canal with the rest of the day spent in the State Museum, with possible some time also spent at the Zoo. Dinner then will be at the Old Oaken Barrel in Greenwood.

But, my interest differ from most people.

sounds interesting. Tell me about Le Peeps.

Also, is the canal truly an all-day event?

[benjaminooo]

Le Peeps is pretty good breakfast.. I go to the downtown location at least once a month.

I wouldn't spend more than a 4 hours at the canal area.. There is the state museum and the eitlejorg as well as white river state park.. also accessible is the zoo. At the North end there isn't much, not sure if Bugg's Temple will be open (ice cream, restaurants). It's very peaceful and there are some nice fountains, but the canal really hasn't developed as much as it should.. There should be more shops/cafe type places.

[Zig'sbird]

Is the canal itself an all day affair? No, not at all. However, there are two different museums attached to it, and it's a VERY short walk over to the Zoo.

Plus on the canal is the memorial to the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor on one end, while on the other is a memorial for the USS Indianapolis.

[billman5000]

If you're really into history and stuff the State Museum and the Eiteljorg (cowboys and Indians) would be interesting, if not, then you will be underwhelmed. The Children's Museum is boring for adults and I think your baby would be too young to get much from it. Not to be a party pooper.

If you are into shopping, Keystone is a great place. There's hotels and restaurants around ther (Keystone and 86th).

Definitely find some non-chain places to eat...there's a Le Peeps north too. Look up Cafe Patachou, there's 3 of them, worth the trip for breakfast.

My perfect day following b-fast at Patachou would include...

Outdoors - Holcomb Gardens at Butler - but it may be too hot to be outdoors for long with the wee one.

Broad Ripple - shops, bars, strange people.

And the best museum in the city, the racing museum at the Indy 500 !

[domergurl]

Hold it ... Playscape is for babies. And I don't know, I always have a great time at the Children's Museum. Scienceworks, Dinosphere. Especially for someone whose never been, I think a good time would be had by all.

Party pooper-doody-head

[Zig'sbird]

I have to agree that as an adult I've always enjoyed the Children's Museum.

Disclaimer: I have a history degree and once I graduated I was going find work at a museum until I found out how much they made.