See This, Skip That: Indianapolis

— -- Indianapolis is one of the Midwest’s great cities. It’s a business hub. It’s user-friendly. And it’s teeming with everything the discerning traveler is after -- from cultural venues and historical landmarks to vibrant entertainment and cutting edge dining. There are many stops in Indiana’s capital city that are worthy of any visitor’s to-do list.

These are just a few of our favorites:

Skip the Pool, Hit the ReservoirHotel pools are a great amenity, but Geist Reservoir is a must-see for any water enthusiast. Located northeast of downtown Indianapolis, this is one of the largest manmade lakes in the country. There are lovely waterfront homes here, and it’s popular with avid boaters and fishermen. Visitors should check out Dauntless Sailing School, which offers sunset sails for groups of two to 12 aboard its 28-foot performance cruiser. The vessel departs every Saturday from June through October. The company also offers beginner through advanced sailing instruction.

Skip the Race, Tour the TrackThe Indianapolis Motors Speedway is legendary; the annual races it hosts – from the Grand Prix to the Indy 500 to the Brickyard 400 – draw thousands of fans. But you don’t have to have a race ticket to marvel at this haven for speed. The IMS, located about five miles west of downtown, offers 90-minute narrated ground tours every March through November, which includes a bus ride around the 2.5-mile oval plus stops at the Victory Podium, Gasoline Alley and the legendary Yard of Bricks at the finish line. Also visit the Hall of Fame Museum, which always has more than 70 vehicles -- from Le Mans-winning Ferraris to historic Formula One cars – on display.

After the Speedway, Visit the FactoryWalking distance from the IMS is the Dallara IndyCar Factory, which gives a glimpse into how some of the world’s fastest cars are made. Visitors get to check out blueprints and design concept drawings. The wind tunnel models and display screens at the hands-on Interactive Zone detail the engineering process behind IndyCars. And the iRacing simulators let you feel what it’s like to get behind the wheel.

Skip the Gym, Hit the TrailThe Indianapolis Cultural Trails allows you to play tourist and stay fit at the same time. This urban path covers eight miles – a perfect venue for jogging, biking or just taking a stroll – and showcases varied works of public art along the way. The trail is an ambitious urban project -- a $63 million development that opened in May of 2013 – and connects six of Indianapolis’ eclectic cultural districts.

Skip Downtown, Hit the ‘HoodsSpeaking of this city’s cultural districts, they should be part of any tourist’s itinerary. Each oozes personality and offers myriad cultural and shopping opportunities. We like Broad Ripple, situated north of downtown, for its funky shops – antiques, vinyl records, old books galore – as well as its sidewalk cafes and lively nightlife. The vintage finds also abound at Fountain Square, just southeast of downtown, where an afternoon of antiquing usually leads to an evening of world-class dining, and where 3rd Friday festivities during the summer bring free live music to the plaza.