Others have tried
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5/18/2021
One comment stated Indy wasn't a tourist town compared to Nashville. Perhaps, but tourism is actually the third largest industry in Indianapolis. It centers on convention business, sports, and the arts. There are now three different vibrant downtown areas with urban density and foot traffic. There are wonderful history and art museums, a cultural trail, a downtown state park with a canal and a centrally located, non-exhausting zoo. You can park in the downtown mall's many garages for $3 for three hours--which means you can go downtown frequently. If you want dramatic hills and hiking, go to Fort Harrison State Park, which is inside the county and borders Indianapolis. Or Eagle Creek, which is in Indianapolis. For washboard hills and caves go south about 35 miles to Brown County and the Hoosier Hills. While there's not much of a country scene compared to Nashville, there is a world-class orchestra and and several excellent live theater choices. Although the recent plague has paused things, a string quartet of orchestra members and jazz and roots acts play at the central library for free. The minor league teams are outstanding, cheap, and heavily supported, so you're not priced out of the excitement. Absolutely the best city in the country for a person who wants an affordable but rich cultural life and built environment, along with a variety of places to walk, hike, spectate, or just people-watch. Other cities are trying to copy this model, but none of them has succeeded in getting so many people to live or even to just park, eat and stroll downtown again.
Eric | Indianapolis, IN