Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis 500 takes place each May, but the iconic
Speedway remains an exciting attraction all year round. In addition
to hosting other racing events, including motorcycle racing, it is
the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum,
which has a huge collection of memorabilia and racing, classic and
antique cars, as well as Brickyard Crossing, a Pete Dye-designed
golf course with four holes inside the raceway oval. Visitors can
explore the museum, or join a tour of the entire grounds. Buses
offer the chance to take a lap on the track, and the Indy Racing
Experience allows people to experience the track as a passenger in
a real Indy racing car.
Address:
4790 W. 16th Street
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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NCAA Hall of Champions
Americans follow university athletics with as much passion as
they do professional sports. The Hall of Champions'
25,000-square-feet of exhibit space capture the traditions,
historic moments, student athletes, and coaches of the 23 sports
administered by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and 88
national championships. The museum has two levels of exhibits and
offers interactive areas for visitors to compete both digitally and
hands-on. It even has a 1930s retro basketball gymnasium. The
Campus Corner gift shop offers all the NCAA logo merchandise a
college sports fan could imagine. Though perhaps not an exciting
attraction for the uninitiated, fans of American college sport will
be enthralled by the NCAA Hall of Champions.
Address:
700 W. Washington Street, White River State Park
NCAA Hall of Champions
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Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
The only museum of its kind in the Midwest, the Eiteljorg Museum
contains one of the best Native American and Western art
collections in the world. Designed to encourage appreciation and
understanding of the cultures of the indigenous peoples of North
America, the museum showcases work by contemporary artists like
N.C. Wyeth and Georgia O'Keeffe. It also displays art and artefacts
including pottery, woodcarvings and apparel, of the Delaware,
Miami, Potawatomi and many other Native American cultures. A great
attraction for families visiting Indianapolis, the museum also has
a number of interactive exhibits children will love, including a
stagecoach, totem pole, and wigwam. In addition, a number of events
are hosted throughout the year, including storytelling on
Saturdays, outdoor markets and concerts, and social dances.
Address:
500 W. Washington St, White River State Park
Eiteljorg Museum
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Indianapolis has a humid subtropical climate, experiencing hot,
humid summers (June to August) with average temperatures ranging
from 64°F (18°C) to 89°F (32°C). Winters are cold, dipping down to
24°F (-4°C) in January, and occasionally getting as cold as -15°F
(-26°C), although this is rare. Snowfall is unpredictable; while
some years receive almost no snow, occasional blizzards can bring
as much as 19 inches (48cm) in a 24-hour period. Spring is the
wettest time of year, with May receiving up to 12.5 inches (32cm)
of rain. The best time of year to visit Indianapolis is late summer
and early autumn (August to October).
Indianapolis International Airport
Location: The airport is located 15 miles (24km) from downtown
Indianapolis.
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from mid-March to the first Sunday
in November).
Getting to the city:
The Ground Transportation Center, located on the lower level of
the parking garage, offers connections to shuttles, hotel courtesy
vehicles, limousines and the IndyGo bus service. The bus departs
the airport to downtown Indianapolis, and single fares are $1.75.
Many area hotels also offer free shuttle transfers.
Car Rental:
Rental car counters are located at the Ground Transportation
Center on the first floor of the Terminal Garage. Alamo, Avis,
Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty offer
services.
Airport Taxis:
Taxi services are available at the curb on the lower level of
the terminal just outside Baggage Claim. All taxis are metered,
although there is a $15 minimum charge for all airport fares.
Tipping is expected.
Facilities:
Facilities at the airport include a food court, concourse
restaurants, shops and a guest services centre (offering a lost and
found, visitor information and business services). There are also
ATMs and currency exchange services, a games room, a barber shop, a
spa, nursing rooms, shoe-shine services, a meditation room and a
USO Lounge.
Parking
Parking is available in a multi-level garage, as well as
additional long-term and economy lots connected to the terminal by
a free shuttle service. Long-term parking rates at Indianapolis
International Airport are $9 per day in the economy lot, and $14
per day in the Park & Walk lot, or $2 per half hour in the
short-term parking garage.
Indiana Pacers NBA Basketball, Indiana Fever WNBA
Basketball
In the Hoosier state, basketball reigns supreme, and
Indianapolis is home to both men's and women's professional
franchise teams: the Pacers and the Fever. At Conseco Fieldhouse,
visitors can indulge at more than 100 concession stands during
halftime
They can also stock up on the latest Pacers and Fever
merchandise at the gift shop. Attending a basketball match is
probably the best way to tap into the community spirit of the state
of Indiana.
Venue:
Conseco Fieldhouse, One Conseco Court, 125 S. Pennsylvania
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Indiana Pacers
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Indianapolis Colts NFL Football
Those who visit Indianapolis between August and January have the
opportunity to see the city's NFL team in action at the massive
Lucas Oil Stadium in Downtown. Its past roster includes Peyton
Manning, the renowned quarterback considered one of the greatest of
all time.
But talented and inspiring players still remain to excite the
crowds, and watching a game should be a priority. Visitors should
also look to experience the tradition of tailgating or take part in
the huge pregame family parties found around the stadium.
Venue:
100 S. Capitol Ave, RCA Dome
Indianapolis Colts
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Indianapolis 500
Since its inaugural race in 1911, the Indianapolis 500 has
become the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing'. Each year, the world's
top drivers compete for one of the most prestigous prizes in all of
sports, the Borg-Warner Trophy. The 500 Festival takes place in the
weeks leading up to the event, including the nation's largest
half-marathon and culminating in the IPL 500 Festival Parade the
day before the race. The Indi is an action-packed, exciting event
drawing travellers from all over the world.
Venue:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W. 16th St.
Indianapolis 500
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Indianapolis' multitude of major highways makes the self-drive
option quite convenient. Traffic congestion, however, can be a
problem. Public transportation is provided by IndyGo at $1.75 per
single ride and $4 per all-day pass. The red and green lines
service downtown attractions, hotels, restaurants and shopping and
nightlife spots.
Indianapolis is a major Midwestern metropolis, with no end of
attractions for curious visitors. A walking tour of the city
includes major landmarks such as the Indiana State Capitol
building, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Indiana War
Memorial, and the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
On pleasant days, Indianapolis has a number of parks and gardens
to enjoy, including the White River Gardens, Garfield Park
Conservatory, the Oldfields-Lilly Estate, and of course the
Indianapolis Zoo.
There are plenty of cultural attractions in Indianapolis, as the
city boasts more than a dozen excellent museums. Families will want
to visit the Holbomb Observatory and Planetarium and the Children's
Museum of Indianapolis; while history buffs can enjoy the Conner
Prairie Living History Museum, the Indiana State Museum, the
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, and The
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site.
The city also offers a number of art galleries and performing
arts venues, and is home to fun summer events like the Indiana
State Fair, the Rib America Fest, Bands of America Grand Nationals,
and the Indy Fringe Festival.