CENTRAL INDIANA — Although sandy beaches and warmer climates beckon, not everyone has the luxury of being able to uproot and travel south during the often-cold month of March. Never fear! There are plenty of fun and exciting things to do within an hour’s drive that won’t break your budget. Here are some ideas.
Colts on display
INDIANAPOLIS — The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio, houses a new exhibit chronicling the era of professional football in Indianapolis.
“Indianapolis Colts: The Exhibit” makes use of interactive displays, original artifacts, player interviews, photographs and video to document the team’s history and explore the football’s role in American culture. State of the art digital exhibits allow visitors to match wits with a referee by making calls on real NFL action to see if their decisions match the ref’s ruling.
Another activity invites museum attendees onto the field with the Colts’ mascot Blue to dodge oncoming tackles. Guests can snap photos with images of their favorite Colts players and listen to former coaches, officials and players express their views on football, leadership and the NFL.
They can also cast a vote for the best Colts player or the most memorable game moment. The exhibit runs through Jan. 20, 2020.
The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for kids (ages 5 to 17). Visit indianahistory.org for more information.
Kaleidoscope
INDIANAPOLIS — After a year’s hiatus, the beauty of butterflies returns to the Hilbert Conservatory at White River Gardens, 1200 W. Washington St. Included in the price of zoo admission, guests can wander through the tropical environment of the enclosed garden that has been stocked with more than 40 species of butterflies and moths including the bamboo page, banded peacock, blue tiger, ghost sulpher, sleepy orange and the Tanzanian sunset moth — with more hatching every day.
The exhibit features butterflies and moths from four continents, a butterfly activity wall for children and 5,000 square feet of greenery and blooms. Butterfly Kaleidoscope will be open through Sept. 3. Zoo pricing varies daily. Visit indianapoliszoo.com for open hours and admission information.
Sports as art
INDIANAPOLIS — If you haven’t heard by now, the Children’s Museum has added 7.5 acres of sports-themed activities to its already considerable square-footage. The Sports Legend Experience includes areas for football, basketball, baseball, tennis and soccer — and an art museum. After moving from New York City and bouncing around to several locations in Indianapolis, the National Art Museum of Sport now has a permanent home at the museum. Works by Winslow Homer and LeRoy Neiman, as well as photographs of the great athletes of the past and present are on display.
Like Dinosphere, the Museum of Sport also features an area to encourage children (and adults) to create their own sports-inspired masterpieces. The National Museum of Sport, as well as the Sports Legend Experience, is included in museum admission. Visit childrensmuseum.org for open hours, admission fees and a rotating schedule of daily events.
