Traveling to Indianapolis in Summer with kids 10/11 years of age. We are from a large City with plenty of zoos, museums, etc. Is there anything unique in Indianapolis or the surrounding areas (no more than 6-hours driving distance) that you could recommend? Something we can't get or see at home? And are there any good amusement or water parks in the region?
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I'm not sure what you have at home, since you said you'd like something you "can't get or see at home." But here are my personal recommendations that I think are the best of Indianapolis, considering your family and kids 10/11 years old:
The Children's Museum. Literally the best children's museum in the US, possibly the world. It's 3-4 stories big, I think, with tons to look at and do.
The Canal downtown. You can rent bikes for 4 people and ride around the canal, or rent paddle boats on the canal. Fyi, the canal is about 2 miles to walk all the way around it. There's cool bridges that you can cross at various points. It's a very serene place right in the heart of downtown. It's always reminded me a bit of Italy (I have been there).
The Indianapolis Zoo is nice, but I don't know how different it would be from the zoos in your area.
The Indy 500 (the last weekend in May) is a huge event for the area. The best known Indycar race in the world. HUGE spectator sport. If you don't want to go to the race, or will not be here at that time, and have any interest in it, you can go to the museum any time. Look up the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to find out their info (when the museum is open). You can also take a tour around the track I believe. It's pretty cool (but I'm a racing fan).
King's Island is the biggest amusement park, in Cincinnati, Ohio (about 2 hour drive east of Indianapolis). Also Cedar Point (in Sandusky, Ohio....about a 5hour drive from Indy) - it's bigger, with bigger rides, but also more crowded (and a farther drive).
Indiana itself has Holiday World - it's a relatively small park, but still tons of fun! They have a water park and non-water rides. It'll be cheaper than King's Island, and not as crowded.
Indiana Beach is another option in Indiana - also smaller in scale, but nice.
Eagle Creek - Perfect if you like nature. They have miles and miles of trails to walk/run/bike.
Crazy Harry
I know you said you are from a city with plenty of museums but not all are the same. Indy has a few of the best museums in the country and one of the best zoo's.
One of the best children's museums in the world.
Indianapolis Children’s Museum http://www.childrensmuseum.org/
Learn about the state you are visiting at the
Indiana State Museum http://www.indianamuseum.org/
You can go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum. You don't have to just go there for races, the museum is open year round and has tour bus rides around the track. I would avoid the place around the Indy 500, Brickyard and MotoGP times.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/
Downtown has some nice monuments, here are a couple.
Indiana War Memorial and Monument Circle http://www.in.gov/iwm/
You could travel about hour south of Indy to Brown County and the town of Nashville. It's a little tourist town with lots of shops or get a map of the county and drive around the scenic back roads. It's some of the best scenery in Indiana, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing.
Brown County http://www.browncounty.com/
Dekalb County up in the northern part of the state has some great auto museums.
Museums in Dekalb County http://www.dekalbcvb.org/
You can visit Lucas Oil Stadium where the Super Bowl will be played at next week or Conseco Fieldhouse.
Lucas Oil Stadium http://www.lucasoilstadium.com/
Conseco Fieldhouse http://www.consecofieldhouse.com/
There is also Conner Prairie http://www.connerprairie.org/ Take a step back to the 1840's
Parke County Covered Bridge Festival
http://www.coveredbridges.com/
Parke County also has a Maple Syrup festival coming up here in a few weeks too.
These are just some of the places Indiana has to offer, like the other person said check out www.visitindiana.com for other great ideas. Depending on the time of year you come about every small town in Indiana has a town festival going on at one time or another. My personal favorite small town festivals are North Salem, Thorntown and Lebanon's back to the fifties festival as they have a great little car show.
Hope these help.
CH
Additional: If airplane museums are your thing there is one at Grissom Air Force Base near Peru Indiana and there is one at the old Chanute Air Force Base in Chanute Illinois.
Emily M
Indianapolis has one of the largest and best Children's Museum in the world. Indianapolis also has a nice zoo. Conner Prairie is a living history museum near Fishers. There are also living history exhibits at the Indiana History Center. I know you have zoos and museums at home, so check out the web sites to see if the ones in Indy are unique enough to be of interest to you.
Holiday World/Splashin' Safari is within six hours.
If your kids are into sports, the Indianapolis Speedway Museum may be of interest, as well as the NCAA Hall of Champions.
geezuskreyest
Why? I mean, why are you going to Indy? To visit family? Work related? How long are you staying? In what month will you visit? It will matter if you want to swim.
You said "no more than 6 hours driving distance". That could put you in Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan, Canada or estern Ohio.
There's Chicago...there's a large amusment park out side of Cincinatti called Knig's Island and many state parks. One fairly close by is Eagle Creek. It has mild hiking, fishing and when I last went, you could rent a boat to paddle around in.
If you're going around Memorial Day, there's the Indy 500. If you like the zoo, well, they have one too.
Check out www.in.gov/visitindiana
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glauser
The Villa on Delaware is (accually elegant unlike scholars inn that's ok for diner with acquaintances) advantageous for Italian this is advisable to get a reservation ( and gown up :o) )although (basically in case) Dunaways (between the better places on the city) on east & south highway is physically powerful for steak they have roof suitable eating