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Home » The Ideal Indianapolis Weekend Getaway Itinerary

The Ideal Indianapolis Weekend Getaway Itinerary

By Lia Garcia | Updated on: March 27, 2024

The ideal Indianapolis weekend getaway itinerary!
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Indianapolis, Indiana is the biggest city in the Crossroads of America, but it’s also the most surprising.  Canals, an incredible art museum, an award-winning foodie scene, historic monuments, and plenty of adorable neighborhoods to explore; describe Indianapolis to someone who’s never been, and they might think you were describing somewhere in Europe. It’s the canals, isn’t it? But don’t underestimate Indianapolis! Centrally located to most major Midwestern cities and a quick flight from either coast (ahem, there are 4 hour direct flights on Southwest from Oakland Airport, hellooooo), Indianapolis is a fantastic destination for a weekend getaway!

Despite growing up in Louisville, Kentucky just 2 hours south of Indianapolis, and attending college at Indiana University in Bloomington, just an hour away from Indy, I somehow never actually managed to spend much time in Indy. Whoops. No time like the present to fix that, right?

We drove up from Louisville this summer to discover everything that Indy has to offer, and we’ve crafted the IDEAL Indianapolis Itinerary! Didja see all that alliteration there? See it?! Not bad, eh? Look, I’m a blogger, not a poet, OK?

Anyway, here’s what you’ll find in this post.

Table of Contents

  • Where to Stay in Indianapolis
  • Indianapolis Weekend Getaway: Friday
    • Dinner at Livery
    • Explore Mass Ave
  • Indianapolis Weekend Getaway: Saturday
    • Coffee at Coat Check
    • Breakfast at City Market
    • Ogle the Art at Newfields
    • Lunch Brunch at Milktooth
    • Afternoon Sightseeing: Choose Your Own Adventure
    • Dinner at Bluebeard
    • Drinks at Hotel Tango
    • Bowling at Fountain Square Theatre
  • Indianapolis Weekend Getaway: Sunday
    • Breakfast at Love Handle
    • Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    • Optional: Explore Broad Ripple 
  • Your Indianapolis Weekend Getaway Itinerary

Psst: Want a printable, easy-to-use PDF of our itinerary to take along with you on your trip? Sign up below and we’ll send one straight to your inbox:

Hey, looking for some more spots near Indy for a weekend getaway? We’ve got some posts you should check out! Take a look:

  • 14 Charming Things to Do in Traverse City, Michigan
  • 8 Incredible Weekend Getaways in Indiana
  • The Perfect Weekend in Nashville, Tennessee: Itinerary & (Massive) Guide
  • 16 Cool Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio
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8 Incredible Weekend Getaways in Indiana
The luxurious Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.
We stayed at the luxurious Conrad Indianapolis in downtown Indianapolis, centrally located around the corner from the iconic Sailors and Soldier’s Monument. It’s a gorgeous hotel and an excellent splurge option!

Where to Stay in Indianapolis

If you’re traveling on a budget, there are plenty of other options, even in downtown Indianapolis. We recommend staying centrally located in Downtown Indy because it made it easy for us to take inexpensive Lyfts or walk almost everywhere we went.

Here are a couple of budget-friendly options in Downtown Indianapolis:

  • Hotels: The Alexander A Dolce Hotel is an absolutely stunning boutique hotel. The Hampton Inn Downtown is located just a block away from the iconic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument.
  • Vacation rentals: This Unique Apartment is located right downtown with a stunning view of the city! And this beautiful flat is conveniently located downtown within a historic neighborhood

You’ll also find more budget-friendly accommodation options if you’re willing to sacrifice Lyft-and-walk-ability and move away from downtown. We recommend checking out VRBO to find some great deals on apartments in the area (they have lower fees and better support than Airbnb), or searching for hotels using Booking.com (we love their flexible cancellation policy).

Compare Pricing on Hotels in Indianapolis
Start your Indiana weekend getaway at Livery, a Latin fusion restaurant in Indianapolis' super hip Mass Ave neighborhood.
Start your Indiana weekend getaway at Livery, a Latin fusion restaurant in Indianapolis’ super hip Mass Ave neighborhood.

Indianapolis Weekend Getaway: Friday

First things first: check into your hotel. Whether you get into Indianapolis via flight or by car, chances are you won’t be up for much more than dinner and drinks on your first night in Indianapolis. But good news: there are dinner and drinks aplenty. And they are very good.  So drag yourself out of the hotel to take advantage of the nightlife, because hey: you’re in Indy! 

  • Indiana Weekend Itinerary Tip: if you’re feeling up for it, swap out Saturday night’s itinerary for tonight. There’s Swing Dancing at Fountain Square Theatre on Friday nights, just sayin’.

Dinner at Livery

If you’re staying downtown, grab a Lyft and head to Livery for dinner, a Latin fusion restaurant located inside a former livery. Chow down on empanadas, fried yuca, street corn, or paella while sipping a tequila, mezcal, or Pisco cocktail. You guys, that one sentence covered almost all of our favorite Latin American cuisines. So happy!

Tip: Head upstairs to check out the rooftop bar if you can! Bonus points if you can snag a table up there.

  •  Livery | Address: 720 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN
I AM INDY statue on Mass Ave in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Be sure to stop and snap a pic at this iconic statue as you explore Mass Ave, one of Indianapolis’s coolest neighborhoods! Just try to be like… less awkward than I am, here? Shouldn’t be that hard.

Explore Mass Ave

After dinner, you’ll head out to explore one of Indianapolis’s coolest neighborhoods: Mass Ave!  This is Indy’s original arts and culture district, and the area is full of great restaurants, cool indie stores, rad art, and nightlife.

As you explore, be sure to say hi to famous Indianapolis resident and American novelist Kurt Vonnegut – well, a 38-foot high mural of him, anyway – as you walk back towards your hotel. You’ll also see a mural of Black poet Mari Evans, whose poem “I Am A Black Woman” is as powerful as it is chilling – especially in today’s political climate.

Also along your walk, you’ll pass the Rathskeller, an awesome German restaurant and Biergarten which was designed in part by Kurt Vonnegut’s grandfather, Clemens Vonnegut, a German immigrant – much of Indianapolis’ history is rooted in its German immigrant population. 

By the way: you’re gonna be hearing a lot about Kurt Vonnegut while you’re in Indy, so you might want to read a few of his most famous works before your trip – here’s a compilation of his most famous novels. At the very least, head to the library and pick up a copy of Slaughterhouse Five – and a book of poetry by Mari Evans.

Anyway, as you walk through Mass Ave back to downtown, stop into wherever catches your fancy – there’s always plenty happening here. We stopped in a couple of bars on our way back, snapped a few photos at the iconic I AM INDY statue on the corner of Mass Ave & Alabama, and barely even noticed the walk back to our hotel, which was just over a mile. You can of course Lyft back if you prefer, but we loved exploring Indy on foot!

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Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana
We explored much of downtown Indianapolis on foot! It’s rare to be able to walk around a Midwest city so easily, and we were thrilled to discover how walkable downtown Indy is.

Indianapolis Weekend Getaway: Saturday

Coffee at Coat Check

Before you do anything else, you’ll need coffee. Unless you’re some kind of superhuman who has evolved without the need for coffee, in which case, I do NOT understand you. Head directly to Coat Check Coffee for an excellent cup of specialty coffee at a stunning coffee shop, located in the grand foyer (oooh I just love the word FOY-YAY) of the historic Athenaeum Theatre. The stunning theatre was built in the 1890s and was designed in part by, you guessed it, Kurt Vonnegut’s great-grandfather!

  • Coat Check Coffee | Address: 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN

In addition to expertly roasted coffee provided by local roastery Tinker Coffee, you’ll also find mind-blowing fancy coffee drinks, like a butterscotch latte spiced with aromatic burnt anise and speckled with fresh citrus oil. There are also next-level pastries and macarons (black sesame Oreo! Raspberry rose!  Elderflower lavender blackberry!). 

Look, if I keep listing stuff off, I’m going to drool all over my keyboard. Just head to their Instagram feed to dive into coffee heaven and enjoy stunning latte art, beautiful macarons, and cows. You know, cows. From the local dairy farm where they get their milk. They look like very happy cows.

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I recommend taking LYFT to Coat Check Coffee (because like … you’re pre-coffee) and then walking to your next stop. It’s a pleasant, half-mile walk to City Market, your breakfast spot.

Or, if you’re not the type to go out of your way for a damn fine cup of coffee (just don’t judge us for our extra-ness, please) just head straight to City Market, which is a lot closer to central downtown. You’ll find coffee upstairs.

  • City Market |Address: 222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN
City Market in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Indianapolis’s historic City Market is home to over 30 locally-owned food and drink stalls. But underneath lies a mysterious network of catacombs. Nobody knows why, but we’re like 99% sure it’s haunted.

Breakfast at City Market

I’m a sucker for markets, whether it’s the mercados in Latin America or boujie markets filled with flowers and pickled herring or whatever in Europe, and Indianapolis’ City Market filled me with the kind of glee you can only get from walking past booths and booths of fresh, local goodies. The market has been a community gathering space since the early days of the city, drawn into city maps as an integral part of the new Indianapolis.  

First opened in 1886, the historic Indianapolis City Market is home to over 30 locally owned artisan booths serving up everything from food and drinks to flowers and handmade gifts. Your breakfast options are endless here! Pick up a fresh juice or smoothie at Twenty Two Juice, a sweet or savory crepe at 3 Days in Paris, biscuits and (vegan) gravy or avocado toast from Three Carrots – widely regarded as the best vegan restaurant in town – or a breakfast sandwich from City Mark.

But there’s more than meets the eye here at City Market. Although it’s a colorful, bustling market above ground, underneath the market lies mysterious catacombs. I say mysterious because nobody actually knows much about them, like what exactly they were used for and how many people have died there over the years (I peppered our poor tour guide with a LOT of uncomfortable questions). 

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We know for sure that the Catacombs functioned as naturally cool storage for the market upstairs, probably saw a few nefarious schemes play out during Prohibition, may have served as a firing range at one point for the Police Department, and provided shelter to local homeless folk in 1911, during a particularly cold winter. But the rest is a mystery.

So if you’re easily creeped out, rest assured that other than a lot of speculation and one paranormal researcher who found evidence to suggest at least 1 resident spirit haunting the premises, the Catacombs are more Extremely Cool than Super Spooky. And no: there are no bones to be found.

Today, you can explore the catacombs on a tour, or if you’re lucky, during an event: there are occasionally events ranging from dinners to karaoke and movies held down in these dark, quiet corridors. Ooooh, how cool would that be around Halloween?!

Newfields, the Indianapolis Art Museum in Indiana.
Newfields is Indianapolis’s enormous art museum, home to the very first LOVE statue… and a lot of very large snails.

Ogle the Art at Newfields

After you’ve had your fill at City Market, head over to Newfields (aka the Indianapolis Museum of Art). The museum is SPRAWLING. There are indoor galleries for days and miles and miles of outdoor gardens and artworks! A few iconic spots to take note of are Funky Bones, made famous in an adorable scene from The Fault in Our Stars (although its artist statement is …. er, problematic); and the original LOVE statue, centrally displayed inside the museum. Indianapolis is the home of these iconic LOVE statues. In case you forget where they’re from, just think of the designer: his name is Robert Indiana. Yep, for real.

  • Newfields |Address: 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN

One of our favorite exhibitions during our visit was Bes-Ben: The Mad Hatter of Chicago. Imagine an entire room of ridiculous, whimsical hats. But not in like, the Kentucky Derby style of whimsical and ridiculous. I mean like, TRUE ridiculousness. Hats that are as fun as they are beautiful. Hats decorated with tiny hats. Hats covered in toy animals. Hats covered in razors (appropriately themed for the premiere of “The Razor’s Edge” in 1946 and donned by the truly cutting Hedda Hopper, the real-life Rita Skeeter). Benjamin Green-Field (aka Bes-Ben) took millinery to the edge of ridiculousness and then jumped right off, probably giggling the entire time.

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As I toured this exhibit, I was experiencing major fashion design flashbacks to my costume history classes (ahem: fun fact about me, I have a degree in fashion design and spent 5 years in the corporate fashion industry. So you’d think I’d have a better sense of personal style, but here we are).

The hats reminded me of my favorite unconventional fashion designer, Elsa Schiaperelli (Coco Chanel’s greatest rival), who invented the color “Shocking Pink” and once designed a shoe hat based on a picture of her bestie, Salvador Dalí, wearing a shoe on his head. This pair created a bunch of extremely silly designs together, like a dress with a lobster on it for no reason. If I had studied fashion design in the 30’s and 40’s instead of the late 2000’s, I feel like these would have been MY PEOPLE. Maybe I’d be expressing my favorite terrible jokes and worst puns through the medium of clothing instead of writing. But here we are, so I’m subjecting you people to them, instead.

Anyway, spend several hours perusing the galleries and making astute observations about the silly hats and such. Peruse until you get hungry, and then peruse your way right over to your lunch spot! Er, actually, it’s technically brunch. We’ll explain.

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Milktooth, one of Indianapolis, Indiana's best restaurants.
Welcome to Milktooth, where brunch is served all day, every day (except Tuesdays, f**k Tuesdays). But seriously, it’s freakin’ delicious.

Lunch Brunch at Milktooth

In a world where “brunch” isn’t considered to be one of the primary meals of the day, Milktooth stands firm and tall as a Brunch Only Restaurant. Yep, that’s right. Forget “breakfast served all day.” All you can get at Milktooth is brunch, from 7am to 3pm. Sure, it’s a little bit weird and very ~Millennial, but hey, it’s also pretty amazing – and we aren’t the only ones who think so!

  • Milktooth | Address: 534 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN

At Milktooth, every day is the weekend. Welcome the wonderful world of forever brunch, where depending on the frequently changing menu, you can get a Dutch baby pancake slathered in either cherry, blackberry, and lime curd, and salted caramel OR bruschetta. Where you can get a sourdough chocolate pearl sugar waffle topped with cocoa nib and oolong maple, mixed seasonal berries, whipped vanilla and sea salt butter OR cranberry walnut grilled cheese with gouda and raclette, topped with black truffle honey and a duck egg. Hnghghgrngngnggng.

But even if you’re not hungry enough for a full meal, the pastries alone are worth a trip! Try their famous sour cream biscuits, light and fluffy and, on our trip, inexplicably sparkly. Try some sourdough roasted peach fritters dipped in fermented citrus honey or a blueberry, grilled corn & jalapeno scone or just some sorghum glazed bacon (also inexplicably sparkly). And, because it’s brunch, try one of their many amazing cocktails, too – or perhaps a coffee, because you’ve still got some serious sight-seeing to do.

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Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Sun King unofficially began the craft beer movement in Indy, and their sprawling brewery makes for a fantastic tour during your Indianapolis weekend getaway!

Afternoon Sightseeing: Choose Your Own Adventure

You’ve got some time in the afternoon to do a little bit of exploring on your own (or take a nap, we won’t judge). Here are some suggestions:

Explore the Indy Cultural Trail

The Indy Cultural Trail is an 8-mile urban trail connecting all six of Indy’s downtown cultural districts Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave, The Canal & White River State Park, and the Wholesale District. It also connects to the Monon Trail, which will take you all the way up to northern Indianapolis. You can explore it on foot, on bike, or by eating your way down it on a walking tour. Take 1 guess which one we did.

If you guessed Food Tour, ding ding ding! You either already read our blog, or you just deeply get us. There are several different Indy Cultural Trail Food Tours offered through the various neighborhoods along the trail. Skip lunch if you’re planning to spend your afternoon eating. The good news is that both the lunch and dinner restaurants we’re sending you to are covered on the Fletcher Place Foodie Tour (if you’re ever wondering how we manage to eat SO MUCH delicious food whenever we travel, well, 1) skills and 2) food tours). 

Sun King Brewery Tour

Sun King unofficially began the craft beer movement in Indy, and their sprawling brewery makes for a fantastic tour for any beer lover. The standard tour includes a tour of the main brewing facility, a souvenir Sun King taster glass, sampling of the five core collection beers, and fun facts about Sun King Brewing Company such as why there is a giant pinata and what the giant pinata’s name is.

But for true beer snobs lovers (ahem, like us) the King’s Reserve Tour is absolutely necessary. You’ll get to tour the facilities, taste the core collection, AND get a chance to peek behind the scenes to learn about the most interesting (and delicious) beers available at Sun King: the King’s Reserve Barrel-Aged and King’s Reserve Sour Selection. Mmmmmmm. Barrel aged and sour beers are MY FAVORITE, and Sun King’s are truly incredible.

Here are some of the notes I took (keep in mind I’m about 7 beer samples deep by this point): “Golden Girls: golden raspberries; Cherry Busey: made with raspberries and aged in red wine barrels (FAVE); Caramel Apple Tripel, aged in rum barrels; Lonesome Dove, aged in bourbon barrels.” Idk about you, but personally I don’t need more details than that to know that I want to drink all of these beers, please. All of them.

Tip: Looking for more beer-related fun? Jump on the incredible HandleBar, a pedal powered pub tour to drink your way around streets. Or just eat some pickles: Indiana Pickle brines theirs in Sun King Beer!

  • Sun King Brewery| Address: 135 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN
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Teeny Statue of Liberty Museum

One of my great regrets of our trip is that we didn’t have a chance to pop into this tiny, off-beat museum. Here’s what you’ll find in this museum: statue of liberty stuff. No, that’s the whole thing. Isn’t that amazing? The museum houses more than 400 artifacts from all over the world featuring Lady Liberty, including mini statues, sprinkler heads, pants, bottle openers, bobbleheads, and even a fantasy condom. Admission costs 50 cents, so start saving up now.

  • Indy’s Teeny Statue of Liberty Museum | Address: E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN

Do the Canal Walk

I did mention that Indianapolis has canals, right? Transport yourself to Europe during this pleasant 3-mile stroll along the stunning Indy Canal Walk.  Or you could just rent a gondola and be extra European.

  • Canal Walk | Address: 801 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

Tour the Madame Walker Theatre Center (Currently Closed for Renovations)

Over the course of her incredible life, Madame CJ Walker transformed herself from an uneducated farm laborer into one of the twentieth century’s most successful entrepreneurs and the first self-made female millionaire. Born in 1867 on a Louisiana plantation to former slaves, orphaned at age 7, and in the face of insurmountable difficulty as a black woman in the 19th century deep south, she would invent, market and build a hair-care product empire and a legacy that continues today at the Madame Walker Theatre Center. The Center is located in the Walker Manufacturing plant where Madame CJ Walker’s hair care products were produced and distributed – along with a movie theatre (because the white-owned theatre was charging a racism tax), pharmacy, beauty salon, and beauty school – all Black owned, Black run, and designed to serve the Black community at the height of the KKK’s power. The building sits at what was once a center of Black culture on Indiana Avenue – an area whose heritage, and history, has otherwise been largely unpreserved.

Today, the Madame Walker Theatre Center houses a 935 seat theatre – where musical greats such as  Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Gladys Knight have performed – a grand ballroom, memorial boardroom, beauty salon, a history and heritage center and office space for local entrepreneurs and cultural non-profits. The center’s mission is to use art as a platform to empower youth, inspire entrepreneurship, and facilitate social justice.

Unfortunately, the center is currently closed for renovations, likely until early 2020. Follow the Center on Facebook for updates! In the meantime, here is a fantastic list of other Black cultural heritage sights in Indianapolis.

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Bluebeard Restaurant is named after famous Indianapolis resident Kurt Vonnegut, and its food is nothing short of novel. Get it?! … Like, novel? Original? But also like the book? …. Whatever. The food is really good.

Dinner at Bluebeard

After your afternoon of sightseeing, it’s time for more food. Look, Indianapolis has a great food scene, so yes: save room somehow. Hop in a LYFT and head to Bluebeard, whose name comes from a novel by – you guessed it – Indianapolis native Kurt Vonnegut.

The restaurant isn’t exactly Vonnegut themed, but there is definitely a strong Vonnegut inspiration, with antique typewriters tucked into corners and books adorning the walls: the entire restaurant (and the adjoining Amelia’s Bakery) is beautifully designed.

The restaurant’s motto is a quote from Bluebeard, “Oh, happy Meat. Oh, happy Soul,” and we agree because even though we’re trying to cut back on our meat consumption for environmental reasons, what we really want is to know that the meat we’re eating led a good, happy life. Thanks to the local, sustainable farmers who supply Bluebeard’s meat and produce, we feel pretty confident that our meat was, indeed, happy.

Split a charcuterie platter, a summery panzanella salad (bread salad, because hello, adjoining bakery), and a small, medium, or large entree. And save room for dessert, obviously.

  • Bluebeard | Address: 653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN
Hotel Tango is the country's first service-disabled combat-veteran owned distillery, serving up excellent spirits and craft cocktails in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Hotel Tango is the country’s first service-disabled combat-veteran owned distillery, serving up excellent spirits and craft cocktails. Also, there’s a cat.

Drinks at Hotel Tango

After an incredible meal, if the night is still relatively young, head to Hotel Tango, almost directly across the street. I know, it sounds like a hotel. But it’s not! Not only is Hotel Tango the first craft distillery in Indy, it’s the first service-disabled combat-veteran owned distillery in the country. Oh, and it’s the home of some of the best cocktails (and cocktail names, and cocktail descriptions) we’ve ever had.

  • Hotel Tango| Address: 702 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN

Spend a few minutes perusing the menu and giggling over cocktail names like “Banana Hammock” – banana rum, strawberry gin, lavender-juniper simple syrup, freckle bitters???? – or “Cereal Killer” – banana rum, honey shrub, CEREAL ALMOND MILK, aquafaba?!, coffee bean dust – and scratching your head over ingredients you’ve never heard of, before ordering something that will blow your socks off.

Also, incredibly important note: there is a cat here. It’s a very fat cat.  That is all.

After you’ve had a few drinks, hop into a LYFT or walk 10 minutes down the street to Fountain Square.

Duckpin Bowling at Fountain Square Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Head to the historic Fountain Square Theatre to try one of Indianapolis’ quirkiest sports: Duckpin Bowling! It’s like regular bowling, but cuter.

Bowling at Fountain Square Theatre

Located in Fountain Square Neighborhood, this old Vaudeville theatre building is home to TWO vintage duckpin bowling theatres, a stunning historic theatre now used for swing dancing, a retro diner, and a stunning and charming inn. It’s absolutely charming.

But if you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering WTF duckpin bowling is. Well, it’s like bowling, only smaller … and more adorable. And WAY more vintage!  The balls are smaller and lighter than the bowling balls you’re used to – you can hold them in your palm, with no thumbholes necessary. And the pins are smaller, too. Not sure whether being smaller and more adorable makes actually hitting them any easier,

Take your pick: do you prefer 1930’s Duckpin Bowling, or 1950’s Duckpin Bowling? Because Fountain Square Theatre has BOTH under the same roof!  We found ourselves gravitating towards the 1930’s vibe, but we totally got a “I’ve Just Seen a Face” from Across the Universe vibe from the 50’s themed bowling alley. Whichever one you prefer, they’re both adorable, and such a fun twist on bowling!

If you need more booze to fuel your duckpin bowling adventures, there is a bar located inside the Fountain Square Theatre. Or, Craft Mead and Hard Cider is just across the street!

  • Tip: If you want to reserve a lane for bowling, you’ll want to call to make a reservation – the number is on their website.
  • Fountain Square | Address: 1111 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN

Ok, you crazy kids. Get home safely, all right? You’ve got 1 more day of adventure left in your Indianapolis weekend getaway!

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Indianapolis Weekend Getaway: Sunday

I know, I know – you’re sad to leave, but you have to check out of your hotel. They won’t let you stay and live in the spa forever. Trust us, we’ve asked. *sob*

Listen, you had a late night last night, so after you check out, let’s start off with some coffee.  Once again, Coat Check Coffee is conveniently placed and blissfully excellent. LYFT to Coat Check and then take your coffee with you to go (in a re-usable coffee mug, obvi) to your breakfast destination.

  • Coat Check Coffee | Address: 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN
Waffles, fried sweetbreads, and duck egg with miso butter and maple syrup at Love Handle in Indianapolis, Indiana. Yum!
Waffles, fried sweetbreads, and duck egg with miso butter and maple syrup at Love Handle in Indianapolis, Indiana. Yum!

Breakfast at Love Handle

Love Handle is one of the best breakfast spots in Indianapolis, and also one of the most unique. A nice way to describe its cuisine is comfort food with an eclectic twist, or perhaps “a modern spin on traditional classics.” Another way to say it is: breakfast, but with weird AF ingredients that totally work together, somehow. 

You’ll see the stuff you expect, like fluffy biscuits and gravy and waffles and eggs. But on any given day, the constantly changing menu may also have grilled beef tongue, roasted pork belly, jellied eggs, sweetbreads (they’re not bread… or sweet), fried schnitzel, skate wing, turkey eggs, or gizzards. You might get butter for your waffles that’s been mixed with miso, or red chili paste. Keep an open mind, and enjoy!

As a bonus, the offal meat – I’m not being rude, that’s what less-frequently-used cuts of meat are called – keeps prices firmly in diner territory.  Oh and hey, don’t forget to try the cheesecake – the pastry chef studied in Louisville, so ya know.

  • Love Handle | Address: 877 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana
Lookin’ casual AF at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Quick, someone hand me some milk!

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis is the racing capital of the world and home to the largest single day sporting event in the world: the Indy 500. More than 300,000 fans flock to Indy for “The Greatest Spectacle
in Racing” every year over Memorial Day Weekend. I’m a big fan of themed races – hello, I’m from Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby. Also, I want to Indiana University, home of Little 5, a bike race made famous in the film Breaking Away. So even though I’ve never actually attended the Indy 500, I was still curious to find out what it’s all about.

  •  Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Address: 4790 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN

I’ll be honest: there’s something really satisfying about very fast cars. Like, I totally get the appeal of The Fast & the Furious franchise. It’s good stuff. I think what surprised me the most about our Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tour is how fun and ridiculous the Indy 500 actually is. From weird traditions like “kissing the bricks” or pouring milk all over the winner (it’s a dairy industry advertisement thing, we found out), our curiosity was firmly piqued on our tour. Also we found out that the actual Indy 500 race is HOURS LONG and there are NO bathroom breaks for the drivers, so. That’s … interesting.

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Probably my most “SQUEE” moment other than getting to stand in the winners circle (nobody gave me any milk to pour on myself, sadly) was when we got to walk past Arie Luyendyk Sr.’s special suite. UM, you know who Arie Luyendyk Jr. is, right? HE’S THE MOST RECENT BACHELOR, YOU GUYS. He’s famous for quotes such as  “I love that” and “wow” and “oops I chose the wrong woman, so I’m gonna dump the one I chose on national TV and get with the one I dumped instead, MY BAD EVERYONE.” I flipped my sh*t and everyone else was just like “yeah, they’re here a lot.” So if you’re a Bachelor Nation fangirl (which Jeremy and I most definitely both are), there’s a high chance of seeing Arie and his runner-up-turned-fiance here. That’s a big bonus in my book.

Anyway: no matter which tour you book, prepare to be surprised – and you might even get to kiss the bricks, too. 

Oh, and hey: try not to squeal tires as you peel out of the parking lot. I know, I know – it’s very tempting, but chances are your rental car company and/or mechanic won’t buy your “I went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway” excuse.

Downtown Indianapolis Indiana
Ok, so this isn’t Broadripple, it’s downtown Indianapolis. But still, it’s really pretty, right?

Optional: Explore Broad Ripple 

There’s one last neighborhood in Indianapolis that you haven’t explored: Broad Ripple! It’s a little ways away from the Motor Speedway – and from downtown Indy – but it’s a cute area and worth a stop before you head home, if you have time and/or room for MORE food. Fun fact: this is the neighborhood where David Letterman grew up. 

Grab lunch at Public Greens Urban Kitchen, Indianapolis’ first not-for-profit restaurant. The restaurant grows their own food on site and provides more than 850 meals a week to local underserved youth. 

  • Public Greens Urban Kitchen | Address: 900 E 64th St. Indianapolis, Indiana

For one last treat before you leave, head to The Cake Bake Shop, which is where Elton John buys all of his cake.  Yes, really. The shop is absolutely stunning and INCREDIBLY popular. Not just with Indianapolis locals: we mean like, with celebrities. With the WORLD. You might actually want to make a reservation here. Yes, just to eat some cake. That’s how you know it’s real.

  • The Cake Bake Shop | Address: 6515 Carrollton Ave. Indianapolis, IN
Lia on a roof in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Living the dream on the rooftop of the Fountain Square Theatre on my Indianapolis weekend getaway!

Your Indianapolis Weekend Getaway Itinerary

Psst: Want a printable, easy-to-use PDF of this itinerary to take along with you on your trip? Sign up below and we’ll send one straight to your inbox:

Friday Night

  • Check into your hotel
  • Dinner at Livery | Address: 720 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN
  • Explore the Mass Ave Neighborhood

Saturday

  • Coffee at Coat Check Coffee | Address: 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN
  • Breakfast at City Market |Address: 222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN
  • Get cultured at Newfields |Address: 4000 Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN
  • Lunch at Milktooth | Address: 534 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN
  • Choose Your Own Adventure
    • Indy Cultural Trail Food Tours
    • Sun King Brewery| Address: 135 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN
    • Canal Walk | Address: 801 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
    • Indy’s Teeny Statue of Liberty Museum | Address: E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN
  • Dinner at Bluebeard | Address: 653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN
  • Drinks at Hotel Tango| Address: 702 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN
  • Duckpin Bowling at Fountain Square | Address: 1111 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN

Sunday

  • Coffee at Coat Check Coffee | Address: 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN
  • Breakfast at Love Handle | Address: 877 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Address: 4790 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN
  • Lunch at Public Greens Urban Kitchen | Address: 900 E 64th St. Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Cake at The Cake Bake Shop | Address: 6515 Carrollton Ave. Indianapolis, IN
  • Explore Broadripple

We hope you enjoy exploring Indianapolis!

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Which part of our Indianapolis weekend itinerary are you DYING to do? Drop us a comment below!

Hey, looking for some more spots near Indianapolis for a weekend getaway? We’ve got some posts you should check out! Take a look:

  • 15 Lovely Things to Do on a Romantic Getaway to Louisville, Kentucky
  • 8 Incredible Weekend Getaways in Indiana
  • The Perfect Weekend in Nashville, Tennessee: Itinerary & (Massive) Guide
  • 16 Cool Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio
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Indianapolis, Indiana is a fantastic destination for a weekend getaway! Here are the best things to do in Indianapolis in a 2 day itinerary. The perfect Midwest travel destination in the USA! #Travel #USATravel

Disclaimer: During our trip we were hosted by Visit Indy. All opinions, bad jokes, and personal feelings about The Bachelor franchise are 100% our own and totally not their fault.

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Our Top Travel Tips & Resources

Here are our favorite travel tips & resources for saving money and planning travel logistics! For more tips, check out our travel tips resource page or our guide to planning a trip.
  • Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
  • Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they've got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we're not fans of Airbnb's unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
  • Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it - visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
  • Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor's office or a walk-in pharmacy.
  • Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local's perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
  • Luggage Storage: Whenever we're checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we're running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
  • VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you're connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
  • What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!

City Trips Indiana Itineraries Sponsored Post The Midwest USA City Weekend Getaway

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sam + Bryt Mitchell says

    June 23, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    WOAH! This is such a helpful post! I’m going to be adding this to our Indiana Elopement Guide! This is SO amazing!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      June 24, 2020 at 10:52 am

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  2. jodi bird says

    April 14, 2020 at 8:39 am

    Thanks for sharing your weekend adventure. I too grew up nearby (Ohio) and have not taken the time to explore Indy. I love how you combined all sorts of interests and dining experiences. It gives our family a lot of options. I look forward to reading about your future travels once this virus gets under control.

    Reply
  3. Kristy says

    January 25, 2020 at 7:07 am

    Leaving for Indy in a week and your article has COMPLETELY changed my whole itinerary!! After this read, I am more excited than ever for my upcoming trip. Each year my daughter and I pick a city that we’ve never been to explore, and I have a feeling with your itinerary this one is going to be epic! Also, thank you so much for the “copy and paste” list!!! You have done all of the work for me, making planning super simple! I will be following you for articles on other places we will visit!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      January 27, 2020 at 9:13 am

      That’s such a fantastic annual tradition! I’m so happy to hear that our itinerary is helpful. Have a fantastic time in Indy 🙂

      Reply
  4. Maggie says

    October 8, 2018 at 6:04 pm

    Hi Lia! I actually grew up in Indianapolis and I can attest that it used to be called Naptown for a reason. I haven’t lived there in years but I do go back to visit my family a couple times a year. This year my husband and my sister’s partner are coming on their maiden voyages to Indianapolis and this guide gave so many great ideas of fun things we can do with them while we are all there. Can’t wait to check out some of your recommendations!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      October 8, 2018 at 6:41 pm

      So glad you found the post helpful! Enjoy your trip!

      Reply
  5. Pusat Jagaan says

    October 2, 2018 at 10:35 pm

    I read parts of that blog post.
    Made Indy seem very tempting.

    Might actually go there when I visit the states.

    Hopefully it will be a fun journey. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      October 6, 2018 at 2:15 pm

      Indy is a great place to experience what the USA is all about!

      Reply
  6. Caroline says

    August 27, 2018 at 11:13 am

    I didn’t realize there were so many cool things to do and delicious things to eat in Indianappolis! Thanks for introducing us to all the cool spots, will have to check out the city sometime!

    Reply
  7. Andrea Mayfield says

    August 26, 2018 at 8:50 am

    You found the cutest spots in Indianapolis! Also love the humor in all of your posts!

    Reply
  8. Louise says

    August 25, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    Honestly I did not know anything about Indianapolis before reading your post….but it actually looks and sounds like a really cool place to visit! I love brunch and Milktooth sounds fantastic!! All the foodie spots you mentioned do. And the Conrad hotel looks gorgeous!!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      August 25, 2018 at 3:18 pm

      If you love brunch you’ll love Milktooth 😉 Indy has an amazing foodie scene, come experience it! 😀

      Reply
  9. Theresa says

    August 25, 2018 at 8:37 am

    True story: I was an Indy 500 Princess. Guess which year. Guess. 1990! The year who won? The year Arie Luyendyk Jr. won! I’m heading to Indy over Labor Day weekend for the NHRA US Nationals (fellow speed freak) and this guide will definitely come in handy. A lot’s changed since I moved away in 2001!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      August 25, 2018 at 11:56 am

      YOU. ARE. KIDDING ME. You’re freakin’ royalty!!! OMG, did you get a picture with Arie?!?! Was he dreamy in person!??!!

      Reply
  10. Brianna says

    August 25, 2018 at 7:42 am

    I got to spend a week in Indy last summer and absolutely loved it! I loved how safe and family friendly the city felt. The next time you’re in town, you should check out the Medical history museums (SO many brains!) and the Virginia B Fairbanks Art parks for the awesome swingset and weird benches 😛

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      August 25, 2018 at 10:17 am

      WHAT omg how did you know I love brains and weird benches! Totally putting that on our list for next time!

      Reply
  11. Sarah says

    August 24, 2018 at 9:09 pm

    Wow you managed to find such trendy places in Indianapolis! I love it! Would’ve never thought that such gems would be hidden there :).

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      August 25, 2018 at 11:57 am

      Indy is full of surprises!

      Reply

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In 2016 we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast!

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