Changing with the Seasons
No two visits to Indianapolis are alike, because each season re-creates the city in its own image. Summer swelters, with temperatures that can exceed 90 degrees. Winters blanket the state capital with snow. Both spring and fall are good bets for pleasant temperatures in the daytime, but these seasons are notoriously unpredictable. May, for example, can bring thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. The first and last freezes of the year typically occur in mid-April and mid-October.
Exploring Art, Trails and Outdoor Fun
You'll have a hard time getting your family out of White River State Park, the only urban park in Indiana. It will captivate you with miles of trails, acres of gardens, Segway and kayak rentals, public art, museums—including the NCAA Hall of Champions Museum—and an open-air concert venue. But you won't want to miss the city’s other cultural attractions—its excellent zoo, the botanical gardens and the Indiana Museum of Art, with great Turner landscapes and other outstanding pieces, including sculptures spilling into the museum gardens.
Making Money in the Midwest
Because Indianapolis is near the corn-belt agricultural area as well as Midwest and Eastern cities, it plays a leading role in industry and commerce in the region. For years, Indianapolis identified as a manufacturing center, but more recently retailing and service industries have become more important. The city's decision to invest in major and minor sports vastly increased tourism, pumping millions into the local economy and creating jobs and new business opportunities.
Getting Around Indianapolis
Whether you fly into Indianapolis International Airport or arrive by Amtrak or Greyhound, you'll want a car to get around the capital. Although some buses run in the city center, a coordinated public transportation system is still a good idea waiting to happen. The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority has big plans to streamline inner city traffic and connect Indianapolis to outlying towns, but until then, you'll need a car to get around easily.
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