The Twisted House is a whimsical, quirky sculpture in the ArtsPark. The house is the 2005 work of…read moreJohn McNaughton. McNaughton was a founding member of the Art Department of University of Southern Indiana. He passed away in 2022. The Twisted House is typical of his fun-loving approach to art. The wood sculpture has a storybook appearance. I can imagine that kids (and maybe even a few squirrels) would have fun visiting and playing in the structure with the crooked door and roof that curves over into the ground. The sculpture brought a smile to my face. The Twisted House worth a visit if you like art. There is no charge to walk through the quiet and serene park. There is free parking at the east side of the park.

It was a cold crisp day in late November when I visited the house. I knocked on the door but…read morenobody was home. Just kidding. It is a piece of artwork. It reminds me of the nursery rhyme about the old woman who lived in a shoe. It is just one piece of outdoor artwork and sculptures available on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center. I found plenty of parking available at the Center's parking lot. Then it is short walk from the lot.

Newfields is pretty neat. There's a nice little nature trail outside where you can take a brief…read morewalk and there's a small beer garden along the trail. The space is really nice. The staff is very friendly. Admission is $25. Some of the art I dug and some I didn't, but there was a dark room with a video board ceiling that showed a video of the moon and stars on the ceiling that is captivating. I could have sat there for 15 minutes and just gazed at the ceiling. It was beautiful and peaceful.

This is such a beautiful museum, I always learn something new each time I visit…read more The staff are always open to questions and are always excited to talk about their favorite pieces. The community events they offer are such a treasure, and the rotating exhibits make every visit feel like the first time. I feel so lucky to live close by to have access to this amazing place. Don't forget to check out the staff's exhibit on the first level, everyone who works there is insanely talented!

Climb amongst the trees and explore Conner Prairie's four-story treehouse, surrounded by the beauty…read moreof nature This hands-on experience is all about play, creativity, and exploration using natural materials. Explore the treehouse Get messy in the sand box Get creative with building stations & loose parts materials Take a peaceful nature walk Read a book in the quiet spaces Make music and explore sound Bonus: lots of natural shade Con: bathrooms are not close Don't miss the Adventure Backpacks available from Conner Prairie staff at Treetop--filled with tools to help kids explore even more! This is such a special place to slow down, connect, and let kids lead the play

Today, I'm focusing on Spark Lab inside the new Museum Experience Center that…read more opened in April 2026. Spark Lab offers an opportunity to invent, create, and explore! It was developed by Smithsonian's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. It is a great intergenerational space! Parents, grandparents, and older siblings build right along with younger children. There is an eating spot, the Harvest Cafe, a few feet away from Spark Lab. Although, Conner Prairie wants children under 16 to visit the exhibits with an adult. It's a great place to grab a snack after generating all that creativity. The space is also conveniently located by a ramp to the grounds if your family wants to visit 1836 Prairie Town or take a tram ride to The Junction area. The tethered hot air balloon is also near the ramp outside Spark Lab!

We had a delightful tour with former Carmel Fire Chief Jim Martin and his trusty fire dog, Sparky…read more Jim opened the museum just for us and patiently explained the different engines, their eras, and various firefighting equipment on display. This display is certainly a labor of love for Jim and other fire fighters, especially Sparky! There is no charge, but on the front of one of the engines is a QR code for donating (be generous). And Sparky happily accepts treats!

The museum is by appointment only but I highly recommend calling Jim and setting a time to see the…read moreexhibit. There are several firetrucks on display and Jim let my 5yo and 2yo climb into the trucks, ring the bells, and sound the horns. Jim knew the history of the trucks and where they came from and had a phenomenal display. An enjoyable experience for all young and old.

Went to Hook's during the State Fair and got to Chocolate Caramel Coffee float and loved it! It was…read moreperfectly sweet and had a great sweets to coffee ratio. The inside was old and historical. It was very cool and worth the trip.

The town I grew up in actually had a Hook's Pharmacy that we used to go to all the time. It's…read morereally neat to see that the Hook's Historic Drug Store is open during the fair. It's air conditioned which is a major plus and it feels so good! It opened in 1966 and as of August 2021 they've had 3 million visitors come through the doors! The inside is floor to ceiling with natural wood and takes you back in time. They have a lot of information about drugs they used backs then and it's a great way to learn and cool off at the same time. They just announced that this year for the 2022 Taste of the State Fair they will be offering a iced mocha coffee float! Sounds good! I always get one of those long licorice ropes and one of the great ice cream floats anytime I've been there. They sell New York egg creams which doesn't have eggs in them at all. It's soda water, ice cream and syrup. Basically if you're wanting some deliciousness and something cold pick one of the many floats they offer.

I was looking for a place to take my son and his friend, and was disappointed when I found out…read moreafter driving over there, that it doesn't exist anymore. I'm sure it would've been cool if it was still there...that is all.

If you ever have the chance, SEE the 1898 FL East Coast private car #90 Henry Flagler car. I…read moretagged along a photo group which luckily they did not mind and boy oh boy, she is gorgeous.

This is the world's smallest children's art gallery, according to an official plaque outside of…read morethis building awarded by the Guinness World Records. And it IS tiny! It's about as big as a large shed. But inside is a whole lot of art made by children at local Carmel schools. Each month, the artwork changes, and art from different elementary schools are featured. There is also a revolving display of artwork from the Carmel middle schools and Carmel High School. You'll also see artwork from children from Kawachinagano in Japan, which is the sister city of Carmel. The woman who works inside the children's art gallery is super friendly and knowledgable, and was able to answer all of our first-timer questions. Don't plan to stay very long here -- it's super tiny, so at most, it would take you about five minutes to examine all of the art. But it's worth the visit if you happen to be in the area when the gallery is open!

Also known as the Carmel Arts Council Gallery, this tiny building (actually 2 small buildings front…read moreto back) sits on a prime space on Main Street. The front room as you enter is filled with thematic artwork arranged in groupings from local elementary schools. Periodically, the work is changed to showcase the work of a different school. The back room is for the middle and high school artwork. Where the front room is filled with images that feature the combined impact of the themes, the back room has less artwork, but more advanced in technique, allowing the individual pieces to become the focal point. Some of the artwork is very skilled and you really see the progression as you step from the front to the back room. The gallery has very limited hours, so for all my visits to Carmel, this was the first time I've seen the gallery open. Still, I like that it gives the kids a chance to see their work showcased and encourages art in the curriculum. The gallery has an arrangement with two sister cities, one in Japan and one in China. The artwork gets shared and at those times, the students can check out how their counterparts view themes as well as know their work is being looked at in a foreign country. Very cool! The gallery's small size makes for a quick visit, so if you catch them when they are open, then stop by. Review #2495

I truly just enjoy interesting surroundings and the ability to just stroll around and visit the…read morelittle shops lining the street. Takes me back in time when this was the norm. Gives you a bit of that nostalgic small town feel, even so we all know how much Carmel has grown and become so much more like the big cities.

There's a wonderful mural that was created by the Art Department from Carmel High School. The mural…read moreis located just off Main Street in Carmel and was created in 2007. The mural is entitled "Cityscape" and depicts images from the the Art District with some modern twists. I was touched to see faculty and students given the opportunity to express their creativity in their community. The names of the artists are listed on the south end of the mural. The mural is slightly faded with age. There is a small, lovely garden with benches at the base of the mural with a plaque that honors donors.