Visit Plainfield Hendricks Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Plainfield, Indiana: Experience the "Boomtown" and visit the "Indiana's Steel Dynamics Stadium" or the "Prairie Trails Park". Eat in the "Downtown Plainfield" with regional specialties.
Plainfield sights? Before we talk about it, let me briefly tell you the story of this small town: Founded in 1829 by pioneers who had more land than a sense of urban planning, Plainfield slowly grew from a modest border village to a suburb that today swoops back and forth between Indianapolis and the rural Indiana. Honestly, the city has never reached the splendour of Indianapolis, but that's exactly what makes the charm – a bit of dusty nostalgia that you hardly find in the big cities.
When you arrive here, I recommend taking the I‐65, this is the fastest route, and then a short trip to the US‐30, where you feel the true heart of Plainfield. For the first time I discovered the small historic main square while looking for a cafe that was not taken over by a chain – no joke, the real “Plainfield” feels like a well kept secret. Right next to the old town hall there is a small park where locals run their dogs and you can ask why you even went to Chicago.
Another highlight I can't overlook is the annual autumn festival – I don't understand the hype around the huge pumpkins, but the local music and the self-made applemus are just fantastic. And if you are looking for a walk through the city centre, just take the local bus line 12; it drives every 30 minutes and lets you discover the small shops that otherwise disappear in the shade of the large shopping centres.
I have to confess that I am Plainfield Historical Museum first discovered because I was looking for a place where I can drive my boredom in the rain – and then I suddenly stood in an old train depot that has more stories to tell than some Netflix. The exhibition is a bit like a dusty suitcase full of memories: old photos, an original telegraph, and a tiny model train that has more charm than most modern roller coasters. Parking is usually a klack, as long as you don't hang around with the kids in the museum farm on Saturday night – then the field becomes the battlefield area.
Directly next to the museum, the White River through the city, and I spent more time there than I wanted to admit, because I thought a bit of paddle was the counterpart to my urban everyday life. The water is not crystal clear, but it makes the appeal: a bit of mud on your shoes reminds you that you are not in the wellness resort, but in Plainfield. There is a smaller boat dock where you can park your canoe – that's practical because parking there is almost never a problem except when the annual River Festival overcrows the shores.
If you feel that you're looking for a little less wet, but just as local, look at the Plainfield Farmers Market on. Every Saturday morning, the main road turns into a colourful collection of fresh vegetables, homemade cakes and a stand where an older gentleman claims he has the best caramel popcorn of the state. I once tried a piece of apple cake there, which was so good that I almost forgot that I was looking for a quick snack. The market does not have fixed parking spaces, but the surrounding residential roads provide enough gaps to put the car – unless you get too late, otherwise you have to push yourself between stroller and shopping cart.
Another jewel I always like to mention is that Plainfield Community. The building is a bit like a Swiss pocket knife: swimming pool, gym, art exhibitions and even a small cinema room where they occasionally show old classics. I took part in a yoga course where the instructor told more about the history of the city than I've ever read in a history book – a real added value when you're here before. The center has its own car park that is usually empty except when the local basketball tournament runs; then parking becomes a small adventure where you feel like a secret agent infiltrating a parking lot.
For those who prefer to travel with the golf club than with the backpack, there is Golf Club. The place is not exactly a PGA paradise, but the fairway long fairways and the occasional bunkers that look more like small trenches give you the feeling you play in a real midwestern idyllic. I once hit a birdie there, because I accidentally rolled the ball onto a small hill – that was a lucky case I will never forget. The clubhouse has a small pro shop where you can find some souvenirs, and parking is practically right at the entrance, which is a real bonus for me because I don't have to look for a parking lot while I unpack my rackets.
Last but not least, Plainfield Public Library forget that for me the quiet heart of the city is. The library is a place where you can withdraw to read a book that you would never find if you hadn't run past it by chance. I once discovered an old diary from the 1920s that was handwritten by a local farmer – a real find that gave me the feeling of getting a piece of history in my hands. Parking is a bit tricky here because the road in front of the building is often blocked by vans, but a short walk of a few meters is enough to find the car.
So, next time you think about where you want to spend your next little break, remember: Plainfield has more to offer than just a few fields and a few houses. The Plainfield Attractions are a mix of history, nature and a bit of local nature that will surprise you – and that is exactly what I love in this place.
I have to admit that my first stop after leaving Plainfield was actually a little time jump: Hendricks County Historical Museum in Danville. The building itself is an ancient brick box that spits out more stories than I could handle in a whole weekend. I found an old peasant shoe there that was supposed to belong to a real 19-century farmer – no joke that was part of the exhibition. Parking is almost always a Klacks as long as you don't arrive with all the families on Saturday night, then the field becomes a parking mikado.
A short descent towards the south leads you to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Yes, this is the heart of the racing world, and yes, I don’t understand the hype about the “Indy 500” – the whole get-go around a few round slices on asphalt is a loud hobby for me. Nevertheless, the museum is a treasure: original helmet, old road maps and a huge photo of the first races that catapults you almost back into the 1950s. The parking lot is huge, but if you go to the main event, you need a bit of patience, because the entrance is more like a jam course.
A few miles further, a little off the highway, lies Eagle Creek Park. There are more water areas than in most Indiana towns, and this is no coincidence – this is a huge lake, a river and a network of hiking trails that lead you through dense forests. I rented a canoe there and spent almost all the time talking about the ducks because they apparently thought I was a rival. Parking is a bit full on the weekend, but most visitors will find a place if they don't come too late.
If you have enough of nature and want some culture again, then Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Fishers the next destination. This is not a typical museum hall, but a huge open-air museum that lives in the 19th century. century. I visited an old blacksmith there where a real blacksmith kept me a piece of iron in front of my nose and said it was “better than a modern laptop”. Practical: The entrance is to be booked online in advance, otherwise you will be at the checkout as with a amusement park. And parking? Usually there are enough places as long as you don't get to school, then it's gonna be a bit tight.
A bit further south, almost in the heart of Indianapolis, lies this Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. This is not only a museum, which is a whole campus with sculpture gardens, a historic manor house and a collection ranging from classical painting to contemporary art. I spent a day there because I thought I could refuel a bit of “cultural buckling”, and in the end I learned more about the history of the city than I had ever found in a history book. The parking lot is huge, but on holidays it can come to a small mess because everyone tries to get the same free field.
A short jump to downtown Indianapolis brings you to Indianapolis Zoo. Yes, a zoo near Plainfield – that sounds almost too good to be true, but it is actually a well-managed place where you can see giraffe, penguins and even a few rare snakes. I once made a guided tour with a very enthusiastic animal caregiver who told me that the penguins “even now” are particularly active – that was probably an attempt to calm the visitors because the weather outside was quite miserable. Parking is best in the rear area because the front places are quickly occupied by families with strollers.
Finally, before I go back to the familiar streets of Plainfield, I still have to Canal Walk mention. This is an artificial waterway that runs through the center of Indianapolis and is lined with art installations. I spent an afternoon there while I approved an ice cream from the stand on the shore, watching the passing boats. The path is well lit, so no problem when you stroll down there after sunset. And parking? There are several small car parks nearby, which usually have space as long as you don't arrive at the main traffic time.
So, the next time you think about what you could do in the vicinity of Plainfield, Township of Guilford, Hendricks, Indiana, the region has more to offer than just endless fields and quiet suburbs. From historical museums to fast-paced racetracks to relaxed natural paradises, there is something for everyone who tears you out of everyday life. And yes, all that counts among the Plainfield Attractionsthat you should not miss.
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