Indianapolis is a city that thrives off that convention attendee traffic, but there is a decent amount of things to do and see while you’re in town.
How long to stay in Indy?
As mentioned, Indianapolis is pretty much the city of convention center attendees and events. You can tell from the layout of the city that it’s emphasized here. That probably then leads you to coming here for a sporting event, concert, or event at a convention center. If that’s the case, you might want to take an extra day or two to explore the city.
If you’re coming here strictly to enjoy the city, you’re looking at a good option for a weekend trip. The assumption, though, is that you’re not going to spend a ton of that weekend flying to or from the city. Depending on where you’re coming from, there might not be a ton of nonstop options for you and you wouldn’t want to eat up all your time in transit.
What we did in Indianapolis
Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo itself is decently large, with a wide variety of things to do here. The Zoo is easily walkable from your hotel if you’re staying somewhere in the Mile Square / Wholesale District.
We checked out the beautiful butterfly garden that has both an upstairs and downstairs area. This is right by the entrance to the zoo–you can’t miss it.
They have a dolphin show that runs a few times per day. If you sit in the first few shows, you might get wet.
And there is an awesome kangaroo experience. I honestly thought this was going to cost extra money, but it turns out it’s included with the base ticket. There can be long lines here, but we found the lines got reasonably small towards the end of the day.
Once inside, you can only walk on the sidewalk, but the kangaroos have the freedom to go anywhere they want. They might cross right in front of you, which can make for a fun close encounter. There are plenty of employees inside to help make sure everyone follows the rules, but this was ultimately a pretty neat experience that I haven’t seen since the Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
Overall, we greatly enjoyed our visit to this zoo, which was in easy walking distance from the hotel. I definitely recommend it if you have half a day to spare on your visit to Indianapolis.
NCAA Hall of Champions
The NCAA headquarters is located in Indianapolis and while the public won’t gain access to their main offices, you can check out the Hall of Champions. If you’re a fan of college sports (despite how it seems managed these days), it’s worth a visit. There is a small admission fee to pay to enter ($7.50/adult, $5/child), but there are a couple of times a year when admission is free.
Once inside, the first floor of the building celebrates the schools and some historical achievements. Props to your school if you see them honored here. When I was here, there were no UCLA banners. What a shame.
The second floor is home to a lot of interactive exhibits, which is where you might spend a bit more time. There’s a basketball court with some markers on the floor where notable shots were taken, a giant screen to throw footballs at, and places to reenact all sort of Olympic sports.
Catch some sporting events
In easy walking distance to the hotels and convention center are plenty of stadiums. You have Victory Field (minor league baseball) right next to the JW Marriott. Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Colts) just behind the minor league field. And then a few blocks down is where Gainbridge Fieldhouse is at (home of the Pacers). There’s a decent chance some sporting event is going on while you’re in town.
Relax at the White River State Park
Venturing over to the White River State Park is practically a must on a beautiful day. There are plenty of places to sit on the grass and read a good book or stare off into the sky. You can take a ride on a swan boat if you’re so inclined. And there is an amphitheater here, which can host events into the evening. We also saw a small wedding happening as we walked by one day. Since it’s right there in the middle of the city, it tends to be pretty popular.
Walk around town
Just take a short stroll around town and you’ll see all sorts of different museums and monuments. Places like the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum (native and western art), the Indiana War Memorial & Museum, and the Soldiers & Sailors Monument.
We didn’t have a chance to check out everything, but Char did enjoy the Indiana State Museum, which has plenty of interactive exhibits and special programming intended for younger children. You’ll find fossils and a lot of the history of the state of Indiana, including times well before it ever became a state. Anyone who is a fan of history would find enjoyment here. Tickets are affordable at $19/adult and $13/child.
Where we ate in Indianapolis
St. Elmo Steak House
If you’re interested in steak, St. Elmo Steak House is the perfect option for you. There is plenty of seating here, including an upstairs and downstairs section, but as you wander through the halls to your table, you get a sense of how popular it is. You’ll want to get a reservation in advance.
The steak is absolutely delicious, with a lot of flavor and tenderness. That said, they did mess up the temperature of my steak, which I brought to the attention of the server and they provided a new one (and waived the charge). You should also check out the shrimp cocktail, which is a bit unique compared to the standard I’ve had before. This one is smothered in not just cocktail sauce but fresh horseradish that adds a nice kick. Absolutely worth a try.
St. Joseph Brewery
I’m always down to go on a nice, peaceful walk to a brewery. This one in particular is a bit interesting in that it was actually a church back in the day (1873) that survived a good 80 years but it converted to a brewery back in 2015. The beers are good, with a nice variety that’s sure to please everyone (perhaps not so much the kids). The food is fine–it’s bar food, what do you expect–and not the main draw of the brewery. What do you expect this is? The Guinness Experience in Dublin?
Oddly enough, I didn’t take a picture of the brewery (I thought I did, but too much beer?). So instead you’ll have to settle for a picture with Char at a Steak n Shake in the heart of the city a different night when we stopped in for dessert.
OP Italian (at the JW Marriott)
I don’t often feel the need to specifically call out a hotel restaurant, but I quite enjoyed dinner here at OP Italian in the JW Marriott. The restaurant appears to be temporarily closed, which is a shame, but hopefully it reopens soon.
Once you step inside, you’ll find the service is on point and the food is truly melt-in-you-mouth tasty. If I could eat that creamy short rib gnocchi one more time, I would die a happy man. If you’re here by yourself, just stick to a main dish. Don’t do what I did and order a side of garlic bread to accompany the meal because you’ll simply get way too much. And don’t get me wrong, I do like that the sides are filling and intended to be shared–I just didn’t have anyone to share it with that night.
Even if you’re not a hotel guest, it’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for Italian food.
Where we stayed in Indianapolis
JW Marriott Indianapolis
Arguably the best hotel in the city, the JW Marriott Indianapolis has a lot going for it. It’s located in an excellent part of the city, walkable from pretty much anywhere you want to go. That’s especially true if you’re here for a game at Lucas Oil Stadium (in fact, it seems NFL teams also stay here). Everything is well-kept and in good condition, including the club lounge if you have access to it.
This hotel felt like a nicer JW than I recall staying in before (note: we haven’t been to the JW in the Maldives or Masai Mara yet). It’s also one of the more affordable options, with points prices that are entirely reasonable for the quality you get in return. I’m inclined to call it our go-to hotel if we ever find ourselves back in this city.
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
About a block away from the JW Marriott is the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. You can probably tell from the outside that it simply looks less appealing and perhaps outdated. But the inside has seen some renovation so you can’t just judge it on its exterior.
The rooms are fine and the club lounge is good enough. The price is… not that much cheaper than the JW Marriott in my experience. And that’s where this hotel suffers a bit, given it’s close proximity to the JW. If given the choice, the JW trumps this one in nearly all respects. Still, if you find yourself here, it’s good enough, especially if you’re here for an event and don’t expect to be in the hotel much regardless.
What do you like to do in Indianapolis?
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