When the kids are home for summer vacation, there’s plenty of fun to be discovered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Plan your next fun-filled activity this summer with our guide to some of the best family-friendly experiences in Indy.
Holliday Park
Holliday Park is your traditional, gorgeous outdoor park with a unique twist. One of Indy’s oldest parks, it’s graced by a set of ruins that are perfect for exploring. The 94 acres of beautiful open space also offers a nature center, an arboretum, and 3.5 miles of scenic hiking trails, all without ever having to leave the city.
The Family Creek Stomps is scheduled for Sep. 1, 2019, and allows you and your family to get up close and personal with local nature and wildlife. Holliday Park also hosts other public events throughout the summer months including summer concerts and artistic workshops, so make sure you check the schedule for upcoming events.
Family Nights at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The award-winning Children’s Museum of Indianapolis offers hands-on entertainment for children of all ages. The museum offers $4 entry for children on the first Thursday night of every month. Buy your tickets online to skip the line in person! The museum also hosts free admission days on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, El Día de los Niños, and Christmas Eve.
There’s a reason that the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has been voted one of the 10 coolest museums in the world. Children will enjoy the interactive exhibits like the Dinospehere and the Fireworks of Glass. The playscapes within the museum are also perfect for children to burn off some energy.
Conner Prairie Interactive History Museum
The Conner Prairie Interactive History Museum is both educational and entertaining, expanding across over 800 acres of land. You and your family will enjoy the historically-themed attractions within the museum including a Makesmith Workshop, the Lenape Indian Camp, and numerous animal encounters. You can even take a hot air balloon ride on the 1859 Balloon Voyage. Children will also enjoy imagining and playing on the Treetop Outpost, a four-story treehouse with exceptional views of the land below.
Sunset Cinema on the Canal
Outdoor movies are the perfect way to enjoy nature in a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere. Every month in summer, Indy Film Fest and Downtown Indy Inc. host a movie showing along the canal at the north end, near the Admiral Spruance Basin on 11th Street. Lawn seating is free so bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets.
Adults can rent a tube and watch the film while floating along the canal. The movie showings start at dusk, usually around 9 pm and you can enjoy movies like Days of Thunder and Grease. Grab some food or a cold drink from Thomas Caterers to enjoy with your movie.
Whether your family enjoys an outdoor movie or an indoor hands-on educational experience, there is plenty of family-friendly fun to be had in Indy this summer. Load up the family this weekend and enjoy these memorable attractions.
Image via Flickr by Eric Fredericks under use of CC BY-SA 2.0/cropped from original
Connect with us
