Itinerary: Indianapolis attractions for families

Indiana is the 24th state we have visited, and Indianapolis was the last stop on our Fall Foliage road trip. We spent 2 full-filled days in the city. We are always looking to find fun and engaging activities for Payton, as part of our homeschooling endeavours. And Indianapolis if full of great things to do with kids. We put together this Itinerary of Indianapolis attractions for families to help vacationers to the area maximise their time, and their kids’ enjoyment!

Disclaimer: We were hosted by Visit Indy on this 2 day adventure. However, as always, all opinions are my own.

Things to do in Indy with kids

Day 1: Attractions for families

(If you’ve only got one day in Indianapolis, follow day 1 of this itinerary)

The Indiana State Museum

White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis

The exhibits

As a homeschooling mom, my favorite part of the Indiana State Museum was the history exhibits. Everything is presented in a timeline fashion as if you are watching history unfold right before your eyes. There are many items included to spark the fascination of any child.

From mastodons and dire wolves to contemporary art by some of Indiana’s best artists, find it all in our permanent and changing experiences. Explore current experiences on offer.

~ Indiana State Museum

Natural History

Payton was fascinated by the woolly mammoths, mastodons, and the other enormous animals from the past. The exhibits are extremely lifelike, full of interesting information, and many include sounds that bring them to life even more. She enjoyed learning about the ice age and how the weather has been changing for millions and millions of years from warm to cold to warm again. A natural cycle that still continues today.

Interactive

Payton really enjoyed the Amazed exhibit that allowed her to be active. She found her way through a maze made entirely of cardboard and tried to solve riddles while jumping and playing. It is nice when museums offer areas for kids to play and be active while learning.

Lunch at the Museum

The museum offers two dining options and we chose the Farmers Market Cafe. The food was delicious and very filling – you won’t go hungry!

Medal of Honor & September 11, 2001 Memorials

White River State Park, near the museum

As a homeschooling and military family, we always take time to visit memorials and museums as a way to teach Payton of the past and to also pay respect to those who have fought and died for our country. Freedom is not free and we want her to remember that as we travel through not only America, but the world.

After visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York, we find ourselves searching for these memorials in other cities as well. It was a nice surprise to find a Medal of Honor and 9/11 Memorial during our walk from the Museum.

Looking for mid-west fun? Try a weekend at the Mall of America with your kids!

Riverwalk and Street Art

Nearby the Indiana State Museum, you can do the riverwalk along the canal. There is a sidewalk on both sides with the occasional bridge in order to cross over. We took some time to visit with the ducks and I learned the difference between male and female ducks from Payton!

We were pleasantly surprised by all of the beautiful street art that we found underneath each of the bridges. From simple images to complex murals, the colorful art kept us walking in search of more. We could have spent hours walking along the canal.

Indianapolis Downtown

Downtown Indianapolis is built around the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument that stands 284 feet high in the middle of Monument Circle. The monument has become the iconic symbol of Indianapolis. It sits upon a raised foundation surrounded by pools and fountains. It is a tribute to all the soldiers of Indiana and has been the center of the city since 1902. In the basement of the monument you will find the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum.

Families will find much to explore in downtown Indianapolis and make sure you pay a visit to the South Bend Chocolate Factory for your afternoon snack. Payton gives it a BEAR-y big thumbs up!

Dinner options in Indianapolis for families

On the advice of some Indy travel blogging friends (Adventure is Everywhere & Traveling Tanya), we chose Buca Di Beppo (35 N Illinois St). We enjoyed bread sticks, pizza, and the desserts were great for families. I think Payton’s eyes were bigger than her stomach on this occasion – but we sure had fun trying to finish it!

Other dinner options in Indianapolis that are great for kids and families are: The Old Spaghetti Factory (210 S Meridian St), BRU Burger Bar (410 Massachusetts Ave), Maxine’s Chicken and Waffles (132 N East St), and Napolese Pizzeria Downtown (114 E 49th St)

Day 2: More places to visit in Indianapolis with kids

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

This museum is known as the biggest children’s museum in the world, offering 5 levels of fun and an outdoor area (that we discovered is only open seasonally).

The Exhibits and Experiences

Beyond Spaceship Earth

Payton has always been fascinated with space, so our experience began with the Beyond Spaceship Earth attraction where we experienced the International Space Station and also watched a show in the Space Object Theater and Planetarium.

National Geographic Treasures of the Earth

We then made our way to the National Geographic Treasures of the Earth exhibit, where Payton tried her hand at being an archaeologist. She loved the hands on activities in the museum, where kids were allowed to be kids and make discoveries on their own!

Dinosphere

The Dinosphere exhibit is located on the Lower Level and Level 1 of the Children’s Museum. Upon entry you are transported back over 65 million years to the land of the dinosaurs. You will hear their thundering footsteps, explore the unusual plants, and watch the weather change around you in the exhibit. You will come face to face with full size dinosaur skeletons, have a chance to dig for dinosaur bones, and touch an authentic T. Rex bone.

Trains

There is an actual train in the All Aboard exhibit. This train, designed by Reuben Wells in 1868, was the first train to conquer Indiana’s Madison Hill, the steepest railroad grade in the US. It is now on permanent display inside the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Lunch at the Museum

There are multiple options for dining at the Children’s Museum. The museum and the outdoor sports experience offer picnic-table seating where you may enjoy any food that you packed and brought with you. If you choose to not bring your own food, there are 2 options available.

The food court

The food court inside the museum offers breakfast and lunch options as well as grab and go snacks. This includes a coffee bar, sweet treats from the bakery, a pizza from the hearth pizza oven, frozen yogurt from the self serve yogurt station, or a hot sandwich. The grill offers made to order burgers and chicken, kids meals, and sides such as fries, onion rings, and cheese sticks. You will also find multiple dessert options including cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, candy, and more.

Sports experience food stations

In the outdoor sports area you will find multiple food stations where you may choose from ball-park eats such as hot dogs, fresh fruit, or Dippin’ Dots. With outdoor seating available there is no reason to leave the action for lunch. Both dining locations offer allergen friendly menu selections as well.

The Power of Children : Making a Difference

The one exhibit that made the most impact on Payton was The Power of Children: Making a Difference exhibit. The sound and light shows tell the heroic stories of Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White. The shows run throughout the day. Before leaving Indiana she had already started researching and learning more about these 3 kids that made a difference in the world.

What an awesome exhibit in a children’s museum – empowering children to be brave and courageous; and to help others even when it might not be the popular thing to do. There were also hands on stations in this area that showed kids how they could make a difference in the world everyday, just by being kind and helping others.

The Children’s Museum building

Going up and down the multiple levels in the museum, you can’t help but notice the 43-foot-tall tower of glass in the center. It is an 18,000 pound tower of more than 3,000 pieces of blown glass. It is absolutely fascinating and beautiful, but my favorite view of the tower was from below it.

You could spend 2 days in this museum and not see it all! We gave it our best shot, enjoyed every minute, and came away with new knowledge and understanding. If your kids are over museums and need to let off some steam, there is a play park not far from the Children’s Museum.

Why not include a Scavenger Hunt into your family visit in Indianapolis?

Take a break in a Play Park

Anyone that knows Payton on a personal level knows of her love for a swing. At home she looks forward to time each day on her swing where she can let her imagination run wild with the wind in her hair! Sometimes, when traveling, a public park with a swing can be difficult to find. We were happy to have found one for her just a couple of blocks from the children’s museum.

I can only imagine what was going through her mind as she enjoyed some quiet time after a very busy and interactive day. I especially love this picture where she appears to be standing in mid air on first glance.

If you have time: more attractions for families

If you have more time available I would definitely recommend adding in the following attractions:

Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis zoo is located very close to the White River State Park and the Indiana State Museum. It includes the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, zoo babies, the White River Gardens, an elephant habitat, and so much more. The zoo also offers visitors a chance to feed the animals and enjoy rides and attractions. You can check their daily schedule posted online in order to plan your day.

Rhythm! Discovery Center

Rhythm! Discovery Center is the world’s foremost interactive percussion museum, providing innovative programs; interactive, standards-based educational exhibits, and artist performances. Not only will your kids learn the history of percussion and music, but Groove Space allows adults and kids to live the life of a drummer. This interactive area provides hundreds of percussion instruments from around the world for you to try out for yourself.

Newfields / Indianapolis Museum of Art

Newfields offers experiences with art and nature for guests of all ages. The 152-acre cultural campus is home to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Throughout the campus, guests are invited to interact with art and nature in exciting ways. There is also a working greenhouse and orchard on site in addition to a 100 acre park. This would definitely be a place to grab some fresh air while exploring and learning.

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Indianapolis attractions for families

Indianapolis offers the most amazing and educational attractions for families with kids. We especially appreciated the interactive nature of the Indiana State Museum, and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. It is also a lovely green city with many outdoor walks and activities to enjoy if the weather is good. Whether you are visiting for one or two days, I hope this Indianapolis itinerary has given you some great ideas for your stay.

Have you visited Indianapolis or any area in Indiana? If so, what was your favorite?

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