Imagine something really big. No, it must be bigger than that. No, the biggest. Imagine Yankee Stadium, Churchill Downs, the Rose Bowl, the Colosseum in Rome and Vatican City. Did you? They all can fit inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. That's big, and Indy is our next destination.
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So many major highways pass through the Indianapolis and to get from the east to the west U.S. coast you will most likely pass through Indianapolis, the capital city of Indiana and the 13th largest city in the U.S. Before Detroit came into the picture to dominate the U.S auto industry, Indy was home to a number of carmakers. Today it is home to the two largest single-day sporting events in the world: the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400, an annual 400 mile (644 km) NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Each May, Indy's typically humid continental climate brings a lot of rain to the city, but thousands of spectators at the Indianapolis 500 don't seem to care about that at all. And rightly so: For anybody who loves cars even just a little bit, Indy is the place to be in May, no excuses. Around the racing circle there is a lot going on, like a 90-minute tour from the Pagoda timing suite, to the Victory Podium and the famous Yard of Bricks.
Or take an unforgettable lap in an authentic IndyCar - at the speed limited by how much you can handle. After that, it's time for slower activities.
The city is second only to Washington D.C. in number of memorials and monuments. Soldiers and Sailors Monument that stands in the middle of the circle is its most impressive landmark and the symbol of the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. Take the stairs - that is often faster than waiting for the elevator - and enjoy a 360 degree view of the city skyline from its observation level. During the Christmas season the monument is decorated as an enormously big Christmas tree.
One of numerous interesting museums worth of visiting is USS Indianapolis Museum dedicated to the worst naval tragedy in U.S. history. Just to remind you, USS Indianapolis was known as one of the fastest ships in the entire US Navy. It sunk on July 30, 1945, only 12 minutes after being torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine. Another unique place you don't want to miss is the Indianapolis Artsgarden, a glass dome where more than 300 exhibitions and art performances are held every year.
Indy has one of the tallest buildings in the state, the Chase tower, and some of the largest urban parks in the U.S., live music venues, Slippery Noodle Inn, the oldest bar in the state of Indiana with live blues music seven days a week, and countless festivals that occur throughout the year. For more fun there is Howl at the Moon. Don't worry, you will not be asked to howl at anything, this is Indy's favourite piano bar and home to the world's greatest rock 'n' roll dueling piano show.
Once you get there, in Indy, not the bar, if you are not too picky don't bother searching for the food, let the food finds you. Every day you will see a variety of vendors on the streets offering everything from jerk chicken to cupcakes. But if you would like to know what food is Indiana's favourite, then it is pork, a centerpiece of Indiana cuisine, its alpha and omega. The city has also thriving craft beer scene - Sun King Brewing is the largest brewery in Indianapolis and the second largest brewery in the state.
Day or night, stroll through vibrant Fountain Square and search for antique shops, art galleries and live music. Enjoy your time in trendy Broad Ripple Village, its parks and greenways, sidewalk cafes and nightlife. Interact with dolphins at urban Canal and White River State Park, rent a boat or bike and enjoy the charm of downtown Indianapolis. You could also walk down the historic Indiana Avenue known for the best jazz in the city in the 1930s and '40s. "Through these portals pass the world's finest musicians" still reads the sign above Henri's bar, one of the hottest jazz clubs that line the old Indiana Avenue.
Spend one afternoon in entertainment Wholesale District filled with handsome 19th century buildings and state of the art facilities. It boasts more than 85 restaurants and hosts Circle Centre, a mall that delights the most meticulous shoppers. Castleton Square Mall, the largest mall in the state, and The Fashion Mall at Keystone located in one of the city's most prestigious area in the northeast section of the city, are your next shopping paradises. ■
