THINGS TO DO

Be a tourist in your own city: 20 things to do in Indy

Katie Kutsko
katie.kutsko@indystar.com

Well, I did it.

Correction: I almost did it. I completed 19 of the 21 items on my #IndyBucketList.

I learned there are simply too many things to do in Indianapolis to cram them all into one summer.

I was an intern at the IndyStar, so I spent more time in the city than ever before. I compiled an #IndyBucketList, with 20 must-do items that can only happen here. I wrote reviews about my adventures, and I had a blast checking items off. I highly recommend you do the same.

There were rules:

Each thing-to-do costs less than $20, is something that can be done at least three out of the four seasons and is awesome (according to the suggestions readers submitted).

My adventures:

Shrimp cocktail from St. Elmo's Steakhouse, Aug. 14, 2014

YUM. That's all I need to say. It was delicious. Though I did not get the full experience (I ordered carry out), I still enjoyed some delicious shrimp cocktail from home.

I'm by no means a shrimp cocktail aficionado, but I definitely loved this one. It was quite horseradish-y and cleared a lingering cold from my sinuses. To some, that might sound miserable. To me, it was delicious.

Original Farmers' Market at City Market and Duckpin Bowling at Fountain Square, Aug. 13, 2014

Farmers' Market: I finally made it to the Wednesday Farmers Market Downtown. I bought a "Chai Lattea" from Kei Tea. It was a beautiful day for the Farmers' Market.

To the point: I regret not going sooner. I should have been buying myself fresh food and good tea every single Wednesday. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Duckpin bowling: I will start by saying that duckpin bowling is quite challenging. I played with my sister and two nephews, who are five and 10 years old.

Duckpin bowling balls are slightly larger than a softball. The pins are normal-sized. The 10 pins are shorter and smaller than traditional 10-pin bowling, which makes achieving a strike more difficult.

We didn't see any strikes when we played. Typically, I'm a decent bowler. My score (Which was only 50. I'm not afraid to admit it.) was significantly lower than normal. Though my nephews found nocking pins down to be challenging, the smaller ball was easier for them to manage.

Atomic Bowl at Fountain Square, which is what we did, was not super cheap. It costs $30 to rent one lane for one hour, but if you split the cost with friends, it wouldn't be too bad. You could definitely do something fun for under $20.

Pro tip: Watch your time. At Fountain Square, they charge by the hour — whether you finish your game or not. Unless you want to shell out big bucks, keep track of how long your game lasts.

To the point: Duckpin bowling is something different do in Indianapolis. I would recommend trying it out. It is fun, can go quickly

Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres and Eagle Creek Park, Aug. 9, 2014

100 Acres: I went to yet another awesome, hidden gem in Indianapolis. The 100 Acres, which is part of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, is "where art meets nature." Exactly as it is advertised. There are cool art pieces throughout the wooded areas, wetlands, meadows and a 35-acre lake. (Also, I can only imagine how fun it would be to tell a kid that the family was going to the 100 Acre woods for the evening...)

To the point: If I lived in Indy permanently, I would walk my dog (or self or kid or whatever) at the 100 Acres as often as possible. It was clean. The paths were wide. There was interesting art to view. The paths were shaded. It was serene. But most importantly, it was free.

Eagle Creek Park: I must begin by saying that I broke a rule — the zip line at Eagle Creek Park cost $55. However, it cost $2 to enter the park.

I am quite proud of myself for completing the Go Ape treetop adventure course at Eagle Creek. There were five sites along the course, each of which had five or six obstacles before I had to either zip line or "Tarzan jump" to move on to the next site.

It was terrifying ... But incredibly gratifying.

I felt safe. The staff at Go Ape was well-trained and had answers to all of my questions. Before the two-hour adventure course, our instructor devoted 30 minutes to safety and learning how to maneuver the zip lines.

Pro tip: Kid or adult, you can bring a spectator who can watch from the ground and/or take photos.

To the point: DO THIS.Splurge and do it. Especially if you are afraid of heights. The zip line and obstacles, though scary at first, ended up being fun. I overcame a huge mental block and forced myself to do it. No, I did not cure my fear of heights. I did force myself to step outside of my comfort zone. I'm a big believer in taking calculated risks to grow as a person. This is a great way to do that. (Plus, they give you an awesome certificate of completion afterward. It's pretty great.)

If you can't spare the $55 for adults or $35 for kids, at least visit Eagle Creek Park. Yet another awesome, beautiful place to be in Indianapolis.

NCAA Hall of Champions, Shapiro's Deli, shopping on Mass Ave., the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and the Indiana State Fair, Aug. 5, 2014

I made a day of completing some Bucket List items. And I had a blast. The more I do in Indy, the more I love this city.

NCAA Hall of Champions: I shot free throws on the retro basketball court, played a game where I guessed what the NCAA official called by watching game clips, learned that NCAA athletes have to maintain a 2.3 GPA, searched for a Jayhawk (I found one in the gift shop!) and had a lot of fun. The amount of fun I had surprised me. I don't know much about sports, but I think that might be the best way to go into a sports museum.

Side note: I played basketball for six years and haven't really kept my skills up since I stopped playing in high school. I was pleased to see that I could still make a free throw.

To the point: For $5, this place was a fun way to spend my time. Not to mention, I learned random things about sports that now make me feel culturally more relevant.

Mass Ave. shopping: I went to Mass Ave. Toy Store, The Flying Cupcake and Silver in the City. I stayed for an hour but could have stayed all day.

It's always fun to channel your inner-kid, and Mass Ave Toys makes it easy. Countless toys on display. Bright colors everywhere. New toys. Retro toys. Weird novelty toys. Costumes. Stuffed animals. Board games. You name it.

At The Flying Cupcake, I got a mint chocolate cupcake for a pre-lunch dessert and was thoroughly satisfied. The store was adorable, and I especially loved the sweets-themed novelty items available for purchase (i.e. cereal-flavored lip balm, cupcake bandages, etc.)

Pro tip: all cupcakes on the TFC RAW menu are made without ingredients containing gluten or dairy.

Silver in the City, a gift shop, was right up my alley — sarcastic, peculiar and pithy ... yet charmingly full of pride, passion and love for its Hoosier home.

To the point: I love Mass Ave. Spend an hour down there, and I think you will find something about it to love, too.

Shapiro's Delicatessen: I ate a Reuben, aka corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island on baked rye bread.Look at this picture. I think you will know how much I enjoyed it.

To the point: I loved it. I would highly recommend splurging on the $13.25 sandwich at least once.

Indy Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum: I felt very, very Hoosier learning about past winners of the Indy 500, cars, motorcycles and everything in between. My parents also came along for the ride, so I found the most interesting part of the museum to be listening to their memories. My mom grew up in Indiana and recounted listening to the 500 on the radio as a kid while swimming at her parents' house. I enjoyed the nostalgia.

To the point: Go here only if you're interested in IndyCar, the Indianapolis 500, racing, etc. You will be bored if you have no vested interest or parents with you to tell you fun stories.

Indiana State Fair: A lifelong Hoosier, I've never been to the Indiana State Fair. I've been dedicated to the Bartholomew County Fair my entire life, but I never made it up north. So I finally went, and I'm glad I did. It was like all fairs but a bigger scale — greasier food, more food options, more rides, more exhibition halls, more people.

Pro tip: Spend the $1 and ride the ISF Shuttle around the fairgrounds. You probably don't want to walk the entire lap (maybe YOU do, but I didn't.) so let someone drive you. You get to see everything with a few pitstops along the way.

To the point: I went. I saw. I walked. I people-watched. I ate. I felt sick. I ate more. I left. Going to a fair is an important summer staple. But a fair's a fair's a fair. You go to one and see the people and eat the fried food, you've seen all of the people and eaten all of the fried food. Go to the Indiana State Fair if you want more options.

Indianapolis Indians game, Mug N' Bun Drive-In and the Children's Museum, Aug. 2 and 3, 2014

Saturday: I experienced first-hand why Victory Field earned praise for a great fan experience and awards for having the best kept field in the league. I am not a sports fanatic by any means, but I still enjoyed my few hours spent Downtown watching baseball (I use the term "watching" loosely. More specifically, I ate a lot of food and people-watched.)

Pro tip: Buy a lawn ticket. For $10, I had a great view of the game, could bring my own cooler and had endless entertainment provided by the people around me. Who doesn't love inexpensive fun? (A bonus pro tip: bring your own straw if you're into that kind of thing. The concession stands don't provide straws or lids for any drinks you buy there.)

My view of the Indy Indians game on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014. I went to the game because it was on my #IndyBucketList

To the point: Go. Sure, baseball is boring if you don't know anything about it, but the atmosphere was fun (good music, contests and giveaways throughout the game, etc.), the food was good (I tried a hot dog, fries, a soft pretzel, popcorn and a McAlister's sweet tea — all delicious) and the people-watching was great (Need I say more?). Get to an Indians game before the summer's over.

Sunday: With both my five-year-old and 10-year-old nephews, I tried Mug N' Bun Drive-In and went to the Children's Museum. My mom also joined us. We absolutely loved both experiences.

A note about the root beer: it was incredibly sweet. If you're into a more sarsaparilla-y, bitter root beer, it might not be your favorite. However, it was still incredible. It was light and creamy. It paired perfectly with the corn dog and fries I ordered. Other foods ordered from my car: breaded tenderloin, chicken pretzels and hot dogs — all hits.

Pro tip: Drink your root beer from a frosted mug. It makes the experience better. Always. (Unless, you are five years old ... Then get a cup with a lid on it.)

My nephews, Connor and Emmett, and I enjoyed root beer from Speedway's Mug N' Bun Drive-In. I went to Mug N' Bun because it was on my #IndyBucketList.

Next, we ventured to the Children's Museum, where we were from 1-5 p.m. We were busy the entire time. We started at the Dinosphere, moved to All Aboard!, hung out at Treasures of the Earth, watched Disney Jr.'s Mulan at the Lilly Theater and then explored Take Me There: China. We took our time. We let the boys stop and play with all of the toys that piqued their interest. We let them ride the slide, which is on the second level. We got our money's worth. (This place isn't exactly cheap, but it's worth it.)

To the point: Try Mug N' Bun. Try the Children's Museum. Try them both with kids if you can, and you will feel that much more excited by fun that is eating at a drive-in and going to an activity-filled museum.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, July 20, 2014

I did it — I conquered both a fear of heights and 330 steps. I climbed all 32 flights of stairs with my sister and saw an incredible 360-degree view of Downtown Indianapolis.

To the point: Climb the steps to the top at least once. The satisfaction and views at the top are gratifying. But if for some reason you want to do this a second time, spring for the couple of dollars and ride the elevator up.

Ansel Adams exhibit at the Eiteljorg Museum, July 13, 2014

IndyStar's Katie Kutsko checks out a wigwam at the Eiteljorg Museum's Native American Continuing Exhibition. Kutsko visited the Eiteljorg as part of her #IndyBucketList.

I arrived at the Eiteljorg with one hour to explore the exhibits before closing time. Despite being short on time, I saw quite a bit. I was able to walk through Ansel Adams, Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo, Modern Spirit: The Art of George Morrison and Native American Continuing Exhibitions.

I looked at every one of Ansel Adams' 75 photos in The Museum Set. Maybe I'm cliché, but my favorite was "Moonrise, Hernandez New Mexico." It was simply stunning. Side note: I did not know anything about Adams going in, other than that my photographer friends view him in a god-like way and that he was a pioneer in American West photography. That being said, Adams novices and pros alike should check this exhibit out. Talk about inspiring. His work is widely reproduced, and I'm sure you've seen at least one of his photos before on postcards, posters, prints, etc.

Aside from seeing brilliant nature photography, I learned the difference between a wigwam and a tipi in one of the Native American Continuing Exhibits. (Wigwams are made of layered bark and used by Native Americans from all over North America. Tipis are made from animal hide and used by Native Americans from the Great Plains.)

Pro tip: This might sound obvious, but you will be bored if you're not interested in the exhibits you visit. For example, if you have no interest in black-and-white landscape photography, don't go to the Ansel Adams exhibit. In the past, the museum has featured exhibits with guitars and motorcycles, so the museum has pretty diverse exhibits. Just make sure to do your research before you go.

To the point: I saw a lot of art for $12. The galleries were spacious, cool and informative. Definitely check out the Eiteljorg if you hear about an exhibit that piques your interest.

Crown Hill National Cemetery, July 6, 2014

The Indianapolis skyline as seen from James Whitcomb Riley's grave at Crown Hill National Cemetery.

I didn't believe until I saw for myself – the view of the Indianapolis skyline from Crown Hill Cemetery is simply breathtaking.

I drove around the cemetery slowly for 15 minutes or so, then parked my car and walked around. I am glad I made the decision to go alone.

Maybe it was the beautiful day, the blue sky and the green grass. Maybe it was the small number of people who were there. Maybe it was all of the influential names around me. Maybe it was because it was quiet – very quiet. But I was able to just be by myself and enjoy the moment.

(I'm not going to lie, though. It took a few minutes for me to get over the fact that I was walking aimlessly through a cemetery where I did not know anyone who was buried there. After I got over that, everything was peaceful.)

Pro tip: Don't drive on the gravel road, no matter how tempted you are to do so. It's unnecessary and your car may or may not get stuck in one of the potholes. Stick to the paved roads.

The cemetery grounds are open 24/7. From April 1 until Oct. 14, the hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To the point: You should really check this out. Go when you have time to mosey and reflect and take in the view. It's worth it.

Orangutan Center at the Indianapolis Zoo, June 29, 2014

Disclaimer: I'm 20 years old. I did not go to the Indy Zoo with a child. I've been before, but I really wanted to see the new Orangutan Center for myself. And I do not think it lived up to the hype.

Those orangutans were cute; they did nothing wrong. But they didn't look happy to be there. Their human-like faces were pressed against the glass as small children knocked on it. (See what I mean?) I felt guilty walking around freely, while the helpless animals sat behind the glass wall of people staring. Yes, I know that's how zoos work. And, no, I'm really not an animal-activist type, but for some reason it felt especially weird to be staring at the orangutans.

Maybe I didn't fully appreciate the state-of-the-art International Orangutan Center because I didn't catch any of the orangutans interacting with each other. I didn't see anyone finger painting with an orangutan. Maybe I should have stuck around for night time and hoped one of the orangutans turned on the Beacon of Hope light. And I probably should have waited for the Skyline Ride to open because that could have made the visit more exciting.

On the other hand, my 5- and 10-year-old nephews gave a much different review of the exhibit – they absolutely loved it. They thought the orangutans were funny, and they also learned about the animals. And I can only assume that being that tiny at a place that big would be extra cool.

To the point: I don't think this visit was worth the price of the ticket. That doesn't mean you (or any kids you know) will agree with me.

Glick Peace Walk, June 26, 2014

Most recently, I did the Glick Peace Walk, which is part of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. It's an eight-mile trail in Downtown Indy. I'm sure you've noticed it; it's beautiful. The paths are wide enough for pedestrians and bikers to travel in harmony. There are art pieces along the Trail, too. It goes through Downtown, by IUPUI's campus, the Canal, Mass Ave., the Wholesale District and more. The Pacer's Bikeshare stations (which you can read more about below) are located conveniently along the Trail. It's a pretty great thing.

To the point: The Peace Walk was inspirational. Imagine walking in the midst of Downtown Indy. It's busy. There are people everywhere. People are yelling. It's loud. There is a lot going on. But then there's the Peace Walk. It's exactly that -- peaceful. It's a breath of fresh air in the bustle of the city. I would recommend walking away from the Circle and down the Peace Walk on your next lunch break. It's a different way to learn some things about some people who helped incite great change in our country and world, and to think about your own life while you're at it.

I could say so much more, but it would be best if you went, saw and reflected for yourself.

Pacers Bikeshare, June 18, 2014

Star intern Katie Kutsko is ready to ride bikes with George Hill during a Pacers Bikeshare ride through downtown Indianapolis on Wednesday, June 18.

On what I thought would be a normal Wednesday morning, I rented a Pacers Bikeshare bike and went for a ride … with Pacers point guard George Hill. I got to work in the morning and was immediately instructed to go check out Hill's Pacers Bikeshare ride. I went -- in the dress I was already wearing -- and got a bike. (We were in luck because a coworker and I snagged the last two bikes at the Bikeshare hub on East Washington Street.)

To the point: We cycled, we saw, and we conquered an hour-long, midday, 85-degree bike ride in Downtown Indy with about 50 other people, led by a professional athlete – all while wearing office garb. Needless to say, I learned my lesson: I should always keep a change of clothing on hand in the event that I spontaneously go on a bike ride in the middle of the day again. That makes sense, right?

I plan to use the Bikeshare program again. The station kiosk was intuitive and easy-to-use. The tires had air. The bike seat was comfortable, and my purse fit into the basket (with plenty of room for me to stash my sweater, too, when I got too hot to bear it any longer). Though we were lucky enough to go for free via the event's special promo code, the ride would have been worth the $2 a 30-60-minute ride would have cost us.

Pro tip: Be careful to keep track of the time. If you don't check your bike in every 30 minutes, you will be charged an additional fee. That is the one drawback.

Follow @katiekutsko on Twitter and check back here as she checks things off of her #IndyBucketList throughout the summer.