Insta-Adventures: Indianapolis Travel Diary

What could be more alluring than stepping into an airport?  With a passport in hand and enough money in your pocket, you could find yourself transported anywhere in the world within hours.  The stress of the airport often overwhelms me.  But as I rode the train to my gate last Friday, I was struck with wanderlust by the magic of it all.  Although I would have loved it if I could have hopped a plane to my favorite city (London), this trip brought me somewhere very dear to my heart: Indianapolis, Indiana.  Home to the Indy 500 and some of the best friends a girl could ask for.

Contrary to popular opinion, the Midwest has a lot to offer.  Indianapolis is quiet compared to other cities I've lived in (shout out to the constant squeaking of BMW horns in Los Angeles), but it has plenty of elegance and charm.  While I was in town, I stopped by the Indy Fringe Festival, so I had an opportunity to catch a fantastic one-man re-imagining of Peter Pan called I Am Peter Pan.  I wasn't sure what to expect with one actor playing multiple characters, but I walked out of the theater completely impressed.  I've always been enamored by the Peter Pan character and story.  There's something beautiful and tragic about choosing to never grow up.  The creators explored the complexity of this theme all too well--bringing to life the wonderment of childhood and the sadness that often weighs upon our minds and pushes us into "adulthood."  If the company's other shows are anything like the one I saw, I definitely recommend checking them out.  You can find out more about them here: No Exit Performance.

One of my best friends works for the Indiana Repretory Theatre (pictured below), so I can't wait to visit again during their season for a show, as well! 

Another highlight of my trip (that I sadly couldn't take photos of) was a traveling exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  It's called Snapshot: Painters and Photography Bonnard to Vuillard.  You can find out more about it here and it's well worth the admission price if it comes to your city.  The exhibit showcases early experiments in photography by painters and the influence/connection between their photographs and paintings.  Most of these early photographs were absolutely breathtaking.  I dare all of us to come up with anything half as pretty with our digital cameras.

For anyone interested in gluten free (or anyone who has to eat gluten free like I do), there were several fantastic options in Indianapolis from Pei Wei, to Cafe Patachou, to Scotty's Brewhouse.  I stopped by Scotty's as soon as I left the airport and it was difficult not to devour the smothered bar-b-q bacon chicken and yukon gold garlic mashed potatoes in five seconds flat.  American pub food at its finest! 

The rest of the long weekend was lovely.  Meandering walks along Mass Ave., stopping for delicious yogurt coffee, sleeping in, brunches at noon, dancing all night in a living room full of my favorite ladies, Nora Ephron movies, long chats about art and life, adventuring through a cemetery and an abandoned insane asylum (more about this Gothic adventure will be coming soon), and enjoying the prettiest sunshine I could have asked for on my Indiana vacation.

Who says you have to travel somewhere exotic for the perfect vacation?  What are some of your favorite lesser-known destinations?

I hope everyone is enjoying the last official week of summer!

-Annie <3