The 49 best places for people and crowd watching in Indianapolis (2024)

My 7 year old son had this on his summer bucket list so we drove 6 hours to get here. It was well worth the drive. The size of the place is mind staggering. A very well organized and engaging museum of science, culture, history, and an endless amount of learning opportunities for young and old alike. Surprising you around every corner. Keeping children engaged in large and small hands on spots from the 1 st floor to the fourth. I cannot recommend this great gem of a museum enough. If you can drive and know a child who will accompany you, make plans now to visit. You won’t be sorry!

Nice museum but not the top. I would expect more for smaller children. You start your tour among the dinosaurs and end up on carrousel. I would say it is more for older kids as there is a part dedicated to Greece and also inspirational stories of Anne Frank, Ruby, etc. This is very well done with useful information. I mean, definitely the best part.Everything was clean and staff was friendly and nice. The outdoor part was unfortunately closed due to heatwave.

This place is very nice! A lot of walking, so make sure you have on comfortable shoes. I love their different exhibits; the kid history and Greece were my favorites. I appreciate all of the hand sanitizing wipes and liquids that they have placed around the museum.The outdoor sports center was FUNNNN! My boys loved being able to play all the sports. Make sure your kids are wearing closed toe shoes.The place was spotless, even the cafeteria and bathrooms. I appreciated the free parking.The only con is that the food place closes pretty early, so if you plan to eat there, arrive before 2:30.If you are visiting from out of town and plan to go to the zoo and children’s museum, purchase the Indy Pass to save. You can visit both within 24 hours if you purchase the day pass. We arrived at the CM at 11:30 am, then made sure we arrived at the zoo by 10/30-11 am the next day.

Went there on president day. The place was packed. All the children were enjoying themselves and actively participated in various activities. This is a well organized and beautiful place. All the parents should take their children there for a pleasant outing.

We had a spectacular time!!Garage and Lot Parking is free. Park on 3rd level for easy skywalk access. Take 4-5 quarters for single use lockers. Plan to spend the entire open time there! It blew by and we got to do everything without rushing. You can bring your own food!

This is a favorite museum of mine. SO much to do! The variety and size of the exhibits is outstanding. Artifacts from so many different cultures and timeframes. Everything is laid out beautifully, it's very easy to get around. It's also very easy to get lost in each exhibit because they're so amazing!Obviously, there's so much to keep children entertained and learning about the various different subjects and eras, but this museum is fantastic for any age to visit.Bonus points for the food court! Amazing options, including gluten free!

We had a great day at the museumIt was a bit busy .The kids still enjoyed it.They really liked the dino area..Would like to go back during the week when its not to busy. The tickets were 34. Each and snacks were $10. for each kid.We didn't know you could take your lunch in ,will do that next time.

We had a great time. I did think it would be more engaging for the kids. There was a lot to learn, as expected for a museum. But, not a lot of FUN engaging activities as I expected. The kids did enjoy themselves. We had to wait over an hour to get into the Minecraft exhibit. It is new so we kind of expected that. Definitely buy tickets online!!

- Love this museum. It’s huge!- There are so many activities to do for kids and I like the way they also incorporated activities for adults as well. My favorite was the interactive music. I didn’t upload pics because I do not want to post people’s faces without permission.- I recommend purchasing tickets in advance. There was a long line when we arrived - not sure how fast the in-line purchase was though.- The bathrooms were not clean. I used one. But there was enough toilet paper and paper towel.- There are some sitting areas. I’ll recommend for parents with infants or others who may need it.

I grew up going to this museum and love bringing my 4 kids (ages 10 to 4). They love exploring different parts and the new exhibits. It is always clean, wonderfully nice staff and great play areas for all ages. The museum is always updating exhibits for the best experience and has so many fun random programs in each exhibit you can participate in!Plus, they have amazing safety measures if you ever need to use them. They will shut down the entire museum if you have lost your kid. They won't let anyone in or out and have all staff come out to search. (Not that I know this from personal experience 🙃)The family pass is worth the money. Even a day pass is worth it! You won't need to do anything else for the rest of the day! Plus, you can bring in your own food if you plan to stay during lunch.

LOVED THIS MUSEUMIt is the best children museum I have ever been to.The outdoor area with all the sports experience was out of the world. We enjoyed golf, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, football, racing... it was amazing.The indoor area had so many interesting exhibits, including minecraft and pop art.We went when the museum opened. We left when the museum closed.

An awesome experience here. First with my kids, and now with my grandkids. Over time I have seen the admission price increase, but try to imagine the upkeep of all the displays, and it becomes understandable. There are way too many exhibits here to describe. Plan on spending hours here and having a great time. If you wish to save some money, eat at home and come here with a full belly.

Worth every penny. Tip : order tickets online at least a week in advance. I am a non resident so no extra discount. There is something to interest every age even adults. The Dinosaur exhibit was one of our highlights of the visit. There is literally something to do or see on every floor. The outdoor sports area was a marvel. You could easily spend hours here. It’s impossible to experience everything in one day. I’d love to get a season pass , we need to visit 2x more before the year is over.

We love this place! The outdoor is now included in the indoor price. This is an all day outing if you want to see every exhibit. They even sang happy birthday to my twins on the carousel! IF ANY ONE PERSON IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD GETS GOVERNMENT INSURANCE, YOU QUALIFY FOR THE ACCESS PASS. YOU CAN GET IN FOR ONLY TWO DOLLARS EACH BUT YOU HAVE TO BRING IN CORRECT PAPERWORK. PLEASE CALL THE MUSEUM FOR DETAILS.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a fantastic destination for families looking for an engaging and educational experience. With its vast array of interactive exhibits, kids can explore everything from dinosaurs to space travel.The museum features a variety of hands-on activities that encourage curiosity and creativity. The outdoor science park is a highlight, allowing children to engage with nature and science in a fun way. The exhibits are thoughtfully designed to cater to different age groups, ensuring that both younger and older children can find something that captivates their interest.Additionally, the museum often hosts special events and programs that enhance the learning experience. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, always ready to assist families in making the most of their visit.Overall, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a must-visit for anyone in the area, providing a perfect blend of fun and education that children will remember long after their visit.

So much fun! Doesn't matter what your age is. I personally, haven't been here since grade school and seeing the trains brings back so many great memories. I loved to be able to share the experience with my family. All the exhibits were fantastic. My boys were thrilled to ditch school for a family - educational field trip!

Great place for fun, education, culture, and art. Great for kids. I really appreciated the kid-friendly exhibits that are low to the ground, and the kid-friendly bathrooms. The main downside is, since it's so popular, it can be packed and noisy. I mean, it was hard to talk to the person next to me, and at times I couldn't think straight. It's so huge, we didn't even do all the indoor stuff in one day.

We had a great time at The Children's Museum. Our 7-year-old loved the Sports Legends area, especially the paddle cars and treehouse. And he also really enjoyed the play areas on the third and fourth floors.The food selection is also great for adults and kids. 😁

It was so much fun and lots to do. We were there for about 5 hours and still didn’t get to see and do everything. Our favorite was the dinosaur exhibit in the beginning. It was very very busy and crowded but that was to be expected. Only complaint is that something different needs to happen to the food court. It was such a cluster and so crazy. Either needs a different system or add more restaurants. But I highly recommend everyone to visit. It’s great for all ages.

Hands down best children’s museum I’ve ever been too! My toddler and child enjoyed themselves so much they couldn’t stop talking about it in the car! The outdoor sports was mega fun and the museum inside was full of kid friendly activities and a toddler safe space it was perfect!

I’m going to give this place 5 stars. For one, nostalgia, I used to love going there as a child. I was able to bring my son back here about 30 years later and the updates, along with some of the nostalgia, didn’t disappoint. I will say that after about 11-12 years old, it only becomes worth it to see the new exhibits that come out a few times a year. We went to it recently and had a great time, but the NASA/Space area is the only standard thing my son was really interested in. Unfortunately, a couple of the activities were broken, which I’ve noticed in past visits also. I believe they are funded by donations and memberships and not sure if they receive subsidies, but overall they do a great job. The dinosaur exhibit is a must see for anyone and the sport area is a great new addition that wasn’t there when I was young, but that’s only open in the warmer weather.Add on: The winter fest snowball fight is a good concept, but they need to have different times for different age groups and they need to expand the play area. As you can see, it’s a giant cluster. Still fun, although more focused on 8 and under.

We've been here several times and it gets better every time! Between my and my bro in law's family there are four kids between 3 and 6 and they absolutely love it! I often think I want to visit here without them!The interactive dino coloring mural wall is always must see! And you can't ignore the giant dinosaurs you see busting through the walls on the drive up. The exhibits are engaging for all ages and if you go on the right day, it won't be too busy and you can jam around as you please!Don't forget the sports area off the main area and play with all the interactive games! Coach David was awesome!

What a great place to take kids. Very clean and well maintained facilities. The Ryan White exhibit got me all chocked up. They allow reentry all day so bring a cooler. The outdoor experience was great too, with tons of space to run and play.

We’ve traveled the country and done our fair share of children’s museums with our kids. I think this one wins!Make sure you budget enough time here as there is so much to do.I really liked the exhibit of Anne frank and able to teach my kids about slavery in America.The teenage mutant ninja turtle exhibit was also so much fun. Make sure you do at least one of the activities that are going on throughout the day.Also the outdoor tree house!! And sports exhibits?!? How is this all included in the admission. Thank you for whoever makes this happen. Our kids loved it and want to visit the city again.

Last Spring a reel or TT video was viewed about The Children's Museum of Indianapolis and we thought it would be fun to drive up for a 2 day trip. We are in Middle TN and it takes about 4 hours straight up 65 to get to Indianapolis. We could write a small novel on how wonderful this museum is but we think the photos will prove out pint. We took our almost 5 year old and she loved EVERYTHING about the entire experience from the 4th floor down to the 3rd 1st floor. The staff were so mice and helpful. We did not experience one grumpy staff member during our entire stay. The outdoor sports complex is awesome and really gives the little ones the ability to experience all different types of sports without having to drop registration fees for a season and have them get bored halfway through the season. We went on a Thursday and Friday during the area's fall break and it really wasn't crowded even with the beginning of their Halloween events. If you are going for more than one day, buy your first day tickets online a month in advance for a discount and then at the end of your first day go to the ticket counter at the museum and buy the next day. They give you a bigger discount for the tickets when you do it that way. The first day we let her "touch" everything and then the second day we did the sports events first thing and then let her go back to the favorites of what she "touched" the day before. If you are residents of Tennessee, Kentucky or any of the other connecting states to Indiana, we 100% recommend doing a road trip to this children's museum, you will not be disappointed.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting the museum. While the main exhibits remain the same, they are still worth your time and attention. Recently, I went on a day trip to the museum and found that it was extremely hot inside, and there were a lot of people there. This seemed to make some of the visitors irritable. Even so, it was still a worthwhile experience!

Wonderful place to visit and had lots for little kids to do! I especially loved the dinosaur exhibit and the kids play scape was a huge hit! The “inside out” temporary exhibit was super cute, and very creative.

The place is certainly big and if you're tight with time, it's recommended to plan your visit in advance.There's always something for the kids to do, to play, or to have hands-on experience. Definitely designed with kids in mind.The outdoor sports center was a hit with the kids. They loved it!

Parking was easy to find. So much to do here. My kids loved it. The only thing I would say is the food was not great. And I wish the outdoor area had more shade. It was almost too hot for us to see the outdoor area. If you want to go outside there I highly recommend going on a cooler/overcast day so you can get the most out of the experience. Elevators for accessibility ♿️ all over this building. Every activity has ramps or are open enough to where disabled kids can enjoy minus a few areas meant for crawling through tunnels. But there are so many exhibits that I don't think it makes much of a difference for those families. The area of the city around the museum wasn't the best but that's any innercity really. I would go again ! We came from Cincinnati and I think it's 100× better than the Cincinnati children's museum.

A real good place to take children, grandchildren for education and entertainment as well as playing. Children will love it .. plan to spend at least 4 hours or more if possible. Children of all ages can play hockey, basketball, golf, baseball and many other games.

Lots of bathrooms!! Very clean, great deal for the kids. Just an all around good experience, truly. The outdoor space and sports activities are super cool. They have to redesign the tree though so folks can go up and down, but I was thoroughly impressed with it all.

This place is amazing! We took our daughter here and she loved it! The exhibits are diverse, interactive and very well done. The place was clean and the staff was friendly. There is just a ton to do. We spent several hours and didn’t see everything. They also have a very nice outdoor area with a lot to do. If you’re in the area, this is a must see if you have kids.

Have not been to the Children's Museum in years, so we figured we'd stop in and check it out since we were in town for the 500.Parking: we went on a Tuesday and parking in the museum's garage lot was free. The garage was clean and well maintained. It connects to the museum via an enclosed Skywalk.Prices: prices are fair and range from the upper $20s to middle $30s. There are discounts for Indiana residents, military, and more. Be sure to ask when purchasing tickets.Exhibits: multiple exhibits from dinosaurs to space exploration to science to local communities and more. Exhibits have changed since our last visit in 2017 and have changed drastically since I was a kid. The one stalwart is the carousel; she is still there. Rides are $2 per kid (17 and younger). You pay at the carousel with cash or card.All exhibits are well maintained, well thought out and both educational & fun. Our kids were most impressed with the outdoor sports area which includes baseball, basketball, soccer, racing, tennis, golf, a giant tree to climb and a track that goes around the perimeter of the outdoor/sports area.Food: there is a food court on site. Choices include pizza, drinks, sandwiches, candies/deserts, salads and more. Vegetarian and gluten free options are available. There is also a small concession stand in the outdoor area. We did not visit it so I am unsure of choices. Again, card or cash is accepted.Overall, the experience was beyond expectation. I know I left out a load of information so I recommend landing your kids into the people hauler and seeing it for yourself.

It's hard to overstate how great this place is. Close free handicap parking, with handicap accessible entrance. A clean ultra modern facility with food, snacks, elevator, gift shop, lots of restrooms, That said the obvious star of the show is their dinosaur exhibits. I can't adequately describe the creative displays, lighting, attentive well trained staff, architecture, minute attention to detail that these creative people have done. I'll let my photos tell the story.

We traveled from metro Detroit to Indy to spend one day at the Children’s Museum. It was definitely worth the drive! We ended up spending almost 6 hours here exploring all the exhibits. We were able to bring in our own lunch and sat at the food court to eat. Great clean bathrooms on every floor and there is a ramp that you can take to each floor instead of waiting for the elevator. My kids were ages 4, 7, & 8 and there was something for all of them to enjoy. Buy your tickets online a head of time to save a few dollars.

Me and a group of friends traveled to Indianapolis on a Saturday morning. It's only a 2 hour drive from Louisville and it was well worth the trip. There were a lot of interesting things to see and learn for adults. Although it's a children's museum it's plenty of fun for the parents as well. I strongly suggest a visit. Be sure to give yourself ample time to see everything. There is a bunch to see.

As a parent, I can’t recommend the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis enough! Here’s why it’s an absolute gem:World-Class Exhibits: This museum is a treasure trove of knowledge and fun. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted by interactive exhibits that ignite curiosity in both kids and adults. The dinosaur fossils alone are worth the visit!Outdoor Sports Legends Experience: The recent addition of the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is a game-changer. Imagine a 7.5-acre outdoor wonderland where kids can play basketball, football, hockey, soccer, and more. It’s like stepping into a sports paradise.Art, Science, and History: The museum seamlessly weaves together art, science, and history. Explore five floors filled with captivating displays—whether you’re fascinated by space exploration, ancient civilizations, or the wonders of nature.Theater Magic: Catch a children’s play or live entertainment at the museum’s theater. It’s a delightful way to engage young minds and spark their creativity.Rare Gems: Where else can you find some of the world’s rarest dinosaur fossils? The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis houses these ancient marvels, and they’re awe-inspiring.Remember to take your time—there’s so much to see and do. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this museum is a must-visit. Kudos to the team for creating an enriching and playful environment for families! 🦕🌟

I was expecting "the biggest children's museum in the world" to be way more fascinating. It is okay, with some interesting things, but nothing out of the ordinary. I felt it was missing some more activities that the kids could do to learn something. The outside playground was really nice and the kids enjoyed it a lot.

My kid showed me around. I was really impressed. We got a family +2 donor membership so the rest of the family can take her back there. She had an absolute blast. I enjoyed it also. Very big.

Wow, what a place for kids. We spent two days here and still didn't see everything. We were there this past weekend when there was a power outage. The staff was absolutely phenomenal. They remained calm and did their best to distract the kids while we had some pretty intense weather outside.We ended up purchasing a membership out of the whole experience! We initially bought tickets but since we wanted a membership we were able to use the ticket purchase towards that. If we go twice it will be even but you could easily go several times and not get bored.We live a few hours away but plan to make a weekend of it 2-3 times a year. Our kids are 4, 7, and 9. They all enjoyed it and want to go back already after being home for one dayThis place has something for every age and every desire. Also loved the outdoor area for playing as well.Definitely worth the money and the hype

Super kid-friendly. Children's world. Parking is free on the opposite side of the museum and it is very convenient to walk over the bridge and directly enter the museum. I bought the ticket online in advance, so I only need to take the QR code to the ticket office and scan it. However, you can also buy tickets on the spot, which is very convenient and does not need to queue, because many staff at the ticket gate are also very patient. After entering, you can see the gift shop, the entire museum is all displayed in front of you, according to your own preferences, there is an elevator to do. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, electronic comic books, dolls of different generations, dinosaurs, mining and so on. It's really great! You can play with the kids all day.

Absolutely the best place for kids of all ages (grandparents included!)! Took my 12 year old grandson today and we had a fantastic time! The outside sports legends was so fun...we did the race track and played tennis! Then it was inside for 4 levels of exploration and learning. Not sure which one of us had a better time!

I recently visited the children’s museum with my family and had a mixed experience.Cons:•The museum could benefit from more scientific or functional related exhibitions.•On the 3rd floor, there is an exhibition called “World of Many Religions,” but it only featured Jewish books and relevant literature.•My 12-year-old boy found it boring, although my 3-year-old had fun.Pros:•There are both indoor and outdoor activities available.•Most of the activities and spots are suitable for toddlers and children up to 8 years old.•The air conditioning was well-maintained.•Quiet rooms are available for rest.•There are many dinosaur exhibitions.•Food courts are available.•Outside, there is a huge tree structure that kids can climb inside, and a variety of outdoor sports activities.•Free parking is available.

Phenomenal museum particularly the outdoor fields of sports - basketball, tennis, hockey, football, mini golf etc. the sports are customized for all ages. My kids spent half the day there.The indoor exhibits were pretty good particularly the dinosaur area. Being a children's museum, the only thing I'd say that could be improved is more tactile activities for the younger kids.

We had an ok time. It was super crowded! So much so you could barely maneuver around between exhibits. Made it so the kids couldn’t get up to see stuff. We never made it through the half of the museum before they closed. That’s how packed it was. There should be a limit on how many tickets they sale each day so families can really enjoy the day. There were hour waits to do some of the stuff. We did our best to enjoy what we could

It is a massive museum for children. There are lots of play areas fun things to do for children of all ages. We're greeted with a giant bumblebee (actual prop used in the movie) from Transformers at the entrance which is cool. The museum has five floors of play spaces and fun thongs to do for children. You can't cover the entire museum in one day; you will need multiple visits. The place has sufficient restrooms and food stalls to keep the little ones going throughout the day

This museum was such a great place for children and adults. My toddler (under 2) enjoyed this place so much. The huge and attractive dinosaurs were visible from a distance before we entered the museum. So much of informative and learning place for children of all age groups. Such fun and kids involving activities were seen here. Great place for toddlers to develop skills. Hygiene was so good, neat place with sanitizers and hand wipes in each corner. Restrooms were clean and very big.

Took my son here after his doctor’s appointment. We had such an amazing time. My son loved the exhibits and so did we. There is no lack of interactive materials and areas for children to play and learn. We were extremely impressed and happy with the experience. Will continue to come back and I recommend it highly for anyone interested.

Great place to spend the entire day with toddlers. My 3 yr old got there when the doors opened and wanted to stay til the lights went off. It was a bit more expensive than I recalled, but I used to live in the neighborhood so I had a neighbor discount. But for 1 adult and a 3 yr old we spent $58 on admission and it was worth every cent. Very pleased. 😁

You could easily spend the whole day here. High quality exhibits, most (if not all) interactive. Cafeteria has limited hours but varied selection with generous seating area. It was rainy, so we didn’t even get to the outdoor sports section.

What a great place. We came here for the weekend before the eclipse. Sorry for taking so long to review, I honestly thought I had already. But wow, we were completely blown away by all of the stuff to do. So many different things for the kid to do, she had so much fun trying everything out. We didn't even get outside to try out the sports stuff. NASA was there because of the upcoming eclipse. The food court was really good too, lots of different options and decently priced for where it's at. Next time we're out in the area again we'll definitely be back. Definitely get your tickets in advance, gets you through nice and quickly.