Hit the Streets
Who would have thought that the Indianapolis Children's Museum is the
largest in the world? Plan to spend the whole day there checking out its
five levels with 15-plus exhibit areas (including ones on dinos and
trains). And there's something for grown-ups to look at too: A special
Avatar exhibit is coming to the museum from June 22 to September 22,
with props and costumes from the popular film ($18.50 for adults, $13.50
for kids ages 2 to 17, free for younger kids). For car lovers of any
age, race to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, which
has 75 cars on display ($5 for 16 and up, $3 for kids ages 6 to 15, free
for younger kids). Often overlooked by tourists who focus on White
River State Park downtown, Indianapolis also has an art and nature park
called 100 Acres. "It's free and you can take in some fantastic art
while your children have fun climbing on the 20 fiberglass benches that
make up the 'Funky Bones' sculpture or swinging from a giant-chopstick
sculpture," says local mom Lindsay Parker Williams.
Hit the Sheets
Families flock to the Omni Severin Hotel, which greets tiny travelers
with a backpack filled with games and crafts and delivers milk and
cookies to their room. (Rates for a room with two queen beds, including
breakfast and tickets to the family-friendly Indianapolis Zoo, start at
$159 per night; omnihotels.com.) Or consider staying at the SpringHill
Suites Downtown, which offers free breakfast, family board games in the
lobby, and balloons at check-in. (Rates for rooms with two queen beds
start at $129 per night. Get a 15 percent discount with promo code P91;
marriott.com.)