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| Sep 07, 2020
Hoping to visit your student in Indianapolis this year but unsure how to plan a fun weekend during a pandemic? We’re here to help! Although some of our favorite Indy attractions likely won’t be open this Fall, there are plenty of ways still out there for you to have a fun-filled weekend visiting MU.
Attend an athletic event
Although we’ll be waiting until spring for the Knights football team to be back in action, you can still catch matches on campus this fall for our volleyball (defending national champions), tennis, soccer, and other Knights athletics teams! To see an up-to-date schedule for all of our teams, please visit muknights.com.
Take a stroll through the EcoLab
Did you know Marian has a 55-acre nature area on campus? Just north of Marian Hall and Allison Mansion, you’ll find the beautiful Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab. The environmental restoration area was developed by esteemed landscape architect Jens Jensen and features miles of trails and sight-seeing. Please click here to find a map of our Ecolab so you’re ready to hit the trails!
Have your student guide you on a tour of campus
Sure, you may have gone on a campus tour before, so let’s add a twist by having your student walk you through their day-to-day at Marian! Discover where they like to hang out, their favorite study spots, and where they go to class. Have them share their favorite stories or memories on campus as they show you around.
Visit the Indianapolis Zoo and White River State Park
Only a few miles south of Marian’s campus, on the edge of downtown, you’ll find the nationally acclaimed Indianapolis Zoo and the White River State Park. In the zoo, you’ll explore various habits and meet tigers, lions, bears (oh my!), dolphins, sea lions, walruses, elephants, giraffes, orangutans, and more incredible animals. At the White River State Park, you’ll find our scenic Canal Walk where you can take a relaxing stroll and check out the incredible outdoor art installations.
Go kayaking, canoeing, biking, or hiking at Eagle Creek
Did you know Indy’s West side is home to one of the nation’s largest urban parks? Only a few minutes from campus, at Eagle Creek you can hike, bike, canoe, kayak, fish, swim, boat, zipline, and more. You don’t even need to bring your own equipment. Stop by Eagle Creek Outfitters in the park to rent everything you need to hit the water or the trails.
Visit one of our world-famous museums
Indianapolis is known for its spectacular museums. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the largest children’s museum in the world and also consistently ranked among the top children’s and family museums in the world. If you’re interested in the history of Indiana, we highly recommend a trip to the Indiana State Museum (a great stop while you’re at White River State Park). Additionally, right down the street from Marian you’ll find the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.
Dine at one of Indy’s best restaurants
You’ll probably want to go out to a nice lunch or dinner while you’re in Indy, right? Broad Ripple and Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave) are packed with unique options within various price ranges. If you’re in the mood for something fancy, swing by the world renowned St. Elmo’s Steakhouse downtown or check out a sky-high rotating view of Indianapolis while you dine at Eagle’s Nest.
