Visit Meridian Hills Marion Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights 2025. Meridian Hills, Indiana: Discover The quiet residential area and the great golf course! For dinner I climbed the local restaurant "The Bistro at Meridian Hills".
Meridian Hills Attractions? Well, before I tell you about the chic one-family houses, a short history bang: The municipality was born out of pure suburban agriculture in 1937, when wealthy families from Indianapolis were looking for their own trees-lined oasis. The road to Meridian Hill used to be just a field road, today a parade example of suburbanity that places more emphasis on lawns than on cultural highlights. I usually drive over the I‐465 because it is the fastest way to reach the “green paradise” – no joke, the motorway network here is practical.
Honestly, what most tourists wear is the feeling of living in a set of films that is never turned. The houses are huge, the pre-gardens are cultivated to perfection, and all this without the usual crowd of a big city. I don't understand the hype around the exclusive golf clubs, but the adjacent nature reserve is really great for a walk if you want to escape the luxury a bit. And yes, the small café on the corner, which is only visited by locals, serves the best coffee far and wide – this is my personal secret tip.
So when you arrive to Indianapolis by train, just get to the bus 30 towards Meridian Hills; the ride is short and you get an instant impression of how life pulsates here – quiet, wealthy and a bit exaggerated. And don't forget that the true Meridian Hills sights are not in brochures, but can be found in the quiet moments between the well-kept hedges.
So, next time you drive over the I‐95 and suddenly see the sign “Meridian Hills – Welcome!” then let’s go first Meridian Hills Country Club stop – yes, this is actually the first thing I'm putting to every visitor's heart, although this thing is a private club and you can't just hit a golf ball there. I don't understand the hype about exclusive golf courses, but the well-maintained fairways lined by old oaks look like a commercial for luxury real estate. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the members then bring their families and the car park runs over.
A short walk (or better a short sprint if you don't have too much time) leads you to Meridian Hills Park. This is not some green strip, but a small but fine place where the children from the neighborhood can turn their gyros and the adults can finally enjoy the sun again without being disturbed by a noise level from the city centre. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, and we fought to see if the bank was really built for people with wide hips – Spoiler: it is not, so be careful if you want to sit around a bit after dinner.
If you want to sniff a little culture, then look at the Meridian Hills Library on. This is a small branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, but the selection of local history books is surprisingly good. I found an old photo album that shows the founding families of the neighborhood – a real treasure for anyone who likes to dive into the past. The staff is super friendly, and the Wi-Fi even works if you order a latte in the café next door. Practical: The library has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually free as long as you don't come at lunchtime when the school classes have their reading hours there.
Another highlight I always mention is that Meridian Hills Historic District. This is basically a walk through an open museum from the 1920s and 1930s, where the Tudor and Colonial style houses stand and the pre-gardens are so accurately cultivated that you almost feel like scrolling in a magazine for interior decor. I met an old neighbor there who told me that his great-grandfather built the first house in this street – the conversation ended with the fact that he offered me a piece of apple cake from his kitchen because he thought I was a real historian.
For those who like to catch a little fresh air and at the same time want to get a little movement in, there is the Meridian Hills Trail. It's not very long, but it slews through the neighborhood and always offers small viewpoints, from which you can see the typical, slightly hilly landscapes of Indiana. I lost my running shoes there – they were probably lying in the bush because I was too busy admiring the small sculptures that were randomly placed here by local artists. The trail is well signposted, and parking at the beginning is free as long as you do not arrive at the weekend with your whole family.
And yes, if you ask yourself what else you can do in Meridian Hills, then just look at the Meridian Hills Attractions an – this is almost the short version of my favorite list that I give to every friend who is randomly in the area. There isn't much more to see, but that's just the beauty: you can flap everything in half a day without running, and feel like being a real insider.
I have to admit that my first date with Meridian Hills was actually a failure – I just wanted to get a coffee and instead landed in nowhere where an old tractor stood on a field and reminded me of the good old times when I thought “Rural” was a synonym for “romantic”. But I was barely back in the car, my eyes fell on the narrow road lined by trees, which is right to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway lead. The sound of the engines, which still smells like asphalt in summer, is a bit like a bad love letter: loud, exaggerated and yet somehow fascinating. I turned a few rounds there, and the parking was surprisingly uncomplicated – as long as you don't arrive on Saturday night after the race, this will be a real patience game.
A few miles further, almost in the shadow of the Speedway, lies Newfields, the former Indianapolis Museum of Art. I was there because I thought a little culture could calm my soul, and I was not disappointed. The gardens are so well maintained that you almost feel they would make a selfie with you every moment. I ran into the sculpture collection – not because I lost the orientation, but because I was simply too distracted by a huge metal claw standing in the middle of the grass. Practical: The museum has a huge parking field, which is usually empty, except when a special exhibition event is underway.
If you're looking for a place where you can finally feel like a normal person, look at this White River State Park on. The park is a bit the Swiss pocket knife of leisure activities: you have the Canal Walk, where you can take a bicycle over the waterways that Indianapolis Zoo (yes, that is technically part of the park) and that Eiteljorg Museum for those who think that art only exists in dusty halls. I remember standing at the Canal Walk on a sunny afternoon with an ice cream in my hand and suddenly a duck rush decided to inspect my shoes – a real highlight for my Instagram story.
A short trip from the main road leads you to the Monon Trail, who moves like a red thread through the heart of Washington Township. I once tried to test my running shoes there, and after five minutes I was overtaken by an enthusiastic cyclist who, according to “Go on, you’re too slow!”. The trail is well developed, parking is usually not a problem, and you can take a break at any time at one of the small picnic places – ideal if you want to catch some fresh air after a long day in urban traffic.
For those who do not associate the word “nature” with “migs” is Eagle Creek Park a real secret tip. The park is a piece outside, but the 1,400 hectares of land offer more hiking trails, lakes and picnic places than you would find in an average Instagram feed. I rented a canoe there and spent almost the whole day paddleing over the Eagle Creek until I realized that I had forgotten to drive back to the car – a small shock, but the campfire in the evening made it up again.
And if you feel that you have seen enough culture, nature and speed, then take a look at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Fairgrounds are a collection of exhibitions, fairs and occasional Rodeos all year round. I was there in autumn when a local peasant market took place and bought some fresh apples that I later processed into an improvised apple cake in my hotel room. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't get there during a big fair – then it becomes a bit more chaotic.
So the next time you're in Meridian Hills, don't forget that the environment has more to offer than just quiet suburbs. From fast motors to artistic gardens to extensive green spaces – there are enough reasons to decorate and take off your card. And yes, all that belongs to the Meridian Hills Attractions, which I put to your heart from my slightly cynical but still enthusiastic view.
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