HotelTonight – Last-Minute Hotels in Indianapolis IND
There's something very polished and clean-cut about Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana. This lovely city doesn't offer the same hustle and bustle of its Midwestern neighbor Chicago, but it does offer a much more laidback, welcoming vibe that I fell in love with instantly. I recently found myself in Indianapolis on a long layover, and as my next flight kept getting more and more delayed, I realized I had a decision to make – sit in the airport and wait or go out and explore the city. So I decided to extend my layover in Indianapolis to a stopover, which gave me about 18 hours to see all that Indianapolis had to offer.
Since I was suddenly planning on staying in Indianapolis overnight, I knew I had to find a last-minute hotel near Indianapolis International Airport. Fortunately, I know that I can always find great deals on last-minute hotels through HotelTonight. So I pulled up the HotelTonight app on my phone before I even left the airport to book a hotel in Indianapolis, and just like that, I was ready to embark on my spontaneous Indianapolis adventure.
Downtown
I decided to rent a car from the airport so that I could really explore the city during my short stay, and as soon as I hopped in the car I headed straight to downtown Indianapolis. Downtown is the heart and soul of this city, so I wanted to spend some time walking its streets and getting a feel for the culture of Indianapolis. I discovered almost immediately that Indianapolis locals are some of the friendliest people I've ever met, and they were more than happy to offer me suggestions and tips for experiencing their town. There's so much to do downtown, from great dining and shopping to fun activities and entertainment, so I hardly had enough time to experience it all during my short stay, but even spending a couple of hours wandering the downtown streets gave me a great sense of the city's character and culture.
Lockerbie Square Historic District
Fans of historical sights and beautiful old architecture definitely won't want to miss the Lockerbie Square Historic District, a beautifully preserved old district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This neighborhood is comprised of 25 historic residences and structures built between 1855 and 1930, and just walking down the preserved streets will give you a great idea of what life was like in Indianapolis 100 years ago. I was glad I made it to Lockerbie Square during my quick trip to Indianapolis, because it was easily one of the highlights of my stay.
White River State Park
As one of the most beloved public outdoor spaces in Indianapolis, White River State Park is a fantastic place to explore while in town. This lovely green oasis is located in the heart of downtown, and it's where locals go to enjoy outdoor activities like walking, biking, jogging and picnicking. As I meandered through this pretty little park, I passed many Indianapolis locals enjoying the beautiful weather and their pretty city, and I realized that this urban center has a lot to offer its residents.
The Speedway
Even people who don't know much about Indianapolis probably know about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After all, this is where one of the most famous events in racing takes place – the Indy 500. Fans of automobile racing travel from around the world to see this famous Speedway, so I knew I couldn't leave the city without checking out the speedway first. The Speedway is open to visitors, so I was able to tour the facility even though there was no race that day.
Museums
I was surprised to discover just how many museums Indianapolis has to offer. Not only is it home to the Indianapolis Hall of Fame Museum, but also the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Art Center, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and the Indiana State Museum. While I certainly didn't have enough time to visit every museum in the city, I did have enough time to pop into the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and I loved wandering through the impressive halls of this museum and visiting the various exhibits.
HotelTonight – Great Hotels Near Indianapolis International Airport
After my whirlwind trip to Indianapolis, I officially have a new favorite city in the Midwest. This lovely, welcoming city won me over almost instantly, so I was ultimately very grateful that my flight ended up getting severely delayed. I'm also grateful that I have HotelTonight at my fingertips, because without HotelTonight I wouldn't have been able to book such a great last-minute hotel near IND. Since I was able to book my hotel at a moment's notice, I was free to head out and explore the city without having to worry about where I was going to stay.
