Indy & The Children's Museum

[XUOWNSUC]

Has anybody been to the Children's Museum in Indy? The wife and I are thinking of taking the kids there over Easter break and staying somewhere downtown. Does anybody have any tips or hotel suggestions? I'd appreciate any help/advice - especially on the downtown hotels and what to do downtown.

Thanks!

[Nigel Tufnel]

I can offer no help...but you probably can't go wrong anywhere in downtown Indy. Nice city. I will say that I've had quite a few people tell me that the Children's Museum there is absolutely incredible. It's on our list of things we have to do with our kids. Have fun. I look forward to reading your review of the place.

[coasterville95]

It is incredible, I even took a trip there a few years ago long after no longer being a child - it's still amazing.

[Cheesehead]

I used to be on their email list. It is worth the trip. I think they had package deals w/ certain hotels if you go to their website or google indy tourism and it will probably come up. NCAA museum, shopping, Pacers game,

[LadyMuskie]

We took our 4 year old in the fall (she had just turned 4) with some friends of ours and their kids (7 and 3) and they loved it. Plan to be there all day because there is a ton to do. When we were there, there was a temporary Hot Wheels Exhibit that was a room filled with Hot Wheels and tracks for the kids to play with that I think is there until May of this year. The Dinosphere is incredible. Some of the smaller kids were a little intimidated by the life size dinosaurs (have you done the Dino thing at Kings Island? similar concept). But, Little LM fell in love. Of course, the carousel and tree house are always a big hit. I loved the Planetarium and the Chihuly fireworks of glass is gorgeous, and you can "create your own" with the kids with plastic which is pretty cool! The whole place is VERY hands on and awesome for adults and kids. We got there when they opened and stayed until they closed. I think the kids would have enjoyed going a second day. I'd suggest using the website to plan on first seeing the things you definitely want to see, and which things you can live without seeing if you're only going one day. If your kids like to stay at one place, you could easily run out of time. It's much, much better than our children's museum and I think it's better than COSI too. I put it on the same level as Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, but more geared towards kids. Chicago's kids' museum is great too, but Indy's is in a category all its own. It's just great.

We took advantage of the deal on the Museum's website for tix to the museum, a one night stay at a hotel and tix to the Indy Zoo. The Zoo was fine. The nicest part is that they have dolphins which the Cincy Zoo doesn't have. My husband wanted to do the motor speedway, but Little LM and I had no interest in that, so he and the other husband went to the speedway, while the wives took the kids to the Zoo and then they met up with us. There was also an American Indian museum that the hotel mentioned when we checked in, but since we were only there for two days, we just stuck with the museum and zoo. In retrospect, I think we would have had just as much fun if we had gone to the museum a second day because the Cincy Zoo is outstanding, and save the Dolphins, it was nothing special, IMO.

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza so the kids could go swimming while we were there and they have Pullman train cars there that you can see since it's at the old Union Station. They're actually rooms you can stay in, apparently, but we just stayed in a regular room. The Plaza was nice. It was a good mix of families and business people. They have a great atrium with statues in it to make it feel like an old train station. We just had pizza for dinner the night we were there because it was easiest with three kids. I don't remember the name of the place. The concierge recommended it and they delivered it to the pool.

Have fun! We're heading back up just for the day in April for spring break. Little LM hasn't stopped talking about it, so she's excited we're going back.

[Snipe]

Don't go to the city center mall late at night, they have been having flash mob problems with young "youths".

[wkrq59]

Everything Lady Muskie says is dead on accurate. One caveat: Don't waste your time at the Speedway museum. Much better to go over there in May on a practice day if you can to visit the Indy Museum.
The "Children's Museum" is a treat for adults. Been there twice under different circumstances and it is wonderful. Nothing like it in Cincy and probably never will be. Wear the most comfortable shoes and clothes, go early and take some bottled water in purses etc. If you are a member of AAA get a map of downtown Indy. There are enough hotels on the fringe and inn the near downtown area that you won't have to break the bank to stay there. Can't stress how neat that place really is. :jig::jawdrop2::rolleyes:

[xu95]

My wife has taken my son to the Children's museum. They loved it. We will probably do it again April 6th, after we watch David West and the Pacers tear up Kevin Durant and the Thunder the night before.

[drudy23]

My wife has taken my son to the Children's museum. They loved it. We will probably do it again April 6th, after we watch David West and the Pacers tear up Kevin Durant and the Thunder the night before.

I will be at that Pacers Thunder game as well with my 8 and 12 year olds.

[XUOWNSUC]

Thanks for the info everybody!

I want to see David West play too - we were thinking about getting tickets - but the wife can't get off work that Friday.

[nuts4xu]

Indy has a great downtown, and most any of the hotels are nice enough that I would be fine staying in any of them.

I am not sure where the children's museum is, but if you are planning to attend a Pacers game, the Hampton Inn is walking distance to Conseco.

The Embassy Suites was always nice. The Marriott is overpriced, and you can find as nice for less $ in downtown Indy.

[drudy23]

Indy has a great downtown, and most any of the hotels are nice enough that I would be fine staying in any of them.

I am not sure where the children's museum is, but if you are planning to attend a Pacers game, the Hampton Inn is walking distance to Conseco.

The Embassy Suites was always nice. The Marriott is overpriced, and you can find as nice for less $ in downtown Indy.

I stayed at the Hampton Inn last year for a Pacers game and it was perfect. Short walk to Conseco, close to a ton of restarants, free wi-fi, cheapest parking, and free breakfast which was decent. I actually got a great deal on the Conrad this year for about $175 a night, which wasn't that much more than the Hampton Inn...so I decided to jump on it.

[ballyhoohoo]

Hotwire always has great deals for downtown Indy. Reason being the sheer volumes of rooms they have compared to similar cities. Anything in downtown that is a four star can probably be had for $80 or less. On Labor Day I had two nights at the Westin for $54 a night

Can't beat it with a stick.

[mohr5150]

I haven't been to the Indy Children's Museum for over ten years, but it was absolutely awesome when I went there with the wife. I would love to get back up there soon with my son so he could experience it.