Visiting Indianapolis in March (hotel, neighborhoods, to live in) - (IN) - City-Data Forum

laf10 · 02-08-2009, 08:09 PM

My boyfriend and I will be spending 2 or 3 days in Indianapolis the last week of March. We enjoy cultural things like museums and anywhere with a great view like parks. We also just like walking around and getting a feel of the city. Is the downtown area walkable? We are hoping to not have to drive to every place we go, or to at least park in one area and be able to walk to 2 or 3 attractions. Is this possible? Also, is there public transportation that would be reliable enough to depend on to get from attraction to attraction? Any advice would be great! We are considering Indianapolis to live in the next few years, so any neighborhoods that we should look at and parking conditions/public transportation around there would be great too. Thanks!

Toxic Toast · 02-09-2009, 08:17 AM

The downtown area is very walkable; and if you are not afraid of walking a few blocks; you can get anywhere by foot with no issue. The Eiteljorg Museum and the Indiana State Museum are on the western fringe of downtown; along with the Central Canal. The Canal has great views of the skyline and is a nice place to relax or paddleboat. I have walked to the canal walk rom Conseco Fieldhouse a few times with no issue; but I don't mind walking. There used to be a red ine and blue line bus that circulated downtown for free; but they got rid of them. To my knowledge, they don't offer anything like that anymore. I don't ride the bus, so I don't really follow. The mass transit in this city is an embarrasment. I would not come here expecting to rely on it unless you live within a reasonable distance to your destination.

If you are interested in the Children's Museum, it is about 2 miles north of downtown; you will want to drive there.

As far as neighborhoods, there are a lot of neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis. It really depends what you are looking for and what part of the city you want to live. If you are looking for urban areas near downtown, you can check out any of the near eastside neighborhoods, fountain square, old northside, mass ave, lockerbie, etc. Further out you have Irvington and Broad Ripple. Yet further out you have places like Castleton which are not urban at all.

hapaleeretired · 02-09-2009, 06:21 PM

Just west of downtown and on a bus route is the Indianapolis Zoo. Great Zoo and dolphin show!

laf10 · 02-09-2009, 08:06 PM

Thanks! Everything you mentioned sounds great! If we are staying in a hotel outside of downtown, where should we park to explore downtown?

Toxic Toast · 02-09-2009, 08:38 PM

You can park for free on Monument Circle (technically there is a 2 hour limit) or at White River State Park (unless there is an event). On the weekends and in the evening during the week, it is free to park on the street downtown. I usually park on the street or at the state park; the only garage I have ever parked at downtown is the one for Circle Centre Mall. If you need to park in a garage; they are scattered throughout downtown.