Author John Green recently gave Indianapolis the slogan: “You gotta live somewhere, but also you get to live somewhere,” and it’s true. As a local Indy content creator who encourages folks to love where they live, I feel it’s best to be transparent and tell you that while I am incredibly grateful to live in Indiana, I didn’t always feel that way. Even still, I occasionally have days where I’m eating breakfast and go… “GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!”
And on those days, I have found little pockets of Indiana that feel like I’ve been transported somewhere else. To European palaces, ancient ruins, beachside lunches, and fairy cottages. I have a lot of love for my Indianapolis community, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But if you also occasionally get cabin fever or if you just want to explore your home state in a new light, here is my list of places in Indiana… that don’t feel like Indiana. If you are just looking for unique places in Indiana and hidden gems near Indianapolis, keep reading.
P.S. Tap the names of each location for a video guide to each spot!
Holliday Park
Feels like stumbling across ruins in an ancient land.
Holliday Park is my new favorite park in Indianapolis. Aside from the many walking trails, nature center, and the brand new playground, this Indy park is also hiding something very special.
“In the 1950s, the St. Paul Building, at 220 Broadway in New York City, was torn down to make way for a modern skyscraper. Karl Bitter, one of the outstanding architectural sculptors of the late 19th century, had designed the facade of the original building, including three massive statues made of Indiana limestone called ‘the Races of Man.’ To find a new home for the sculptures, the building’s owner, the Western Electric Company, held a competition among U.S. cities, which were required to submit plans for their display and preservation. Indianapolis proposed to place them in Holliday Park, which was then an arboretum, and the city was ultimately awarded the highly prized sculptures.” — From the Holliday Park Foundation Website.
Now, visitors to Holliday Park in Indianapolis can visit the ruins while strolling the park, and even attend events like Rock the Ruins, a summer concert series that brings in several bands and performers every year.
🎟️ FREE & Open daily from dawn to dusk
📍 6363 Spring Mill Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana
RH Indianapolis
Feels like wandering around a European mansion.
The place that inspired this list. Every time I step into the RH Gallery at the DeHaan Estate, I feel transported to a Roman villa or a European mansion. I like to grab a glass of wine from their wine bar and pretend I own the place while exploring the grounds. Which room would be mine? Where would I take my morning tea?
“Set within a spectacular 151-acre estate that includes one of the most accurate Palladian-style villas ever built in the United States, RH Indianapolis is a first-of-its-kind design and hospitality destination. The 60-room property seamlessly integrates RH collections with rare art, antiques and artifacts from across the globe. Enjoy the Dining Room restaurant that opens – along with the Lakeside Terrace and Wine Bar – onto a 35-acre private lake and stunning surrounding landscape.” — From the RH website.
🎟️ FREE to enter. Make reservations if you want to eat at their restaurant.
📍 4501 N Michigan Road, Indianapolis, Indiana
Avon Gardens
Feels like a secret garden where fairies might hide.
I’ve gone to several events at the Avon Gardens including their annual peony festival, a wedding, and a family photoshoot (please visit their website before booking a photoshoot here). Each time I go back into the gardens, I am blown away. There are so many flowers, plants, and garden features that put all other gardens to shame! Get lost amongst the flowers and fairies this spring at the Avon Gardens.
“For over 30 years, Avon Gardens has been a treasured part of the Hendricks County landscape. After purchasing the property in 1987, [Karen Robbins] lovingly transformed what was formerly her grandparents’ farm into a lush garden paradise full of unique flowers, plants and shrubs.” — From the Avon Gardens website
🗓️ 2026 Season for shopping the garden center: April 10 – Mid June
🎟️ FREE to visit their flower shop and fairy cottage.
📍 6259 East County Road 91 North, Avon, Indiana
Please be respectful of their rules and property when visiting.
The Boathouse Kitchen & Swan Dive
Feels like the perfect meal after a day getting slightly sunburnt on the beach.
Think you can’t get lakeside dining, beachy cocktails, and sunsets over the water in Indiana? Think again. The Boathouse Kitchen & Swan Dive feels like having dinner in Florida while on a spring break family vacation. The menu includes: lobster steampots, seafood, sushi, burgers, oysters, and all the makings of a summer vacation meal on the “coast.”
Other highlights include their live music and events. Come by for Happy Hour Monday–Friday from 3–6pm for awesome food and drink specials! They also have igloo rentals so you can dine on their patio and catch a beautiful Indiana sunset over the water any time of year.
📍 409 W Jackson St, Cicero, Indiana
See also: Rick’s Cafe Boatyard west of Indianapolis. Contrary to my Facebook comment section, these are, in fact, two different places. 😂
Looking for more patio dining in Central Indiana?
Veal’s Ice Tree
Feels like a winter wonderland in the arctic.
See the wonder of Veal’s Ice Tree in Indianapolis. A family tradition since 1961. P.S. It’s definitely giving winter court vibes for any ACOTAR fans in the house. I saw the tree two winters ago, and it remains one of the most spectacular sights I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“In the winter of 1961, our family was spraying a fine mist of water on the hill south of the house to make an ice slide on to the pond. During the night, a strong east wind blew the spray onto some honeysuckle bushes. The result was so beautiful that we sprayed water directly onto the bushes and the Ice Tree was born!” — From the Veal’s Ice Tree website
🗓️ Temperatures must be in the 20s for 7–10 consecutive days before they start building the tree. This usually happens in the month of January so mark your calendars and stay up to date! Follow them on Facebook to see when the tree is ready to visit
🎟️ FREE. Donations to Wheeler Mission are encouraged.
📍6445 Mimosa Lane, Indianapolis, IN
Please be respectful of their rules and property when visiting.
Inferno Room
Feels like a tiki bar you’d find on a tropical vacation.
As soon as you step inside Inferno Room in Fountain Square, you are no longer in Indiana. I can’t explain it any better than that, and if you’ve been to Inferno Room, you get it. Grab a Mai Tai and take in the volcanic vibes. You’re on island time now.
P.S. The Inferno Room was also featured in Dylan Sprouse’s The Duel. They filmed the movie in Indianapolis, and even had a red carpet screening last year that I got to attend. Check out the stars I captured.
📍 902 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana
Carmel Christkindlmarket
Feels like a cozy Christmas market in Germany.
If you live in the Central Indiana area, you already know about this one. However, this winter market also brings in so many out-of-state tourists who want to experience the magic of the Carmel Christkindlmarket. This market feels like stepping out of Carmel, Indiana, and into a Hallmark Christmas movie set in a quaint German village.
🗓️ 2026 Market Season: November 21 – December 24
Monday & Tuesday: CLOSED | Wednesday & Thursday: 4 – 9 pm | Friday & Saturday: 12 – 9 pm | Sunday: 12 – 8 pm
Special Hours: Nov 25: Noon – 9 pm | Dec 21 & 22: Noon – 9 pm | Dec 23: Noon – 9 pm | Dec 24: Noon – 4 pm
🎟️ FREE
📍10 Carter Green, Carmel, Indiana
Cake Bake
Feels like having tea in a princess’s drawing room.
There’s a reason Cake Bake by Gwendolyn Rogers opened up a location in Disney World. It truly feels like walking into a Disney princess movie! Completely decked out in frills, and glitter, and flowers, and all the wonderful things.
If you want to eat lunch here, I highly recommend making reservations. Or, you can also just stop in at their to-go counter at the Carmel City Center location for cake slices and bakery items if you’re craving something sweet!
Carmel Location 📍 Upper Deck, 799 Hanover Place Suite 260, Carmel, Indiana
Broad Ripple Location 📍 6515 Carrollton Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Farmhouse Cafe & Tea Room
Feels like stepping into the cottage from your favorite novel.
A plant nursery, antique store, and cottage cafe all in one? Oh my! I could spend all day here exploring the greenhouse and sipping on frozen lemonade. The cottage, which was once a part of the Underground Railroad, has a delicious menu for lunch and dinner including salad, sandwiches, ribs, and desserts. You can also explore The Flower & Herb Barn on site for garden shopping.
📍 5171 Bean Blossom Rd, Nineveh, Indiana
Grand Hall at Historic Union Station
Feels like where one might catch a train in London’s Victorian Era.
I’ve attended a wedding and a gala at the Grand Hall at Historic Union Station in downtown Indianapolis, and both times I was there I could not stop staring at the ceiling. It is absolutely breathtaking, and definitely not something you see in Indiana every day. You can also stay at the Crowne Plaza hotel which has hotel rooms built into Pullman cars.
🎟️ For events & hotel guests
📍 123 W Louisiana St, Indianapolis, Indiana
I hope this list of hidden gems in Central Indiana brought you a lot of joy and pride for our Indiana home. I’m so happy we get to live here and explore Indy together! ❤️ If you have a hidden gem in Indiana that doesn’t feel like Indiana, let me know where I should go next by leaving a comment on this post or on my Instagram.
Subscribe to this blog below, and don’t forget to check your junk/other folder to add me as a contact. That way, future blogs and lists like this will get delivered directly to your inbox:
Where Is Sondra 
Leave a comment