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Published: August 20, 2008 08:55 pm
Have some family fun on a budget
Take advantage of the many attractions in central Indiana
By Jen Thomas
Special to the Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Family fun is a lot more affordable when you limit your gas guzzling by taking advantage of the places you can go and things you can do within the Indianapolis metro area. Downtown alone offers nearly 50 attractions; combine that with the fun to be found only a few miles away in Hamilton County, and you can create an action-packed vacation that fits your budget.
Here’s a sample of family-fun entertainment — much of it for free — in Indianapolis and its northern suburbs.
Ride the rails, step back in time
A car is one way to get around, but taking the train makes getting from Point A to Point B a lot more fun. Imagine riding the rails to get pizza on a Friday night, having a romantic dinner in a 1930s’ railroad dining car, or simply settling back and enjoying a ride on a summer evening.
The Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville preserves and shares Indiana’s railroad history through educational programs, a train museum and, of course, weekend train rides and excursions.
The museum’s 38 miles of track — once known as the Indianapolis & Peru and later as the Nickel Plate Railroad — are operated by volunteers who are always ready to share their railroad knowledge. A tour of the museum itself showcases preserved trains, including what’s considered one of the most beautiful rail cars ever built: a 1898 rolling hotel suite created for Henry Morrison Flagler.
Admission to the museum, located in Noblesville Forest Park, is $3.
Conner Prairie Living History Museum
Conner Prairie, a living history museum in Fishers, — just north of Indianapolis — is one of the nation’s most innovative outdoor history museums, where you’ll experience 19th-century American culture that comes to life. In Liberty Corner — just beyond the covered bridge — you’ll enter 1886, where you can stop in at the local school house, explore religious life and social issues of the day in the Quaker meeting house, and visit the Zimmermans at their Victorian-era farmhouse. Don’t be surprised if you’re roped in to helping with some chores, though.
Other highlights at Conner Prairie include Prairietown, a pioneer village where you’ll find animals and watch a blacksmith and potter in action. In Lenape Indian Camp, dance to drum and gourd rattle and experience lives of the Lenape or Delaware Indians and fur traders.
Tickets to Conner Prairie are $11, $7 for children and $10 for seniors.
During the summer months, Conner Prairie is home to Symphony on the Prairie, where the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs under the stars in an outdoor amphitheater. Bring a picnic, relax on the lawn and enjoy live music, which is followed by a fireworks show during special events. Tickets are $24 for adults and $10 for children, although discount tickets are available at Marsh stores.
Children’s Museum
Comic Book heroes leap from the page at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Learn about your favorite comic book characters, from Batman to Papa Smurf, and see how creators bring them to life. The exhibit is just one of the many inside the 400,000-square-foot Children’s Museum, the largest children’s museum in the world. With 11 major galleries and visiting exhibits, kids of all ages can explore the sciences, history, cultures and the arts through hands-on and interactive activities.
At the center of the museum’s spiral walkway stands “Fireworks of Glass,” a fascinating 43-foot-tall tower of glass, the largest permanent sculpture of blown glass by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. A few steps away, the sky lights up inside SpaceQuest Planetarium, a 130-seat auditorium where you’ll see the stars of the Indiana night sky or listen to Native American tales of the sun, moon and stars. Off the main lobby, Dinosphere captures the attention of any kid who’s ever dreamed of walking the planet with a T-Rex. Its world-class collection of real dinosaur fossils offers a glimpse of life in the Cretaceous Period, more than 65 million years ago. A dinosaur dig, a functioning paleontology lab and an art gallery featuring pieces from the finest collection of dinosaur art in the nation complete the experience.
Admission is $8.50 for kids 2-17; $13.50 for adults and $12.50 for seniors.
White River State Park
The New York Times says White River State Park is “Indianapolis’ version of the Mall in Washington.” Anyone who’s visited knows why: In one stop you can visit the Indiana State Museum, take in an IMAX movie, catch a baseball game at Victory Field, visit the NCAA Hall of Champions, bike along the banks of the winding White River … and that’s just the beginning.
The Indianapolis Zoo is home to 360 different species of animals, including an aquarium and daily shows to help visitors see the animals more intimately.
The only museum of its kind in the Midwest, and one of only two east of the Mississippi that showcase both Native American and Western art, culture and history, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art showcases both traditional and contemporary works. Featured artists include T.C. Cannon, N. C. Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, Allan Houser, Frederic Remington, Charles Russell and Kay WalkingStick. Admission is $5 for kids and full-time students; $8 for adults and $7 for seniors. Kids 4 and under are free.
Within the White River State Park itself, you’ll find the trails, grassy areas and waterways you’d see at any other state park; however, that’s where the similarities end. Indiana’s only urban state park, White River State Park offers a unique blend of cultural, educational and recreational attractions right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Admission prices vary by attraction, but admission to the park is free.
For those who want to experience multiple attractions, and still stay within a budget, the Indianapolis Family Fun Adventure Package includes an overnight at one of several hotels, including the Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park, and tickets to the Indianapolis Zoo and Children’s Museum.
Some things really are free
Here is a list of free events in Indianapolis this summer.
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Admission to the IMA is free every day, and it’s especially interesting during warm-weather months, when you can explore galleries inside the museum, and the gardens and nature trails outside. www.imamuseum.org/
White River State Park 2008 Family Art Series
White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis hosts a series of free concerts and cultural events throughout the summer to give families a chance to spend time together and experience cultural attractions from Dance Kaleidoscope to Shakespeare in the Park. www.inwhiteriver.org
Indianapolis City Market
Hear live music by local artists Wednesdays through Fridays at the historic Indianapolis City Market, where you can nosh on fresh foods, and sit on the outdoor plaza to enjoy tunes ranging from blues to jazz to pop. Arts Market is held Saturdays at the Plaza, where local artists display and sell their creations.
www.indycm.com
Indianapolis Opera in the Park
The Opera features familiar opera hits, the best of Broadway, as well as musical highlights of Indianapolis Opera’s upcoming season. Guests are invited to bring their blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy the entertainment. All shows are free and are in the outdoor Celebration Amphitheater at White River State Park. www.in.gov/whiteriver/
War Memorials
Indianapolis is considered second only to Washington D.C. when it comes to monuments and memorials honoring our veterans. Many of the war memorials offer free admission, including the recently opened USS Indianapolis. Located inside the Indiana War Memorial, the museum preserves the history of not only one of the worst naval disasters in history, but for the pivotal role it played in World War II.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument has been recognized as one of the world’s most exceptional monuments. Standing 284-feet tall, and made of Indiana limestone, it honors veterans of the Civil and Spanish-American wars and is located on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. For a list of Indianapolis memorials, go to www.IN.gov/iwm.
Indianapolis Art Center
The Indianapolis Art Center is home to many local artists and houses eight exhibition spaces, 13 state-of-the art studios, a 224-seat auditorium, a library, a unique gift shop, a riverfront deck and stage and sculpture gardens along the White River. It is designed by world-renowned architect Michael Graves. The center also offers art classes for both youth and adults throughout the year.
www.indplsartcenter.org
National Art Museum of Sport
The National Art Museum of Sport is always free, although you’ll have to pay to park. The museum contains art ranging from paintings to poems that were inspired by sports and sports figures.
www.namos.iupui.edu/home.html
Artsgarden
This unique glass-enclosed structure attached to Circle Centre mall hosts more than 300 free arts activities, including dance performances, storytelling, visual art exhibits, musical performances, films, lectures, readings, readings, fairs and festivals.
www.indyarts.org/artsgarden.aspx
Indiana Historical Society
The Historical Society collects, preserves, interprets and shares information about the unique heritage of Indiana. These treasures are housed along the canal.
www.indianahistory.org/
President Benjamin Harrison Home
The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, which is home to the 23rd President of the United States, offers free tours.
The home also features The President’s Theatre, a spot that is frequently used for theatrical performances and events.
www.president benjaminharrison.org
Garfield Park Conservatory
This conservatory features more than 500 tropical plants, a 15-foot waterfall and Sunken Gardens, which includes three acres of European classical formal gardens. The conservatory offers several event and learning opportunities from flower arranging and picnicking to live jazz orchestra performances.
www.garfieldgardensconservatory.org
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