Ironworks is Much More Than a Your Usual Hotel

I needed to make two trips to Indianapolis when I was dealing with the IPhone debacle. The mall where Apple is located is not near the downtown area I am used to in the city. It’s also about two hours from my house, making it a long roundtrip to do in a day.

On my first trip there with my friend, Amanda, I noticed Ironworks Hotel when we got off the highway. It was a hotel I had wanted to go to for a while. I arranged an overnight stay for my next trip to Apple.

Ironworks is located in the Keystone complex. It’s filled with businesses and restaurants. Since it was a Sunday, most of them were closed and we decided to eat before we went there.

It doesn’t take much to convince me to go to Cheesecake Factory—we don’t have one at home. Amanda took the waitress’ recommendation and ordered the fish tacos. I’m someone who loves to try different things, but I always get the same dish at Cheesecake Factory. It’s because it’s so unusual and something I don’t have anywhere else.

The Soft Corn Tamale Cakes consist of three polenta cakes, topped with sour cream, avocado, and two types of salsas. It’s actually considered an appetizer, but I can rarely finish it as my full meal. I did this and we had to take the cheesecakes to go for a snack later.

We then headed to the Ironworks Hotel. I knew it was special as I had been to its sister property nearer to downtown Indianapolis, Bottleworks. They are both part of the Geronimo portfolio.

Ironworks is the only boutique hotel in that area. It’s luxurious while maintaining a casual atmosphere. I am not the only one who feels that way. Ironworks has received a Michelin Key, AAA Four Diamond Award, and TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best Award.

The hotel’s design is a dedication to the industrial period, which is even shown in the black and white photograph in the elevator. Their theme is work hard and play hard and Ironworks makes it all easy.

It’s always nice to get a suite, but it’s been a rarity since I’ve needed a wheelchair accessible room. We had one at Ironwood. It was huge and as unique as the hotel. It was styled as a loft, in a corner, filled with windows, and a television that could be accessed from the bedroom and the living room.

The room also had a large, wheelchair accessible bathroom. The walk-in shower was bigger than most, and they had the hose easy to reach by the chair, but not the shampoo and conditioner (something I encounter a lot). The closet had lowered bars, and we found two comfortable robes in there too.

Teddy came along on this trip. The hotel accommodates dogs and left him two bowls, one with bottles of water and the other with a bag of treats with an Ironwoods bandana! He wasn’t the only one. We had a welcome basket with wine, chocolates, water, and snacks. It was not just any wine, but a Grateful Dead Anniversary edition of Gnarly Red.

 

Before we left in the morning, we ordered breakfast from Rize, which was right downstairs. The breakfast sandwiches were large and went well with the lobby coffee, which even has an assortment of flavored syrups and milks.

 

 

I was hosted for this stay, but opinions are my own.

Plenty for Everyone at Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

 

I had planned to go to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis a few times over the years and something always came up at the last minute. I was determined to visit this place I had heard nothing but good things about and I finally made it happen.

 

Kimberly Harms Robinson, the museum’s Director of PR and Media Relations, and I kept in touch, and she helped me plan the day with my friend, Mary, and her granddaughters, Thea and Rowan. We also took my service dog, Teddy, along to his first museum.

 

The Children’s Museum is really two attractions in one. It’s floors of indoor exhibits and experiences, and an outdoor sports complex like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

Kimberly met us at the entrance, and we decided we were all hungry and we’d start with lunch. Instead of the usual cafeteria, this museum has a food court with choices for the whole family, from pizza to sandwiches to coffee drinks and ice cream.

 

After lunch, we headed to Dinosphere. Here you can learn everything you could want to know about dinosaurs. The kids were enthralled, and they found plenty of hands-on experiences. That is a theme throughout. There is no chance to get bored with all the opportunities.

What makes Dinosphere so appealing is its based-on reality. The staff includes paleontologists who have worked with fossils on digs. They are available to answer questions and kids can go into the lab and see real fossils. The museum also partners with universities and centers around the world to make this exhibition as real as possible.

 

Other exhibits to check out include Spaceship Earth, where you can see what astronauts do while they are in space; All Aboard, a 19th-century steam engine you can ride and pretend to operate; and ScienceWorks, a place where everyone has the chance to see how scientists work and ask questions along the way.

 

The Indiana museum also has Playscape, which is set up for those five and under to enjoy. It’s not just a playground as there are learning opportunities here too.

From May until October, The Riley Sports Complex is open outside at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. I was with younger kids who were more interested in the play inside, but I ventured outside and was impressed with the setup.

 

Throughout the complex you will see tributes to many of the state’s most famous athletes, such as basketball’s Oscar Robertson, hockey’s Wayne Gretsky, football's Reggy Wayne, and tennis player Barbara Wynne. These sports stars all have bronze statues.

Just like the indoors, the sports complex is filled with experiences guests can partake in. In this case it’s the actual sports. Among the dozen options you will find baseball, football, and soccer fields; basketball and tennis courts; a hockey rink, and a racing track. As you can imagine, older kids can spend hours going from sport to sport.

 

I was in my scooter and tempted to play myself. Had I wanted to, it probably could have been arranged as the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis takes accessibility seriously. I found the entire museum to be wheelchair friendly. They also have accommodations for those with neurodivergent issues, and there are sign language interpreters and hearing devices available.

We didn’t get to the museum until the afternoon so we couldn’t see and do everything we wanted to before closure. I recommend arriving early and spending the entire day there to get to see and do more. I will definitely be back someday.

I received some complimentary experiences on this trip, but opinions are my own.

Carmel, Indiana: Teddy’s First Trip

This trip was very different from any other, even though I had been to Carmel, Indiana, before. This was my very first trip with Teddy.

Although Teddy was born and came to me during the pandemic, he was definitely not a puppy I got because of COVID isolation. I had planned for two years to get a yorkie.  

I had grown up with a dog and realized soon after we got him I was allergic. I had to avoid dogs for years. Then, a friend came to stay with me for a few weeks and I realized that I didn’t have a problem with the hair (and no dander) of the breed. I prepared financially to get and support a full bred Yorkie. He came home with me in August, 2020.

Teddy is more than a companion. I’ve also trained him as a service dog. He can bring me things, such as pills, glasses, and my inhaler. He also senses drops in my blood sugar and blood pressure. Last, but certainly not least, he comes to comfort me when I’m upset or having breathing issues.

The pandemic definitely slowed down one of the most important parts of his training – taking him to public places. He had been to Rural King and a few local restaurants, and I was ready to take him on my trip to Carmel.

I picked up my friend, Jaimee, along the way. She lives in nearby Indianapolis. There was a travel showcase there for journalists to check out all the places to go in Indiana. I was on my scooter with Teddy on my lap.

 

Teddy wasn’t used to all the crowds at first, but Jaimee took him outside a few times so he wouldn’t disturb anyone. We made it through, and I collected information on places I’m still working on getting to. Indiana is filled with towns, large and small, that are hidden treasures.

From there we headed to Carmel, about a half hour away. One of the reasons we chose to stay there is because it’s very pet friendly. Service dogs are allowed everywhere, but since this was Teddy’s first getaway, I felt that he wasn’t trained enough to go into places that aren’t pet friendly.

 

We stayed at Home2 Suites near downtown. It was my first experience in one of these properties even though I have stayed at Hilton’s other brands a lot. It was a good choice. The room was extremely large and had a very well-equipped kitchen. There was also a couch for Teddy to get comfortable on.

After we got our things settled in and I had a chance to put my feet up for a while, we went to Carmel’s Peace Water Winery. This is an unusual place for a few reasons. First, they consider themselves “Indiana’s Napa Valley Winery.” All the grapes come from California for the Peace Water wines.

The second thing that makes this place so special really impressed me. They donate 50% of their net profits to charities, some local, and some worldwide. You can see exactly where on their charity wall, located at the winery. They have three different locations. All are in the Indianapolis area.

We sampled some wine, and I settled on Wishful White, a blend, as my favorite. Teddy was comfortable in this dog-friendly atmosphere, and we decided to do as we saw others and order some food from Muldoon’s down the street to go with the wine.  

The selection on the menu was pretty big and I settled on the New York Reuben with sweet potato fries, while Jaimee had a burger. There was a fudge covered cheesecake for dessert. Teddy had a few fries to go with his dog food. Like me, he prefers the sweet potato ones.

We headed back to Home2 Suites down the road. It was time to rest up for day two of Teddy’s first trip, which included a dog park and the Christkindlmarkt. We were hoping he was tired enough to sleep through the night in a strange place.

 

I was hosted on this trip, but opinions are my own. 

 

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Spring in Indianapolis

My friend Angela and I were on a short getaway to Indianapolis.

We were staying downtown at the Courtyard Marriott, directly across the street from White River State Park.

Our first scheduled stop of the day was a Segway tour at the park, but it was a bit windy so we decided to put it off for a few hours and head to brunch first.

I usually don’t repeat places when I travel because I like to try something new.

Café Patachou is the exception. Owner Martha Hoover (a fellow former New Yorker) opened one healthy brunch spot 25 years ago and it has turned into a chain of tasty cafes.

Hoover also gives back to local children in need of food through the Patachou Foundation.

The place was packed and we decided to take our food to go and sit outside instead of waiting for a table inside.

Although I usually spend some time skimming the menu filled with delectable dishes, I almost always get the same: the California Omelet (filled with lots of avocado) and a side of their delicious cinnamon toast. Angela couldn’t resist the latter with her oatmeal.

We took an Uber from there to White River State Park. The Segway Tour area is adjacent to the Visitor’s Center.

It had been a few years since I had been on a Segway and I was disappointed to find out I would have to put pressure on my recently operated on ankle.

That was out so I bid Angela farewell as she toured the park on the Segway.

I spent the time walking and taking in the many sites of the park. 

The gondolas were just coming into the park, as were the paddleboats, and kayaks – all on my list for a future trip.

Also within White River State Park is the Indianapolis Zoo, the NCAA Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum, Victory Field, and the Indiana State Museum, which we had visited the previous day.

Angela loved the Segway tour. We headed back across the street to get the car from the Courtyard Marriott and then drove to Conner Prairie Interactive History Park.

Conner Prairie is about a half hour from downtown, in Fishers. It’s a great family attraction which is suitable for kids of all ages.

The park explores the history and agriculture of Indiana, through interactive play and displays. For 2017, there is a new balloon ride at the park.

It was too windy for us to get up in the balloon, so we opted to take the train ride to see more of the park. 

It was a fun way to end another great trip to Indianapolis.  

History and Music in Indianapolis

I’ve had the pleasure of making a lot of trips to Indianapolis as it is less than two hours from here. Every time I go there are different things to see and do. That was especially true for this trip.

My friend Angela and I checked into the Courtyard Marriott Downtown. 

It’s in a perfect location, directly across the street from Whitewater State Park and the Indiana State Museum.

The Courtyard has a nice coffee shop and lounge area, and it’s connected to the Fairfield Inn and the massive JW Marriott Indianapolis for more options.

First on our schedule was our first trip to the Indiana State Museum. We really enjoyed learning about the Hoosier State and it’s place in America’s history.

Among the exhibits and hands-on experiences are a 50^th Anniversary exhibit on the Indiana Pacers and a looks into the gems and minerals in the state, as well as its start through the Ice Age. 

We also were able to see plenty on famous Indiana natives, including James Dean, Michael Jackson, Florence Henderson, Kurt Vonnegut (who has his own museum in Indy), and Axel Rose.

The Indiana State Museum also has a Peewinkle Puppet Studio, which has puppet classes and a puppet camp, as well as show you can watch.

We grabbed some coffee at the JW Marriott Indianapolis Starbucks and headed back to the room for some rest. We were spending the evening about a half hour from downtown at FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale.

Our motivation for heading to this venue was actually to see a local Champaign duo who Angela and I knew well on and off the stage. 

Mank N Sass, Jared Manker and Sara Siders, formerly in the band UpShot, have extended their following into the Indianapolis area, where they play frequently. 

FoxGardin is one of their favorite places so we were anxious to check it out.

While we waited for our table, we visited the upstairs whiskey bar with Jared and Sara, and did a little sampling. The place was quite busy and I’m told it’s always that way.

They took the stage and we took to the menu for some cocktails to start the evening. For main courses, Angela loved her filet oscar and I really enjoyed my eggplant parmesan. Manager/Chef Jacob Burgess has quite an unusual and popular menu.

Mank N Sass were wonderful, as usual. They played some original songs and filled in with just about everything from the Beatles to Michael Jackson to Tom Jones.

Before we left, we talked to some of the Fortville locals. 

We loved hearing about all the small women owned shops in the area. It was quite a fun evening in the little town with the big restaurant.

We arrived back at the Courtyard Indianapolis pretty late and ready for a good night’s sleep before another day exploring Indianapolis.

A Family Vacation in Indianapolis

I haven’t done a lot of family travel adventures in the last few years. My job as the Midwest Travel Guide forAbout.com has dictated that I find I way to do this. Fortunately, I have some friends with young kid, and it’s always fun when you have little ones involved.

One trip I had recently was double the excitement with my friend Cortney and her five year old twins. They helped me check some very unique hotel rooms as well as one of the best zoos in the nation.

The Indianapolis Zoo introduced some new exhibits which I was especially anxious to see. They also have a Total Adventure Package which lets you experience it all, including the rides, for one price. One of the extras you get with the package is the interactive Zooper Challenge™. (You can also access Zooper if you have a zoo membership.)

The biggest and most exciting addition at the Indianapolis Zoo is the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center. Unfortunately, the Skyway was not open the day we were there, but we did get to experience the rest of this new section.

Eight orangutans call this center home and you can watch them as their trainers and teachers show you more about the intellectual abilities of these fascinating apes. 

The center was established to expose zoo attendees to them, but it is also taking on the project of learning more about them in the hope that some of the research will keep these endangered species from extinction.

The kids especially enjoyed the opportunities the zoo has to interact, including the Shark Touch Pool – the nation’s largest -- and the Flights of Fancy bird exhibition.  

Even though we couldn’t actually touch them, we all had fun watching the walrus, penguins, and seals swimming in their tank.

We didn’t have to look through glass to see the show at the Dolphin Theater. It was a great show.

I am a cat lover so I couldn’t wait to see the lions, tigers, and cheetah. We got to see them in their habitat during the train ride through the Plains. Then we walked back to get a closer look.

We spent quite a bit of time with the brown bears, who decided to put on a show for us. They were being playful and seemed to love the attention they were receiving.

After the zoo we checked into the Crowne Plaza UnionStation. I had told the kids we were staying in a train room, but I don’t think any of us were prepared for just how unique this experience was.

The Crowne Plaza Downtown Indianapolis has 26 Pullman train cars converted into hotel rooms. They’ve done a spectacular job and the insides were even bigger than I thought they would be.

We had two connecting rooms and the twins were wide-eyed as they explored every inch of them. 

The only thing that stopped them from going back and forth was a special delivery from room service (available for purchase to anyone staying here) of milk, cookies, coloring books and M&Ms!

We didn’t indulge too much in the sweets because we were off to dinner at the Indianapolis Colts Grille. It is a very kid-friendly place and we collectively finished the Spinach Artichoke Dip and pita. I also took a cue from Foursquare and ordered the Pulled Pork with onion straws. I was not disappointed.

Back at the hotel, the kids had some cookies and milk while Cortney and I had our sweets with a wine she brought from her recent Utica trip.

The kids went for a swim at the hotel’s indoor pool in the morning and explored the hotel. I think they were almost as excited going up and down the stairs of the train rooms as they were at the zoo.

Before we left Indianapolis I got to have breakfast with one of my favorite public relations contacts in one of my favorite breakfast places. Morgan Greenlee, Senior Communications Manager at Visit Indy, met me for another delicious breakfast at Café Patachou. I love everything at this place, especially when it’s served with their fresh baked cinnamon toast.