It usually isn’t the first or 2nd or even 20th on someone’s ‘to do’ or ‘to visit’ list, but it is a great city with a wide range of offerings.  First of all, Indy is known as the ‘Amateur Sports Capital of the World’.  Which is reaffirmed by being the home of  the NCAA headquarters & Hall of Champions Museum in addition to 14 national and 11 state sports organizations & associations).  The city has worked hard at building a reputation as an amazing ‘host’ city for major events such as the Pan Am games, Big Ten basketball tournament (men’s & women’s) , the World Basketball Championship, the NCAA Final 4 (including this year’s event ), Formula One racing, U.S. Nationals drag race,  Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400,  as well as even hosting the 2012 Super Bowl. Their facilities are second to none from several facilities built specifically for the 1987 Pan Am games that are still used today (a velodrome, natatorium, track and ice skating center).  When you add those with a major tennis facility and stadium to the world-class Conseco Fieldhouse (home to the NBA Indiana Pacers & the WNBA Fever teams) to the new Lucas Oil Stadium  (home to the NFL Indianapolis Colts), as well as the O’Reilly National Raceway Park and the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway you really must agree that Indy definitely must be doing something right.   

There are also the intangibles, the things that aren’t as fun and exciting to talk about, but just as impressive and important.  The little things such as being named the #1 airport in the US (just opened in 2009 and it is AMAZING) to the expansive downtown skywalk system that links virtually all major shopping, hotels, and parking as well as the convention center and least I forget, Indy is home to arguably the world’s best shrimp cocktail.   

There are several ‘areas’ and neighborhoods that make up Indianapolis that have their own charm, style and things to do.  However, we will focus this guide on the downtown area and highlight a few special places elsewhere in the city (do not fear, we will have Indy, Part II at a later time).  

DOWNTOWN  

Circle Center Mall  

Where to begin, well for starters it is a very well designed downtown with regards to flow.  There is a wonderful and extensive skywalk system that can maneuver you around the major points in the downtown area which is wonderful during in climate weather.  You can go from a parking garage to a hotel to the mall and many restaurants and if something is outside, it generally is a short walk from the skywalk route.   

The Circle Center Mall is the center of what makes up the downtown area.  Everything feeds off of it.  The mall also includes an artsgarden.  An all glass atrium that sits over the two major intersecting streets (Illinois & Washington) where there are many art & music events, displays and performances. There are more than 100 stores, restaurants and entertainment options available with 2 major anchors (Carson Pirie Scott & Nordstrom).  The mall also features an official gift store for both the Indianapolis Colts & the Indiana Pacers in addition to a 9 screen United Artists Theatre.  There is also a great list of official Circle Center restaurants as well:  Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, PF Changs, Champps Americana, Palomino Euro Bistro, Weber Grill, Harry & Izzy’s, Bella Vita and Alcatraz Brewing Company.  Most of the restaurants will take reservations (except on Indianapolis Colts game days or other major sporting events).  

Hotels, a Suite and a B&B  

The skywalk system that feeds out of Circle Center leads directly inside to 7 downtown hotels: The Canterbury Hotel, Omni Shoreham, Westin, Marriott, Hyatt, Embassy Suites and the Conrad (a Hilton luxury hotel, the only true 5 star hotel in the city and one of only 3 Conrad hotels in the US and one of only 19 in the world), as well as 13 other hotels within a couple of blocks from Circle Center.   

After the completion of the new 1,005 room JW Marriott (part of a 4 hotel Marriott complex with it’s own convention center scheduled to open in February of 2011), Marriott will be able to offer over 2,500 rooms in the downtown area in 6 various Marriott brand hotels (JW Marriott, Residence Inn, Spring Hill Suites, Fairfield Inn, Courtyard (x2), and a full-service Marriott) and over 40 in the entire Indianapolis market, the most of any chain.  

There are also a couple of unique accommodations in the downtown area as well that deserve a special mention.  The first is The Suites at 14 West (http://www.14westsuites.com ) which features 4 specialty suites that range from 450 sq. ft to over 900 sq. ft complete with full kitchens, Wi-Fi, HDTV and ceiling fans.  And then there is the penthouse suite.  It is over 2900 sq. ft. with 2 1/2 bathrooms, 50′ television, fireplace, full kitchen, hardwood floor and a 700 sq. ft. balcony with seating for up to 50 peoples as well as a gas grill and a 6-person hot tub.  Many celebrities and dignitaries have used this facility while staying in Indianapolis on business or in town for sporting or concert events.  This is a wonderful one-of-a kind location that is a great alternative and a unique setting for private parties, gatherings and hosting of special guests and visitors.  On the ground floor there is a restaurant that bears the same name (14 West) and offers a very upscale menu which also happens to be adjacent to the Circle Center mall.  

If you are looking for an alternative to a traditional hotel, there are also a Bed & Breakfast in the downtown area as well.  The Nestle Inn (http://www.nestleindy.com) is a charming 3-story, 5 bedroom Victorian home that was built in 1896 that is in the historic Chatham Arch area. Each room (4 rooms & 1 suite) has its own private bathroom, phone & Wi-Fi.  They offer a delicious breakfast each morning with some unique offerings.   

Canal Area & The White River State Park  –   http://www.discovercanal.com  

Indianapolis created a canal that runs through the downtown area that ends on the westside of the downtown near the zoo & the White River.  The ‘Canal Walk’ is a 3 mile ‘loop’ that is a popular location for outdoor enthusiasts.  From pedal boats, gondolas, bicycles, surreys and even Segways, the Canal area has plenty to do and offer.  It is a great place also for runners, roller bladders, cyclist and for individuals who are just looking for a great place to go and walk. The canal walk area meanders through the downtown and has plenty of great offerings along it’s banks such as:  The Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Museum & IMAX Theater and the Medal of Honor Memorial along with the NCAA Hall of Champions (and NCAA headquarters) and the Indianapolis Zoo, in addition to Victory Field – home of the  Indianapolis Indians (the AAA affiliate baseball team of the Pittsburgh Pirates).   

The White River State Park is a 250 acre park that hosts several major events & outings in addition to a summer long concert series on ‘The Lawn’ featuring several outings.  Events such as the annual Indy JazzFest and a series by the  Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra featuring an eclectic mix of music by the likes of Ziggy Marley, Led Zeppelin, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt and the Moody Blues.  The park is also home to the Indianapolis Tennis Center (made up of 25 courts including a 10,000 seat main stadium that was the host of the RCA Tennis Championships as well as the 1987 Pan Am Games).  

Please check out the park’s great & informative website for more detailed information:    www.in.gov/whiteriver  

SIDENOTE:  You can purchase an all-inclusive Park Pass that will get you one-time admission (and 25% off of the standard admission prices) to each of these attractions and discounts for the Segway tours, boat rentals and more.  To purchase the Park Passes, visit a local Kroger store or the parks website (see above).  

Other Attractions  

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis  

The museum is ranked as the world’s largest children’s museum and was the  4^th  children’s museum ever opened.  The museum offers a wide range of events, items and an amazing collection of rotating exhibits (such as the current Star Wars – The Clone Wars Exhibition, Bob the Builder – Project: Build It & Barbie – The Fashion Experience).  You can check out their website at:  http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.  

The President Benjamin Harrison Home  

Visit the historic home of this Indiana native that offers tours (see website for tour details and times), events and exhibits.  There are some great historical artifacts, photos and information about the former 23^rd President and even about the history of our country during his life.  www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org  

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art   

The museum houses one of the finest collections of native contemporary art in the world.  It is part of the White River State Park (see above).  The collection includes works by:  T.C. Cannon, Kay Walking Stick and even Andy Warhol among many others.  There is another gallery (the Gund Gallery of Western Art) which is dedicated to the 57 piece collection of traditional Western art donated by the George Gund Family.  www.eiteljorg.org  

The Madame Walker Theater  

A theater that was named for Madame CJ Walker who is an Indianapolis native who along with Marjorie Joyner, revolutionized the hair care and cosmetics industry for African-American women in the early 20^th century.  Her products created a huge national corporation which employed over 3,000 people at one point.  With her products and marketing abilities she became the first known African-American female millionaire.  The theater was developed before Madame Walker’s death in 1919 and was completed by her daughter and opened in 1927.  The theater has been restored and the site represents the achievements, art forms, culture and history of African-American people.     www.walkertheatre.com  

Medal of Honor Memorial  

The Memorial is located along the canal walk in the White River State Park.  It is a tribute to the recipients of the highest military award the United States has.  It is a beautiful display and consists of 27 glass panels arranged into 15 walls, each representing and armed conflict in which a Medal of Honor was awarded.  All recipients’ names are etched into the glass panels.  There is also an elaborate lighting system that illuminates certain panels to correspond with a 30 minute audio tour that is played over a speaker system.  The memorial even received a merit award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.  http://www.homeofheroes.com/a_homepage/community/displays/national_sites/ipalco.html (unofficial site)  

Indianapolis Zoo  

The zoo sits on 64 acres in the White River State Park.  The zoo host about 1.4 million visitors each year and is a leader in conservation & research.  It is also the only institution accredited by the Association of Zooms and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums (as a zoo, an aquarium and as a botanical garden).  There is also the Dolphin Adventure Pavilion with an underwater dolphin dome (a glass room at the bottom of the performance pool for viewing – a 1^st for U.S. zoos), the Marsh Dolphin Theater and a dolphin in-water adventure.  There also is a butterfly exhibit at the beautiful Hilbert Conservatory with over 1,000 butterflies.  http://www.indyzoo.com  

Scottish Rite Cathedral  

This is truly one of the most popular and most visited historic sites in the city.  There was a poll taken in Indianapolis in 1996 and this building was voted the number one historic building in Indianapolis.  It is an amazing piece of architecture built-in 1029.  The Cathedral is the largest Masonic building and considered as the finest example of Neo-Gothic architecture in the U.S.  It has an incredible auditorium that seats 1200 and a massive pipe organ.  The craftsmanship is something to behold.  It is not something you would think of as far as a tour, but don’t pass this up.  Tours are available through the week and on the 3^rd Saturdays of each month.  http://www.aasr-indy.org  

Other Unique Attractions… Just a little outside of the downtown area  

Indianapolis Museum of Art  

The museum which was founded in 1883 is one of the ten largest and oldest general art museums in the U.S.  Several major local contributors have given significant gifts to the museum. For example, there is the Oldfields-Lilly House & Gardens which is a 26 acre estate with a 22 room mansion once the home of Lilly family (founding family of Eli Lilly Corporation) as part of the museum property.  In addition, there is the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.  A 100 acre property that includes untamed woodlands, wetlands, meadows and a 35 acre lake.  It will be one of the largest museum art parks in the country when it opens in the spring of 2010.  http://www.imamuseum.org  

Xscape  

This is a 75,000 square foot indoor amusement park and family entertainment center located minutes north of downtown area.  It offers a buffet style restaurant, themed dining rooms and a sports bar for adults.  There are also go-karts, mini bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf and the newest in arcade games.  Xscape offers both adult and kid friendly environments including party packages, group and corporate rates for outing opportunities.   http://www.thexscape.com  

Restaurants  

Indianapolis has a great offering of restaurants for any palate.  To simplify things, I have listed below several ‘downtown’ area restaurants by name that also includes the type of food and the cost level  The one’s that are in bold are preferred locations based on our personal experiences and/or our clients and guests and the italicized listings are ‘local’ Indianapolis based restaurants.  

STEAKHOUSES:  Ruth’s Chris,  Fogo De Chao, The Capital Grille, Harry & Izzy’s, Eddie Merlot’s, Morton’s, Don Shula’s, Mo’s, Dunaway’s Palazzo Ossigeno, Weber Grill, and finally…  

St. Elmo’s (home of that world-renowned shrimp cocktail I mentioned in the beginning of this guide – A MUST ON ANY INDIANAPOLIS ‘TO DO/TRY’ LIST).       108 years in business and still going strong.  

SEAFOOD:  Oceanaire, McCormick & Schmick’s, The Capital Grille, Hot Tuna

ITALIAN:  Iaria’s, Amici’s, Buca Di Bepo, Bella Vita, Vito’s, Milano Inn, The Old Spaghetti Factory  

JAPANESE / SUSHI:  Mikado, Bistro Tchopstix, Sushi on the Rocks  

ETHNIC:  Rathskeller at the Athenaeum, Shaprio’s Deli, Taste of Tango  

AMERICAN / TRADITIONAL: The Jazz Kitchen, Yats, Hard Rock Café, Johnny Rockets, Holuahans, T.G.I. Friday’s

FINE DINING: The Capital Grille, 14 West, Palomino,  Restaurant at the Canterbury, Scholars Inn, Skyline Club, Eagle’s Nest (revolving restaurant)  

MEXICAN:  Adobo Grill, BARcelona Tapas, Acapulco Joe’s, Las Tapatas  

BREAKFAST:  LePeeps, Patachou on the Park  

SPORTS BARS / BREWPUBS / MARTINI BARS:  Champps, Champions,  Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Claddagh Irish Pub, Jillian’s, Alcatraz Brewing Company, RAM, Ike & Jonesy’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters as well as 2 martini / cigar bars – Olives & Nicky Blaine’s and last but certainly not least…     

The Slippery Noodle Inn – Live Blues Music (Indiana’s oldest bar – est. 1850).  

So, consider Indianapolis for a weekend getaway, vacation or a part of your next vacation.  Remember, Indianapolis is within 3 hours of Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati and Columbus.   

Also, take a minute or two and check out the links above to the various destinations as well as our travel search engine for the best in travel deals for Indianapolis and anywhere else your travels will take you.  We also welcome everyone’s feedback, input and comments on this guide and any other helpful information, ideas or suggestions you may have on Indianapolis.  

Cornerstone Travel and More  

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