Things 2 do in Indy with little ones?

[jedi]

Apart from the Indy Zoo and the Children's museum are their other attractions in Indy for little ones (age 5 and 3)?

Did not know ya had a water park.
Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park

Anything else? I'm looking at a "mini vacation" in MARCH 2011 and am looking for local stuff (IN or IL area). Would like to stay on the IN side if possible.

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[shooter521]

Did not know ya had a water park.
Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park

There are also cheaper/smaller water attractions in Plainfield (Splash Island) and Northwestway Park.

 

[jedi]

There are also cheaper/smaller water attractions in Plainfield (Splash Island) and Northwestway Park.

Thanks but it appears to be an outdoor park right?
Don't think it would be good idea in MAR.

A friend told me about this one Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock
3 days, 2 nights with 80 tokens + 4 mini-golf passes + 2 days of waterpark = $280 for 2 adults + 2 kids. Not a bad deal at all for march granted its in Utica IL .

 

[shooter521]

Thanks but it appears to be an outdoor park right?
Don't think it would be good idea in MAR.

RIF.

 

[ATOMonkey]

Thanks but it appears to be an outdoor park right?
Don't think it would be good idea in MAR.

A friend told me about this one Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock
3 days, 2 nights with 80 tokens + 4 mini-golf passes + 2 days of waterpark = $280 for 2 adults + 2 kids. Not a bad deal at all for march granted its in Utica IL .

There is a smaller indoor park as well.

There is also a big indoor playland for the little ones. It's 3 levels and stands on, I would say, about 1600 sq ft.

 

[tyler34]

march isn't generally real hot IMO. have you considered camping/hiking? or what about someplace in ohio or michigan? maybe an aquarium?

 

[ATOMonkey]

The Dairy Farm on I-65 is pretty neat and is entertaining for the little kids and big kids. It's a bit of a drive though.

 

[TB1999]

I know you are looking for other suggestions, but I HIGHLY recommend the Childrens Museum

 

[ATOMonkey]

Is the State Museum any good for little ones? I imagine so, but haven't been since they opened up the new one.

 

[shooter521]

Is the State Museum any good for little ones? I imagine so, but haven't been since they opened up the new one.

It's more for school-age kids, IMO. There's lots to look at and lots to read about. The little ones might like seeing all the "stuff" (especially the prehistoric animal recreations and skeletons), but won't appreciate the real history behind it. The attached IMAX theater is a bonus.

I would also suggest a trip out to Eagle Creek park. In addition to the hiking trails, the exhibits at the Ornithology Center and the Earth Discovery Center are not to be missed. It's only $5.00 for the car-load of you to get in, so pack a picnic lunch and stay for the day.

 

[jedi]

RIF.

RIF
????Reading Is Fun????
Sry but a google search gave me all sort of stuff for RIF.

march isn't generally real hot IMO. have you considered camping/hiking? or what about someplace in ohio or michigan? maybe an aquarium?

March is when my 5 year old has a week off school thus why MAR 14-18 is when I'm looking for a "mini-vacation". My first though was an indoor waterpark since we are going to Disney (1 week) in SEP already.

Have not considered OH or MI since OH is "far" for us (NWI) and MI I know nothing of it.

The Dairy Farm on I-65 is pretty neat and is entertaining for the little kids and big kids. It's a bit of a drive though.

Where is the Darky Farm located? City/Town? Website?

I know you are looking for other suggestions, but I HIGHLY recommend the Childrens Museum

We have been to the Children's Musem once already with them and they enjoyed it so I was hoping to try something else. Figure we could do the musem again but that is typically a 1 day thing so if we do go to Indy to see family we could lump that in but it's not on the "must see" list since we have already done that. besides it's a no-carry now due to the new day-care that is coming.

I would also suggest a trip out to Eagle Creek park. In addition to the hiking trails, the exhibits at the Ornithology Center and the Earth Discovery Center are not to be missed. It's only $5.00 for the car-load of you to get in, so pack a picnic lunch and stay for the day.

Thanks we have a lot of "nature" stuff up here in NWI as well (Dunes, Deep River park, etc..) so was looking more for "touristy" type of attractions.

 

[shooter521]

RIF

"Reading Is Fundamental". i.e., I missed in your OP where you said you were coming in March.

was looking more for "touristy" type of attractions.

What about Conner Prairie?

Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum?

Downtown Indy offers the Soldiers & Sailors monument (observation deck on top, Civil War museum in the basement), the City-County building observation deck (no carry there, sorry), and the City Market, in addition to all the stuff around White River State Park (zoo, state museum, Eiteljorg).

I took my son to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center near Brazil a couple years ago (he was 3 at the time); it was pretty neat.

If you just want games and rides and stuff, I suggest Incredible Pizza or Bouncer Town on the south side, or Rascal's Fun Zone in Whiteland.

HTH!

 

[ATOMonkey]

Fair Oaks Farms

Fair Oaks Farms: Every Day Extraordinary™

On I-65 exit 220 just north of Rensselaer.

 

[shooter521]

Fair Oaks Farms

Fair Oaks Farms: Every Day Extraordinary™

On I-65 exit 220 just north of Rensselaer.

In the Indy area, there is also Traders Point Creamery.

home - Traders Point Creamery

 

[jedi]

Fair Oaks Farms

Fair Oaks Farms: Every Day Extraordinary™

On I-65 exit 220 just north of Rensselaer.

Wow this looks like the little ones would enjoy it. Thanks for the link!

 

[ATOMonkey]

"
I took my son to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center near Brazil a couple years ago (he was 3 at the time); it was pretty neat.

I recommend this as well. My kids loved it.

 

[Clay]

Monkey Joe's! Its a huge room full of inflatable bouncy fun!

There is one at Castleton.

Home < Castleton | Monkey Joe's Birthday Parties and Kids Indoor Inflatable Playground

Granted, this is just a one day or afternoon thing.

 

[indyjoe]

You can take an elevator up to the top of the monument on the Circle. Although it may or may not be open as early as March. There is also a mini museum at the top of the Court House (I believe). It is only open a few hours a day, but I believe it was free (may have donations. Some nice history, but also gets you high enough to see plenty of downtown. We went up there while waiting for the right time during a zoning hearing.

The Eitlejorg museum has a stagecoach in the basement and large totem pole. However most of the museum is just western themed art that wouldn't hold the kids interest. If the entry is fairly reasonable, it is cool to climb into the stage coach. Other than that, I'd probably skip it.

 

[D.B.]

How about a short drive? Dayton Air Museum is free and very cool. The Henry Ford Museum / Greenfield Village (Dearborn, Mi.) is very reasonable for what it has to offer.

 

[Indy317]

There are also cheaper/smaller water attractions in Plainfield (Splash Island) and Northwestway Park.

Apart from the Indy Zoo and the Children's museum are their other attractions in Indy for little ones (age 5 and 3)?

Did not know ya had a water park.
Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park

Anything else?

I have two nieces who are 2 1/2 and almost five. They have been to both of the above I believe. They recently were taken to the Plainfield water park and my mom said it was really nice. For a winter park, I have heard Caribbean Cove is really neat. They usually have some sort of deal where you get a night at the hotel, pizza for dinner, and water park passes. Another indoor park option is through Indy Parks. Indy Island is part of Raymond Park Middle School, located in the southern part of Warren Township on the far east side of Indy.

Indy Island Aquatic Center 

You will need to call them during the school year to see what their hours are during the time Warren Township schools are in session.

The only thing I would suggest is maybe a trip to Brown County State Park. March 2011 can be iffy when it comes to the weather. If we had a lot of snow and such, it usually doesn't get hot enough to really evaporate the water on the trails. However, if it is just cold/cool, you can still see some nice views from the overlooks, even if the trees are without leaves. Brown Co. is a very different landscape than other parts of the state. It is only about an hour drive from Indy, then if it is too wet, cold, snowy to hike a short trail, you can always just drive through the park and stop at some overlooks. They also have a visitor's center as well.

Have not considered OH or MI since OH is "far" for us (NWI) and MI I know nothing of it.

If you really want an indoor waterpark type place, then you might be better off driving an extra hour or two and hitting up Wisconsin Dells, waterpark capital of the world. A lot of the hotels up there have indoor water parks, with varying levels of attractions and such.