Indianapolis Attractions Pass

The Indianapolis Attractions Pass bundles the city's main paid museums and family attractions into one ticket that is valid over three days, and for a museum-heavy trip it can save real money. The pass on Tiqets lists seven attractions: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Zoo, Newfields, the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Indiana Historical Society and Conner Prairie, the living history park in Fishers on the north side. The first four are covered in detail elsewhere in this guide; the Eiteljorg, across the canal from the State Museum, is one of the country's leading museums of Native American and Western art, and the Indiana Historical Society on Ohio Street brings the state's past to life with its interactive exhibits. The pass arrives instantly by text and email, so you show it on your phone. The catch is that several attractions require you to reserve a timed entry even with the pass, and you need to plan to make the most of three days. It does not cover the Speedway Museum. Reviews on Tiqets are still few, so read the conditions before you buy.

How it works: you buy the pass on Tiqets, receive it by text and email, and must use it within 90 days of purchase. Once you start, the pass is valid over three days. Free cancellation and rescheduling are available until 24 hours before your chosen date. The listing notes that some attractions require timed reservations, so as soon as you have the pass, book slots at The Children's Museum and any other venue that asks for one. The price is a little more than the cost of three adult admissions, so it pays off if you will use three or more attractions.

Planning three days: a sensible plan is White River State Park on one day, with the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg and the zoo all within a short walk of each other; The Children's Museum and Newfields on another, as both are north of downtown; and the Indiana Historical Society downtown on the third. Remember the closing days: The Children's Museum is closed on Mondays in winter, the State Museum on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Newfields on Mondays.

What to check: Conner Prairie is an outdoor living history park and runs a reduced schedule in the cold months, so confirm what is open before counting on it in November or December. Do not assume the pass covers special ticketed events such as Winterlights at Newfields; check with the venue. Christmas at the Zoo is included with zoo general admission.