The Itinerary at a Glance
Duration: 4 Days
Available: Year round
This Itinerary is Ideal For: All
Day 1
Begin your itinerary at Fair Oaks Farms, a 36,000-acre agritourism complex that includes themed barns like Crop Adventure (where guests can catch virtual raindrops and learn about farm technology), Dairy Adventure (where visitors can witness a live cow birth) and Pig Adventure (where you can see newborn piglets up close). Enjoy lunch at the Farmhouse Restaurant, which serves meat, vegetables and cheese sourced from the on-site farms.
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 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.
Day 2
General Lew Wallace Study & Museum
Credit: Visit Montgomery County
Your journey continues south to Crawfordsville, where you will visit the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum. The Indiana native and Civil War hero Wallace is most famous for writing the religious epic Ben-Hur, and visitors can see artifacts from his life and stroll the stately grounds. Spend the rest of your morning touring nearby Parke County, the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World.” Groups can admire 31 preserved rustic bridges that dot the countryside and learn about the region’s Miami Nation history.
Spend your afternoon in Terre Haute and the CANDLES Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Founded by Eva Kor in 1984 to locate twins who survived the experiments of Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, the museum tells the stories of Holocaust survivors and Kor’s journey to forgiveness. Other Terre Haute attractions will include the Swope Art Museum (a collection of over 2,500 American works) and the Clabber Girl Museum (where you’ll learn about the famous baking powder).
Day 3
Your first stop today will be the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Host to the famous Indianapolis 500, the complex also houses one of the world’s largest collections of race cars and antique vehicles. You’ll explore the grounds on a narrated bus ride that includes visits to the media center, Pagoda, victory platform and Gasoline Alley Suite. Continue downtown for an Indianapolis Memorial Tour. Highlights include the USS Indianapolis Memorial (which honors the single greatest loss of life in U.S. Navy history) and the famous Soldiers and Sailors Monument (a 284-foot-tall limestone tower in the heart of downtown). Spend the rest of your afternoon touring the boutiques and galleries of Massachusetts Avenue, a cultural district with easy pedestrian accessibility and a rich arts history. Your next stop is Conner Prairie, an 800-acre living history attraction in nearby Fishers that recreates 19th century pioneer life. Visitors can sail the skies on the 1859 Balloon Voyage and tour the immersive 1836 Prairietown. Spend your evening at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, which offers Broadway-caliber stage shows and a savory buffet of signature beef.
Day 4
Today’s activities center around the Indiana Central Canal, a pedstrian-friendly waterway that passes through downtown, and the NCAA Hall of Champions. This multistory celebration of college athletics represents all 24 sports with interactive exhibits, a trivia challenge, video highlights and artifacts. Continue along the canal to the Indianapolis Zoo, which is home to more than 1,600 animals that live in unique biomes. Exhibits include “Plains” (which recreates the African veldt savanna), “Flights of Fancy” (a walkthrough aviary) and an entertaining dolphin show. The adjacent White River Gardens houses stunning indoor and outdoor displays that can be packaged as a group tour. Areas include the DeHaan Tiergarten (a whimsical space populated by animal sculptures) and the Hilbert Conservatory, where butterflies flit past group members as they admire the Indianapolis skyline. Enjoy lunch at City Market, an 1886 structure modeled after European marketplaces where your group can enjoy a wide variety of local eateries, retailers, coffee and craft beer.
Enjoy an afternoon in Hamilton County just north of Indianapolis. The Carmel Arts & Design District is a portion of downtown dedicated to gallery space and studios for local artists. Conclude your itinerary with a performance at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, a 1,600-seat theater modeled after European concert halls.
