7 Free Things to Do in Indianapoils

Indianapolis is a beautiful city to visit or even just to live in. The best part about Indianapolis is that you don't need a lot of money, or any at all, to have a good time. Indianapolis offers a lot of fun for free. Here are 7 free things to do in Indianapolis, whether you live here or are just visiting.

#1 Walk the Canal

Although it started its existence as a doomed effort to connect Indianapolis to commerce and trade that bankrupted the state, the Canal has now become a beautiful place to walk, run, or simply sit and enjoy your lunch. Stretching from 11^th Street to West Washington Street, the Canal will take you past the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indiana State Museum, White River State Park, and the Eiteljorg Museum, all without having to cross a single lane of traffic. In addition to the relaxing atmosphere, the Indiana History Center offers Stories on the Canal for free from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

#2 Indianapolis Museum of Art

The Indianapolis Museum of Art, located at 4000 Michigan Road, offers free admission, parking, and Wi-Fi. The museum and Lilly House are open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 11am to 5pm, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 9pm, and Sunday from noon to 5pm. The gardens and grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Park for free in the underground garage or in the IMA's outdoor lot, located by the main entrance.

#3 Children's Museum

Although the Children's Museum usually has an entrance fee, they offer several free days a year. For example, April 26, 2009 (El Dia de Los Ninos), December 24, 2009 (Christmas Eve), January 18 2010 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), and February 15, 2010 (Presidents' Day) are all free days. The Children's Museum is also free for families the first Thursday night of each month, from 4-8pm, for Target sponsored Free Family Nights. Free parking is available in the museum's parking garage on the west side of Illinois street. The Children's Museum is open from 10am to 5pm every day between the beginning of March and Labor Day, and open Tuesday-Sunday from Labor Day to the end of February. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is located at 3000 North Meridian Street. Check the website for upcoming free days.

#4 Indiana War Memorials

The Indiana War Memorials consist of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, University Park, the World Wars Memorial, Veteran's Memorial Plaza, American Legion Mall and the USS Indianapolis Memorial. Two Indiana War Museums offer a free experience of the history of Indiana's role in our nation's wars - the Indiana War Memorial Museum in the Indiana War Memorial, and the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum located in the lower level of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The museums are open Wednesday - Sunday. The Civil War Museum is open 10am - 5pm, and the Indiana War Memorial Museum is open 9am - 5pm. Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday.

#5 Crown Hill Cemetery

Located at 700 West 38^th Street, Crown Hill Cemetery is a picturesque resting place for almost 195,000 people. Among the notable people resting there are President Benjamin Harrison and John Dillinger. In addition to being a beautiful place to walk and enjoy quiet history, Crown Hill Cemetery also offers public tours and other events, many of which are free. Memorial Day and Veteran's Day events are free, as well as educational events like the President Harrison & Heritage Tour and concerts at the Gothic. Check the website for a calendar of events. The grounds are open from 8am - 6pm, October 15 - March 31, and 8am - 8pm, April 1 - October 14.

#6 Scottish Rite Cathedral

The massive and beautiful Scottish Rite Cathedral conducts free tours for individuals and small groups Monday - Friday and the third Saturday of each month, from 10am - 2pm. The Scottish Rite Cathedral is located at 650 North Meridian St. Contact them at (317) 262-3110 or email lbrock@aasr-indy.org for more information or to set up a tour for your group.

#7 Lockerbie Square

Lockerbie Square is Indianapolis' oldest surviving neighborhood. Home to Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, the neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located between then intersections of New York, East, Michigan, and College streets, Lockerbie Square is a scenic demonstration of early architectural styles. Walking the neighborhood is free.

The Ultimate Free Day in Indianapolis

Enjoying a completely free day in Indianapolis is easy if you do a little planning and don't mind walking a bit. Check websites for scheduled events at the Crown Hill Cemetery and free days at the Children's Museum. Here's an example of what a completely free day touring Indianapolis might look like:

Plan your day for the first Thursday of the month. Start by packing lunch, snacks and drinks in a cooler and wearing good walking shoes. Your free day in Indianapolis is going to start out downtown with a little bit of history. You might need to pay for parking downtown, which will be the only money you have to spend all day.

9:00am: Arrive at the Indiana War Memorial when the museum opens. Spend about an hour in the memorial.

10:00am: Walk the .62 miles from the Indiana War Memorial to Monument Circle, passing through University Park. Arrive at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum by 10:15, if you're taking your time. Spend another hour in this museum.

11:15: Walk back up Meridian Street, to the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Take a tour of the historic landmark.

1:00: Rest your feet and eat your packed lunch in University Park. Make sure to drink plenty of water.

1:30: Walk along east along New York Street (on the south side of University Park) a few blocks over to Lockerbie Square and enjoy a pleasant stroll around the historic neighborhood. Take a camera to capture the unique architecture, or download the walking tour map from the website and try to find the homes of famous Hoosiers.

3:00: Return to your vehicle and drive 13 minutes north to the Indiana Museum of Art, where you can park for free. Spend the hottest part of the day inside the Indiana Museum of Art and in the beautiful surrounding gardens.

4:30: Drive 2 minutes or walk 10 minutes east on 38^th Street to the nearby Crown Hill Cemetery. Enjoy a stroll through the scenic memorials, find famous resting places, and relax on the hill with an afternoon snack and a beautiful view of the city.

5:30: Drive 5 minutes east on 38^th Street and south on Meridian to the Children's Museum. Finish your day at one of Indianapolis' most fun and interactive museums.