Tangerine Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 We are driving DD to a one night camp in Indiana, and have decided to try to make a mini-vacation of it for the rest of us. But since we live near Chicago, I've never gone to Indianapolis on a pleasure trip. I'd like to find something fun to do, but not something we could just do at home (big zoos, major museums). Her camp is in Battle Ground, IN. So not just Indianapolis, but anything in an hour radius of there would be fine. Any ideas from the Hive? We love weird, offbeat, and unusual as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 The Indianapolis Children's Museum is excellent. There is also a train depot hotel, you can sleep in one of the train cars, we haven't done it but our good friends said it's really neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I lived in west central Illinois as a kid, and we used to to to Columbian Park in Lafayette. Indiana Beach at Schafer Lake in Monticello was always fun, but I've heard it has changed a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 We just came back from Indy. We went to the zoo and the Children's Museum. I know you said besides zoos and museums, but the Children's Museum is supposed to be one of the best in the world and we think the zoo is pretty great too. I have a ds who loves sea animals and they have an exhibit where you can pet dog sharks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I lived in west central Illinois as a kid, and we used to to to Columbian Park in Lafayette. Indiana Beach at Schafer Lake in Monticello was always fun, but I've heard it has changed a lot. I lived in Chicago twenty-some years ago, and I still remember the radio commercial for Indiana Beach (there's more than cooooooorn in Indiana,...). Topic? Somebody I know went to Indianapolis a few years ago and visited Benjamin Harrison's house. She said the tour was considerably more interesting that she'd expected and the house itself was beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalLynn Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Conner Prairie living history museum is fun. It's located just north of Indianapolis. And the Children's Museum is rated the best in the nation by many organizations. https://www.connerprairie.org/ My favorite place of all, though it's about an hour from Indy, is Turkey Run State Park. They have excellent walking and hiking trails and the park is just beautiful: http://www.turkeyrunstatepark.com/ Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Conner Prairie living history museum is fun. It's located just north of Indianapolis. And the Children's Museum is rated the best in the nation by many organizations. https://www.connerprairie.org/ My favorite place of all, though it's about an hour from Indy, is Turkey Run State Park. They have excellent walking and hiking trails and the park is just beautiful: http://www.turkeyrunstatepark.com/ Enjoy! Yes Turkey Run is an excellent state park. We camped there quite often when my dad was in grad school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Well,Prophetstown museum,the Wolf Park over by Lafayette, along with the other things mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 The Children's Museum is great, but if you want a really different experience I cannot recommend Conner Prairie highly enough. It is AMAZING. My kids love getting immersed in the life there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I used to live in this area and my family still does. I've been trying to think of the places that we like to visit, absent emotional attachment. (You'd probably not get that much enjoyment out of a random sprayground in the suburbs, right?) Some other interesting/unusual picks: Museum of Miniature Houses in Carmel - we always spend hours here http://www.museumofminiatures.org/ NCAA Hall of Champions - we've been once as a "say we've done it" kind of experience. It's not that expensive and in the lovely White River area. http://www.ncaahallofchampions.org/index.php Mounds State Park - archaeological and Native American interest in a lovely park http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2977.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeFe Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I agree with Connor Prairie and the Children's Museum. We have a lot of parks in the area that are very nice. This may sound weird but a few people have told me how beautiful and interesting a walk through Crown Hill Cemetery is https://www.crownhill.org/cemetery/notable-persons.html One of my favorite parks is http://www.hollidaypark.org/ Children's Museum is one of the best that I've been to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonesinIndiana Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I second Conner Prairie Farm. The Terra Cotta Warriors are at the Children's Museum until November 2. I'm hoping to go when we are there in September. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Y'all have missed one of the most important places to visit in Indy: Boogie Burger! The garlic fries are worth the trip. http://boogieburger.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalLynn Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Y'all have missed one of the most important places to visit in Indy: Boogie Burger! The garlic fries are worth the trip. http://boogieburger.com/ Have you been to Bazbeaux Pizza? My cousin LOVES it, but I thought it was just OK. Your opinion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalLynn Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 If you feel like driving an hour due west to Crawfordsville, you can visit the extremely interesting and historic General Lew Wallace study. He wrote Ben Hur, was a Civil War general, and ambassador to several countries. It only takes 2 hours maximum to go through the whole thing. (I love history, my dad took me there for the first time about 20 years ago, and I just went again with my youngest last June.) http://www.ben-hur.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I was going to suggest many of the same things: - Connor Prairie (one of our favorite places!) - Shades, Turkey Run, Brown County or McCormick's Creek State Parks are all not too far from the city - Crown Hill Cemetery - Chinese terra cotta soldiers on display until November 1 - Columbus, IN architecture tour - driving to Bloomington for the day, walking around downtown and campusOne place I didn't already see mentioned though? - 100 Acre Park at the IMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyGF Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 It can be pricey, but we took a trip to the Children's Museum. It was *amazing*, and I've been to a lot of museums, having lived in Boston, near New York, and Chicago. We went and saw the Terra Cotta Soldiers exhibit. Wow. Emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Now that I'm not on my phone these would be in the immediate area if you don't fancy moseying over to the Indy area. Wolf Park in Battle Ground http://wolfpark.org/ Prophets Town Museum http://prophetstown.org/ Tippecanoe Battle Field http://www.tcha.mus.in.us/battlefield.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 The Colts and Pacers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiac Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Based on childhood memories visiting grandparents, another vote for Children's Museum and Turkey Run. As an adult who loved Dune Boy by Edwin Way Teale, I would be interested to see Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. You could also try to arrange a special tour of McKim Observatory at DePauw in Greencastle: http://www.depauw.edu/academics/departments-programs/physics-astronomy/mckim-observatory/astronomy-open-house/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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