The Itinerary at a Glance
Indianapolis, Danville
3 Unique Experiences on This Trip
- Indiana Medical History Museum
- Indianapolis Speedway and Museum
- Dallara IndyCar Factory
Duration: 4 Days
Available: Year-round
This Itinerary is Ideal For: All
Itinerary Details
Day 1
Sit back and let your imagination take you to Venice, Italy as a gondolier serenades you on a gondola ride in downtown Indianapolis. Then take in The Mind Tripping Show, the longest running theatrical show in Indianapolis. It combines mind reading, psychological illusions and comedy into a night of delightful fun. Be prepared to have your perceptions challenged and your expectations turned upside down.
Day 2
Start the day at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, a towering downtown landmark completed in 1902, and go inside to see the Civil War museum. For more military memorabilia, visit the museum at the nearby Indiana World War Memorial.
The Indiana Medical History Museum, the oldest freestanding pathology facility in the nation, intrigues visitors with its anatomical museum. Spend some time at City Market, where all types of fresh goods are sold by vendors inside a restored brick building. Just a short walk away is Massachusetts Avenue, where you have free time for shopping and dining. Mass Avenue is also known for its bustling nightlife.
Enjoy an evening at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. Experience an unforgettable dinner as guests of General Benjamin Harrison and his aide-de-camp as they share remarkable stories of service to the Union during the Civil War. The evening begins with conversation, hors d’oeuvres and wine. Then enter the Harrison family home, take a brief tour of the first floor and assemble in the library, where the general invites you to join him for a gourmet dinner inspired by Harrison family recipes.
Day 3
This morning start at the Exit 76 Antique Mall, a great place to browse and shop for hard-to-find items and unique gifts. It features 600 booths and lighted cases full of everything from antiques and collectibles to modern artisan creations. It is truly a collector’s dream.
This afternoon take a tour of the Indianapolis Speedway and Museum. A narrated bus ride around the famed 2.5-mile track in one of the speedway’s tour buses culminates in a photo stop at the Yard of Bricks. This is your opportunity to soak in the atmosphere of the racetrack from the perspective of a driver, though at an entirely different speed, and kiss the bricks or get your picture taken in the middle of the track. The tour visits places normally open only to officials, drivers and teams during race events. Those typically include the timing-and-scoring suite in the Pagoda, the Media Center, Victory Podium, Gasoline Alley garages and one of the hospitality suites.
Tour the Dallara IndyCar Factory, the USA headquarters of Italy’s Dallara Automobili. The factory showcases the technology, science and engineering used in manufacturing IndyCars. In addition to learning about fast machines, you can sit in a car for a simulated drive or hop into a street-legal two-seater car for a trip around the facility.
Dinner and a show at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre tops off the day. Enjoy a buffet dinner before the Broadway-style show begins. The intimate setting offers great views of the stage from all tables.
Day 4
This morning tour the NCAA Hall of Champions, which boasts two levels of interactive exhibits that explain what it takes to make the grade. All 24 NCAA sports are represented. The museum offers a trivia challenge, current team rankings, video highlights and artifacts donated by colleges around the nation. Stop at Beasley’s Orchard in Danville and shop at the market inside a Civil War-era barn. Cap your tour with lunch at Danville’s Mayberry Cafe, based on TV’s Andy Griffith Show.
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