Where to stay

For the best of Indianapolis in one area, stay in Upper Canal near Fayette Street. What was originally a massive waterways project has found new life as the Canal Walk, a beautiful spot to experience Downtown Indy by land or water. Watch a concert at The Lawn at White River State Park, visit the Indiana State Museum or catch a game at Victory Field. For hours of shopping at Circle Centre mall, and professional sports games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium, pick a hotel in the Wholesale District, the bustling heart of the city. Motor sports enthusiasts will want to stay in Speedway, home to the Dallara IndyCar Factory and, of course, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. At the "The Greatest Race Course in the World" you can visit the Motor Speedway Museum and try the Indy Racing Experience to see what it's like to drive at 135 miles per hour. Alternatively, consider staying in Fishers, an Indy suburb and rated one of the best places to live in the country. From this friendly home base, you can still easily explore the city, then return to a quieter environment for parks, great dining and a thriving arts scene in the Nickel Plate District.

Based around a town square and impressive fountain, the neighborhood of Fountain Square thrives on its ethnically and socially diverse population and its celebrated art scene. There's art of all forms, from visual to literary to performance, in this bohemian pocket of the city. Stay near Mass Avenue for its art galleries, theaters, public art installations, excellent restaurants and independent boutiques. This is one of the best neighborhoods for simply strolling around and soaking up the friendly atmosphere of Downtown Indy. Explore African American culture through the history, art and museums in the district of Indiana Avenue, where Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald once performed. Broad Ripple hotels are close to ethnic dining, from Indian to Italian, the annual Broad Ripple Art Fair, and Butler University. Spend the morning kayaking on the White River, then listen to live music or thrift shop all afternoon.

The Indianapolis dining scene has come a long way from corn on the cob and deep-fried anything. For up-and-coming gastropubs and microbreweries, and trending restaurants, consider staying in foodie-favorite neighborhoods. Greenwood on the southside has decades-old pizzerias still pulling in the crowds, plus new followings for its fresh farm-to-table restaurants. Eat your way around the world when you stay near the International Marketplace of Lafayette Road. Tiny, family-run establishments range from Vietnamese to Pakistani to Cuban. Beyond its arts scene, Broad Ripple is a great place to stay for sheer variety of options: indulge in French one night, mussels and frites the next, with amazing pastries and cakes for dessert. Look for accommodations in the hip neighborhood of Fletcher Place, popular for its artisan distillery, Kurt Vonnegut-inspired restaurant and one of the best brunch spots in the country.