Whether you’re visiting Indianapolis for the weekend or you’ve lived here for years and need something fun to do on a random Tuesday, the good news is there’s no shortage of exciting things to do in Indianapolis!
Even though Indiana isn’t the state people immediately think of when they think “exciting,” as a local business that offers Indianapolis residents quality roof repair services, we insist the city of Indianapolis often surprises people with just how beautiful, bustling, and downright fun it is.
Feeling ready to explore Indy? Try out one of these nine unique things to do!
1) Cross a Hot Air Balloon Ride Off Your Bucket List 🎈
What’s on your bucket list? Do you want to run a full marathon? Visit every state? Go sky diving?
What about riding a hot air balloon?
Hot air balloon rides are on a lot of people’s bucket lists. Whether or not it’s on yours, it’s still a unique, exciting, and often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And you can ride one right here in Indianapolis!
At Indy Hot Air, you can schedule private rides at sunrise or sunset. You can even schedule a homestead flight and take off right from your own home! The investment is more significant than other items on this list, so many people save up to do it on a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary.
2) Unleash Your Inner Cowboy With a Horseback Ride 🐎
Just outside of Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Indiana, lies Natural Valley Ranch. Here, you can go horseback riding on their beautiful trails, take riding lessons, or even host birthday parties.
You can choose from 30 or 60-minute guided trail rides that wind along the stunning banks of White Lick Creek. Natural Valley Ranch covers 78 acres of scenic land. This is the perfect activity for when you want to spend a nice day outside. Just remember to wear closed-toed shoes!
3) Get a Glimpse Into the Past at the Indiana Medical History Museum 🧠
If your idea of fun is looking at brains in jars, then have we got the perfect place for you. Explore the beginnings of “modern” medicine at the Indiana Medical History Museum. You’ll find lots of quirky and fascinating memorabilia at this unique museum.
You’ll learn about the development of psychiatric treatment over the years, view lots of old-school medical equipment, and leave with a new-found appreciation for today’s medical practices. This activity definitely isn’t for people with weak stomachs!
4) Check Out the Gardens and Museums at Newfields 🌺
Newfields is quite an impressive and popular place in Indianapolis. On this stunning campus, you’ll find:
- The Indianapolis Museum of Art
- The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
- The historic Lilly House
- Miller House and Garden
- Elder Greenhouse (with a beer garden)
- A cafe
- Performance spaces
- Gift shop
- And more!
Talk about a fun-filled day all in one place. Whether you want to enjoy the outdoor spaces in spring and summer or hunker down in the Museum of Art and Lilly House on a cold, rainy day, Newfields is sure to impress.
5) Be Brave and Try Ziplining at Go Ape! 👀
When you think of ziplining, you probably think of New Zealand or Costa Rica. But did you know you can go ziplining right here in Indianapolis? That’s right; Go Ape! has a location at Eagle Creek Park where you can fly through the trees like Tarzan.
While you’re at Eagle Creek Park, you can also spend time hiking, kayaking, or swimming. It’s one of the most sought-after destinations for nature lovers in Indiana!
6) Step Below the City in the Catacombs 🏛️
What do Indianapolis and the Roman Empire have in common? Catacombs!
While catacombs traditionally serve as ancient burial places, the Indianapolis ones aren’t that. Instead, they’re the remains of Tomlinson Hall, which burned down in 1958.
During the guided tour of the City Market Catacombs, you’ll learn the stories of two historic Indianapolis buildings: City Market and Tomlinson Hall. While you won’t see any tombs, you’ll get to view an expanse of brick barrel-vaulted arches underneath the bustling city.
Note: Since the Indianapolis Catacombs have a very rough and uneven dirt floor, this tour is not considered accessible for guests with walkers, strollers, canes, or wheelchairs.
7) Eat, Shop, and Play at the Indianapolis City Market 🧑🌾
The Indianapolis City Market is home to The Original Farmers’ Market, where you can purchase fresh fruits, veggies, cheeses, meats, and more from local artisans. Their Buy 2 Give 1 program helps provide fresh, healthy foods to three downtown Indianapolis homeless missions. Thousands of pounds of fresh produce are donated to people in need each year!
At the City Market, you can also enjoy authentic international cuisine at a variety of restaurants, shop at boutiques, and play bocce ball. In fact, the City Market Catacombs are located at this site as well, so you can spend an entire day just at the City Market.
8) See a Play at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 🎭
The Indiana Repertory Theatre is one of the premier regional theatres in the entire country. You can’t go wrong with spending an evening or a weekend afternoon watching a well-produced play with world-class actors and designers. Discounted tickets are available for certain demographics, including military members, educators, and low-income families.
The theatre is located in the historic IRT Building, which is so visually stunning it constitutes a visit of its own.
9) Find the Best Restaurant on Mass Ave 🍕
Massachusetts Avenue, known locally as Mass Ave, is a five-block area chock full of restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques. But in our opinion, the restaurants are what you can’t miss.
From German eats and delicious tacos to Irish pubs and upscale seafood restaurants, there’s something for everyone. Make a game out of it and rank your favorites with a friend!
Support Local Indianapolis Businesses
Clearly, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Indianapolis, and we’ve only scratched the surface. We hope you enjoy checking out these local attractions as much as we do. And if you’re looking to continue supporting local Indianapolis businesses in other areas of your life, introduce yourself to our team at OpenBox Roofing!
As a local exterior renovation company, we love helping Indianapolis home and business owners protect their properties with beautiful and high-quality roofing and siding solutions. Get in touch for a free estimate!
