What to do between Peoria and Indianapolis
 

My son and I finish a college tour at Bradley (Peoria) about noon on a Thursday, then drive to Indianapolis to spend the night and see Butler the next morning. I think it's only a 3 - 3 1/2 hour drive between the two, so I wondered if there are any state parks/historical attractions in-between the two places - or in Indianapolis (not shopping or Indy 500 stuff). My only plan for Indianapolis is dinner in Broad Ripple.

You should stop for lunch or dinner at the Beef House in Covington. The best steak dinner you will ever have, plus hot rolls with home-made apple butter. (Broad Ripple is nice enough, but the Beef House is really really good.)

Eagle Creek park is a city park (as big as a state park) on Eagle Creek reservoir -- you could hike or swim there.

It is also pleasant to do the Canal Walk in downtown Indy. Other things to visit in Indy: the museum of art, the outdoor sculpture garden at the museum of art (both very near to Butler), the zoo (very new and nice), the eiteljorg gallery. Holcomb Botanical Gardens are adjacent to the Butler campus and Broad Ripple.

The Central Canal Towpath is a nice walk that goes past the Museum of Art, Butler, and Broad Ripple.

Howzat?

Was thinking the same thing as cap. We've been going to the Beef House for decades when we visit the area and it's REALLY hard to beat. That's Covington, IN, just a few miles beyond the IL/IN state line. Just north of I 74 a couple hundred yards, so it's not out of the way.

Also agree with the Canal Walk and the zoo. Also check the NCAA Hall of Champions in the same river area; it's been closed for repairs and not sure when it's scheduled to reopen.

I think you ought to squeeze in a visit to Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington....it's well regarded. Or Illinois State or University of Illinios if you have an interest in large state schools.

Where is home? If you'll be driving back to Illinois, you should go the southern route and see the Lincoln sites in Springfield.

Thanks all! The Beef House menu looks really good, but Brent really wants sushi or Indian. Maybe if we stop at Turkey Run or the other state park on the way and are driving through Covington at dinner time....I would like to get to Indianapolis, though, and check out one of the parks in the city - or the zoo. I don't know that I could get him to agree to an art museum. We just spent way to much time (for the boys) at the Huntington in Pasadena a couple weeks ago. We're flying into Bloomington (from Florida) and out of Indianapolis, so we won't be able to fit in Springfield - though I will have Brent check out Bloomington Wesleyan. He's dyslexic, so we're looking at schools with good academic support/writing centers.

Hmmm. The boy is coming from Florida to try the sushi in Indiana? Tell Brent not to get his hopes to high. Indian food is probably do-able in Broad Ripple.

Turkey Run is very nice. Take the trail that goes over the suspension bridge -- very cool.

Or the trail that climbs up/down 3 flights of ladders near waterfall - really fun.

BTW the Inn at Turkey Run has very good food as well (but not as good as the Beef House).

Are you checking out DePauw University in Greencastle, IN - just off I 74?. It was on our daughter's short list and we were very impressed with its academic support.

Turkey Run sounds like a good idea - thanks. I had not heard of DePauw. I checked it out on line and it looked nice, plus the support sounded really good - only they didn't have a business adm degree, which Brent is considering along with economics (which they have).

There's a big cat sanctuary in the middle of nowhere between Terre Haute and Indy. I have not been there (I moved before I got to go), but have heard it's really cool. Their website is www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.org.

At Turkey Run, the suspension bridge trail is listed as moderate. Does that mean it's easy enough to do in Teva-type water sandals, or do I need my hiking shoes. The one with the steps near the waterfall sounds like #3 which is rated rugged/very rugged. How rugged is that? It looks like we would go through Terre Haute to get to Indianapolis from Turkey Run, so I'm going to check out the big cat reserve on line - thanks for the suggestion.

WE might be able to do the big cat reserve, depending on how much time we spend at Turkey Run. Thanks@!

bellhouse - the sandals should be fine. You'll see a lot of tennis shoes too. I wouldn't consider the trail with ladders all that rugged. I've seen plenty of grandparents on that trail. It can be damp/wet so shoes with some traction would be best.

If you decide to bypass the cat sanctuary, you could take 36 from just south of TR to Indy.

I think the Tevas would do - they are fairly new and have just been worn for rafting. We're trying to keep it down to one "carry on" that you check at the gate, and the tevas would fit much better than tennis shoes. I just checked the Turkey Run map and see it's not as far south as I thought. Brent voted for more hiking time, so the cats will be another trip. Poor Brent - he was at boarding school in Vermont for two years and loved being outdoors - cross country in 20 degrees, camping in the winter, etc. - he's not happy with Fl weather.

I meant to ask about how long to plan for the waterfall trail. I know how long it takes to walk that distance in Florida, but it's flat here - so easier walking and no vistas to stop and admire. Also, we're staying north of Butler University on Michigan (I think that's right), so we will need to get on 495 to go north and east. If we got to Indianapolis around 6 would rush hour, or the worst of it, be over?

I'd count on 45 min or so for the #3 trail. Sorry, but we haven't driven in Indy rush hour in a long time so my comments would be out of date.

I'd give it another half-hour (maybe till 6:30) for the traffic to die down.

Where are you staying? A few miles from Butler can be pretty sketchy.

<i>We might be able to do the big cat reserve, depending on how much time we spend at Turkey Run. Thanks@!</i>

These two places aren't near each other -- or even on the same highway. Check a map before you go.

Bellhouse,
Do let us know how your college tour turned out. Did you enjoy any of the recommended restaurants? How were the hotel accommodations in Peoria?

Let me be a bit more specific since I grew up in this area and made the trip many, many times.

From Peoria the easiest route to Indy is straight East on Interstate 74, which connects with 465 in Speedway. From there you would take 465 North just a bit to 38th Street, which is your access to Butler. (I actually think you can exit directly onto 38th from I-74 before you hit 465). If you come from Terre Haute into Indy on 70, you are much further south, down by the airport.

If you want to do Turkey Run, you could drop South off of 74 on State Hwy. 41 near Veedersburg to County 47. Go East to Turkey Run entrance.

Going East on State Hwy. 36 is a lot farther South than you need to be. The roads are mostly two lane making for slow driving through farm country.

Terre Haute is a long way South of Peoria, Turkey Run and Indianapolis. State 41 does go South as far as Terre Haute from Turkey Run, but its a long drive and not a great road.

Unless you just have scads of time to tour the state, I don't think trying to do Turkey Run and the Exotic Feline Rescue Center is a one day excursion.

In the neighborhood of Turkey Run you can pick up a map and do a driving tour of the famous Park County Covered Bridges. You can canoe, khayak or tube (depending on the weather) down Suger Creek which goes right through Turkey Run. You can hike the trails, get a picnic at the Turkey Run Inn or have lunch inside, you can also horseback ride. Depending on the time of year, you could visit maple sugar camps to learn about tapping trees and making maple syrup.

www.parkecounty.com

Not sure why you said no Indy 500 stuff, but since I-74 will connect with 465 at Speedway the Indy 500 Speedway Hall of Fame Museum is right there.

http://www.indy.com/venues/show/3018

We are staying at a Drury Inn on North Michigan at 485. More than a few miles, I guess, but lots of motels around.

TC - thanks for the input. Unfortunately we will only have the afternoon for Turkey Run area plus the drive and lunch, so we will stick to hiking. At least we have ideas for the future if he decides on one of the two schools! I really appreciate the directions - my map isn't that detailed and I'm always leary of mapquest and such. Sometimes they do it right, and sometimes not.

Ok- just making sure you weren't in a bad part of town.

It still won't take too long to get back down to Butler- most of the lights are synchronized well once you're a little bit south of Broad Ripple.

When I lived in Indy (I lived downtown) a friend visited from Philly. He kept teasing me because every time he asked how long it would take to get somewhere I said 20 minutes- until about the third 20 minute trip!

cocotum - I appreciate your concern - I've stayed in some pretty iffy areas by mistake before - not fun! That's funny about 20 minutes! Would you think 20 minutes, plus a bit for getting turned around (my specialty is getting lost easily) and parking, would work for getting to Butler at 10 on a Friday morning?

After all the research/help on Turkey Run which I thought Brent would be really excited about, he has decided he would rather see the zoo! Kids!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both mapquest and yahoo had us getting off MLK, on I-65, then back onto MLK at 30th St. exit - does that make sense, or could I just stay on MLK? I really hate driving in cities! Our town, or at least our side of it, is pretty small, plus almost all streets (east/west) and avenues (north/south) are numbered so it's hard (even for me!) to get lost.

Given the location of The Indianapolis Zoo (on Washington) and Butler University, you would be better off to take a hotel on the S/W side of town rather than way up North. The Drury Inn is nearly to Carmel and completely out of the way for your venture.

If your son is now interested in zoo animals, you might want to reconsider the big cat sanctuary. It is located off of 70, between Terre Haute and Indy. You would then hit Indy's 465 at the airport from 70. North on 465 to Washington and then the Indianpolis Zoo. I would then take a hotel on 465 or something off of Rockville Road (Hwy. 36) or around Speedway (74). That puts you right in line to get to Butler the next day with an easy drive just a couple of miles north. Even staying near the airport would be a good shot up 465 to 38th St. exit.

Whew -we're back and I've recovered. On the good side - Brent really liked the schools and plans on applying to both; on the down side, we didn't get to either Turkey Run or the zoo and we hit Indianapolis during rush hour! The low tire pressure light came on in our rental car, and I didn't want to risk any problems so we exchanged it. That, plus a longer than expected tour/interview at Bradley took up most of our free time on our Peoria to Bradley day. Both hotels were nice - and I particularly appreciated the free glass of wine at the Drury Inn after the downtown traffic. It was a bit further north than I had expected, but it was very easy to get to both Butler and Broad Ripple. We didn't eat at Avanti (Brent had eaten left over pizza as a late breakfast and wasn't hungry), but the menu looked wonderful. We ended up with sushi both nights - Sushigwa (spelling?) in Peoria and Tchopstix (spelling?) in Broad Ripple - and enjoyed both. Thanks for all your help and advice, and we WILL get to Turkey Run and the zoo at some point - maybe next year!

I completely missed the second question, sorry! Glad everything worked out though!

Thanks for posting a follow up (it's always helpful when people do that). Glad everything worked out.