2024 HCD Conference Preview: Indianapolis Attractions

The Healthcare Design Conference + Expo heads to Indianapolis’ Indiana Convention Center Oct. 5-8.

The city is home to world-class restaurants, museums, and attractions, as well as professional sports teams and venues, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Here are some of the local flavor and flare attendees can check out while they’re in town.

Milktooth, Indianapolis

Milktooth (Image credit: Mallory Talty/Visit Indy)

Dining
The host city’s culinary treats include Milktooth, a brunch, coffee bar, and cocktail spot, and Jewish deli-inspired Shapiro’s Delicatessen. Plump’s Last Shot, known for its pork tenderloin sandwich, is owned by Indiana basketball legend Bobby Plump, who inspired the 1986 movie Hoosiers. St. Elmo Steak House, around the corner from the convention center, is famous for its shrimp cocktail. For a sweet treat, Gordon’s Milkshake Bar offers both classic and gourmet options.

 

Monon Trail

Monon Trail (Image credit: Cliff Ritchey/Visit Indy)

Attractions
Get your motor running with a tour of the world-famous racecourse Indianapolis Motor Speedway; pose with the statue of Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback for 14 seasons, at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Colts professional football team; tour the Indianapolis Zoo, which features more than 1,200 animals of approximately 230 species; or hop on a stationary or electric Pacers Bikeshare to ride the popular Monon Trail or Indianapolis Cultural Trail, which both pass through many of Indy’s arts, culture, and tourist attractions.

 

Kurt Vonnegut Mural, Indianapolis

Kurt Vonnegut Mural (Image credit: Cliff Ritchey/Visit Indy)

Exhibits
Take in art, history, and culture with visits to a variety of local institutions such as the Indiana State Museum, with three floors of permanent and rotating galleries; the Eiteljorg Museum, the only museum in the Midwest to exclusively exhibit the art and history of Native Americans and the American West; and, for bibliophiles, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, featuring artifacts such as the Indianapolis-raised author’s original typewriter (also swing by the two-story mural of Vonnegut on the Mass Avenue side of Slapfish restaurant). For another dose of history, visit the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Monument Circle, where limestone sculptures dating as far back as 1887 pay tribute to the heroes of past conflicts.

Find updates and additional information on the 2024 HCD Conference + Expo here.