Indianapolis?
 

I was looking at options for next summer and being a train fan, thought I might like to try Amtrak’s Cardinal train from DC, which from what I’ve read is supposed to be a scenic ride. The train ends in Chicago, a city I’ve visited on numerous occasions but I saw it passes through Indianapolis, a city I’ve never been to or even through before. I thought it might be fun to check it out, as it appears beyond much of the scenic part of the ride.

I enjoy history, architecture, nature, parks, neighbourhoods with character, and have enjoyed most small US cities in the past. A preliminary read on Indy looked promising, with what looks like a pleasant park along the river, a walkable downtown core (I don’t drive but am happy to use even spotty-ish public transit and even a pricier Uber if need be).

I’ve seen some posts on TripAdvisor but not quite addressing this question. Would you recommend a stop in Indianapolis? Say 2-3 nights?

See below. Quick reply timed out without posting

I have been to Indianapolis (driving) but have never ridden the Cardinal. I started visiting capitol buildings decades ago. The capitol building in Indianapolis is a high rise with a tiny dome on the top and nearby buildings.
Indianapolis IMO is a typical urban city without a lot of great architecture.
The two cities (towns) along the Cardinal route that I would want to visit would be White Sulphur Springs West Virginia and Cincinnati Ohio. White Sulphur Springs has the historic Greenbrier Hotel. The subbasement of the Greenbrier was chosen by Eisenhower to be the seat of government in case of nuclear attack.
Cincinnati has a great waterfront along the Ohio River. I'm glad you are planning further Amtrak trips.

White River State Park is right downtown. https://www.whiteriverstatepark.org/attractions/ Lots to fill some time.

There are tours of the Speedway https://www.indianapolismotorspeedwa...e-track/museum

And there is a Triple A ball team so if they are on a home stand while you're there, that would be fun - their stadium is in White River SP

Shapiro's Deli. Worth the trip.

TomFuller—Thank you for your thoughts on the Indiana Capitol particularly since I have enjoyed Capitol tours in other state capitals. And indeed, I’m always delighted to have a new rail adventure!
Janisj, gardyloo—Thank you! Both the White River State Park and deli seem appealing.

I wanted to come back and thank you all for your suggestions. I had a lovely time last week in Indianapolis. Alas, I only made it to White River State Park and the Statehouse of places mentioned, and both were delightful. I would definitely add the canal (swan boats!), the Indiana State Museum, Monument Circle and the Eiteljorg Museum as excellent things for visitors to see while there. A visit to the Slippery Noodle blues bar was also fun!