It’s time to say goodbye to winter, and hello to spring! Here are some awesome places around Indy and elsewhere where you can have fun this season.
Soar to New Heights
Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis looks a little different this spring! Now through November 2, visitors can take a ride on the museum’s newest attraction, a 12-story tall Ferris wheel. Enjoy unique views of the museum grounds, downtown Indianapolis and beyond!
Visit the Zoo
We can bear-ly contain our excitement when xZOOberance opens each spring! This springtime celebration at the Indianapolis Zoo includes fun activities running from 12-4 p.m. every Thursday-Sunday, through April 20. During xZOOberance, the Zoo’s Bicentennial Pavilion will be buzzing with live music, dancing, spring-centric art, special food and beverages at Pavilion Cafe and lots more.
Cheer on the Home Team
Visit Victory Field on April 1 for the Indianapolis Indians season opener for baseball and $1 concessions! Come back throughout the month for fun promotional games, like Sunday Characters with Princesses on April 6 (bonus: Kids eat free!), Friday Fireworks on April 18, and Easter Celebration on April 20, with a pregame Easter egg hunt on the field.
Explore Living History
Springtime is when the outdoor grounds at Conner Prairie open up completely, meaning it’s a great time to visit this unique living history museum. Meet and greet baby animals, play at Treetop Outpost with its 30-foot suspension bridge and prairie lookout, and check out Promised Land as Proving Ground, Conner Prairie’s newest exhibit where you can learn about African American history and the development of African American faith and culture.
See the Best of Downtown
White River State Park is a true Indianapolis gem! Explore nine different attractions — including Indiana State Museum, Eiteljorg Museum and the NCAA Hall of Champions — across 250 beautiful acres in downtown Indianapolis. Even just strolling around the park on a nice day is in itself a great (and free) way to enjoy the downtown area. Make sure you check out the Canal Walk, which runs through the park, or rent a paddle boat or kayak to float along the canal.
Visit a Nature Park
With the flowers blooming and everything waking up, now is a great time to be outside! Indianapolis is home to many beautiful places to enjoy nature, including Newfield’s Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, a 100-acre park where families can play on the unique art features, like the famous Funky Bones or Home Again exhibit. The Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens, located on the west side of Carmel, is a magical hidden gem, and it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a more analog park experience for kids. Holcomb Gardens on the campus of Butler University, is filled with native forests and historic formal gardens. And Garfield Park Conservatory, with its indoor tropical Conservatory, three-acre Sunken Garden and Children’s Garden, is a wonderful place to see what’s blooming.
Take a Road Trip
Looking for an in-state vacation? Less than two hours north of Indianapolis is Fort Wayne, a great road trip destination for families. Fun things to visit this spring is Science Central, when the highly anticipated Planetarium opens. The only public planetarium in the region, the Planetarium is over 1,800 square feet and simulates the cosmos using a Digistar digital projection system and a classic Spitz starball projector. Spring is a great time to explore Fort Wayne’s 8+ miles of riverfront downtown by paddle board, canoe, or kayak. Also check out the beloved Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. While you’re there, check out the new Coastal Cove exhibit, featuring sea lions and harbor seals.
Check Out a New-to-You Museum
Less than two hours from Indianapolis, the Cincinnati Museum Center makes a great road-trip destination, too. This huge museum is a one-of-a-kind, multi-museum complex with things to keep the kids busy for hours, and includes the Museum of Natural History & Science, The Children’s Museum, Cincinnati History Museum and lots more.
