It is the capital of the state of Indiana and every May hosts the world-famous Indy 500 race. In addition to major events and fast-paced racing cars, Indy (as it's also known) is fortunate to have a wealth of green space, glistening waterways and remarkable monuments, making it a charming and picturesque city. The people of Indianapolis are renowned for their kindness and generosity. Whether you need help with a flat tire, instructions for getting somewhere, or help with the purchase, the people at Indy will never leave you hanging.

Things to See and Do in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is a beautiful place with a lot to offer. It has the limestone that is found throughout Indiana, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the craft beer scene, and more. In addition to these attractions, there are so many other things to see and do. Whether you're looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, here are some of the things you should check out.

Indiana's limestone

Indiana Limestone is a beautiful stone that can be used in a variety of projects. These include accent pieces, quoins, sills, keystones and headers. This durable, malleable stone is also extremely easy to shape on site. It is an excellent landscaping stone, too.

The limestone industry has been around for nearly two centuries. It began in the mid 1800s when Native Americans discovered the stone in the Midwest. Soon after, limestone was used in the building of monuments, memorials and other public buildings.

As railroads expanded into the area, the need for stone became greater. Eventually, more than 15 limestone quarries were in operation.

During this time, immigrants arrived in the area and worked in the mills. In 1827, the Richard Gilbert quarry was opened. A few years later, steam-powered gang-saws were developed to help increase productivity.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

If you're looking for fun things to do in Indianapolis, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a great place to spend a day. With more than 472,900 square feet of exhibits, there are plenty of activities to explore. You'll find historic recreations, artifacts and hands-on science activities.

Visitors can enjoy the Dinosphere exhibit, which features a misty herd of dinosaurs. There are also life-size Brachiosaurus sculptures. The museum has also included smaller pieces of Chihuly art.

Children's Museum of Indianapolis is located on 30th Street and Illinois Street. It has five floors of exhibits. A children's gift shop and food court are located inside the building. This museum is home to one of the largest water clocks in North America.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum also offers several sports. They offer 12 different sports, including basketball hoops of all sizes and a pedal car racetrack.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is one of the best water parks in the country. This family-owned park is located in Santa Claus, Indiana. It was originally established as Santa Claus Land in 1946, but it eventually became a water park.

The water park is typically open from the middle of May through the first part of September. There are also extra operating days in August.

The park is family-owned and operated by the Koch family. They have been in business for over 70 years. A new president was named last year. One of the two general managers is Matt Eckert.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari offers rides and attractions for all ages. In addition to water rides, the park features several roller coasters.

Craft beer scene

The craft beer scene in Indianapolis has gone through a tremendous upswing over the past five years. This boom has fueled the growth of several new breweries in the city. Some of the best Indianapolis breweries offer fun events, delicious food, and pet-friendly spaces.

One of the most popular Indianapolis breweries, Broad Ripple Brewpub, was founded in 1990 by John Hill. The brewpub was one of the first brewpubs in the Midwest, and it has paved the way for many other breweries in the state.

Broad Ripple's menu features beer cheese rock, porters, pale ales, and seasonal lagers. Five percent of their profits are donated to animal charities.

Another brewpub, Punch Burger, serves hot burgers made with Indiana grass-fed beef. It has three locations in the Indianapolis area, as well as an outpost in Carmel. They also have an award-winning beer list.

Public transportation

If you're planning a visit to Indianapolis, one of the best ways to get around is to use public transportation. The city is known for its cheap fares and convenient routes. In addition, the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation recently rolled out an all-electric bus rapid transit system.

Public transportation is also a good way to avoid getting stuck in traffic. A growing number of people are choosing to walk and bike instead of driving. It's also a healthy and environmentally friendly way to travel.

One of the most popular trails in Indianapolis is the Pleasant Run Greenway. This greenway is part of United States Bicycle Route 35. Another popular route is the Monon Trail.

Other routes are the Red Line, which runs through the downtown core. This line provides frequent rapid-transit service and serves several neighborhoods.

Despite how big Indianapolis has become, it still manages to maintain its small-town values when it comes to friendliness, hospitality and the usual good vibes. But Indy is more than ham and trains. The city is mostly known for its amateur sports. The city not only hosts the largest single-day sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500, but it also has one of the largest museums for children in the country, the Indianapolis Children's Museum, and has many other great museums and parks.

Indianapolis has earned a reputation for providing a first-rate service known as Hoosier Hospitality. First-rate amenities combine with exceptional service to ensure a wonderful visit to this capital. Indigenous peoples inhabited the area from 10,000 BC. C.

In 1818, the Lenape relinquished their tribal lands in the Treaty of St. In 1821, Indianapolis was founded as a planned city for the new seat of Indiana's state government. The city was placed by Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham on a 1 square mile (2.6 km) grid next to the White River. The completion of the Michigan and national highways and the arrival of the railroad later consolidated the city's position as a manufacturing and transportation center.

Two of the city's nicknames reflect its historic links to transportation: Crossroads of America and Railroad City. Since the consolidation of the 1970 city-county, known as Unigov, local government administration has operated under the direction of an elected 25-member city-county council headed by the mayor. The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) is a quasi-governmental agency that organizes regional carpool and van rides and operates three connections to the public workforce from Indianapolis to employment centers in Plainfield and Whitestown. Health care in Indianapolis is provided by more than 20 hospitals, most of which belong to the private, non-profit health systems of Ascension St.

Vincent Health, Community Health Network and Indiana University Health. Several are teaching hospitals affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine or the Marian University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Other major non-profit private hospitals based in the city include Ascension St. Vincent Hospital Indianapolis, Community Hospital East, Community Hospital North and Franciscan Health Indianapolis.

Indianapolis is surrounded by wonderful suburbs, but very few of them have their own nerve center. Carmel has its Art and Design District, which is a great place to meet and socialize, but it has a clear “novelty”. Downtown Zionsville is historic, pleasant, and constantly evolving. But within that growth, special attention is being paid to ensuring that the area maintains as much history as possible.

Mature trees shade sidewalks and streetlights line streets. During spring, you'll see bursts of color in the pots, and during Christmas, seasonal lights are placed all over the center, making it a life-size gingerbread town. Even if you don't buy anything, strolling through downtown Zionsville is a rewarding experience. Throughout the city, you'll find parks and public green spaces, and even the roads are kept cleaner than in other parts of Indianapolis.

Most of Indianapolis is located within Indiana's 7th congressional district, represented by Democrat André Carson, while the fifth northern district is part of Indiana's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Victoria Spartz. There are other random facts about Indianapolis that don't fit into the category of cookie cutters, but that make it famous anyway. According to Forbes magazine, the cost of living in Indianapolis is 7.6% below the national average, making it a great place to live and work. The Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) have been based in the city since they moved from Baltimore in 1984. The total cost of living in Indianapolis is approximately 12% lower than the national average, making it one of the most affordable cities in the country.

Indianapolis takes the arts very seriously and is full of cultural centers, such as museums, theaters and music venues. In the absence of a comprehensive regional public transportation system combined with urban sprawl, Indianapolis residents drive more vehicle miles per capita than any other U. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is the city of Indianapolis's main law enforcement agency. That same amount of money in other very beautiful parts of Indianapolis could buy a new, spacious house with a garage and patio.

While Uber and Lyft have dominated across the country, Indianapolis is launching its own companies to promote ridesharing and reduce reliance on owning cars. In the US, the largest industries by employment in the Indianapolis metropolitan area are commerce, transportation and public services; professional and business services; education and health services; government; leisure and hospitality; and manufacturing, respectively. Following the Civil War, Indianapolis grew rapidly, becoming the third largest pig-packing city in the world and the second largest railroad center in the U. At its peak, more than 40% of white men native to Indianapolis declared themselves members of the Klan.

If your visit to Indianapolis coincides with the Indy 500, it's a must to spend the day at Snake Pit, the center of the racetrack, surrounded by the loud and fast 2.5-mile oval. . .