White River State Park

The cultural and recreational heart of Indianapolis, the White River State Park, is 250 acres (100 hectares) of beautifully designed urban space straddling both banks of a picturesque river. You’ll find museums, art galleries, a world-class zoo, green spaces, public art and sporting facilities — all just a short stroll from the downtown area. Explore the region’s past in the Indiana State Museum. There are more than 500,000 artifacts on display, from fossils to retro consumer goods from the 1950s. Right next door you’ll find the state’s largest IMAX theater offering educational films and the latest blockbusters.Learn about Indiana’s indigenous history at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art. It houses one of the best collections of Native American art in the country, and includes artifacts such as jewelry, saddle blankets, clothing and weaponry. Sports fans should visit Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians baseball team. The 14,500-seat stadium ranks as one of the best minor league ballparks in America. Travel through the animal kingdom at the Indianapolis Zoo, where five biomes replicate climates from the desert to the forest and house over 1,500 animals. The zoo includes an aquarium and botanic gardens.Be sure to check the park website for a schedule of the many events that occur throughout the year. Sit back on the lawn and enjoy a concert at the White River Park Concert series, held from May to September. In July, catch a free Shakespearean play performed alongside the canal, or dance to the sound of a Celtic drum at the Indianapolis Irish Festival in September. White River Park is also a great place to come and just take it easy. Many walking trails and picnic areas provide the perfect place for a quiet getaway.The park is free to enter and is open 24 hours a day.