Indianapolis is one of the best mid-sized American cities for families, and the reason is easy to name: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is among the largest of its kind in the world. Around it sits a good supporting cast, from a downtown zoo to a living history village, free parks and a racing museum that appeals to older children. The city is also easy to manage with young travelers, because the main family sights are grouped sensibly and many have free or well-priced parking.
The anchor: The Children's Museum
Plan a whole day at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The Dinosphere brings dinosaurs to life, ScienceWorks is hands-on science for every age and the Power of Children galleries tell the stories of young people who changed the world. Date-specific tickets are recommended, garage parking is free and winter hours include a weekly closing day, so check the calendar before you go. Arrive when it opens and plan to leave the youngest children time for a break, because the building is large.
Animals and outdoors
The Indianapolis Zoo sits in White River State Park and organizes its animals into habitats of oceans, plains and forests, with the White River Gardens alongside. From late November to early January, Christmas at the Zoo keeps it open into the evening, with the event included in general admission. Close by, the Central Canal Walk is free and in season has pedal boats, which are a hit with children. For a free afternoon, Holliday Park has a free nature center, trails along the White River and the Ruins, a set of salvaged limestone figures and columns reassembled as a landscape feature.
A day in the past
Conner Prairie, in Fishers north of the city, is a hands-on living history park built around the recreated 1836 village of Prairietown, where costumed interpreters are on hand to explain how people lived. It also has a four-story treehouse and a tethered balloon ride, which gives it an adventure-park feel. Check the season, because winter hours are shorter and the park is open fewer days. It is the best half-day outing outside the city for children who like to touch and try things.
Racing for older children
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is open daily, and its track tours take you around the 2.5-mile oval or into Gasoline Alley, depending on the day. Children who like cars will enjoy the galleries, and kneeling at the Yard of Bricks is a popular photo. Check the tour you are booking, since the two tours alternate by day. For a different kind of challenge, the outdoor escape room in the Mile Square suits families with older children who can follow clues for two hours.
Day trips for families
Brown County State Park, roughly an hour south, has a nature center, a playground, short easy trails and a fire tower, and Nashville has treats and small shops. Indiana Dunes National Park suits families in summer, when the Lake Michigan beaches and sand dunes are the draw, though the drive north is long, so make it a full day.
Practical tips
Plan one big activity a day and keep the rest flexible. Many museums are closed on Mondays in winter, so check the day before you set out. If you are buying tickets for several sights, compare the Indianapolis Attractions Pass with paying separately, and remember that some venues still need a timed reservation. Pack layers, since the museums are heated but the zoo and the parks are outdoors. Build in downtime too: a picnic in Holliday Park or a pedal boat on the canal gives children room to run between the bigger stops, and an early start at any attraction means shorter lines and calmer children.
Rainy days and winter
The Children's Museum is the obvious wet-weather answer, and the Indiana State Museum, with its story of Indiana from ancient seas to pop culture, makes a good second indoor option, open Wednesday to Sunday. The Eiteljorg Museum and the Indiana War Memorial Museum suit older children, and Newfields combines galleries with its gardens, which become Winterlights in the holiday season.
Where to stay
Families do best at a hotel with a pool. The Hyatt Regency has an indoor pool downtown, and the Omni Severin has one too, while the Hampton Inn offers a free hot breakfast, which takes the pressure off early mornings. If you plan to spend most days on the north side, the Sheraton at Keystone Crossing has an indoor heated pool and easy parking.
