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    Indianapolis Cultural Trail

    4.7 (44 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    At Meridian and Washington
    Katie U.

    Did you know Indy is the ONLY city in the ENTIRE WORLD that gave up a lane of traffic to create a bicycling/pedestrian trail?? That would be the Cultural Trail, a project that took approximately seven years to complete. This pathway has done great things to connect different downtown neighborhoods (looking at you, Fountain Square!) and beautify Indy. Great for biking and walking...somehow you feel a bit like you're on the Monon while still pounding the pavement of the urban streets. It has a peaceful park-like feel with greenery and fancy pavers to distinguish it. I highly recommend using the Pacers Bikeshare to explore the Cultural Trail - it might take two hours or so to bike the whole route, but that depends on if you want to pedal leisurely or take stops. Notes for newbies: pay attention to the signs designating where pedestrians walk and bicyclists bike. My first ever experience on the Cultural Trail involved two angry bikers in the Fountain Square area squawk at me to get over to the sidewalk where I belonged...ouch. Except for that one mishap, I am in love with the Cultural Trail and how it makes Indy unique!

    View of the Indy skyline from the Cultural Trail at IUPUI
    Jon C.

    Here's my thoughts on the Cultural Trail: I like to ride my bike downtown, and I live fairly close to the trail. It's a quick way to ride on great pavement throughout the city instead of dealing with cars on the city streets. Oh, why kid ourselves.. the cars aren't the problem with the streets downtown.. it's the potholes. So, the Cultural Trail gives those of us who like a leisurely ride the opportunity to get somewhere without blowing a tire. The trail has a lot of history behind it, a lot of planning on the usage of sidewalks, infrastructure re-routes and a bit of a moisture problem underneath the parking garage at Bankers Life which ended up costing delays and a ton of money to try and fix (and they still aren't done yet). It's my preferred "ride" downtown, so I'm glad it's around. Some parts of it get busy, especially around Fountain Square, downtown (The Conrad Valet is right on top of the trail) and Mass Ave, but aside from those places, it's easy to go pretty much whatever pace you want. You'll find me on the trail on nice evenings after work.. hope to see you there!

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    Laura H.

    This was a great bike tour and Joe was a super great tour guide. We do bike tours whenever we can when traveling to new towns. We really appreciate when the tour guide loves what he does, and you could tell that with Joe. The cultural trail was an awesome way to see all of the great spots in Indy. It was very easy to bike on and I only wish we had done it the first day and not the last day we were there, so we knew about it earlier. We will be back.

    New lighting near zesco
    Kaela V.

    The cultural trail is one of the best things about downtown Indy. As a downtown resident, I use the cultural trail every day to get to and from work and on the weekends for accessing shopping and dining. When I occasionally end up on a city sidewalk, I quickly realize how much I value the quality of the cultural trail. The trail is wider than an average sidewalk and is smooth without major bumps/holes. I am very impressed that the city had the foresight to invest in such a great feature. It adds great value to the downtown area by reducing traffic and increasing accessibility. I think the cultural trail definitely sets Indy apart from other major cities.

    Indy
    Danielle S.

    My fiance and I stopped over in Indy for a night to check it out. The city was nice, clean, lots of parking. We wanted to check out the city market but while the Yelp page says it closes at 9 the food establishments close earlier. We were bummed and decided to try and walk around the cultural trail. We enjoyed the walk although we didn't see anything very clearly defined. We happened upon some cool art, beautiful buildings, some cool stores and ate at Bru Burger. Wish we had more time, seems like a great little city!

    Sunrise on the Cultural Trail
    Chris Y.

    The Cultural Trail is the hub of Indy's trail system forming a loop around downtown with connectors to other trails and points of interest. On the southside the trail runs across Washington St with a stub off to the Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium and an extension down Virginia Ave to Fountain Square. Keep going south of Fountain Square on Shelby and you can bike to Garfield Park. The westside runs through the IUPUI campus and the museums of White River Park and connects to the White River Trail. The eastside runs along Alabama St with an extension to the northeast along Mass Ave and connecting to the Monon and all points north. The Cultural Trail is about getting from one place to another. It's very urban with a lot of street crossing, so this is not the best place for a bike ride intended to raise your heart rate. It's nicely landscaped with plants designed to catch the water run-off. There's a lot of art along the trail - mostly outdoor sculpture. The trails is a great way to show the city off to out of town guests with a leisurely 15 mile ride around the loop including the Mass Ave and Fountain Square extensions.

    The artwork that lights up and has live plants on it that goes above the Cultural Trail!

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    Review Highlights - Indianapolis Cultural Trail

    Now with the addition of the bike share stands located along the route this really is a 5 star amenity in Indy.

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    Circle City Tours

    Circle City Tours

    4.8
    (13 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    Take a wonderful tour of Indianapolis with a learned Indiana native Carrie Zimmerman !!!…read more We were so fortunate to get the information and entertaining facts about the industries, sports and famous people of Indianapolis. We certainly felt grateful to hear of this city's amazing history. We went to the Speedway, heard about the famous authors, Brad Tarkington, Silverstein, Kurt Vonnegut and saw some beautiful architecture which included Monument Circle, museums, the theatres along Mass Ave, and the canal.

    I did a "quickie" visit recently to Indy and really just had 1 full day to check it out. Since it…read morewas very late Fall, most other local tour companies had packed it in for the season. Not Ms. Carrie! She is out there hitting the road, enlightening visitors and showing the sights of Indianapolis to a appreciative audience. Circle City Tours is very flexible and will work with your schedule and timeline. I was picked up downtown for the tour but for a slight fee, Carrie dropped me off at an Airport hotel. I was grateful for her immense knowledge of the city, particularly historical facts. LOVED the trek through lovely Crown Hill cemetery, which is not morbid at all. Carrie pointed out the many grave sites of noted politicians, authors, artists, ex-Presidents and the locally prominent who lie in repose there. The Civil War burial section was also very touching. Ms. Carrie pointed out magnificent churches, memorials, art and children's museum, local eateries (Shapiro's Deli=yummy!) and the White River State Park area. We even got to check out all the Christmas decorations up at the Indy Speedway. She packs a lot into the 3-hour tours but when it's over, you feel a sense of accomplishment that you learned so much about Indianapolis-- a city made all the more beautiful than it already is, by the beautiful ministrations of Carrie and Circle City Tours. 5 YELP STARS.

    Photos
    Benjamin Harrison Presidential Home - Summer 2022
    Benjamin Harrison Presidential Home - Summer 2022
    Guests Tony & Kelly taking in Monument Circle
    Guests Tony & Kelly taking in Monument Circle
    Tour w/ William & wife at King-Kennedy memorial

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    Tour w/ William & wife at King-Kennedy memorial
    Drinking With Beers

    Drinking With Beers

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    In August my husband and I took a weekend trip to Indianapolis and I signed us up for the Drinking…read morewith Beers tour with Amy. As luck would have it, we were the only 2 people that happened to reserve that particular date and time. Instead of cancelling the tour and asking us to reschedule, Amy gave us private tour of the Indy Beer Mile. The weather wasn't cooperating but that didn't stop us. We got a lot of great information and insight as we walked around the city. This wasn't only a beer tour, this tour also provided a lot of historical information. We saw some beautiful neighborhoods and historic buildings. The 4 stops we made provided us with great food and ample beer samplings. We were never rushed, we were able to enjoy the beer, the food and Amy's company. She has a lot of beer knowledge and is a great story teller. When the tour was done, we felt like we got to know the city, the people and its beer a lot better. We highly recommend this tour whether you're a local or a visitor.

    What a fun tour! Amy Beers took our group to four establishments (Belgian, German, Scottish and…read moreIrish) to sample their beers and nibble on some appetizers. In addition, she provided a history of each of the establishments we visited. While we walked from one place to another, Amy fills you in on the neighborhood. Even though our group toured during some bouts of light rain, we did not care one bit. Ms. Beers was quite knowledgeable and her light-hearted spirit made for a great daytime activity!

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    Drinking With Beers
    Drinking With Beers
    Drinking With Beers

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    James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home

    James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home

    4.8
    (18 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I knew very little about James Whitcomb Riley until my elementary-school-aged child began learning…read moreabout this Hoosier poet in school. Then I learned that Riley had a house in Indy that was also a museum. Then I learned that Riley was also considered a (I mean, THE) "children's poet" because he wrote poems for kids. Then I learned that Riley was also "that" Riley, of Riley Children's Hospital. Basically, James Whitcomb Riley is an established pillar of Indianapolis. He also has a museum that you can tour! I visited the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home as a chaperone on a school field trip. If you're not a part of a school field trip, though, I believe you need to make an appointment to visit the museum. I don't think it has regular hours. There are tour guides who lead you through the home and talk all about it. The walk-through of the house took us a little over 30 minutes. The museum home is beautiful. If you like old artifacts (like me), then you'll have lots of things to gaze upon and take photos of. You really get a feel for who Riley was, and his impact on society. It's kind of crazy to me that that the home of this renowned poet is located right in Indianapolis' Lockerbie Square, on a street with houses full of families and individuals, so nondescript and unassuming. But that's also what makes it cool. It's accessible to the people, which is probably just what Riley would have wanted.

    Finally got around to check this out during a free open house in the fall…read more The interior has mostly beautiful features and decor. The workers are usually all volunteers, so while they might know every question you ask, they're still very helpful and passionate about JWR's work. They have random events in the lawn during warmer months and host special private events, if I'm not mistaken.

    Photos
    Parlor at James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home & Visitor Center
    Parlor at James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home & Visitor Center
    James Whitcomb Riley House Museum
    James Whitcomb Riley House Museum
    Parlor at James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home & Visitor Center

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    Parlor at James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home & Visitor Center
    Historic Lockerbie Square Neighborhood

    Historic Lockerbie Square Neighborhood

    4.8
    (6 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    This neighborhood is my favorite one to walk around. It's packed with historic homes that ooze…read morecolor and charm. There are beautiful plants, cute alleyways, brick walkways, and the fall foliage is a star here. The neighborhood is in walking distance of Mass Ave, so grab a boba tea and go for a nice stroll to soak it all in. The James Whitcomb Riley home is also located here, so don't forget to check it out too.

    Whether I'm gathering acorns, drooling over architecture or losing myself in your alleys, I am…read morealways 100% head over heels in love with you dear Lockerbie Square. So much so that I decided to start a review page hoping that others would jump in and pour love on this darling downtown neighborhood two blocks removed from Mass Ave. **My not so hidden goal is that this will help bring attention to the neighborhood for out-of-town visitors turning to Yelp to create an Indy itinerary. Not long ago this neighborhood was in shambles but thanks to some hopeful and get-shit-done type of people, it is now one of our city's best known eye candy districts. Too often overlooked, the James Whitcomb Riley home is located here for visitors to tour the writer's home (well, location of residence to be more exact). A few more reasons to love Lockerbie: cobblestone streets, gorgeous alleyways, historical stone carriage stoops and a tree canopy over the streets that makes it all the more dreamy.

    Photos
    Historic Lockerbie Square Neighborhood
    Wouldya look at that black leaf?
    Wouldya look at that black leaf?
    Historic Lockerbie Square Neighborhood

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    Indianapolis Fire Department Museum

    Indianapolis Fire Department Museum

    4.6
    (9 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    My granddaughter is obsessed with fire trucks so I was excited to see the Richard P. Yelp review of…read morethe Indianapolis Fire Department Museum on Mass Ave. The museum opens at 8 am, but when we arrived at 9 am the doors were still locked. We wondered around until we found Cindy, a wonderful lady that opened the museum and led us on a personal tour. She gave my granddaughter a toy firefighter hat, which was fun and special. The museum is housed in one of the few remaining original firehouse buildings, 1872 Fire Station No. 2. The museum was recently restored and is now part of a complex of firefighter support offices. The museum is composed of three large rooms and several halls filled with firefighter artifacts. There were several exquisite antique fire trucks, a hose wagon and an antique pump wagon from the water brigades. A display of fire extinguishers and other hand held artifacts are down stairs. Upstairs, is a room set up like a bunk house, where firefighters would have slept. Lots of amazing photos on the walls tell the tragic stories of famous fires and people. My granddaughter was intrigued by all the firefighter helmets hanging on the walls. Outside, there is a memorial that celebrates the lives and duty of all the fallen Indianapolis firefighters. There is also a lovely bronze statue of a firefighter. The facility also offers classes on fire safety. There is a large meeting room and a class room. The museum is free, but encourages donations. This is a must-visit museum and wonderful place to bring the kids to learn about fire and those who put their lives on the line. Our visit was certainly a memorable experience. There is metered parking along Mass Ave.

    The Indianapolis Firefighters Museum was opened by Local 416 in 1996 to celebrate the history of…read morefirefighting in Central Indiana. It's located in what used to be Fire Station #2, a historic station that had opened in 1872 but had fallen into disrepair and at the time was operating as a laminating business. Local 416 restored the station along with an adjacent livery stable. I'd never contemplated stopping here. I'm not sure why, but I don't think I realized this was actually a museum. It features a 1921 Stutz ladder truck, a 1919 Stutz pumper, a 1941 IFD Shop-built pumper, and a 1949 International Harvester pumper that was refurbished by members of the Warren Township Fire Dept. The museum includes quite a bit of memorabilia, photos, and equipment - much of it donated by local firefighters. The station includes a restored bell tower, twin fire poles, and classical/Italianate architectural features. Station #2 is also home to the Indianapolis Professional Firefighters Union headquarters. The museum is open Monday through Friday year-round. It's opened for limited Saturday hours from April-October. They also have a digital collection you can check out from the website (I updated the website as the existing link no longer works). The Fallen Firefighters Memorial Plaza is in front of the museum - which I did know. It was dedicated in 1996 to the memory of 73 firefighters who have died in the line of duty. As of today, it no includes 120 firefighters who died in the line of duty. In front of the museum is the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Plaza. This Memorial was dedicated in 1996 to the memory of the 73 firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Today the names of 120 Line of Duty Deaths appear on our Memorial. There's an annual reading of the names of all of the firefighters. The East end of the building includes the Walk of Distinction for Local 416 war veterans who actively fought in foreign campaigns. If you go to the website, you can even listen to the local dispatch scanner! Finally, the Firefighters Museum includes the Survive Alive safety program for children with an interactive village. The program reaches around 20,000 children annually. The Firefighters Museum, and also serves as the Survive Alive safety program for children. Using an interactive village, The Survive Alive program uses state-of-the-art technology to simulate fire in a mock house to teach children how to react during a fire and what to say when calling 911. This program reaches approximately, 20,000 schoolchildren a year. This is actually a great stop in an area that has quite a bit to do. It's a free museum (donations are accepted). I plan to return when I have a bit more time to visit!

    Photos
    The memorial
    The memorial
    Patches
    Patches
    Indianapolis Fire Department Museum

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    Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

    Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

    4.7
    (68 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Had the best time ever learning about America's 23rd president! The tour was so well done and our…read moreguide was simply amazing. Thank you for a wonderful visit, I recommend this to everyone.

    My visit to the home of President Benjamin Harrison has been an unexpected highlight of my Indiana…read moreventures. We visited on a recent Saturday morning without reservations. Tickets can be purchased on line and receive a $2 discount (of $16 admission). Full price tickets can be purchased in the Welcome Center behind the Harrison home. Discounts are available for seniors and military. There is a brief film and a few artifacts in the Welcome Center along with a gift shop. We were able to join the first tour of the day, which only had three people including us. The docent-led tours start at 10:00 and run throughout the day. Gary, started our tour with a brief introduction and handed us off to docent Don S. at the front door of the Italianate Victorian home built in 1875. The beautifully restored home holds much of the original Harrison furniture. Don described the Harrison family dynamics, the history of the furniture and aspects of presidential life. We walked through rooms on three floors filled with artifacts and some of Mrs. Harrison's personal artwork. I could easily imagine the family at home during the tour. The third floor former ballroom, contains the Presidential Library (opened by appointment only, but visible to visitors). Other artifacts are also on display there. The 75 minute tour seemed to fly by as Don relayed interesting stories and anecdotes about the home and family. There is a dedicated free parking lot on the northside of the house or street parking is available. Elevators in the home are available for those who cannot climb the narrow stairs. The tour is not suitable for young children or strollers. Totally a must see for history, government and architecture buffs. The Harrison home is an Indiana treasure.

    Photos
    Per guide: "The last bearded president."
    Per guide: "The last bearded president."
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Kitchen

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    Kitchen

    Indianapolis Cultural Trail - active - Updated August 2026

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