Families who opt to enjoy this year’s spring break close to home will find White River State Park downtown offers a wide array of family-friendly experiences. There’s something for everyone, including movie-goers, sports fanatics, history and culture buffs and animal lovers.
And because everyone likes saving money, White River State Park offers a discount option where visitors can do-it-all for one low price with the WRSP Park Pass.
“The Park Pass can be used to visit all the attractions over one incredible week or long weekend, or visitors can spread their trips throughout the entire year,” said Bob Whitt, White River State Park executive director. “Either way, folks get to enjoy our fabulous attractions and amenities at more than 25 percent off regular admission.”
Why is the Park such a fun spring break destination? Because of all these Park attractions during spring break:
- Indianapolis Zoo: After such a harsh winter, what could be better than a tropical paradise? You’ll find one at the display of free-flying butterflies at the Indianapolis Zoo’s newest exhibit – Butterfly Kaleidoscope. Beginning March 21, the Zoo’s indoor gardens will be transformed, and guests will experience the flying creatures like never before.
- Indiana State Museum: Discover a hidden graveyard of ancient elephants uncovered by Hoosiers. The elephants were entombed under Indiana soil for thousands of years. Ice Age Giants: The Mystery of Mammoths and Mastodons brings to life a world the Indiana State Museum has been digging, discovering, studying and preserving for decades.
- IMAX Theater: The Downtown IMAX is showing several 3D movies this spring. Discover the otherworldly frozen landscape 10,000 years before modern civilization at Titans of the Ice Age 3D. Take an adventure to the tropical islands of remote west Papua at South Pacific 3D. Starting April 4, audiences trek to Madagascar for Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D. The film chronicles lemurs’ arrival as castaways millions of years ago, their evolution into hundreds of diverse species that are now endangered, and Dr. Patricia Wright’s mission to help the adorable creatures survive in the modern world.
- NCAA Hall of Champions: Experience the thrill of NCAA March Madness at the NCAA Hall of Champions. Shoot hoops in the 1930’s replica gymnasium or test your knowledge with a trivia game on all 23 NCAA sports.
- Eiteljorg Museum: Some of the most iconic black-and-white landscape photographs of the American West were shot by Ansel Adams. In the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Eiteljorg Museum, visitors will see 80 photographs Adams personally chose to represent his work.
- Victory Field: Pick up a ticket and get set to hear the crack of the bat! The Indianapolis Indians’ Opening Night is April 10 at Victory Field.
- Wheel Fun Rentals: Explore miles of biking paths and the historical Canal with a fleet of pedal-powered recreational cycles and boats. Bike rentals are located in front of the Indiana State Museum and across from the Visitors Center; boat rentals are located on the Canal Walk at the corner of Ohio and West streets.
- Segway of Indiana: Take a scenic tour of the 250-acre Park, including a trip around all of the Park’s attractions and the Canal. The tour price includes a training session and helmet.
- River Promenade: Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and feel as though you’ve found a secret passage as you wander along the promenade, a half-mile walkway lined with flowering trees and evergreens that offers unique views of the White River and the Indianapolis skyline. Look for the hand-carved “rose window” and renderings of famous buildings using Indiana limestone blocks along the way.
White River State Park 2014 Park Passes are on sale for $45/adult; $33/children ages 3-12 and may be purchased at the White River State Park Visitors Center or online at in.gov/apps/wrsp/passes/.
Visitors to any of the Park’s attractions may park in the underground garage located off Washington Street in front of the Indiana State Museum, in the surface parking lots at the Indianapolis Zoo and Victory Field, and in the surface parking lot across from Victory Field next to the Park’s Visitor’s Center. Parking is not guaranteed and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information about White River State Park, visit whiteriverstatepark.org.
