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Day One
Home » Indiana » Indianapolis, Indiana: A Three-Day Vacation Guide » Day OneOn the first day of vacation, you always want to sleep in a little bit. Depending on what you do for a living, this could mean sleeping until 7:00 AM or sleeping until noon. We’ll compromise and say you’d like to sleep until 9:30, which should give you time to catch your hotel’s continental breakfast.
After breakfast, hop in your car (or rental car) and head to 1200 W. Washington St., where you’ll find the Indianapolis Zoo, one of the best in the Midwest. By the time you’re done seeing the state’s largest aquarium and over 350 different species of animals, it will be near lunch time. You’re just a couple minutes from downtown, so we recommend heading there. In fact, stay right on W. Washington St. and head toward downtown, looking for 801 W. Washington St. This address is the location of one of Indianapolis’ greatest parks, White River State Park. There are a number of restaurants near the park, so we recommend getting your food to go and enjoying a picnic on the lush green lawns at the riverside. After you’re done with lunch, there are two great museums within walking distance of White River State Park. Choose the Eiteljorg Museum, an art museum celebrating Native American art, or the Indiana State Museum, detailing the history of the state. When you’re done touring the museum of your choice, head over to the IMAX Theater, also within walking distance, and take in a movie on the biggest screen you’ll ever see!
These activities will take you right up to dinner time, and there’s no better place than downtown to have dinner. From the parks and museums, head east on Maryland St. until you come to the Circle Centre Mall parking garage (about ten blocks away). Park in this garage, head out to the street, and you’ll have a number of world class restaurants from which to choose. We recommend The Old Spaghetti Factory (210 S. Meridian St.), an Italian delight with outstanding food and very affordable prices. If you’re a shopper, head back into the Circle Centre Mall, a four-story mall with numerous specialty shops, for the duration of the evening. If not, walk a couple blocks north on Meridian until you come to Monument Circle, and enjoy the sights there. Monument Circle will be hard to miss, because the main monument there, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, is nearly 300-feet tall. Enjoy this beautiful landmark that has come to honor the military men and women of the state of Indiana, and take a tour of the Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, also on site.
You’re probably worn out, and we’re just getting started! This probably is a good time to call it a day, though, so head back to Circle Centre Parking Garage, pick up your car, and head back to the hotel for the night.
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