The last time I traveled to Indianapolis, the RCA Dome, was a large attraction. It has since been demolished by implosion, like my opinion of the city. The once seemingly industrial city has transformed into an enjoyable, high energy destination, fit for all.
I was fortunate to be speaking at a travel conference in Indianapolis last month and throughout the weekend, we spent time around the city, some of those destinations will be highlighted in this article.
Its so nice to see the buildup of the city and the enhancement of the natural features that contribute to a wonderful experience, when out on the town. There are a few organizations whose job it is to showcase this city and state. Visit Indiana, does a wonderful job of marketing and showcasing the vast expanse of the state and all it has to offer. I will say, I grew particularly fond of the Visit Indy team as well. They are what you would call, the boots on the ground, for anything and everything Indianapolis. They truly define what it means to be a brand ambassador as they provide a wealth of information and experience to round off their easily approachable demeanors.
When you spend time in a city, your home base is critical. Its not just where you lay your head at night but its where you feel comfortable in your down time and where you plot your next adventure. I was extremely impressed by the conference hotel. The JW Marriott really delivered on all aspects of my experience. The staff was helpful and nice, the facility was clean and comfortable and the location was an A+. Its rare in the hotel world to get the full package as I find myself compromising on something. That is not the case here. They are truly the full package.
We spent a lot of time with the Visit Indy team as they served as our official guides throughout the conference.
We had a very exciting experience at the Indianapolis Zoo. We saw a dolphin show and some behind the scenes fun with the staff. They showed us many of their skills and we observed some of their most skillful tricks and aerial acrobatics.
I also really enjoyed the Children’s Museum. Despite being an adult, I am a kid at heart and going into the museum was really engaging. There was a lot to see and it was laid out in a spacious and logical format. I saw everything from Michael Jackson’s shoes to Bumble Bee from Transformers to a breathtaking display of blown glass from the master himself, Dale Chihuly! I did get to touch a real dinosaur bone as well so that was pretty special too.
When I visit other cities, whether its for business or pleasure, I like to get into the food scene. I like the tried and true winners, like St Elmo Steak House, but also, its nice to see the new scene like Milktooth.
St Elmo Steak House has been around since 1902 and is a great place to have a steak and their famous shrimp cocktail. They have a very spicy horseradish cocktail sauce that they are known for and the steaks are thick cut and do not disappoint.
The final day brought the end of our conference but in usual style, the Visit Indy team gave us one last recommendation and that was Milktooth.
When I came to Indianapolis, I only carried with me memories of playing hockey as a child and that large dome that is no more. I left this time with a wealth of memories, good times, new friends and a place I look forward to returning to, one day soon!