A Guide to Things Close By
Getting Around
BlueIndy is a special kind of car rental. These electric-powered cars are parked in stations all over town. Pick one up. Drive it to another station near where you want to go. There are TWO stations near my home. (NOTE: You have to set up an account first. It's easy but doing it ahead of time will help. The airport has a kiosk for registration as does the downtown station. There is a registration station at Butler, but not always working. If you think you'll use it, I'd register before you travel here. Then no worries.)
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BlueIndy
110 W 56th StBlueIndy is a special kind of car rental. These electric-powered cars are parked in stations all over town. Pick one up. Drive it to another station near where you want to go. There are TWO stations near my home. (NOTE: You have to set up an account first. It's easy but doing it ahead of time will help. The airport has a kiosk for registration as does the downtown station. There is a registration station at Butler, but not always working. If you think you'll use it, I'd register before you travel here. Then no worries.)
IndyGo, our public bus system, has stops for two routes (#28, #18) just three blocks from my house. The very popular Red Line (from Broad Ripple to UIndy) is a mile from my house. All buses allow bikes on board or attached to the front of the bus. Route #19 is about 7 blocks from my home.
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Julia M. Carson Transit Center
201 Washington StIndyGo, our public bus system, has stops for two routes (#28, #18) just three blocks from my house. The very popular Red Line (from Broad Ripple to UIndy) is a mile from my house. All buses allow bikes on board or attached to the front of the bus. Route #19 is about 7 blocks from my home.
Bike Share stations are scattered around, especially downtown. Near me, there's one on Butler campus, one about 3 blocks east and one in Broad Ripple. You're always welcome to borrow my bike (let me know before you arrive), but the bike share is a fun way to get around town. You pick up and drop off at any station, paying a small fee via your credit card. (NOTE: a ride to a downtown station is about 5 miles to the circle) If you're lucky, you'll find a Bird or Lime nearby (electric scooter) to enjoy the area even more.
Indiana Pacers Bikeshare
132 W Walnut StBike Share stations are scattered around, especially downtown. Near me, there's one on Butler campus, one about 3 blocks east and one in Broad Ripple. You're always welcome to borrow my bike (let me know before you arrive), but the bike share is a fun way to get around town. You pick up and drop off at any station, paying a small fee via your credit card. (NOTE: a ride to a downtown station is about 5 miles to the circle) If you're lucky, you'll find a Bird or Lime nearby (electric scooter) to enjoy the area even more.
Parks & Nature
It's a free open air art park attached to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Accessible by the Canal Trail (about 3.5 miles by foot, bike to entrance) or by car via 38th street.)
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Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres e-Newfields
1850 W 38th StIt's a free open air art park attached to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Accessible by the Canal Trail (about 3.5 miles by foot, bike to entrance) or by car via 38th street.)
This 20+ mile trail shoots north and south. Paved. Great for jogging, biking, walking. Lots of cafes, bathrooms, shopping, breweries along the way. Heads north of Carmel and south to Cultural Trail downtown Indy. Access about 1 mile east of my home.
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Monon Trail
This 20+ mile trail shoots north and south. Paved. Great for jogging, biking, walking. Lots of cafes, bathrooms, shopping, breweries along the way. Heads north of Carmel and south to Cultural Trail downtown Indy. Access about 1 mile east of my home.
Beautiful, quiet area on Butler University Campus. Access via Canal Trail, walking to end of my street and heading through small woods to it or driving through Butler campus
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Holcomb Gardens
Garden RoadBeautiful, quiet area on Butler University Campus. Access via Canal Trail, walking to end of my street and heading through small woods to it or driving through Butler campus
Nature Center, hilly hiking trails, river, great playground, picnic, renovated replica of Roman water feature. Free live music every week in summer.
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Holliday Park
6363 Spring Mill RdNature Center, hilly hiking trails, river, great playground, picnic, renovated replica of Roman water feature. Free live music every week in summer.
Tennis courts (free), playground, basketball courts, NEW cool play area, spray area and now an ice cream shop run by local favorite, BRICS (out of Broad Ripple.)
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Tarkington Park
45 W 40th StTennis courts (free), playground, basketball courts, NEW cool play area, spray area and now an ice cream shop run by local favorite, BRICS (out of Broad Ripple.)
My favorite jogging, walking, biking path is right across from my home. A cinder towpath, it takes you one direction into Broad Ripple and another direction toward Butler, the art museum and downtown. Quiet, it meanders along the canal. (NOTE: The art museum and back is about 3 miles on the path.)
Indianapolis Water Company Canal
My favorite jogging, walking, biking path is right across from my home. A cinder towpath, it takes you one direction into Broad Ripple and another direction toward Butler, the art museum and downtown. Quiet, it meanders along the canal. (NOTE: The art museum and back is about 3 miles on the path.)
Arts & Culture
No longer free, but does have free evenings and days. Museum, plus lots of beautiful gardens, the Lilly mansion. A spot for MANY weddings. Also, 100 Acres is attached. Cafe inside. Weekly outdoor movies in summer. Frequent special events and activities - concerts, dance, ballet, etc
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Newfields
4000 N Michigan RdNo longer free, but does have free evenings and days. Museum, plus lots of beautiful gardens, the Lilly mansion. A spot for MANY weddings. Also, 100 Acres is attached. Cafe inside. Weekly outdoor movies in summer. Frequent special events and activities - concerts, dance, ballet, etc
Clowes and Shrott next door always have concerts, theatre, national speakers. Butler often hosts free events around authors, too. You can find MOST events on Butler Arts web page. Easy walk from house.
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Clowes Memorial Hall
4602 Sunset AveClowes and Shrott next door always have concerts, theatre, national speakers. Butler often hosts free events around authors, too. You can find MOST events on Butler Arts web page. Easy walk from house.
Considered the best Children's Museum in world (certainly in U.S.) Very short drive (6-7 minutes) or the #28 IndyGo bus drops in front of museum. (Bus stop for my neighborhood is 54th and Illinios -- about 3 blocks from my home.)
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I-Museum yabantwana yase-Indianapolis
3000 N Meridian StConsidered the best Children's Museum in world (certainly in U.S.) Very short drive (6-7 minutes) or the #28 IndyGo bus drops in front of museum. (Bus stop for my neighborhood is 54th and Illinios -- about 3 blocks from my home.)
Essentials
small, neighborhood grocery with all the basics. Has a good reputation for its fried chicken (I'm vegetarian, so can't confirm or deny that.)
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Safeway
5602 N Illinois Stsmall, neighborhood grocery with all the basics. Has a good reputation for its fried chicken (I'm vegetarian, so can't confirm or deny that.)
High end grocery with fresh meat, seafood, veggies, flowers. About 1 mile from home
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The Fresh Market
9774 E 116th StHigh end grocery with fresh meat, seafood, veggies, flowers. About 1 mile from home
CVS
6290-92 N College Avepharmacy plus Red Box in parking lot
10-12 minute drive. This block also includes Starbucks, Target, Marshalls, a massive Kroger and lots of other stores, fast food
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Whole Foods Market
14598 Clay Terrace Blvd10-12 minute drive. This block also includes Starbucks, Target, Marshalls, a massive Kroger and lots of other stores, fast food
The Fresh Thyme in Broad Ripple (just over 1 mile walk on the canal tow path) is their flagship grocery store - coffee and juice bar, fresh chips chippery and a nice place to eat (inside or out 365 days a year)
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Fresh Thyme Farmers Market- Broad Ripple
6301 N College AveThe Fresh Thyme in Broad Ripple (just over 1 mile walk on the canal tow path) is their flagship grocery store - coffee and juice bar, fresh chips chippery and a nice place to eat (inside or out 365 days a year)
Food Scene
Several locations in area, but much-loved local company
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Hubbard & Cravens Coffee Co
4930 N Pennsylvania StSeveral locations in area, but much-loved local company
tucked away in a cute little area - french pastries every day. yummy crepes and omlettes on weekend. Free wifi. Usually open until 9-10p
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Gallery Pastry Shop
4573 E 54th Sttucked away in a cute little area - french pastries every day. yummy crepes and omlettes on weekend. Free wifi. Usually open until 9-10p
No worries - there's a Starbucks three blocks away... and one on Butler campus, as well.
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Starbucks
430 Massachusetts AveNo worries - there's a Starbucks three blocks away... and one on Butler campus, as well.
Easy 3-block walk from home, this local spot cooks up breakfast, lunch and on some nights each week, dinner. All made in-house, full meals, sandwiches, breads, treats, coffees and even cakes. Indoor and outdoor seating. Right next door to Graeters Ice Cream!
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Illinois Street Food Emporium
5550 N Illinois StEasy 3-block walk from home, this local spot cooks up breakfast, lunch and on some nights each week, dinner. All made in-house, full meals, sandwiches, breads, treats, coffees and even cakes. Indoor and outdoor seating. Right next door to Graeters Ice Cream!
Grilled pizza, all-you-can-eat pasta on Sundays, plus salads, this locally-owned spot is three blocks from my house. Outdoor seating most of the year if weather is decent. Also, a small bar called The Rhino, featuring local-favorite Hotel Tango Distillery spirits.
Byrne's Grilled Pizza
5615 N Illinois St Grilled pizza, all-you-can-eat pasta on Sundays, plus salads, this locally-owned spot is three blocks from my house. Outdoor seating most of the year if weather is decent. Also, a small bar called The Rhino, featuring local-favorite Hotel Tango Distillery spirits.
Izeluleko zedolobha
Imikhuba namasiko
Lots more ideas!
In your room, you'll find more info about many restaurants (including vegetarian) or other things to do. If you have any questions or wonder about any particular kind of food, let me know ahead of time and I'll have a recommendation for you when you arrive!