OT: Need help from anyone in Eastern Indiana/Western Ohio

[KibbyCat]

Our family will be traveling to Indiana later this month for a reunion, and we'd like to take our kids to do some sort of fun day trip. We have a theme park and Great Wolf Lodge within a half-hour of our home, so even though those are in the Western Ohio area, we were hoping for something a little different, that we wouldn't be able to do here in Texas. I'm hoping some locals will be able to give me some insight, tips, and advice. We're looking to travel about 3 hours one way. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Our kids are 6, 5, 3, and 1.

 

[disnee4mygirls]

Our family will be traveling to Indiana later this month for a reunion, and we'd like to take our kids to do some sort of fun day trip. We have a theme park and Great Wolf Lodge within a half-hour of our home, so even though those are in the Western Ohio area, we were hoping for something a little different, that we wouldn't be able to do here in Texas. I'm hoping some locals will be able to give me some insight, tips, and advice. We're looking to travel about 3 hours one way. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Our kids are 6, 5, 3, and 1.

We are in Indiana and personally, other than Kings Island (Cincinnati, Oh) or Indiana Beach, our first pick is Chicago! They have the huge aquarium up there and since we have all girls, we love to visit the American Girl Doll Store, Disney Store, etc. (we are all shoppers) Lots to see and do though at times, traffic can be horrible (sat in a jam for 6 hours one day barely moving till we went the wrong way up a ramp just to get out of it!) We do have a nice (but small) zoo, the white river gardens next to the zoo with the butterfly exhibit, children's museum, and that's about it unless there is some event going on while you are here. (maybe a baseball game???) We mostly head to Tennessee for short weekend getaways so don't to much around home! Wish I could be of more help!?

 

[emmababy]

Kings Island is a great amusement park, There is the zoo, newport aquarium, the river.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

If it is just for one day, I would suggest the Indianapolis Children's Museum. It is a lot of fun with almost everything hands-on. I just don't know how you feel about being indoors during the day. I believe it usually gets top national awards. My kids could probably be there from 10-5.

The Indianapolis Zoo does not take a whole day, but we are hosting koala bears this summer. We love to go to the zoo, walk around the canal and go to an Indians game during the summer.

If you're history fans, there is Connor Prairie, but your kids might be a bit young. It is a living history museum set in the 1800's. This is a bit north of Indy in Fishers.

The Speedway is very Indiana, but I 've never been to the Museum which is located beside it. I am guessing it is not kid friendly.

If you are outside people, the state parks are good, but I have never been to any east of Indianapolis. We usually go to Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indy or go to Southern Indiana which is much hillier.

Those are Indianapolis attractions off the top of my head. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

 

[powellrj]

Where are you going. Indiana and Ohio are really long states and it makes a difference if you are closer to Richmond Indiana or Ft. Wayne Indiana.

 

[oasispaul]

i know you mentioned that you don't want to go the amusement park route, but cedar point in sandusky, ohio is the best roller coaster/thrill ride park in the entire nation. better than any of the six flags parks.....there is also a huge indoor water park in sandusky....

 

[lnh'smom]

Fort Wayne has one of the 10 best Children's Zoos in the country!

 

[KibbyCat]

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far! We will be in Indy and New Castle. We're driving from Dallas, so we have a few extra days to play with, but there's no definite plans, so I wanted to get some great specific ideas (rather than the generic ones on those "What to do while you're visiting" websites). We definitely sound interested in the Children's museum and Zoo, and I've always wanted to go to Chicago, so this may be my chance. I love outdoors, so maybe we'll get to check out some state parks or historical places too.

Is the American Girl Place in Chicago super expensive? We've got one in Dallas that I've never been to, but heard that you can't really leave there without spending at least $100. My 5-year-old is absolutely in love with the Coconut Dog. I can just see getting there and ending up dragging her out in tears because we would not buy her the dog's entire wardrobe and furniture set for an arm and a leg!

 

[mom2grace]

Is the American Girl Place in Chicago super expensive? We've got one in Dallas that I've never been to, but heard that you can't really leave there without spending at least $100. My 5-year-old is absolutely in love with the Coconut Dog. I can just see getting there and ending up dragging her out in tears because we would not buy her the dog's entire wardrobe and furniture set for an arm and a leg!

I live in Indy as well. You can spend $10 or $10K at AGP! It is free to look though. I would give your daughter a limit so she knows going in. At 5, you might say, 2 things.

I give my daughter choices that are in my budget. They have EVERYTHING there that is in the catalog, plus some probably.

If you have boys, I would have DH and them plan something for 3 hours or so, and don't take the boys. My 4 year old HATES it.

There is a Nike and Sony on Michigan Ave. (Last time I was there, so double check)

Back to Indy, Cincinnati is about 2 hours, New Castle probably an hour (in a different direction)

Our children's museum is 1st class, I would chose that over the zoo.

Nice state parks are Turkey Run, Mc Cormicks Creek, and Spring Mill. There is some historical stuff in Lafayette (on the way to Chicago) and you might also check out Fair Oaks Farm between Lafayette and Chicago.

 

[Tam1067]

Really, Chicago is quite lovely. I'm biased because I live in the suburbs, but you'll be fairly close, and if you're interested in it, you should make the drive. In addition to AG Place, there are lots of museums including the Field Museum with the Sue T-rex and lots of other dinosaurs, the Museum of Science & Industry, Shedd Aquarium, and then other places too like cruises on the lake and/or river (really beautiful), Navy Pier with a large ferris wheel and kid friendly tourist activities (including fireworks on Saturday and Wednesday nights in the summer), lots of shopping, Chicago pizza places, Sears Tower, Millenium Park (my kids' favorite place to go when we're downtown), Greek Town (for unique Greek Chicago food), a beautiful lakefront with beaches, and more.

Indianapolis is also really nice, and if I were going with kids your age, I'd do the children's museum there as others have said. The downtown area is nice there too, though on a much smaller scale than Chicago.

 

[mrsklamc]

I am in Indy and most of my ideas have already been suggested, but depending on your route maybe Holiday World in southern Indiana?

 

[cjemscott]

Hello - I live just outside Muncie, about 20 minutes from New Castle.....I would agree with everyone that suggested the Children's Musuem in Indianapolis! My boys are 5 and 3 and we went a couple of weeks ago - Your kids are great ages - there is a preschool area just for your little ones and plenty to keep everyone busy! The DinoSphere is awesome! Depending on when you are going to be here, I would also check to see if there is an Indianapolis Indians baseball game also! The stadium is awesome for families! Have fun and enjoy the Hoosier State!

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I second the vote for Holiday World. It's in Santa Claus Indiana. It has a superb water park and also all soft drinks are free. Plus free sunscreen stations. The water park has a couple wave pools, 2 lazy rivers, several water rides, a water slide, baby pool area, etc. The amusement park part has several rides... mostly the classics like the octopus, scrambler, etc. The coaster called the Raven is supposed to be one of the top ones in the country. I like it because it's smaller and more enjoyable. They have a new large coaster called The Voyage that's too big and too wild. Gives me a headache to ride it.

If you are in Indianapolis, just shoot down I-65 and then west on I-64. It will take 2.5 hours from Indy to get there. You could get 2 day passes and stay overnight. Or maybe go back east on 64 and stay over in Louisville KY.

For ideas in Cincinnati, there's the aquarium, Kings Island, the Creation Museum (nearby), the Wright Patterson air museum (you can walk thru 4 presidential planes there). It includes the very first Airforce One that Kennedy flew in.

Have fun whereever you go.

 

[Alesia]

Another vote for Holiday World. Its a really great park. Free Parking, free sunscreen, and free soft drinks. The food is cheap, too. The three of us can have dinner for under $15.

The water park, splashin' Safari is awesome as well--and included in the admission price.

 

[KibbyCat]

Wow...thanks for all the suggestions. Now having to decide what to do....! Hmmm, on second thought, how far is it to Orlando from New Castle???

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Lincoln's Boyhood home is in Southern Indiana. I think it is close to Holiday World. There was just an article about it in the Sunday paper because of the special events they are doing for Lincoln's 200th birthday.

 

[hannahmontana12]

Kings Island is great. I wouldnt recommend Great Wolf Lodge though. My cousins(12,6,4,1) were very disapointed. there parents felt it was a waste of all the money they spent to go there.

 

[Chelley00]

Kings Island is great. I wouldnt recommend Great Wolf Lodge though. My cousins(12,6,4,1) were very disapointed. there parents felt it was a waste of all the money they spent to go there.

We loved Great Wolf (kids 15, 12, 6 & 3) We had a great time and it was worth every penny (and with 6 of us, it was a lot of pennies)

I'm another Indianapolis gal, and I'd definately say the Childrens' Musuem or the Zoo. There is also Carribean Cove at the Holiday Inn that is a rather large indoor waterpark. Much smaller than Great Wolf, and much cheaper.

Sometimes you can find package deals at hotels for the Zoo, Museum and restaurants. The zoo also has a botanical gardens next door that is really nice to go to when the butterflies are there. There are 100's of them and they will land on you if you hold still.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I'm hijacking this thread for a post to let the Indiana people know there is a Dis meet in Indianapolis on August 30. The info is in the Dis Meets forum. I don't know how to post a link. Sorry!!

It is too bad the OP won't be here then. You really would have had something to do! Let us know what you did do. My family could use a weekend getaway!

 

[cruiserkaren]

Wow...thanks for all the suggestions. Now having to decide what to do....! Hmmm, on second thought, how far is it to Orlando from New Castle???

Funny you should ask - I just punched in the numbers this morning. It's a whopping 1066 miles from New Castle to Coronado Springs.

Ugh, I hate living here. We are close to NOTHING!


We love Great Wolf Lodge! It's a very nice place worth every penny for us. I'm not crazy about King's Island but we take our dd4 every once in a while.