Indianapolis, locally known as Indy, is a vibrant metropolitan setting in Marion County. This most populated city in Indiana has many great things to offer for locals and foreign tourists, from single travelers to families.
Being the third most populated city in the Midwest of America, Indy has a fair share of excellent tourist attractions, undoubtedly world-class and technically diverse. With over three hundred square miles, the area houses a multitude of vacation hotspots and recreational activities that are purely difficult to resist. It is much appreciated to know that better deals are universally available for children.
If you plan to move around the city, we curated the top 11 best things to do for people under 21. We handpicked the most important cultural places, best dining options, music centers, movie houses, and arcade places on your must-see lists in this growing metropolis.
List of Contents
1. Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a cultural center in the center city of Indianapolis, Indiana, situated inside White River State Park. The venue consists of three unique floors housing massive Indy collections and the Gov. Frank O’Bannon Great Hall. The exhibition highlights Indiana’s scientific features, craft, heritage, and cultural legacy from prehistoric generation to generation.
Visitors, particularly children under twenty-one, enjoy the museum because it also houses Indiana’s giant IMAX screen. The area has over 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, with galleries covering the background of the natural environment, Native Americans, social heritage, and Indiana’s coming years.
When visiting the renowned museum, do not miss having an up-close encounter with ninety-two county walk exhibits. Additionally, it features Indiana’s 92 counties, following a distinct sculpture of each place. Also, the 500,000 pieces of Indiana relics in this cultural site are must-see.
2. Studio Movie Grill
Studio Movie Grill at 3535 W 86th Street, Indianapolis, is in SMG College Park. The venue, which opened in 2013 in a redeveloped Loew’s theatre complex, highlights thirteen theatres with digital film technology, descriptive storyline, subtitles, listening devices, and at least some degree of disabled access.
The site offers a new feature film experience that provides first-run films with full-service, in-theater diners. Guests, particularly children, prefer this welcoming theater as their favorite movie house in Indianapolis. There is ample space for car parking inside the vicinity.
There are fresh, classic, and children’s films, various food menus, and cold drinks delivered to guests’ seats. Everyone is grateful for its best customer service and friendly ambiance.
Do not forget to try their crafted American Grill menu when visiting Studio Movie Grill. Also, the theater’s popcorn paired with a cold drink is still the best in town and is something that you should try.
3. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum in Indianapolis is the world’s largest and most influential children’s museum; established this site in 1925. It has a land area of 472,900 square feet, five floors of exhibit hallways, and more than one million visitors per year.
Thanks to the custodianship and inspiration of Indianapolis resident Mary Stewart Carey, the place was made possible. Now it is one of the most remarkable attractions in Indy.
Its collection of more than 130,000 artifacts and display items piqued the interest of families with young people. The museum’s set includes dinosaur relics, an old steam locomotive, and a famous crystal sculpture. Everyone will enjoy the interactive features, which draw both tourists and locals.
Do not miss the Dinosphere, which has actual T-rex fossilized remains and other dinosaur species outside the cultural center. Various sports activities and a diverse array of exhibits are available at the site in its four-story facility.
4. Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo is a private non-profit organization located in White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. This site houses over 3,800 animals from over 320 distinct species worldwide. The zoo is just minutes from numerous interstate highways, making it easy for far-flung visitors to get there.
This place is an all-in-one tourist hotspot because it is triple-accredited as a zoo, an aquarium, and an arboretum garden. No wonder this is one of the best educational sites for families, especially for children.
In this 64-acre outdoor and indoor ecosystem, you will find 1,200 animals representing 230 life forms and 47,000 plant samples.
When visiting the area, do not miss having an excellent encounter with the eight biomes in this massive place, including pinniped shores, fish tanks, an international orangutan center, and the Flamingo Pool. Also, you will love to explore the St. Vincent Dolphin Pavilion and other indoor rides like race-a-cheetah and skyline.
5. Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie
Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie is a theater and restaurant located on Windsor Street in Indianapolis. This three-screen movie house, academic film complex, and European-inspired diner would provide a native space for everybody to use film and meals as tools for learning, relation, and collaborative effort.
Everybody, especially those under 21, will love the cozy ambiance of the place. Customers enjoy stopping by the Brasserie restaurant, a great platform to post a snack, full course meal, or beverage before or after a movie. Their full-course menu is one-of-a-kind, crafted by James Beard-nominated chef Abbi Merriss.
When watching a blockbuster movie in Kan-Kan Cinema, a good popcorn and cold beverage are a must. After which, munch into the Brasserie and try their sumptuous meals, including the house’s best-selling oysters on the half shell, Duck Confit, Steak Frites, and a bowl of Pot De Crème for dessert.
6. Regal UA Galaxy – Indianapolis
The Regal UA Galaxy in Indianapolis is a large movie theater on 8105 E. 96th Street. This location is a subsidiary of Regal, which currently runs the country’s second-largest cinema circuit, with over 7,200 displays in 549 theaters. It has a snack bar and shows both independent and blockbuster films.
This movie theater is one of the best sites for everyone, especially for people under 21 that love to experience a stadium seating arrangement. Regal, one of the leading cinemas in America, has a reserved seating option for your convenience. They also have a concession stand just outside the cinemas.
Feel comfortable with the deluxe reclining chairs inside every auditorium in the vicinity. Watching a good movie in Regal UA Galaxy is best paired with pretzel sticks and a cold beverage found at the snack house. You can even go for the classic popcorn and cola in big sizes.
7. Indiana State Fair Grounds & Event Center
The Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center provides contemporary occasion facilities in a historically significant setting. Since its inception in 1892, the Event Center has sponsored more than 129 Indiana State Fairs. The first 40 Indiana State Fairs area is at separate locations throughout the state.
Everyone keeps returning to this more than 250-acre site, with approximately seventeen structures and one hundred employees. The location is popular among children due to its attractions, including a state fair, amusement rides, and other enjoyable leisure activities. In addition to the noteworthy events, there are more food trolleys to enjoy.
The building in this area has a horse track that is ideal for everyone to try riding a horse. Every state fair, the place has remarkable charms, including the Pioneer Village, locally made products for sale, and the best meals in each food truck.
8. Pins Mechanical
Pins Mechanical is an arcade-style establishment and social house sited in Indianapolis’ Historic Bottleworks District. The location has a distinct characteristic of fun arcade machines and a giant bowling alley. With hundreds of people flocking over the week, this place is among Indy’s best recreational spots.
Locals and tourists with children under twenty-one will enjoy old-school games in its massive arcade. Pin Mechanical offers classic games such as foosball, pinball, duckpin, ping pong, and shuffleboard. They do not sell meals here, but they let you carry goods while enjoying the fun area.
Children under twenty-one will love the duck bowling alley. There is enough seating for everybody where you can play a Jenga or pinball. On Sundays, children bowl for free, and the establishment even offers children day-out bundles to allow them to celebrate happy times with good games.
9. Bluebeard
Bluebeard is a farm-to-table restaurant on the southeastern side of downtown Indianapolis in the ancient Holy Rosary community. Once, the location was a 1924 warehouse converted into a diner with the same title as a book by Indianapolis native Kurt Vonnegut. Amelia, the in-house bakery, is located on the premises.
Because of its fantastic ambiance, the restaurant is a favorite of families with children under twenty-one. The food and environment are excellent, and the diverse interior is remarkable. Every day, the menu changes to include a better and healthier vegetarian option.
You need to include roasted nuts as your appetizer when you want to try Bluebeard’s menu. Also, wings and lamb chop here is one of the diner’s best deals. Ending your entire course with a Foie Gras will sum up your good dining experience.
10. Atomic Bowl Duckpin
Atomic Bowl Duckpin, located on Prospect Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a bowling alley at the Fountain Square Theater building. The site has vintage 1950s equipment and memorabilia. Also, the establishment features eight lanes of duckpin bowling, a vintage billiard table, and seating for 110 people in the cafe area.
People love to come by and play at the multiple bowling alley options in this area, particularly those under 21 who enjoy bowling. There’s also an indoor cafe with seating for up to 98 people. Atomic Bowl Duckpin is one of the authentic ones of its kind in the Midwest found in Fountain Square.
If you enjoy playing duckpins at Atomic, you should try their delectable food in their café. Appetizers, Salads, BBQ Sandwiches, Burgers, and Pizzas are among the restaurant’s best-selling items. Do not also miss ordering the smoked chicken wings best paired with a cold beverage.
11. Keystone Art Cinema
The Keystone Art Cinema at Landmark includes seven state-of-the-art theatres that adaptively display various films. The movie theater in the Fashion Mall at Keystone provides acceptable dining concessions and stadium-style seating.
Everyone, particularly families, prefers this movie theater because it is near popular attractions and dining spots. People under twenty-one will admire this venue’s wide range of films, from independent and foreign-language movies to documentary films, rebuilt masterpieces, and non-traditional film premium.
Watching a movie in this cozy spot will not be complete without grabbing a fountain drink and popcorn from the cinema’s concession. After a fantastic screening, you can roam around Fashion Mall, visit nearby attractions like Woodland Bowling Center, and dine in Napolese Pizzeria.
Indianapolis’s top eleven best activities and places to see and explore are well worth your time. There are more food havens, enormous movie theaters, and social spots to visit and personally experience in the area.
Thank you for appreciating our list of fantastic finds. If there is anything else you think we should have included, please leave a comment, and share your thoughts.