There are always a few “hot spots” in every city to visit, and Indianapolis is no exception. If you’re a certain kind of traveler, however, you aren’t interested in seeing the standard venues that are in every shiny brochure. And, if you happen to live in this city, you may just want to dig a little deeper into your surroundings to see what’s out there, hiding in plain sight.
Forget about hitting the highlights. On your next chance to explore Indy and the surrounding area, consider exploring something new. We have plenty of ideas where you can start.
Funky Bones at 100 Acres
The Funky Bones have become one of the more recognizable visual elements in the city, but they still manage to feel unexpected when you see them in person.
Scattered across the landscape at 100 Acres, they blur the line between sculpture and playground. You can climb on them, pose with them and sit between them. The space is designed to invite public interaction and encourage play. Even if you’ve seen photos, being there is different. There’s movement, energy and a sense that art doesn’t have to stay behind a barrier or be hung on a wall to be respected and have an impact.
Twisted House
The Twisted House is exactly what it sounds like – and something a little more. Created by John McNaughton, this fanciful piece of art looks like a home that’s trying to rest its head on the ground. At first glance, it’s playful, comic and almost cartoonish. But the longer you look at it, the more it unsettles your sense of balance.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the structure, look out the windows and get happily disoriented. Its unique features make it a favorite for photo shoots and anybody who just loves a little whimsy in their world.
Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library feels less like a museum and more like an important, ongoing conversation. It captures the spirit of Kurt Vonnegut in a way that feels personal. Visitors to the museum can move through the space and get a sense of the author’s voice, his perspective and the way he looked at the world.
Even if you’re not deeply familiar with this Indiana native’s work, you can leave with a clearer sense of why he matters so much in certain literary circles. If you’re already a fan, this is one place you don’t want to overlook.
The Black House Cafe & Airbnb
Are you a horror fan? At Black House Cafe, “spooky” is the operating vibe. Horror fans will recognize nods to the genre everywhere they go, from drinks inspired by iconic characters to the overall decor.
The Airbnb tucked into the back and above the cafe takes the whole concept and runs with it. Each room leans into a different piece of horror-themed nostalgia. If you’re looking for a unique, fun spot to spend the night or to incorporate into a mini-vacation, you will love it.
Nine Lives Cat Cafe
The Nine Lives Cat Cafe offers a softer kind of experience and is a great place to go when you just need to feel loved and grounded. You may be just stopping in for a cup of coffee and a snack, but then you share space with a room full of (adoptable) cats, each with its own personality and rhythm. This could be the beginning of a purr-fect match!
The place is part café, part feline experience and it remains a reminder that not everything that’s worthwhile is large, loud or fast. If you want a way to spend an afternoon in the company of the friendliest felines (and people), this is a wonderful place to land.
Crown Hill Cemetery
Feeling a little introspective or just need to get in touch with your gothic side? Crown Hill Cemetery is the resting place of some of Indiana’s most notable figures. Visitors often seek out the grave of James Whitcomb Riley, whose poetry helped shape the state’s literary identity, as well as John Dillinger, whose notoriety still draws curious visitors decades after he died in a rain of bullets fired by federal agents.
At the highest point in the cemetery, you’ll find a view of the Indianapolis skyline that feels unexpectedly cinematic. It’s one of the most beautiful vantage points in the city, and one that many visitors never know to seek out.
Healer
Tucked into an unassuming building, Healer opens its equal parts art installation and underground music venue. Healer hosts a mix of local and touring acts in multiple genres, including punk, indie and experimental. The setup is intentionally intimate, keeping the energy close and immediate, making performances feel more like shared experiences.
What sets this place apart, though, is the environment itself. The former office layout has been transformed into a series of immersive, DIY art spaces. The rooms are filled with repurposed materials, glowing installations and unexpected details that invite exploration.
What you find there depends on when you go. Live music, experimental performances and visual art abound. That unpredictability is part of the appeal. It feels alive in a way that more curated spaces sometimes don’t.
Uranus Fudge Factory
It’s hard not to have a sense of humor about this place – and the Uranus Fudge Factory leans into the joke. It’s absolutely an out-of-this-world destination for sweet treats and delicious snacks. Dip mixes, beef jerky, flavored popcorn, Redneck Nutz, boxed chocolates and, of course, tons of fudge.
Good fudge can be hard to find, so pick up extra when you go there. They have everything from milk chocolate to blueberry cheesecake flavors, and you can even get a sampler pack to go.
Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium
Trade earthbound interests for the open skies and the stars above at the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium. The observatory houses one of the largest telescopes in Indiana, and on public viewing nights, visitors can look directly at the moon, planets and distant stars. There’s something quietly powerful about seeing those details with your own eyes instead of through a screen. It turns the abstract into something visibly tangible.
The planetarium adds another layer, offering guided shows that walk you through constellations, celestial movement and the broader architecture of the night sky.
Let Yourself Wander to Find Unique Places
You don’t need to see everything in one weekend. You don’t even need a plan when you head out the door. Some of the most memorable places sit outside the usual paths, just waiting for you and others to stumble over them.
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