With bucket-list attractions like the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or a low-key refuge in nature at the Indiana Dunes National Park, a weekend vacation in Indiana can be high-octane excitement.
If you want to remain active, you may spend a whole weekend in Indiana visiting places that are renowned for sports movies. You may spend your day in Indiana's Amish Country or browsing Richmond's famous Antique Alley if you want to make no plans at all.
There are excellent family vacations in downtown Indianapolis, with both activities and accommodation, as well as peaceful out-of-the-way weekends in some of Indiana's more rural regions.
While Indiana offers numerous resorts, it is easy to arrange a low-cost vacation by staying at one of the state's many campsites and taking advantage of the many free activities. You can make your weekend into anything you want it to be, depending on your mood and money.
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Begin by perusing our selection of Indiana's best weekend getaways.
1. The weekend of the Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of Indiana's most famous landmarks. You may arrange your weekend around the Indianapolis 500, which takes place in the spring each year, for the ultimate high-octane vacation.
There are many days of activities building up to the main race, so you can make a whole weekend of it and participate in this real ultra-American event. Expect to pay a premium for tickets and hotel accommodations near the racetrack.
You can plan a race-fan vacation at any time of year, not just during the Indy 500. You may arrange a weekend vacation around one of the major races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the year. You may also arrange your trip around an Indy Driving Experience, where you can ride alongside racing legends such as Mario Andretti.
Finish your weekend with a trip to the Motor Speedway Museum, which has behind-the-scenes displays on the history of racing at the track and is open all year.
2. Spending a Weekend in Indiana Dunes National Park
If you want to spend a weekend in the great outdoors, go to Indiana Dunes National Park on the beaches of Lake Michigan. The park lies near Porter in northern Indiana. It is one of the most recent National Parks, having been established in 2019. There are 15 miles of coastline, with the majority of tourists flocking to West Beach for swimming and picnic shelters.
Families may participate in some of the ranger-led activities for kids and walk the Dune Ridge Trail together. The dunes are also a great place for a couple's holiday since there are vacation cottages and a campsite near the national park.
You may spend a day hiking, birdwatching, exploring the wetlands, or just resting among the towering sand dunes on the more than 50 miles of paths. You may also spend the day in neighboring Michigan City.
3. Weekend of Sports Movies
Indiana boasts a slew of well-known appearances in sports movies - so many, in fact, that you could spend an entire weekend visiting some of the most well-known baseball fields and gyms from Hollywood movies.
Start your journey in Huntingburg, Indiana, at League Stadium, where A League of Their Own was shot with Madonna, Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell, and Tom Hanks. Despite the fact that the stadium is now home to the Dubois County Bombers baseball club, movie artefacts and the famous movie ambiance remain.
Make your way to Butler University in Indianapolis, where you can see the Indiana State Basketball Championships in Hinkle Fieldhouse, which was featured in the movie Hoosiers. Stop by the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, which was also featured in the film, while you're in the region. The gymnasium of Frankfurt High School in Frankfurt, where NBA legends like Dick Vitale and Larry Bird starred in the film Blue Chips, is your next destination.
Finish your weekend at Notre Dame, where you can relive one of the most enduring American sports films, Rudy. You may go on a tour and see where the movie was shot, then remain to watch a football game at Notre Dame University alongside the Fighting Irish.
4. Richmond's Antique Alley
If you like antiquing, a weekend trip down the Old National Road in Richmond, also known as Antique Alley in Indiana, is a great way to spend your time. From Indianapolis or Ohio, it's a quick weekend excursion. Antique Alley is 33 miles long, and with over 1,000 stores and dealers along the route, it will take you a whole weekend to explore.
Along the road, there are many bed and breakfasts where you may stay and contribute to the antique weekend concept. Some of the antique stores are large and feature vendor booths, while others are tiny roadside businesses that have been in operation for decades. While looking for lost items, you're certain to stumble across some colorful individuals.
5. Family Weekend in Indianapolis
Indianapolis is without a doubt Indiana's best family weekend destination. With entertainment, easy accommodation, and most activities and eating within walking distance, it is a one-stop shop for families.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the world's biggest children's museum, can keep you busy for a whole day. Thousands of interactive exhibits live theatrical performances, and a seasonal outdoor sports experience are available at the museum.
Another day may be spent at the Indianapolis Zoo or the Newfields art and garden complex in Indianapolis. If you want to spend some time outside, schedule a day at White River State Park or hire bikes to ride along the Cultural Trail downtown. Spend one of your nights in Indianapolis strolling along Mass Avenue for dinner at one of the city's hundreds of restaurants before seeing a play in the historic Old National Centre.
There are numerous hotels in downtown Indianapolis, but the Crowne Plaza, which is within the rebuilt Union Station with many historic reminders of America's train past, adds a cool touch to your vacation. Even within the Pullman Train Car, you may rent a room.
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