Travel attractions in indianapolis

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Natives of Indianapolis are quick to point out that their city offers visitors more than just the worlds most famous car race. Indianapolis has become known as a city with a thriving spectator sports scene C football and basketball - as well as car racing. The city also has a thriving downtown, historic neighborhoods and cultural attractions. And the citys location at the center of the state that calls itself the crossroads of America makes it easy to get to from almost anywhere.

But it is the famous Indy 500 race that draws most visitors to the city. Each May, almost 500,000 visitors crowd the city and watch the race, which is considered to be the largest single day sporting event in the world. Even when the race is not on, you can visit the Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, which offers a fascinating history of the race and the historic track, which celebrates its centenary in 2009. Visitors to the museum can see an authentic collection of racing cars, trophies and racing memorabilia. The tour of the track itself includes a visit to Gasoline Alley, the victory platform and other behind the scenes locations.

Indianapolis has taken great pains to promote its downtown as a tourist destination, and the result is a vibrant community, where people not only work but live and shop as well. Downtown Indianapolis boasts 10 performing arts theaters, over 200 shops and restaurants and over a dozen historic sites and museums C the city has invested over 3 billion dollars in the downtown area since 1990. The unofficial center of downtown is the area known as Monument Circle, which has a 284-foot tall limestone monument, built in 1902 as a tribute to Indianas soldiers who fought in the Civil War. There is a Civil war museum in the lower part of the monument; you can also take an elevator to the observation deck for a panoramic view of the city.

Downtown is also an area of distinct neighborhoods, all worth exploring. The Massachusetts Avenue arts district has become one of the most fashionable parts of the city C its several blocks are lined with theaters, bookstores and coffee bars. A short walk from here is Lockerbie Square, a small neighborhood renowned for its beautifully restored Victorian houses. The Canal walk district offers visitors an oasis in the heart of the city, complete with open spaces, jogging paths and facilities for biking and boating. Circle Center is a huge shopping and entertainment complex, modeled on a European street market; in case of bad weather it offers enclosed walkways to several downtown hotels. Fountain Square is one of the older neighborhoods and is known for its antique and collectible stores, as well as an original 1950s diner and soda fountain.

But one of the most unusual downtown attractions is a building that would not be out of place in Las Vegas. The Murat Center, which is on the national register of historic places is one of the largest Masonic Shrines in the country - its a spectacular combination of towers, colored tiles and stained glass windows all done in an exotic Eastern design. You can catch a show at the Murat Theater, or take a tour of the interior including the ornate Egyptian room.

Indianapolis offers dozens of museums, ranging from the small but fascinating Indiana Firefighters Museum, to the huge and comprehensive Museum of Art. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is one of the best of its kind in the country. Built in adobe-style, the museum features works by such well-known artists as Georgia OKeeffe, as well as a huge display of native Indian artifacts. But one of the most popular attractions is the Childrens Museum, which has been ranked the number one museum in the Midwest. The museum has 10 major galleries that explore science, world culture and the arts. You can also climb a limestone rock, dig for fossils and marvel at the dinosaur exhibit, which recreates the prehistoric world with sights, smells and sounds.

An easy and fascinating day trip from Indianapolis is the open-air history museum at Conner Prairie. This national historic site is made up of several areas offering glimpses into Indianas past; the different displays portray life in the early 1800s and costumed interpreters act out historical events. The complex also offers a reproduction of a 19th century flatboat, an Indian camp, an extensive collection of local pottery and textiles, and secluded paths through the formal gardens. Its hard to believe you are just 20 miles from the center of Americas 8th largest city.