How to Spend an Extra Day in Indianapolis

Known for its craft breweries, racetrack and Super Bowl-worthy stadium, Indianapolis—Indy, for short—is also the birthplace of Kurt Vonnegut and Brendan Fraser. And Indiana’s capital city holds its own in the business sector.

Home to three Fortune 500 companies, it also features a convention center that annually hosts such events as the Big Ten Fan Fest, FDIC International and Gen Con. For visitors, there’s Fountain Square, lined with vintage shops, music venues and trendy eateries. Or Irvington, where rows of historic homes are punctuated by family-friendly restaurants. Downtown, Lucas Oil Stadium looms large, and White River State Park contains a three-mile canal walk.

Bottleworks District

This former Coca-Cola bottling complex houses everything from pinball and duckpin bowling to a massive food hall and cozy cinema. But its crowning jewel is the Bottleworks Hotel. The art deco lobby practically fizzes with bright terrazzo floors and colorful mosaic tilework, while the 139 rooms feature silvery palettes with pops of Coca-Cola red. bottleworksdistrict.com

Newfields

Photo: Courtesy of ERIC LUBRICK/VISIT INDY

Can’t decide whether to spend the day exploring nature or contemplating the brushstrokes of Picasso or O’Keeffe? At Newfields, you can do both. The 152-acre campus north of downtown encompasses The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, historic Lilly House and more. discovernewfields.org

Bluebeard

Photo: Courtesy of KENDALL MCQUAY

This award-winning eatery inside a 1924 warehouse is a hat tip to Indy native Kurt Vonnegut, who penned a novel of the same name. James Beard Rising Star Semifinalist chef Alan Sternberg crafts fresh daily menus based on local and regional farm ingredients. Bluebeard also shakes up the best classic cocktails in the city. bluebeardindy.com

Indianapolis Motor Speedway / Photo: Michael Allio/Icon/SportsWire/Getty Images

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis 500, or Indy 500, is an annual event, but you can immerse yourself in the culture all year long. Take a track tour to step straight onto the course and get behind-the-scenes intel from guides who’ve been there when the checkered flag waves. indianapolismotorspeedway.com

Strange Bird

Photo: REBECCA SHEHORN

Located in Irvington, Strange Bird is a quirky alternative to Midwestern brewery fare. Shrimp cocktails, house-made ramen and “landlocked exotica” rum cocktails whisk patrons off to the tropics. Craving some kick? Get the tantan mazesoba with extra Sichuan dust.

strangebirdindy.com