What's It Like In Indiana?

I'm not 100% sure what people imagine, when they think about what Indiana is like, but I suspect it involves a lot of cornfields and rednecks. Today I'll talk about what Indiana's really like.

The Weather

In Indiana, the weather is, predictably, hot in the summer and cold in the winter. But in the summer, it's not just hot...it's really hot. And it's humid. Indiana isn't as hot as Texas or as humid as Florida, but summertime is fairly uncomfortable nevertheless. In the winter, it's cold. Again, not quite as cold as Iowa, but definitely cold, and we do get a fair bit of snow. 

My favorite time of year is springtime, when the temperatures are mild, humidity is just something you anticipate in the coming months, and there's an occasional gentle breeze. It's perfect. Autumn is similarly pleasant, and that's why my favorite seasons tend to be what I call the "in between" seasons (having said that, I should mention that Leo has told me several times that the Canary Islands are like my "in between" seasons all year-round, which has filled me with a longing of epic proportions...don't be surprised if you see us summering and wintering there someday soon!)

The People

Hoosiers (natives of Indiana) are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Americans, in general, are among the friendliest in the world. And while these days, most people (even in the Midwest) are overly rushed and  overly-stressed, Hoosiers have a native hospitality and small-town warmth, even in our capital city of Indianapolis. 

Indianapolis

Indianapolis, also referred to as "Indy" or "Naptown," has an estimated population of just over 2 million people. Indy possesses what I refer to as an "urban-lite" vibe, meaning that we have a downtown and some cool urban areas, but we still maintain a small town sentimentality.

On occasion, I think Indianapolis gets a little too big for its britches. Sometimes as a city, we think we're a little more cosmopolitan than we are. Don't get me wrong - Indy's a great town. But we're only the 23rd biggest city in America and certainly don't have as much cultural diversity or depth as other cities might. At least, not yet.

Sports
Indianapolis has plenty of sports to keep visitors and residents busy. While we used to be referred to as the "Amateur Sports Capital of the World," I'm not sure that we're still plugging that as a plus. We have a pro football team (Colts), a pro basketball team (Pacers), and a pro women's basketball team (Fever), but baseball (Indians) and hockey (Ice) are more like farm teams in whatever the second level of those sports would be. We even have a roller derby team (Naptown Roller Girls), if you're into that.

Museums

Indianapolis is home to The Children's Museum, which I think is the largest in the world. It's an absolutely fantastic museum, if not a bit expensive to visit. We also have the Eiteljorg Museum, which houses Native American art collections, and The Indianapolis Museum of Art, which is absolutely wonderful. (BTW, you'll find links to just about everything I'm talking about in this post in the links on the right side of this web site, listed under "Cool Stuff To Do In Indy") There are other museums in Indy, as well, including the Indiana State Museum, plus we have a really awesome zoo that's totally fun to attend (even if zoos in general make me a little sad).

Music
Indianapolis has lots of great music. We have a symphony orchestra, loads of theaters, and great places for cool bands to play. We also have a nice local jazz scene and a thriving folk community, where you can watch and learn to play unique instruments like the hammered dulcimer and the autoharp, and can learn old sea shanties and folk tunes. While the pro circuit is lacking, amateur music in Indy abounds.

Events
There's no shortage of things to do in Indiana. We have tons of festivals and events year-round. In fact, I can't even keep up with all of them. There are cultural and ethnic festivals, art fairs, farmer's markets, music events...there's even a covered bridge festival. I honestly can't even come up with a reasonable list, because there are so many wonderful events. You could find some sort of festival or fair every single weekend to keep you occupied throughout the year, if you wanted to.


Food
Sometimes, as in the case of Barcelona Tapas, Indy-area restaurants get it so horribly wrong. But we have absolutely tons of excellent restaurants that get it right, and many are also super-affordable for families. If you check the Restaurant Reviews link in the category cloud on the left side of this web site, you'll find that I've already reviewed quite a few Indianapolis-area restaurants, and there are more to come. 

In Indianapolis, you'll find tasty restaurants of most cultures, plus restaurants devoted exclusively to breakfast, delicious dessert spots, and more. Within 5-10 minutes of my house, for example, we can choose from Mexican, Japanese, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Peruvian, Ethiopian, and an English or an Irish pub, not to mention all of the little American spots nearby.

Suffice to say, food in Indy is not lacking. I wouldn't say, however, that we're 5-star dining in Indianapolis. We do okay, but personally, I don't think we have any restaurants that really hit the highest Michelin rating. 

Finally, Farming

Yes, we do have farming, and plenty of it. We have all kinds of farms in Indiana, but our biggest crops are corn and soybeans (referred to simply as "beans" by most Hoosiers). We have a pretty active 4-H community in this state, and the Indiana State Fair is a great time to see all the stuff our farmers are up to, get a sense of what 4-H is all about and how it serves the kids who participate in it, and eat a bit of fried butter or fried Pepsi while you're at it (ewwww!)

But as you've seen, Indiana is far, far more than just farming and hicksville rednecks. Indianapolis provides a welcome oasis of cultural diversity that surprises most visitors. To be fair, I haven't even scratched the surface here. Part of the reason for that is that Leo and I haven't taken the time to explore our city quite as much as we might have. As we venture out to learn more about our local resources, you'll find more reviews and discussion on what Indianapolis (in particular) is all about and what's here. And who knows? You might find yourself wanting to visit soon. :)