Travelogue: Indianapolis, IN

Union Station

Over the weekend my wife and I had a brief stay in Indianapolis, Indiana. While we didn’t see any formula one races, or score any Colts tickets, we did get to spend some much needed child-free time together, courtesy my in-laws. Here are my notes from the trip:

  • It doesn’t take long after crossing the Ohio that you officially enter the Midwest. There’s a marked difference in land usage and even terrain from Kentucky — there’s no mistaking that you’re in the breadbasket of the world. “Land spreadin’ out so far and wide. . .” Well, you get the picture.
  • We made a stop in the pleasant town of Greenwood, IN so my wife could browse a famous quilting shop there. After my obligatory five minutes in a shop with way-too-much estrogen, I recused myself to the front porch of the store so I could read a book. One rather perceptive woman, upon entering the store said: “Here’s a husband who is used to stopping at all the quilt shops with his wife — he knows just what to do!” Indeed.
  • Downtown Indianapolis seems almost oasis-like, surrounded by nowhere. I’m sure there are ample suburbs (I’ve seen a few on previous trips), but the contrast between the agrarian and the urban is striking.
  • Like many cities, Indianapolis has put a lot of money in to renovating its downtown area. Restaurants, cafes, sports venues, and interconnected shopping malls pepper the urban landscape of downtown and give the sense, at least that something is going on.
  • Also, like many cities, Indianapolis’ many renovations do little to mask its thriving homeless population.
  • To avoid the hotel’s pricey — and most likely tasteless — breakfast, we ventured over to Steak n Shake for our morning meal. I know that these restaurants are everywhere, but their coffee was quite remarkable. For a coffee novice like me, it was pure joy.

That’s all for this Travelogue. Where will we be next time? I wonder. . .

1 thought on “Travelogue: Indianapolis, IN”

  1. Of course Indianapolis is oasis-like. You’re in farm country, so the urban areas will stick out greatly. I see that you stopped at one of Indy’s most notable attributes, a chain restaurant – we have tons of them here.

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