Indianapolis is the United States’ 12th largest city, and is known as the “Racing Capital of The World,” thanks to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the Indy 500 and the Allstate 400 races are held. However, Indianapolis has much more to offer guests and visitors than just racing. Even a short weekend trip to Indianapolis can be packed with fun and interesting things to do. If you’re planning a weekend trip and need some inspiration here is a small sampling of some of the entertainment offerings that Indianapolis presents for tourists.
- The Indianapolis Zoo Animal lovers will enjoy this chance to visit an excellent zoo. If you enjoy marine life exhibits, you’ll want to check out the zoo’s Dolphin Adventures Gallery and Dome. The underwater dolphin-viewing dome is a one-of-a-kind exhibit; you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the world. Meanwhile, the Marsh Dolphin Adventure Theater presents dolphin shows daily. Elsewhere in the “Oceans” section of the zoo, you’ll find a shark touch tank. You will also enjoy the Plains, Forest, and Desert biomes, and there’s even a petting zoo, where you can feed the animals for a small extra charge.
- Try out an Indy brewery. Are you a craft beer enthusiast? Then Indianapolis is the place for you to be. The city has more than one well-known and even award winning breweries. Sun King Brewing Company took home gold, silver and bronze awards at the 2012 Brewer’s Association World Beer Cup. The Broad Ripple Brewpub and Barley Island have also won awards for several of their beers, and if you want a meal to go with your drinks, you should try the Brugge Brasserie, which is known not only for its Belgian-inspired beer, but also for its fantastic food.
- Monument Circle This is Indianapolis’s best-known landmark. Here, you can visit the 284 foot tall limestone Soldiers and Sailors Monument, built in 1902, and visit the Civil War museum found in the lower level. Admire the architecture of the Lacy Building, and birdwatch from your cell phone using the Market Tower Falcon Cam. This site monitors a peregrine falcon’s nest, located 400 feet up, in real time. Then visit the oldest structure in Monument Circle, the Christ Church Cathedral, built in 1857. Don’t forget the stunning Circle Tower, or the Hilbert Circle Theater, which was an early Midwest movie palace and is now home to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
A short weekend trip to Indianapolis can easily be filled with all kinds of fun places to go and interesting things to see and do. Be sure to bring a camera, because this is a trip that you’ll certainly want to remember.
