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New Reasons to Visit Indy...Now and Later

A lineup of only-in-Indy experiences makes the city a must visit destination, but you didn't hear it from us, as both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler named Indy one of their "Top Places to Travel in 2017."

1. America's Most Underrated Food City

   Condé Nast Traveler deemed Indy "America's Most Underrated Food City" and Zagat claimed Indy to be one of 2016's "Hottest Food Cities." Fan favorite restaurants like Tinker Street and Milktooth are thriving, while Indy has a list of highly anticipated restaurant openings in 2017, including Jonathan Brooks’ next endeavor, Beholder, and Neal Brown’s Ukiyo. Kimbal Musk, brother to billionaire Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, will open two healthy, affordable restaurants this fall, as well as 100 community gardens connected to Indy schools.

2. Sports Legends Experience to open at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

   In March of 2018, the world's largest children's museum will welcome the world's first and foremost immersive outdoor and indoor family health, fitness, and sports experience to include 14 extraordinary interactive elements. The new 7.5-acre attraction will include elements like an 18-hole mini golf course replicating Pete Dye-designed holes around the world, and an Indianapolis Motor Speedway pedal car racetrack experience. The new attraction is designed to combat the fact that by 2030, more than half the nation's population will be considered obese.

3. Family Friendly Indy

   This summer, visitors have been able to enjoy a second season of the artist-designed putt-putt course on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This year's redesigned course incorporates nature and is once again created by local and regional artists. Meanwhile, families can witness a cascade of color overhead at the Indianapolis Zoo, where a new flock of macaws takes flight multiple times daily to and from the beautiful Bicentennial Pavilion. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art debuted a ‘dogs of the west’ exhibit, while the Children's Museum rolled out exhibits about the circus, pop culture, and dance.

4. Breaking Ground

   Indy continues to grow as a must-visit destination with these massive city projects in the works:

   • Bottleworks District: The popular furniture store West Elm will be opening a new hotel along Indy's most popular district, Mass Ave. They will open the 120-room hotel in a renovated white terra cotta, art-deco building that was the former site of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The new hotel will also be surrounded by an up-and-coming maker space, Circle City Industrial Complex, a new brewery, highly anticipated restaurant, and more.
   • White River Activation: Indy has a river that cuts through the city to the north and south, but it has never been activated, until now. City developers have been working behind the scenes for years getting the river’s water up to recreational use standards, and this summer the city put out the call for developers to think big and submit proposals for 40 miles of river activation.
   • Transit: In 2019, rapid bus transit will allow visitors and commuters alike to navigate from north to south of the city.

About Visit Indy
The mission of Visit Indy is to increase Indianapolis economic growth by strategically selling the destination to conventions, meetings, events, and leisure travelers. According to Rockport Analytics, 28.2 million visitors provide $4.9 billion in total economic impact annually, generate 77,800 full-time equivalent jobs in Central Indiana, and provide $1.1 billion in tax revenues. For more information, VisitIndy.com.