You don’t have to go far to enjoy time with your family and friends, and create new experiences and memories!
Here in the Indianapolis area, we have stops for kids of all ages, and kids-at-heart. From world-renowned attractions like the Children’s Museum and Indianapolis Zoo, to smaller but just as fun activities and locales … here are ideas for your family to find frugal fun in Indianapolis for your next “staycation”!
Related: Staycation | Shopping in Indy
Rhythm Discovery Center
You know that time when your child says “I want a drum set!” and you’re all “not in this house” because you envision a splitting headache from bang-bam-boom-crash day after day?
Not at this place. Rhythm Discovery Center, in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, is an “interactive” percussion museum, with drums from all over the world, all eras in time, and guess what: Most of them you’re encouraged to play.
You’ll find the world’s largest gong (that’s purely my opinion, but it’s pretty dang big, 8′ in fact), drum kits played by drummers from Rush, Led Zeppelin, Herbie Hancock and Santana to name a few; and our family’s favorite area …
The soundproof rooms:
Rhythm Discovery Center is SO affordable! Adult admission is only $10, kids are $6 and if you have young’ns 5 & under, they’re free! Expect to spend about 1.5-2 hours unless you absolutely cannot drag yourself away from the soundproof rooms. They ARE fun.
Plan your visit to Rhythm Discovery Center here.
Indianapolis Museum of Art
This is a jewel of a place that I have yet to take my own family to! The Indianapolis Museum of Art is one of the 10 largest art museums in the country!
Enjoy the Summer Nights film series plus take a free family tour. Actually, general admission to IMA is free as well! There is a small fee for special exhibits.
Also not to miss – Art in the Park for make & take themed art projects all summer long each Sunday from 12-4pm (and it’s free!).
Plan your visit to the IMA here.
Indianapolis Indians
No summer is complete without at least one visit to Victory Field to see the Indianapolis Indians play. I’ve gone since I was a child, back when it was at Bush Stadium. Now we bring our kids – believe it or not Mallory got a foul ball last summer!
While they’re still a bit too young to pay much attention to the game, they love going for the fun pre-game activities and Cracker Jack, and Larry and I love going for the nostalgic atmosphere (he’s always been a baseball fan, just like both our dads) and, well, the beer. Let’s just say our cups overfloweth with Sun King Victory Lager, which you can only get at Victory Field.
Plan your visit to the Indianapolis Indians here. Be sure to check this promotions schedule for the Monday Dollar Menu, 2-for-1 Tuesdays and more frugal fun at the Indianapolis Indians games.
And let’s not forget there are so many free things to do in Indy when you’re staycationing! Here are just a few starters:
- Hiking, biking and playing at our amazing Indy Parks
- Garbage trucks, dump trucks and firetrucks oh my! Experience a free Touch-a-Truck event where your kids can climb into these bad boys, talk with their drivers and more. Find this summer’s growing list at Indy With Kids.
- Movies in the Park at Garfield Park Arts Center, happening the last Saturday in each month from May – August
- Take in a Farmer’s Market – VisitIndy.com has a few listed here.
You’ll want to also check out these Indy-area and other travel posts, and follow my Travel board on Pinterest!
- Indy Staycation | Shopping in Indy
- Deals & Friday Freebies on Indy’s B105.7 Radio
- Family Travel | St. Louis, Missouri
Photo credit: The most awesome Sara at Solid Gold Eats
I love sharing ways to spend less, so families can do more! My passions are cooking, late night TV and being amused by my witty husband and three kids.
These are GREAT ideas! And I love how that photo looks with your text 😉
Yay for staycations! I didn’t learn this concept until 3 years ago. And my staycation idea was staying in the house while my lovely husband took my kids to someone’s else house to play for awhile. Now, that they are older they want to do more (go figure!). I am happy we are able to live in a place where there are so many fun places and activities for children. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! There’s a lot to see and do in Indianapolis! I’ll have to add this to our future travel wish list. For now we’re working on a project called R is for Rhode Island. Basically it’s our own alphabet book filled with quintessential RI activities and places. It’s a lot of fun being a tourist in your hometown!
I was just in Indianapolis for a visit! I was born there (a looooong time ago) and lived in Indianapolis for 14 years, but I am quite impressed at what a beautiful city it has become. On this trip, I rode a bicycle on the Cultural Trail and the White River Park Trail. It was delightful! And the Indianapolis Museum of Art is fabulous! I would like to return soon to partake in some more of your suggestions. Thank you!