Need quick advice and suggestions on things to do/places to see. Any good websites would be helpful.

Downtown is nice, circle center mall and its adjacent surroundings offer your basic shopping, you can park for $1 for up to 5 hours. From there you can walk over to the newly constructed conseco Fieldhouse where to Pacers play, or walk around the actual circle center. Jillians is a interactive video game/bar/bowling alley/nightclub that is always fun

If you drive up Meridian from there, there are terrific historic houses and a short drive toward Broad Ripple Village, an area with more ecclectic shops and restaraunts, if it's nice you can sit outside and eat, there are lots of bars there in the evening

Eagle Creek Park on the westside has nice trails and easy hiking around the Nature center or you can rent canoes along the lake. Rick's Boatyard near Eagle creek is a restaraunt that has great views of the lake, and live Jazz in the evenings

Their zoo is fairly decent and very close to downtown and all the above suggestions.

Not sure if you know but the Indianapolis Mini Marathon is taking place this weekend. So if you plan on driving downtown or anything many streets will be blocked off and there will be thousands of people downtown. You could alway watch it! I'll be one of the thousands running in it!

Thanks for the great suggestions, due to my severe allergies I often leave very last minute (using the net weekend fares that come out on Tue/Wed) so I just choose a city I've not been to, and hit the road. I'm staying at the Doubletree University Place Sat nite, will that be affected by the run?

Also, what foods should I try, you know - what is Indiana known for? I honestly can't think of anything but know most states are famous for some kind of special meal or item.

If you're at all fond of architecture, Columbus IN is down the road 40 miles or so.

The town of about 40,000 people, is listed something like 5th in the nation for distinctive, must-see buildings.

Though you can drive yourself, they do offer guided tours every day. I suggest doing that, then going back to see places you might want to examine more closely.

Web site for info is http://www.columbus.in.us/page.asp?page=Architecture

And don't miss having something at the old-time soda fountain downtown.

Eat at St Elmo downtown....get the shrimp cocktail...trust me

Try to catch an Indians game at Victory Field...the Indians are the farm team for the Brewers

www.stelmos.com

www.indyindians.com

When I was away from Indiana, I always hungered for a good old tenderloin sandwich.

i think "have a nice day cafe" is still on Meridaian St....FUN!!it is a cool retro bar. they have one in cincinnati too that we have visited...

I really enjoyed my weekend in Indianapolis, was more exciting than I thought it would be. Great downtown area! Loved Columbus, thanks for telling me about that town. Did the walking tour downtown then drove around a bit. Had breakfast at a local place, Home Front, I think. Went to Meridian St on Sat nite, ate a Choladd (sp) Irish Pub, sat outside as it was nice weather, warmer than it had been when I booked it just a few days prior. THe Slippery Noodle had two pretty good blues bands. On Sun visited the ZOO/Gardens then back to downtown and walked around. Ate outside again, Rock Bottom Brewery, where I met two local females and a male tourist. They made suggestions and also, as above, thought the male tourist and I should stop by st Elmo's. We did but was disappointed with the Shrimp cocktail but the waiter was superb and took us for the Wine Cellar tour. Also drove thru the Speedway, just had to. THe Art Garden had a dance thingee going on, young girls but it was fun to see "something" going on up there. Thanks again to everyone.

The best place to visit is the Indianapolis 500 Hall of Fame Museum, which is about 6 miles from the downtown area.