Indianapolis DISers HELP! / Cedar Point

[HeDiedxILive]

Okay, so.
I am going to Indianapolis this summer for the national level of a competition that a few friends and I advanced to. We're going in August, and will be in central Indianapolis (the competition and coinciding national youth convention will be held at the RCA dome).

Fortunately, only one full day and a few evenings will be busy due to the event. So now I need to know, what is there to do in Indianapolis? I'm traveling with two other girls, a guy, and a few family members and we are looking for teen- or family-oriented things to do. Also, where should we eat? I don't want to miss anywhere that is unique to the area. We love trying new things!


On the way there, we are stopping in Ohio to go to Cedar Point (heck yes). Now, I am totally a thrill addict. Roller coasters are my thing! I know we probably won't be able to ride all of them, being that it will be an August Saturday, so which coasters should I definitely not miss?

I will probably post this on the CB, but I don't want to miss any suggestions from fellow VMKers.

 

[threeboysmom]

Hi there! We just spent a few days at Cedar Point last June and had SO MUCH FUN!

My favorite coaster of them all was Millenium Force! Do not miss this one!! It is so worth the wait!

Termed a "giga-coaster" for its extreme height, this colossal coaster looms an incredible 310 feet above the ground and reaches a top speed of 93 mph!
Millennium Force takes its passengers over 6,595 feet of steel track that includes 310-, 169- and 182-foot-tall hills, two dark tunnels and two 122-degree overbanked turns.

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

Top Thrill Dragster.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Cool!

Yes, Millenium Force is a do not miss!

Oh, and I'm guessing you're 18 or under? (Don't give real age)

A good place to get some info: http://www.indy.org. It also has a listing of events going on in the city and you can narrow it down to just the time you're spending here.

A place to eat and not miss: Bazbeaux Pizza. Great pizza place!
Another Indy restaurant: The Milano Inn. Nice Italian place.
For Kosher food: try Shapiro's Delicatessen. Voted one of the 10 best places to eat authentic Jewish deli cuisine but USA Today.
For a great steak dinner: St. Elmo Steak House.
Of course, there's the usual chain restaurants downtown like Hard Rock Cafe, McDonalds, Alcatraz Brewing Co, Buca di Beppo, Buffalo Wild Wings, Le Peep, McCormick & Schmick's Seafood, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Rock Bottom, T.G.I. Friday's, etc.





If you're still a kid (or a kid at heart) there's the Children's Museum. It is the largest children’s museum in the world. The more than 400,000-square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries that explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures and the arts. The Children’s Museum is a place to learn and do. Whenever possible, exhibits are “hands-on” or participatory in nature. I does include a planetarium, a theater, a library, and a full carousel inside that you can ride.

For shopping, there is the Circle Centre Mall right Downtown. It also has a theater and a game area on the 4th floor.
There is also Broad Ripple Village. It's not too far from the downtown area.

For some History:
The President Benjamin Harrison Home. Only about 1 mile north of the circle.
There is Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana which offers walking tours in Indianapolis.

Museums:
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art
Indiana State Museum
Which includes and IMAX theater.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
Indianapolis Museum of Art

There are tons of things to do right int the downtown area. Another site that offer info on just the downtown area is http://www.indydt.com.
White River State Park is right downtown. It includes the Eiteljorg Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo and outdoor concert venue the Lawn. There are gardens, Military Park, the Canal where you can walk, ride rental bikes, take a gondola ride or rent a pedal boat.

There's lots more info in the links I've provided.


For Cedar Point: here is a link to the Roller Coaster Database that has details on all the coasters there. It includes the type, the design and the current status of the coasters. Just search for Cedar Point.
Then you can click on the coasters and get pics, how long they last, how fast they go, how high they go, if there's any inversions and other info. There's also info on the types of restraints and how tall you have to be to ride.

 

[HeDiedxILive]

Oh, and I'm guessing you're 18 or under? (Don't give real age)

I'm an older teen. The group I'm traveling with consists of 14-19 year olds, parents, and one older child (10-12). Anything that we plan on doing will be young adult/teen or family oriented.

For Cedar Point: here is a link to the Roller Coaster Database that has details on all the coasters there. It includes the type, the design and the current status of the coasters. Just search for Cedar Point.
Then you can click on the coasters and get pics, how long they last, how fast they go, how high they go, if there's any inversions and other info. There's also info on the types of restraints and how tall you have to be to ride.

Thanks for the link! Looks like a lot of help! I was already looking at the Cedar Point site, watching videos and such. I wish I could say that I don't have to worry about height requirements, but at a whopping 5ft I was worried about some of the crazy coasters.

Are there any extremely unique places to eat? We traveled to Denver last year, and found this place called Casa Bonita. There are only two in the country, and it was like Rainforest Cafe with 10 different themes; a villa, a cavern, a rainforest, a old-style theatre room, etc. Very elaborate. We're looking for somewhere that is basically limited to Indianapolis, or close to it.


As for Cedar Point, the Force and Dragster are my top choices by checking out the website. My mom thinks I am crazy for wanting to ride the dragster... I watched the video and flipped out! It looks like soooo much fun. I almost screamed with excitement! Any others that I shouldn't miss?

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I'm an older teen. The group I'm traveling with consists of 14-19 year olds, parents, and one older child (10-12). Anything that we plan on doing will be young adult/teen or family oriented.





Thanks for the link! Looks like a lot of help! I was already looking at the Cedar Point site, watching videos and such. I wish I could say that I don't have to worry about height requirements, but at a whopping 5ft I was worried about some of the crazy coasters.

Are there any extremely unique places to eat? We traveled to Denver last year, and found this place called Casa Bonita. There are only two in the country, and it was like Rainforest Cafe with 10 different themes; a villa, a cavern, a rainforest, a old-style theatre room, etc. Very elaborate. We're looking for somewhere that is basically limited to Indianapolis, or close to it.


As for Cedar Point, the Force and Dragster are my top choices by checking out the website. My mom thinks I am crazy for wanting to ride the dragster... I watched the video and flipped out! It looks like soooo much fun. I almost screamed with excitement! Any others that I shouldn't miss?

Well, I've ridden every coaster at Cedar Point except for Woodstock Express, Jr. Gemini (Kiddie coasters) and Mantis (Stand Up coaster). And I'm only 4'7".

Magnum XL-200 is also cool. There's a great view of the lake at the top of one of the first hills.

The Corkscrew is an old 70's coaster with inversions. But, at 48 mph, it's really slow campared to todays coasters.

The Mean Streak the the Blue Streak are the only woodies at Cedar Point.

For resaurants, Bazbeaux Pizza is an unusual pizza place. Not too many pizza places offer Albacore Tuna, Avocado, Snow Pea Pods, Fresh Goat Cheese, Black Bean Dip and other exotic items for toppings. They also have the usual toppings.
They also have sanwiches and desserts like TARTUFO – Classic tartufo with a zabaglione cream center, covered by chocolate gelato,
crushed caramelized hazelnuts and cocoa powder and SORBETTI.

Otherwise, the other restaurants I mentioned are all Indy only places. They just aren't really unique places.

There is also the Iron Skillet. It features a traditional Hoosier menu.

For a local only Greek place, Greek Islands Restaurant. They also have belly dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Heidelberg Haus is also locally and family owned. Great place for desserts. It's actually a cafe and gift shop with limited seating and they encourage sitting with strangers and making friends.

For more Sweets and desserts, there is the Chocolate Cafe which is owned and operated by The South Bend Chocolate Company. This is based out of Northern Indiana but now has a couple locations in Michigan and Ohio as well as Indiana.

I have provides links to all restaurants I have listed. This is all can can think of for the moment.

 

[HeDiedxILive]

Well, I've ridden every coaster at Cedar Point except for Woodstock Express, Jr. Gemini (Kiddie coasters) and Mantis (Stand Up coaster). And I'm only 4'7".

Magnum XL-200 is also cool. There's a great view of the lake at the top of one of the first hills.

The Corkscrew is an old 70's coaster with inversions. But, at 48 mph, it's really slow campared to todays coasters.

The Mean Streak the the Blue Streak are the only woodies at Cedar Point.

For resaurants, Bazbeaux Pizza is an unusual pizza place. Not too many pizza places offer Albacore Tuna, Avocado, Snow Pea Pods, Fresh Goat Cheese, Black Bean Dip and other exotic items for toppings. They also have the usual toppings.
They also have sanwiches and desserts like TARTUFO – Classic tartufo with a zabaglione cream center, covered by chocolate gelato,
crushed caramelized hazelnuts and cocoa powder and SORBETTI.

Otherwise, the other restaurants I mentioned are all Indy only places. They just aren't really unique places.

There is also the Iron Skillet. It features a traditional Hoosier menu.

For a local only Greek place, Greek Islands Restaurant. They also have belly dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Heidelberg Haus is also locally and family owned. Great place for desserts. It's actually a cafe and gift shop with limited seating and they encourage sitting with strangers and making friends.

For more Sweets and desserts, there is the Chocolate Cafe which is owned and operated by The South Bend Chocolate Company. This is based out of Northern Indiana but now has a couple locations in Michigan and Ohio as well as Indiana.

I have provides links to all restaurants I have listed. This is all can can think of for the moment.

Ahhh there goes my diet!

Thanks so much for all of the info. You've been such a great help!
Let me know if you think of anything else!

 

[big_ol_lineman]

HEY I'LL SEE YOU THERE!!!! ME MY HUMAN VIDEO TEAM AND MY SIS MADE IT TO NATIONALS TO! oh sorry idk anything about nationals this is gonna be my first time

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Just looked in the rcdb and saw the Maverick being built at Cedar Point. It's scheduled to open in June this year. Looks like it's going to be an amazing ride!

 

[HeDiedxILive]

HEY I'LL SEE YOU THERE!!!! ME MY HUMAN VIDEO TEAM AND MY SIS MADE IT TO NATIONALS TO! oh sorry idk anything about nationals this is gonna be my first time

That's awesome! I didn't think I'd find anyone who even knew what I was talking about
Congratulations! Advancing to Nationals in Fine Arts is a HUGE accomplishment. And worth great scholarship money if you plan to go to an Assemblies of God college
You will have a great time. If you have any questions about the event, let me know! I'm so excited and would very much enjoy talking about it.



Cteddies, that coaster looks like so much fun! The nice vertical drop makes me drool. I'm so excited. There are so many huge life-milestone events coming my way in the next few months and all I can think about is Cedar Point!

 

[wdeversole]

(That's one of their advertising slogans - Just Get to the Point !!)

Millenium Force is the best roller coaster ever. Period. End of story.

We're only 55.92 miles from "the point", so we go at least once a year.

Maverick's opening was delayed because of track problems. It "launches" you out of the loading station, and was putting too much stress on some track sections, so they are redesigning them. It's now supposed to open in early June, but Top Thrill Dragster was closed quite a bit during its first summer while they worked out all the kinks, so I wouldn't be surprised if Maverick is too. But even if it isn't open there are 16 other roller coasters to choose from.

 

[big_ol_lineman]

That's awesome! I didn't think I'd find anyone who even knew what I was talking about
Congratulations! Advancing to Nationals in Fine Arts is a HUGE accomplishment. And worth great scholarship money if you plan to go to an Assemblies of God college
You will have a great time. If you have any questions about the event, let me know! I'm so excited and would very much enjoy talking about it.

Really i didnt know there where scholarships well that is cool. and yea it is a hudge accomplishment seeing that it was just me and my sis who did a puppet song and got invited and the cool thing is there where 8 teams and 1st-3rd and me and my sis got invited so yea this rocks!
so what are you goin for???

 

[HeDiedxILive]

Really i didnt know there where scholarships well that is cool. and yea it is a hudge accomplishment seeing that it was just me and my sis who did a puppet song and got invited and the cool thing is there where 8 teams and 1st-3rd and me and my sis got invited so yea this rocks!
so what are you goin for???

This year, I advanced in the T-Shirt Design and Small Group Children's Lesson categories.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Cteddies, that coaster looks like so much fun! The nice vertical drop makes me drool. I'm so excited. There are so many huge life-milestone events coming my way in the next few months and all I can think about is Cedar Point!

Actually, that drop is 95°. Not straight down!


big_ol_lineman: Very cool. I'll have two DISer's in town!

 

[big_ol_lineman]

This year, I advanced in the T-Shirt Design and Small Group Children's Lesson categories.

sweetness man sweetness! that is stinkin awesome! so how many are going from ur church?

 

[HeDiedxILive]

Actually, that drop is 95°. Not straight down!

Close enough for me!
...I'm not sure I'll be able to say, "Actually, it is a whole 5 degrees off of straight down" to convince people to get on with me.




lineman - 3 from my church and 1 from another church is traveling with us.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Close enough for me!
...I'm not sure I'll be able to say, "Actually, it is a whole 5 degrees off of straight down" to convince people to get on with me.

Actually, I think you're thinking wrong. it's not like this:
head / feat.
......v

It's like this: head \ feet
.........................v


So, it's more than straight down.

 

[HeDiedxILive]

Actually, I think you're thinking wrong. it's not like this:
head / feat.
......v

It's like this: head \ feet
.........................v


So, it's more than straight down.

Even better!

 

[big_ol_lineman]

lineman - 3 from my church and 1 from another church is traveling with us.

well that is cool about taking the other person sacrifice that is the theme... that is cool.... yea we are meeting old friends from Texas there. it is gonna be awesome! i'll be sure to have my green mickey head out

 

[HeDiedxILive]

i'll be sure to have my green mickey head out

Sweet deal, I will have to get mine out! I have a whole bunch, but haven't been to the parks yet so they haven't had any use.