Let’s Talk About Indy, Shall We?

Being a hot topic on our group page this week, we wanted to post some information about Indianapolis.  A few are pumped up, a few are cautious and many are curious as to what there is to do in the nation’s 14th largest city!

We chose Indy as our 2016 host for several reasons: travel ease, fitness features (walking trails etc), travel budgets and venue options included.  Coincidentally, I happen to have a husband who grew up in Indianapolis and the outskirts so I sat down to ask HIM what we should all think about checking out during the conference.

Water Excursions – The White River flows right through the heart of the Indianapolis (and near our hotel) giving attendees a chance to get out on the water!  White River State Park (WRSP) has all sorts of touring vehicles (water ones that is) for you to try out.  Kayaking, paddle boating and even old school gondoliering (like Venice, Italy Gondolas.) Check out rental options and get a group out of the water!

Shows!  Within a half mile walk of our hotel, we have three good shows going on during FitBloggin & FitSocial … and one a little further away but could be worth an off campus excursion! Janet Jackson’s Unbeatable World Tour will be going on at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on July 22nd  – I have never seen Janet live but I can imagine this might be a fun excursion for those ready to dance! Another option is to go laugh your butt off at funny guy Jim Gaffigan at the same location on July 23 at 8:00 PM. A little further outside the city, Dave Matthews Band will be rocking on the 22nd and 23rd – see a map to the venue here. I love me some DMB; however, since FitBloggin & FitSocial is my job … I will have to pass on that one.

National Institute for Fitness and Sport – About a 15 min walk from our hotel is a 120,000 square foot facility (one of the nation’s largest) dedicated to health and fitness.  The NIFS is worth a gander and they have a free “first try pass” for those who have some time to get an extra workout in!

Military Park – a 14-acre park in the heart of the city, Military Park will surely be something I will check out.  A little less than a half mile from our hotel, you can wander over anytime to see Indianapolis’ oldest park, built in 1852 and now home to some of the city’s largest outdoor festivals.

Museums – Two of the city’s premier museums conveniently sit next door to one another in White River State Park. The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is the largest museum of its type east of the Mississippi. Also, the Indiana State Museum features science, art, and culture in celebration of Indiana’s history. It is also home to the IMAX Theater and its six-story screen.  Additionally, the Indiana Museum of Art has a few free access sections that those who may not have time to do a full museum tour.

Indianapolis War Memorial – I will also likely head to the Indianapolis War memorial.  About a 20 min walk through the city (.9 miles), this 24 acre complex is the second largest memorial in the United States.  This urban tribute to our military has a primary mission: to commemorate the valor and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces and to honor Hoosier veterans and Indiana’s role in the nation’s conflicts. via @IWM website

Dining Options – From Vegan to Paleo bloggers, Indy has great options close to our hotel for you to check out.  Rather than list a bunch of places I have not had the chance to lend my opinion to, everyone can see some of the choices here – also you can check out this article on the top 25 local restaurants in Indy, many of them right near our hotel.

 

Visit all 6 Cultural Districts – Indy has 6 different cultural districts to check out for those who want to get a taste for a little of everything.  White River State Park is one I am sure all of us will be exploring as it is right near our hotel.  The others are Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave, Market East and Wholesale District.  Check out Downtownindy.org for details on each of these spots. Some you will need to cab to but are worthy of an outing depending on what you are looking for.

25 things to do in Indy for free??  Nope.  I got nine (ish) down.  I could keep going but in truth, I kept coming back to our schedule.  We have three days and each day is packed full of content.  I know how I am at conferences….I get all excited to check out a new place and see the sights but then I wind up meeting new friends, going out on the town in the evening and chatting the days away.  Coming to that realization,  I decided to wrap up this post and let my husband go to the gym.

For anyone who is not excited for Indy, I encourage you to remember the mission of FitBloggin & FitSocial: To bring together the community of health and fitness bloggers, writers, social media users, and industry professionals for education, networking, and fun. FUN being the operative word.

Let’s get 2016 on the books in Indy and relish in that refreshing feeling of getting to see old friends, meeting new ones and leaving a valuable conference with new tricks up your sleeve to live and share your fitness and health journey … plus getting to know Indy a little better.