Indianapolis, Indiana, has zoos, water parks and museums for local residents and visiting families to enjoy all year long. Children and families can hike through Fort Harrison State Park, take go-kart rides at Fast Times or play a round of miniature golf at Greatimes Family Funpark.
The Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park is a 50,000-square-foot water play center with an arcade, cafe and dry recreation center. The water park includes a plunge pool, lazy river, the 388-foot Raging Rapids tube slide, an interactive water play center with 700-gallon dumping bucket, and a sports activity pool. The Cracy CoCo's Arcade has more than 50 games that kids can play to win prizes. Birthday party packages at the water park include invitations, up to five hours at the park, lunch or dinner and drinks, birthday cake and tokens for the arcade for every child.
Exhibits at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis include the Dinosphere with dinosaur fossils, a paleontology lab and art gallery, a biotechnology-learning center and a modern Egypt interactive exhibit. The Playscape exhibit is designed particularly for preschool children, with crafts and sand and water play. In the Carousel Wishes & Dreams exhibit, visitors can ride the carousel, find their way through a maze of mirrors and play games at the arcade. The Lilly Theater features musicians, magicians, dancers and jugglers. The SpaceQuest Planetarium presents a variety of shows that teach children about the stars and the universe.
Located in White River State Park, the Indianapolis Zoo is home to more than 3,800 animals of 360 different species. Exhibits simulate natural habitats, including the forest, ocean, plains and desert. Animals in these exhibits include Amur tigers, dog sharks, Grand Cayman blue iguanas, rhinoceros, cheetahs and white-handed gibbons. Interactive experiences throughout the habitats include giraffe feeding, elephant rides and a shark touch-tank. The Encounters Biome also allows visitors to interact with some of the animals at the zoo, including American Shetland ponies, Nubian goats, llamas, lop-eared rabbits and Sicilian miniature donkeys. Children can take a ride on the Kombo Family Coaster and the carousel, and visit the Splash Park and the Family Fitness Park playground.
