Indianapolis - One Cool City

​Later this month, one of my fellow authors and my editor, Sherri Stewart, is going to feature me in her monthly newsletter. (See her website to sign up to get her monthly update. It’s loaded with cool stuff: http://www.stewartwriting.com/ ) One of the items she wanted me to feature in the info about myself was the city I live in…Indianapolis. As I typed it, it gave me a new appreciation for the city my family and I have called home since 1993. It’s actually a pretty cool place. I’ll give you a sneak peak of some of the material I shared with her.
Back in the heyday of the Indiana Pacers’ rivalry with the New York Nicks, Indy got sort of a negative rap in some circles. “India-no-place” was one slur. Years before that, we used to be known as Naptown…I’m not sure why unless it was something to do with taking naps being the most interesting thing to do. Well, folks, I’m here to tell you that Indianapolis has a lot to offer.
Here is a short list of cool things to see and do in Indianapolis:

1. Monument Circle – Smack dab in the center of the city, The Soldiers and Sailors Monument memorializes Hoosiers who lost their lives in the Civil War and other conflicts. Shortly after Thanksgiving each year, it features the Circle of Lights, one of the best Christmas Tree lighting events around. Plus, it’s ringed with cool buildings, and nearby restaurants.
2. Lucas Oil Stadium – Home of the Indianapolis Colts, it’s one of the finest NFL stadiums with its retractable roof and huge windows on one end that open to give it an open-air feel.
3. Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Home of the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever, it’s a fine venue for basketball, but it also sports multiple concerts each year.
4. Victory Field – Home of the AAA Indianapolis Indians baseball team, you won’t find many minor league baseball stadiums that can better it’s layout and views. Go on the 4th of July and catch the downtown fireworks after the game.
5. Indianapolis Motor Speedway—Catch the Indy 500 or one of the other races there. Or, if you want a calmer visit, just go to the IMS museum to see the racecars from the old days to current. You can even get a ride around the iconic racetrack. Who knows? You might even run into a driver.
6. White River State Park – In one visit, you could spend a few hours at the Indianapolis Zoo, see the NCAA headquarters, visit the Indiana State Museum, tour the Eiteljorg Museum of Native American and Western Art, or just stroll around the downtown canal.
7. The Indianapolis Children’s Museum – One of the best children’s museums in the country. It even attracts dinosaurs.
8. Mass Ave and the Bottleworks District – A boutique hotel surrounded by multiple dining, shopping, and entertainment venues.

With the exceptions of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Children’s Museum, everything is within a reasonable walk of the Monument Circle. I could keep looping out further to list even more sights and entertaining scenes, but I think this paints the picture.
If you haven’t been to Indianapolis lately, it really is a cool place to visit. 

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