THE ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
From such quaint locales as the beautiful Minnetrista campus, home of the legendary Bob Ross Experience, to the exciting Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Central Indiana has something for everyone. Enjoy one of the Midwest’s premier harness racing facilities at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson or head to West Lafayette and visit the Tippecanoe Battlefield & Museum, an important stop that showcases some of our country’s history.
Bob Ross Experience 2 Credit Visit Muncie
Enjoy These Great Central Indiana Attractions and More:
- The Bob Ross Experience
- National Model Aviation Museum
- Spend the evening at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
- Spend your afternoon on a Memorial Tour
- Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1 Credit Visit Indy
CENTRAL INDIANA DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 of Activities in Central Indiana
Begin your itinerary in the city of Muncie, where you can discover “The Joy of Painting” on the beautiful Minnetrista campus. The Bob Ross Experience explores the life and artistic philosophy of the famous American painter who broadcast The Joy of Painting from his unassuming Muncie studio and inspired millions of viewers to unlock their inner artist. Visitors can walk around the recreated television studio set and paint their own masterpiece with a certified instructor. Groups will also want to stop by the National Model Aviation Museum, which houses over 11,000 artifacts.
Spend the evening at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in the city of Anderson. One of the Midwest’s premier harness racing facilities, the complex includes a 7/8-mile oval track, stables for groups to visit and stadium seating with excellent views of the action. Dining options include the Prime Harvest Buffet, Caballo Loco Grill & Cantina and Dan Patch Brewhouse, which serves some of Indiana’s best craft beers. After the races, head down the escalators for an evening of action on the easy-to-navigate casino floor. Awaiting guests are 2,000 slot machines and e-table games such as baccarat, craps and roulette plus video poker stations. Harrah’s Hoosier Park is accommodating to large groups and can offer dining packages, visits to the Winners Circle and complimentary 24-hour shuttle service to nearby Noblesville and Anderson hotels.
Tippecanoe Battlefield Credit Visit Indiana
DAY 2 with Museums and Tours in Indiana
Your morning begins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. In addition to hosting the famous Indianapolis 500 race every May, the complex houses one of the world’s largest collections of race cars and antique vehicles. After riding a bus for a 2.5-mile loop around the track and kissing the finish line, group members can explore facilities usually reserved for drivers and teams such as the Victory Podium, Pagoda scoring suite and Gasoline Alley Garages.
Spend your afternoon on a Memorial Tour, offered by Indiana Landmarks or the Indiana War Museum. Only Washington, D.C. dedicates for acreage to honoring our nation’s fallen, and your group will stop at the American Legion Mall, the Cenotaph (dedicated to the first American casualty of World War I) the USS Indianapolis Memorial (which is shaped like the 1945 cruiser before it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1945). The tour’s signature stop is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, an impressive obelisk tower that rises 284 feet above downtown Indianapolis’ Memorial Circle. Visitors can climb 331 steps or take the elevator for unparalleled view of downtown Indy.
Conclude your day in Indianapolis with a performance at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Named for its hand-carved meat and theater floors, this Indy institution entertains over 150,000 annual visitors. The theater stages Broadway-caliber productions accompanied with a buffet that includes the signature beef, vegetables and scrumptious dessert. Upcoming 2023 shows will include Footloose, Beauty & the Beast and White Christmas.
Wolf Park Credit Visit Lafayette West Lafayette
DAY 3 Final Day of Things To Do in Indiana
Continue south on I-65 to Lafayette/West Lafayette, home to Purdue University and the Tippecanoe Battlefield & Museum. It was here in 1811 that U.S. forces fought Chief Tecumseh’s Native American confederation in a battle that launched Governor William Henry Harrison to national fame and eventually the presidency. Next, embark on a 90-minute tour of Wolf Park, an educational facility dedicated to improving public understanding of wolves. Groups can see the resident wolves, foxes and coyotes and witness a handling demonstration where staff enter the enclosure and interact with socialized wolves. Conclude your day with a visit to Samara, an exceptionally preserved Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home that was built for Purdue professor John Christian and his wife.
Central Indiana still has plenty more for travel groups to experience, so be sure to Subscribe to Leisure Group Travel for FREE and get even more travel ideas and tips
