Things to do in Indianapolis (Speedway: hotel, house, wedding)

[chrisuk]

Hi all

Am over from the Uk for a wedding in May and am thinking about staying in Indianapolis for a couple of days in between driving from Cincinnati to Chicago.

Could anyone tell me the best things to do/see in the city? it'll be the weekend before Memorial weekend. (i'm 29 year old male BTW)

thanks

[sweetana3]

Check out the Indianapolis 500 festival events occuring that weekend. The parade is Memorial Weekend as is the race.

Good Indian museum downtown.

Check out the Colts Stadium downtown. I bet they have a website with what tours might be available.

Make sure you have a hotel room since the month of May is crazy.

Check out an Indians game downtown. The ballfield is only a couple of blocks from the center of downtown.

[chrisuk]

Originally Posted by sweetana3

Check out the Indianapolis 500 festival events occuring that weekend. The parade is Memorial Weekend as is the race.

Good Indian museum downtown.

Check out the Colts Stadium downtown. I bet they have a website with what tours might be available.

Make sure you have a hotel room since the month of May is crazy.

Check out an Indians game downtown. The ballfield is only a couple of blocks from the center of downtown.

I'll be sure to get accommodation sorted, is it really the whole month that's busy or just over Memorial Weekend? The weekend before it for example?

Thanks for the tips will have a look.

[sweetana3]

Since pole position etc. is determined by speed in races earlier in the month, it is more than just Memorial weekend. I have not paid much attention to the activities in the last few years (other than the parade) so cannot be too specific. Research on the internet re Indianapolis 500 will get more info on the schedule.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

More hotel rooms have been built, but the costs at even the cheap ones are raised to cloud level!!! during the festivities in May just as they will be during the Super Bowl next year.

[chrisuk]

Originally Posted by sweetana3

Since pole position etc. is determined by speed in races earlier in the month, it is more than just Memorial weekend. I have not paid much attention to the activities in the last few years (other than the parade) so cannot be too specific. Research on the internet re Indianapolis 500 will get more info on the schedule.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

More hotel rooms have been built, but the costs at even the cheap ones are raised to cloud level!!! during the festivities in May just as they will be during the Super Bowl next year.

Cheers, have just had a quick look at hotel availability and it's not too bad just now so will make sure i get something booked soon.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by chrisuk

I'll be sure to get accommodation sorted, is it really the whole month that's busy or just over Memorial Weekend? The weekend before it for example?

Thanks for the tips will have a look.

You shouldn't have too much of a problem booking accomodation, especially prior to Memorial Day weekend. The crowds for Pole Day and other qualification rounds are not terribly large, and even for the race itself many of the attendees live withing driving distance of the track.

[Toxic Toast]

Visit the Red Lion Grog House and have some Scotch eggs!

[chalcedony]

Though it seemed a little troll-ish, the second poster did make a good point that you might want to be more specific in terms of what interests you.

Sweetana recommended some good sports options.

Several worthy museums are right downtown, perhaps the most noteworthy of which is the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and western art. The NCAA Hall of Champions might also be fun if you like sports, but it's very American-focused. Indiana State Museum is pretty interesting, but again very local.

A short bus ride to the near-northside of town will get you two world class museums: the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Indianapolis Children's Museum, if that's your thing.

Back downtown, Chatham Arch/Mass Ave is good for more locally themed restaurants and shopping, and the Slippery Noodle Inn in the Wholesale district is an institution of sorts for great blues music. I haven't been, but if you're a fan of his books, I'm sure the new Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library is worth a visit.

[chrisuk]

Originally Posted by chalcedony

Though it seemed a little troll-ish, the second poster did make a good point that you might want to be more specific in terms of what interests you.

Sweetana recommended some good sports options.

Several worthy museums are right downtown, perhaps the most noteworthy of which is the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and western art. The NCAA Hall of Champions might also be fun if you like sports, but it's very American-focused. Indiana State Museum is pretty interesting, but again very local.

A short bus ride to the near-northside of town will get you two world class museums: the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Indianapolis Children's Museum, if that's your thing.

Back downtown, Chatham Arch/Mass Ave is good for more locally themed restaurants and shopping, and the Slippery Noodle Inn in the Wholesale district is an institution of sorts for great blues music. I haven't been, but if you're a fan of his books, I'm sure the new Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library is worth a visit.

No its not trolling mate, I have of course have had a look on google etc but the point of the thread was to get some personal recommendations from locals who know the area best(which is what i've got on here),then do some research and decide what i want to do in the very short time i'm in town. Thanks for your recommendations i'll check them out.

[BUSHDOG14]

GO TO indydt.com and there is a bunch of listings of what events and things to do over that weekend!! We welcome you here and hope you enjoy one of the best festivals in the country!! Also you can get some pretty good packages on here!! So much to do in two days!! Let me know what kind of things that you like to do and I will send you a list!!