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Residents of Indianapolis pride themselves on being good hosts - after all, they've had a lot of practice! Known as the "Crossroads of America", more interstate highways bisect the state of Indiana than anywhere else in the country. This ease of accessibility brings over 18 million visitors a year to Indianapolis.
Many vacationers have found Indianapolis makes the perfect family getaway. One factor is the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, recognized as one of the top facilities in the country and designed to help kids explore the physical and natural sciences, history, foreign cultures and the arts. Most exhibits are hands-on, including the Dino Discovery Lab, where children work with professional paleontologists on 65 million-year-old dinosaur fossils. The museum also features the SpaceQuest planetarium.
Conner Prairie, a 19th century living history museum and frontier village offers a truly unique experience. "Weekend on the Farm" is a 2 or 3-day program in which guests live the life of a typical farm family circa 1886. Activities include staying in an authentic Victorian farmhouse and participating in a pioneer wedding celebration. White River State Park will please the whole family. The new Indiana State Museum, built in 2002, houses exhibits related to Indiana's arts, cultural and natural history.
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art is the only facility in the Midwest to exhibit both Western and Native American artifacts together. Using biodomes as cageless habitats, the Indianapolis Zoo is home to over 4,000 animals. White River State Park also features a 5,000 ft. conservatory of tropical plants, and hosts many seasonal botanical shows.
Despite its variety of cultural and historical offerings, for sports fans Indianapolis will always mean just one thing - racing! The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts two of the world's most popular sporting events each year: Formula One's United States Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. Stop by the Hall of Fame Museum to learn more about the world of motor racing and Indianapolis' involvement in its history.
Basketball fans are a diehard breed in the Hoosier state. If you count yourself among them, two spots you won't want to miss are the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the NBA Indiana Pacers.
Whether you come to Indianapolis for a historical experience, family fun or high-octane racing excitement, enjoy the city's hospitality and make it a trip to remember!
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