Get Out and Explore Some Indy Magic!!
An overnight in Indianapolis provides crew and others with plenty of options. You are most likely to be housed downtown as there are only 2 limited service hotels out by the airport and they sit out all by themselves with no shopping or dining options nearby. If you are staying in one of those 2 hotels then your best bet for dining would be to take the hotel shuttle back to the airport and dine there. That is how few and bad the options are at these hotels.
Most likely you are staying at a hotel in downtown Indianapolis which is only about a 10 minute ride from the airport so this story is written based on that belief.
Downtown Indianapolis is a wonderful place to explore. If it is winter time many of the building have enclosed walkways to get you from building to building should the outdoor weather be more than you prefer. If not then explore downtown Indy by walking around. Downtown Indy is active and vibrant with plenty to see and do.
You can go take a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL Indianapolis Colts or if you are in town when a game is taking place try to attend by buying last minute tickets from sellers outside the stadium.
For sports geeks there is also the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA Indiana Pacers or Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians the local Triple A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Other sports teams you will find are the Indy Eleven soccer team and the Indy Fuel, minor league hockey team. All of the venues for these teams are located in downtown Indianapolis.
Shopping options:
Drug Store – CVS has a store at the corner of Illinois and Ohio. Their hours are 6:30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday with the pharmacy opening at 7:30am. On Saturday their hours are 8am to 6:30pm and on Sunday from 9am to 5pm. The pharmacy is open on Saturday from 8am to 1pm and closed on Sunday.
Shopping – How about a downtown mall connected to about 12 hotels in downtown Indianapolis or within a few blocks? Circle Centre Mall has over 125 shopping, dining and entertainment options. Conveniently located at the intersection of Maryland St. & Illinois St. in downtown Indianapolis, this four level indoor mall features Carson Pirie Scott, H&M, Finish Line, Gap/Gap Kids, Victoria’s Secret and many more. If it’s a night out you are looking for, Circle Centre has sit down dining options such as Harry & Izzy’s and PF Changs or grab and go options such as Chick-Fil-A and Subway. Consider making it dinner and a movie at the Circle Centre United Artist Movie theater. Hours are 10am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.
Dining Options:
Lots of choose from in downtown Indianapolis from the food court at Circle Centre Mall to local favorites like Scott’s Brewhouse and Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery to national and regional options like Bucca di Peppo, Shula’s Steakhouse and Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery. To find a deal, ask your hotel concierge and many of these establishments give discount coupons for as much 10% off to the hotel front desk or concierge. So ask at your hotel and see which restaurants they have discount coupons for.
Getting around downtown Indy and around Indianapolis:
Besides walking you will find two very neat ways to get around downtown Indianapolis and around the city. The first is BlueIndy – BlueIndy is from a French company who is putting in 500 of its newly developed electric cars on the streets of Indianapolis during the next 18 months, in the largest U.S. test of plug-in car-sharing. The first cars are on the street as of this month. It plans to open 200 sites around the city where a fleet of 500 identical cars can be picked up, dropped off and charged up. Drivers can pay for daily use only or sign up for member ships that let them use the cars at a discounted rate when they need. For now you can try this at 14 E. Washington St. from 11am to 7pm daily. For more info go to http://www.blue-indy.com
How BlueIndy works
- Drivers must enroll in BlueIndy online or at a BlueIndy kiosk by talking to a BlueIndy adviser via computer, then scanning their driver’s license and swiping a credit card.
- Drivers sign up for one-time use or monthly memberships, which will cost about $13 a month. One time use runs from
- Drivers can reserve a car at the station they want using a smartphone. To unlock a car, you swipe a BlueIndy access card across a car’s windshield. The key is inside.
- A GPS navigation system in the car lets drivers find locations of other charging stations and reserve a charger at the station where the car will be dropped off.
- Drivers end their rentals by connecting the car to a charger.
The other way to get around downtown Indy is by bicycle. In downtown Indianapolis you will find Pacers BikeShare! 250 gold colored bikes you can rent and ride as much as you want. There are 25 Pacers Bikeshare stations located on or near the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in downtown Indianapolis, convenient to most any hotel you are staying at. Pricing is $8 for 24 hour rental or $80 for an annual rental. The first 30 minutes is included with your pass or membership and then you pay an additional $2 for the next 30 minutes and then $4 for each additional 30 minutes after that. The stations are open from 5:30am to Midnight, 7 days a week, year round. Enjoy exploring downtown Indy, meet a colleague for lunch, or run some errands. At the end of your ride, check your bike back in at any station with an available dock. You will see lots of people using these and may even find none available at the station you go to, if the weather is nice. For more info go to https://www.pacersbikeshare.org
What to See and Do in Indianapolis
There is plenty to pick from when on an overnight in Indianapolis such as taking a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. If it is summer time, then take in a Triple A baseball game with the Indianapolis Indians if they are in town. If you are from a large city with a major league baseball team, then you will enjoy a minor league game. No comparison, cheaper and much more fun!
Other things to see and do would include:
Indianapolis Zoo, Gardens & Aquarium – Just west of downtown, across the White River, you can take in the Indianapolis Zoo with an all new International Orangutan Center. The Indianapolis Zoo is the only institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium, and as a botanical garden. The zoo is located on 64 acres, the zoo houses over 3,800 animals from 320 species to see. Admission range from $17.45 for admission to the zoo, aquarium, gardens and show or from $27.45 for the Total Adventure Package (TAP) which unlocks your unlimited, all-access to the entire Zoo, its rides and animal feeds! Kids and seniors 62 and over get a discount on these prices and you get the best deal buying your tickets online at https://webstore.indianapoliszoo.com/_layouts/15/ZooWebStore/Buy_Tickets.aspx
Indianapolis Speedway – What trip to Indianapolis would be complete without a visit to the home of the Indy 500? The speedway is located NW of downtown Indianapolis, about a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic. If races are now taking place the speedway, the museum is open from 9am to 5pm from March to October and 10am to 4pm November to February. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. About 75 vehicles are on display at any one time. The museum offers visitors the 48-seat Tony Hulman Theater, featuring a 20-minute presentation of rare historic footage and Indianapolis 500 highlights. Extended hours are featured during May activities. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6-15, and children under age 6 are admitted free. There are also chances to ride in a one seat or two seat car around the track or take a tour by bus. http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com
Golfers – For golfers, check out the Backyard Crossing Golf Course where green fees will run you from $100 a round or in the summer play after 4pm for $60. Club rental will run you $70. Tee times at the Brickyard may be obtained up to 45 days in advance- for more than 4 golfers must be guaranteed with a major credit card. For more info go to http://www.brickyardcrossing.com
Active Lifestyle – If you just want something to stay active try out the 8 different mapped routes that you can take by bicycle, foot, wheelchair or stroller past downtown Indy’s greatest amenities and restaurants. Check out various routes by going to http://indyculturaltrail.org/getactive/
Indianapolis Farmers Market – Open every Wednesday from May to October from 9:30 am to 1pm, the famers market is located just east of the downtown monument between Delaware and Alabama Streets. Perfectly situated in the heart of the Midwest, Indianapolis is ripe with farmers offering outstanding produce, dairy products, meats and more!
From fruits and vegetables and meats and cheeses, to baked goods and unique spices and herbs, you can find in-season, fresh foods that have been selected at their peak. As you fill your basket with good-tasting, healthy foods, you’ll support the local growers dedicated to providing you with the freshest foods available. This is perfect for items to enjoy in your room and on your trip and at fantastic prices!
For more info go to http://www.indycm.com/farmers-market/
As you can see there is plenty to do on an overnight in Indianapolis, so get out and enjoy the city on your next stay in this wonderful city.