A city for everyone
Fast cars, space pods and walking trails
By Eming Piansay
Home of the Indy 500 and the birthplace of writer Kurt Vonnegut, Indianapolis is truly a place for all walks of life. Whether you are a foodie, a history buff or a true crime fanatic in search of John Dillinger’s resting place, Indianapolis has much to offer those on their journey.
Local Expert Tip
“While Indy is most known for our famed racecars and hosting major sporting events, it’s our downtown neighborhoods teeming with boutiques, cafes and independent restaurants I like to showcase when friends and family visit. And attendees can easily explore these six cultural enclaves via the Cultural Trail. It’s an eight-mile urban trail connecting all these neighborhoods and is conducive to walk or bike to get from your hotel to the front door of more than 350 restaurants, bars and museums.”
– Chris Gahl, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer with Visit Indy.
5 Fabulous Places to Meet in Indianapolis
Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS)
Indiana Convention Center (ICC) sits within a six-block area of downtown Indianapolis that is within walking distance of the State Capitol, Union Station, Circle Centre Shopping and Entertainment Complex and Victory Field. LOS is a state-of-the-art facility with a retractable roof and provides a grand view of the city skyline.
556,600 contiguous sq. ft.; 71 meeting rooms; 3 ballrooms
Housed in the former building of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Bottleworks Hotel’s style blends Art Deco with modern inklings. Planners have a wide offering of choices from intimate meeting spaces, and grand banquet events. Bottleworks Hotel is near the Garage Food Hall a more than 30,000 sq. ft. community of food and retail vendors. Visitors have an ample food selection from Cuban to Japanese.
13,493 sq. ft. of event space; 9 meeting rooms; 139 guest rooms; 6 suites.
Conrad Indianapolis is a hotel and an art gallery. It is home to celebrated works of Warhol, Dali and Picasso. For wine connoisseurs, Conrad houses the largest wine-by-the-glass wine list in downtown Indianapolis. Visitors can also treat themselves to a wellness appointment for a massage, or sometime in the Jacuzzi and steam room on the 6th floor.
15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 247 guest rooms.
The Alexander Sports fans staying at The Alexander are in walking distance of LOS, home of the Indianapolis Colts and the NBA Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. If visitors are feeling particularly musical, they aren’t far from Monument Circle where you can catch a performance by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Every room, lobby and dining space of The Alexander is accompanied by a piece of art commissioned or curated from local and international artists totaling $3 million.
16,500 sq. ft. of meeting space; 209 guest rooms; 17 event venues; and 52 extended-stay suites.
Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station Visitors to this gem on the National Register of Historic Places will get a glimpse back in architectural time as the Grand Hall Ballroom still features wheel windows and a barrel ceiling with original stained glass. The site functions as an active train station, giving guests the fun experience of hearing trains rumbling in the background.
55,000 sq. ft. of event space; 22 meeting rooms and; 273 guest rooms.
5 Reasons Meeting Profs Indianapolis
Indianapolis Moto Speedway Got a ramped-up need for speed? Fan of the Fast and the Furious franchise? Indianapolis is home of the Indy 500 in the month of May. The Speedway offers several race events throughout the year including the Indianapolis eight-hour race happening between Oct. 6-8. The Moto Speedway can host approximately 400,000 people during one event, perfect for groups seeking to get in on the action. Fun fact! The first race to take place at Speedway was between gas-filled balloons!
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis All Hail the Dragon King of Hogwarts! Well, not quite. While there isn’t a Dragon King per say, the newly discovered dinosaur resides in The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The Dracorex Hogwartsia walked the Earth 95 to 65 million years ago. The museum offers portals through space and time and for those with an eye on the future, they can also learn about how astronauts perform experiments in space and get to wear space gear while doing various activities like the astronauts do! Fun for Trekkies: See an actual escape pod from the Star Trek: Into Darkness film from 2016!
Slippery Noodle Inn Established in 1850, the Slippery Noodle Inn is the oldest bar in Indiana. The Slippery Noodle has quite a history, namely it was a way station for the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. The Slippery Noodle is also home to blues music fans. Every Wednesday night the Noodle hosts a Blues Out event at 8 p.m. Need a quick bite? The menu at the Noodle offers a wide selection of cheesy nachos and wings.
Garfield Park The oldest park in Indianapolis, established in 1889, Garfield Park offers a lot for visitors to explore. This includes the Conservatory Sunken Garden, arts center, MacAllister Center for Performing Arts, outdoor pool, walking trails and so much more. The Sunken Garden has three acres of European classical formal gardens–which include seasonal foundations–formal flower displays kept in the style of George Kessler’s original vision in the 1910s. In July, Garfield Park offers gardening classes for children and a Park Bird Walk where visitors can join a naturalist and search for birds while becoming a bird expert!
Monon Trail For visitors looking for a long leisure walk, run or bike ride, Monon Trail is a great place to start offering over 25 miles of paved path. Originally opened as a 10-mile bike-and-pedestrian pathway, the Monon Trail offers guests the chance to get some fresh air while trekking to nearby destinations such as Carmel and Westfield. Explorers can share their experiences under the #bikethemonon hashtag!
This article appears in the July 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
