For students who need a break but are running low on cash, one-tank road trips exploring Indiana are a welcomed alternative.
Mandy Madden of Indianapolis, graduate assistant for intramural sports, also feels the urge to freefall from a plane.
"I've always wanted to skydive," she said. "I think it would be fun, exciting and an energy rush."
Madden will visit Indiana University, where she completed her undergraduate degree, to spend time with her friends during Spring Break. She suggests, however, that shopping and hiking throughout Indiana may be on her list of things to do.
Indiana sites offer a variety of spots for people with all sorts of tastes -- from outdoor adventures and natural beauty to historical museums and shopping hotspots.
Skydive Greensburg
815 S. CR 200 W., Greensburg
(800) 990-5509; (800) SKY-DIVE
www.skydiveindianapolis.com
Cost: $169 with student ID for a one-minute tandem freefall
Hours: 9 a.m. to sunset Mon. through Sun.
Rated No. 1 for skydiving in the Midwest, this commercial parachute center opens March 5 for the season and offers tandem and accelerated freefalls as well as a static line. "It's the adrenaline that does it," Bob Dougherty, owner, said. "You freefall at 130 miles per hour with an instructor. It's the ride of your life."
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Hall of Fame Museum
4790 W. 16 St., Indianapolis
(317) 492-6784
Cost: $3 per adult; $1 6-15 years; free under 6 years
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. through Sun.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, dubbed a national historic landmark by the National Park Service in 1987, houses the Indianapolis 500-mile race. The museum serves as a tribute to the history of motorsports and features antique passenger cars. Numerous winning cars are on display, including the Marmon "Wasp" (1911 race winner).
Corvette Classics
6702 Pointe Inverness Way, Fort Wayne
(260) 436-3444
www.corvette-classics.com
Cost: $7
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. through Sat.; 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.
Original and restored corvettes are displayed in the museum.
Indianapolis Zoo & Gardens
1200 West Washington St., Indianapolis
(317) 630-2001
www.indyzoo.com
Cost: Adults (Zoo & Garden combo) - $8; youth ages 2-12 - $6 for combo; $5 parking per vehicle
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon. through Thurs.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri. through Sun. March 1-May 26
The Indianapolis Zoo houses exotic, wild animals, an aquarium and a botanical garden. Through March 13, the gardens will showcase a photography exhibit by artist Tania Shepard, "Petals," exploring the metaphor of the flower as it relates to pillars of life such as faith and love.
The James Dean Gallery
6508 E. Museum Blvd., SR 22, Marion
(765) 998-2080
www.jamesdeangallery.com
Cost: $5 for the exhibit; $4 with student ID
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
The six-room home has the world's largest collection of James Dean memorabilia. A 35-seat screening room shows film clips and a research library offers authors worldwide the opportunity to study Dean's life. The collection includes puzzles, clippings, books, magazines, scarves, photographs and souvenir mugs of Dean.
The Fun Farm
2690 Breckenridge Rd. NE, Corydon
(800) 952-3580
www.thefunfarm.com
Cost: $29 per person for paintball; $15 for laser tag
Hours: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tue. through Thurs.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fri. through Sun.
The Fun Farm offers 76 acres of go-karts, paintball, laser tag, arcade games, karaoke and volleyball, as well as a skatepark, zip-line, mini-bungee, rock climbing wall and a mobile target shooting booth.
HOP's Powered
Parachutes, Inc.
20451 N. Tyler Rd.,
Walkerton
(574) 586-3580
www.hopspoweredparachutes.com
Cost: $77 for a 20-minute dual instructional flight. For $50 extra, you can wear a helmet camera that will tape the event.
Hours: By appointment, sunrise to sunset
Dual instructional or radio assisted solo flights are available. Certified flight instructors show you a view of the countryside from a seat in the sky.
Indiana
Basketball
Hall of Fame,
One Hall of Fame Court
New Castle
(765) 529-1891
www.hoopshall.com
Cost: $4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tue. through Sat.; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.
Sharon Roberts, assistant director, said students are attracted to the museum for the pure love of the sport.
"They can go one-on-one with Oscar Robertson, take the game-winning shot and see game films and basketball artifacts from all over Indiana here," she said.
Webb's
Antique Mall
200 West Union St., Centerville
(765) 855-5542
Cost: Free
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Sun.
Billed as the "World's Largest Antique Mall," this 100,000-square-foot antique haven is not a flea market. It features hundreds of dealers selling furniture, glasswork, china, quilts, toys, paintings, silver, records, baseball cards, jewelry, political memorabilia, clocks and books, among other collectibles.
Argosy Casino and Hotel
777 Argosy Parkway, Lawrenceburg
(888) ARGOSY-7
www.argosycasinos.com
Cost: Rooms-between $79-$175 per night
Admission: $3 on Friday; $5 on Saturday
The Argosy Casino is a 4,000-passenger modern yacht docked on the Ohio River. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. The yacht has four restaurants with dinner buffets on Fridays and Saturdays. Games include blackjack, craps, roulette, slots, video poker, video keno and Caribbean stud poker, as well as big six wheel, let it ride, Spanish 21, three-card poker and mini-baccarat. The casino is for ages 21 and over only with ID.
Oliver Winery
8024 North State Rd. 37, Bloomington
(812) 876-5800
www.oliverwinery.com
Cost: Free entrance; free wine tasting on weekends
Hours for Tours: 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sun.
Marengo Cave
400 E. Hwy. 64, Marengo
(888) 70-CAVES
www.marengocave.com
Cost: Between $12-$13 for adults; $6-$6.50 for children; for a 2.5 hour tour of both caves: $19 adult; $9 child
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
This U.S. National landmark features cave exploration tours and a park. Nearby activities include canoeing, gemstone mining, a cave simulator, hiking and fishing.
Edinburgh
Premium
Outlets
Exit 76B and Exit 80 off I-65,
Johnson County
(812) 526-9764
www.premiumoutlets.com/
edinburgh
Cost: Free
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon. through Sat.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun.
This outlet mall sells discounted merchandise from name brand companies such as Banana Republic, Gap, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Nine West and Wilson's Leather.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
