It's been a decade since my last review of Holliday Park, so it's time for an update. I've been visiting this park since I moved to Indiana more than 10 years ago, and it had stayed reliably the same, until recently. Now, there's a brand-new playground! The playground at Holliday Park has been completely redesigned as of November 2025. The new playground is nature-inspired, with lots of wooden elements. My favorite part of the playground is the loose parts area, where kids can make teepees and build forts with the collection of natural elements that are there: sticks, tree limbs, stumps, rope, wooden crates, straw and other things that allow kids to use their imagination to create. The playground is designed for all ages, but to me, it skews slightly in favor of younger kids. Which is nice for parents of younger children, because most playgrounds seems to be built for older kids. But there are some elements for older kids here, like the huge rope climbing structure. A niggling thing: There is zero shade on the playground now. None. Which isn't a big deal on overcast or cool days, but once summer comes around, this playground is going to be insufferable. They got rid of some of the trees that used to be where the new playground is, which is a shame. One cool thing, though, that I've never seen in any other playground: hammocks! There's an area near the trees with a bunch of hammocks that kids can lie in and just relax under the trees. The rest of Holliday Park is the same. There's still a splash pad by The Ruins during the summer. There's still a nice nature center. There are still lots of trails to explore. This is one of the best parks in Indianapolis, in my opinion. read more

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Holliday has to be my favorite park in Indy! It truly has everything. Beautiful views, trails, gardens, and plenty of space to explore. It's also such a perfect spot for a picnic with lots of shade. I love bringing my pups here when I can. The trails aren't too difficult for them, so we usually manage a couple. There are some stair sections (a few are somewhat long), which can be tough for one of my seniors, so I do end up carrying him. Overall, just a lovely park through and through. read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I grew up going to this park. It has so much to offer. I know now they are doing construction in the playground portion but what brought me back recently was a free foraging class I saw that was being offered. It was a few hours and so valuable! Our instructor Pat led about 25 of us through a PowerPoint presentation that I found super interesting. We then did a guided walk through the trails as Pat pointed out edible & non edible plants along with talking about animals throughout the trails. Pat pointed as incredibly knowledgeable and I would love to take another class with them in the future. Also, the trails are beautiful and the nature center is just as cool as I remember it! read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Holiday Park's a nice "medium-sized" park. It's a good but larger than a public playground and picnic area like Broad Ripple Park. While also still more manageable than someplace like Eagle Creek. If you want hiking trails, it has them. Or if you just want a nice picnic green, it has those too. The hiking trails let out into flood plane shoreline, which stretches on for miles if you're feeling super adventurous. read more

This continues to be one of our peaceful refuges in the city. It's a twenty minute drive from home and the nature center and walking paths are amazing. It's a perfect spot to hike, picnic, get in some steps and enjoy mother natures. We love watching the seasons change through the trees here- black walnuts, pawpaw trees, maple tree tapping and all. Don't miss out on the sap to syrup event in February/March. Such a treasure for the neighborhood and city! read more

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This place was cute and a nice stop on our vacation. We showed up just after a couple had gotten engaged which was cute. Let them sit and take pictures while we waited to go explore, luckily my son was patient :P we were going to dinner after this so we didn't stay to long. read more

This park is so nostalgic for me. I grew up going to this park with my parents and brother, and have still frequently come back as this park has so much to offer! Whether it's walking the trails, wandering the gardens, picnicking, or even taking one of their activity classes, there's something for everyone. However, the playground is currently under construction and not sure until when (didn't see any signs). Cannot wait for the weather to officially reflect fall so we can go back and take a hike! read more

Great place for your family to spend the day with the ruins to visit and take pictures of, the outdoor park, the indoor nature center, the trails and the river itself make this place a wonder. It's well maintained and clean with friendly people and plenty of parking. Not to mention the ice rink! read more

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I had the chance to visit Holliday Park today after attending my church's early morning service. While I grew up not far from the area, I now live in Lawrence and simply don't get around here much. As I entered the area, I quickly remembered just how much I really love what many consider to be Indy's best public park. Holliday Park does fall under Indy Parks. That means it's free to enter, though special activities may cost (including the Rock the Ruins concerts, of course). Indy is kind of weird with public parks. For some parks, you're lucky if you can even find them on the Indy Parks website. With other parks, like Holliday Park, they get their own website and have a foundation to support them. This is one of Indy's oldest parks. It's one of those parks you can truly get lost in with 3.5 miles of amazing trails, a nature center, the awesome Holliday Park Ruins (host to the Rock the Ruins shows), and 94 acres of amazing green space that is also surprisingly accessible. Holliday Park has wooded ravines with natural springs and wetlands, a pond, and is next to a long stretch of White River, a beech-maple forest, and over 400 species of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. Over 200 species of birds have been documented here. Come at the right time and you can see deer, fox (maybe you'll learn what the fox said!), beaver, rabbits, squirrels, and other animals. Despite the fact that this is a residential area (admittedly, an upper-income one), I'm amazed at the wildlife around here. There's an active park staff here including education staff with programs and events. The park's history began during the 100th anniversary of the state of Indiana in 1916. John and Evaline Holliday donated their estate to Indy with the intention of a place for recreation and nature study. Holliday Park hosts day trips, field education trips, scout programs, programs and tours for adults, a trail run, Rock the Ruins, and the seasonal ice skating rink. Admission to Holliday Park and the Nature Center is free! Some classes and programs have fees. You can take photos for personal use here without difficulty, though Indy Parks has a required process for professional photographers. There's been an Outdoor Learning Lab since 2021. There's a playground that is surprisingly accessible and has some neat adventure activities. The playground also has a current fundraising project going to make it even more inclusive. The Ruins were revitalized in 2016. Fun background - the Ruins came here from the St. Paul Building in 1950s New York. The Western Electric Co. held a competition between cities to acquire them for display/preservation. They include three massive statues made of Indiana limestone called "the Races of Man." Indianapolis proposed the Holliday Park location (then an arboretum) and won the competition! I honestly didn't want to leave today. This is a place that's good for the whole family, however, it's not a place so bustling with activity that you get overwhelmed. You can truly be social here or get lost. I'd dare say this is my favorite Indianapolis park. While Rock the Ruins could have been a bad idea, it's worked out beautifully and made Indy appreciate this beautiful park even more. read more

My 500th review and I just had to write about one of my top discoveries in Indiana. We were recommended this place from a friendly employee working at a local coffee shop. After hearing him rave about it, we had to fit it into our plans that day. Driving in, we were welcomed by the beautiful greenery and rows of mature trees. Then we saw The Ruins. Preserved structures of art and architectural beauty. It felt like an outdoor museum. After enjoying the work of art before us, we walked towards a canopy of trees, down some steps, and a forest opened up before us. 3.5 miles of shaded trails weaving through the trees and around a river bend. There were moments we had to stop and soak in nature's beauty and remind ourselves that we were not in a state park. A peaceful escape is within reach, right here in Indy. I've lived in Indiana for a couple years now, and I am in awe every time I visit a park out here. People who love the outdoors and nature have so many good options! read more

One of my favorite parks to visit! I love that there are trails through the woods to the river, as well as a nice loop that's paved that you can walks The playground is HUGE and there are plenty of picnics tables to sit at when needed. The ruins are such a fun add to the park. I love coming to the park for exercise, respite or just a nice day! I've never had a bad time exploring! read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Holliday Park is vast. We first checked off the Ruins which are preserved historical structures that can serve as a good backdrop for pictures. There is plenty of architectural beauty to appreciate. Next off, we checked out the playground which is incredibly large with multiple sections so that there are separate, dedicated play areas for different age groups. Our young girls easily spent an hour here. They tried various swings, slides, climbing structures, and tunnels. read more

Skating at The Rink at Holliday Park is my new favorite thing to do in Indy during the cold weather! There's nothing like skating under the twinkling lights in the evening with The Ruins in the background. I'm a little biased as I run the Learn to Skate program at The Rink, but I when I say it's my happy place, I mean it! read more

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This is a great city park located in the loop of Indianapolis. There are several wooded trails that go right next to the river. The trails are very well maintained and in some spots there are even signs helping you identify the plants. The nature center is great spot to bring young children to play around and learn about nature. It also has a massive playground outdoors. One of the unique features of the park are the ruins that have been turned into a park sculpture with fountains and several benches as well as a flower garden near by. This would be a fun area to explore if you haven't already. read more

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I knew that Holliday Park was a great spot for getting a nature fix and taking your kids to use the amazing playground, but until this week I didn't know that The Vogue was putting on a concert series called Rock the Ruins at the park. A friend invited me to check out The Wood Brothers with her this weekend. It was a really great place to see a show. We took an Uber because we had heard parking could be a bit rough, but another friend met us there and didn't have any issues finding a space. Doors opened at 5:00 and the show started at 7:00. Due to neighborhood noise ordinances, the concerts have to stop by 9pm, so make some after-concert plans if you don't want to get home super early. We arrived about 4:45 and were probably 5th in line. You pick your own "pod" seats, which are really just 10x10 areas in the grass. A few things of note: *make sure you check out their FAQs at https://www.rocktheruins.com - there are a lot of things that you're not allowed to bring in, like aerosol cans of bug spray/sunscreen, as well as any outside food or beverages. *you can bring in an EMPTY water bottle and fill it at the water fountain, or they have bottled water available for sale. *there were several food trucks on site and several different kiosks selling beer/wine/water. Lines really weren't too bad at all. *the FAQ suggested bringing blankets or low-back lawn chairs, so we didn't bring our camp chairs. Unfortunately, pretty much everyone brought the regular camp chairs, so we had a little trouble seeing around the people in front of us. *there are VIP upgrades for $65/person (and your whole pod would have to upgrade) that include a separate entrance and parking, open bar, and a dedicated "pod" section closer to the stage. These weren't available online the day of the show, but they were offering the upgrade option as you walked in. There's only one show left in the Rock the Ruins season, but I can't wait to see more shows here next summer! read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Holliday Park continues to be my go to park on a good weather day. With a sunny weekend, my dog and I have long hikes and it's beautiful despite the zero greenery. Lots of people this weekend and absolutely friendly culture. Parking was definitely tight but there are two areas for parking so make sure you check the parking by the kids play ground if you do not find anything near the ruins. I am changing my review to 3* just because of the restrooms. The restrooms near the ruins were locked, I understand it's not needed for the most part in winters but there were quite some people with small kids needing to use the restroom and this isn't how good hygiene works. I walked all the way to the children's play area and found an open restroom and it was living mess and the moss shoddy dirty restroom I looked at. I WILL blame the public who used it that way, but also the park itself for not looking, maintaining or even making sure it got to such a bad situation. I really cannot describe but really a public restroom cannot be this filthy. read more

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Awesome, awesome, awesome, this park is awesome. It is a nice old school park that unlike the newer ones, focuses on nature. It has a playground, multiple hiking trails, a nature center, a covered pavilion, and the highlight of the park, the Ruins. It is huge, covering 94 acres. This park has parking for days. There are three different parking lots that I found, one by the playground, one by the nature center and one by the Ruins. The park is well maintained and very clean. There were many people working on the park while I was there, clearing shrubs, weeds and leaves and picking up trash. There are some porta-potties available, which is awesome because most of the bathrooms were closed because I visited the park off season. This park is named after the Holliday who donated their beautiful country estate to the City of Indianapolis in 1916, expressing the belief that "the land is singularly suited to be a place for recreation and the study of nature." The playground is lined with word chips, keeping with the nature theme and has an awesome accessible jungle gym that is huge, a smaller one for little kids and another one for good measure. There is also some older style swings in the area. The trails are nice. They are well marked, well maintained and very scenic. Some of them go right along the White River. They are different lengths and you can actually connect them by going from one to the other to make your trek longer. The pavilion is very nice and colorful. It has 3 bathrooms in the back and is located right across the walkway from the playground area. Off season, it is first come first served. In season, it has to be reserved. It has some sweet picnic tables under it and is top notch. There is a 13,000 square foot nature center on its grounds. Currently, in the COVID environment the Nature Center serves mainly as a restroom facility. They do have classes and behind the center are a few trails entrances, a nice bonfire spot and the future site of an outdoor leaning lab. The Center has 2 huge classrooms inside, but they were closed for COVID. The feature of the park is called the Ruins. The Ruins is an architectural work of art. It is the impressive remains of a demolished New York skyscraper preserved as the classical works of classical art they are. They were won by by the city as part of a competition among cities plan to display and preserve them. There are lounge benches that you can sit on facing the structure and there is nothing but open field behind them where you can also sit on a blanket or drop a chair. There are bathrooms located on the side of the structure that you can use in season. This park is awesome. It really puts you in with nature. The Ruins is impressive and the entire complex is well maintained. They have everything you want in a park and more, A nature center, a playground, water fountains rest rooms, walking/hiking/jogging trails, fire pits, a covered pavilion, and as an added bonus, the ruins. The playground is good, but as a whole this park is off the charts. This is one of my favorite nature parks in the area. I look forward to coming her again. read more

This is a great park in Indy. Plenty of outdoor space and hiking trails. It's also nice that they have a nature center and signs about different plants and animals in the area. read more

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Will always be one of my favorite Indy parks. The ruins are a fabulous place to get photos or have a wedding. There are several different terrains and gardens to walk through. The nature center is one of the best and the activities they have are great for kids to learn. The playground is awesome but I liked it better when it was wood and had tons of towers. read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I was blessed to get some "skate it forward"tickets from a friend that allowed me to take a group of 12 kids to holiday park for a day of skating. At least seven of them had never been so that was great. The staff there was super friendly and it was injury free. Thank God . They also had a food truck that sold light refreshments that was awesome! I would like to go back before the season is over. read more

Holliday Park - Ice rink - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

My favorite park in town! I love that it is a short drive from home but feels like I can really escape in the woods. The trails are well maintained and easy to hike solo, with 4 legged friends, or with kids. I've always felt completely safe and secure when I've been on my own. Sometimes you can hear traffic in a distance but most of the time I just am in awe that all this beauty is right in the middle of city. As you get deeper into the woods the trails narrow quite a bit but are still easy to navigate. You can get a good few miles in! During my most recent visit last weekend there was so much happening and it was great to see! There was a wedding in the ruins, a college graduation photo shoot in the open field area, birthday parties at the picnic tables, and the playground was filled with kiddos! It makes me so happy seeing people out and about again. Even with all the activity, the trails were quiet and peaceful. Holliday Park is a gem in the city and a must visit! Pro Tip: Rock the Ruins is their summer concert series! Tickets are $35/person and are sold in pods of 4. You can purchase on their website. read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Ever since we have moved to Indiana, this has always been our family's favorite park. It is a great place to go to for people of all ages! At Holliday Park, you can go hiking on trails, play on the playgrounds, host events, and more! Holliday Park is truly a great place to go to escape to the outdoors! Recommendation: I would recommend to not going hiking after it rains, the ground and trails can be a-bit muddy! read more

I found this place when searching things to see in Indianapolis. I did not expect what I saw. This place is amazing. I wish there was a place like this back home. It was very beautiful and relaxing. They have places to sit and enjoy the views or paths to walk. There was water to watch or enjoy, a nature center, trails, and a play area for kids that would not disappoint. You can go for a quick visit or spend hours. Well worth the visit. read more

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Located in Broad Ripple lies this small city park. The park has some great paved, gravel, rock, and dirt paths/trails in the nearby fields and trees. The highlight of the park is the Ruins and art sculptures. The weather was gorgeous for a winter day so we decided to explore the ruins, sculptures and take a brief walk on trail 3 to the rock gardens. There is a decent sized playground for kids, plenty of benches to rest at, lots of field space to play games or walk a dog. I'd love to come back and explore some of the trails since they have a total of 7 all together in the wooded area right off of the White River. read more

Holliday Park - Ruins - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I've heard of this part before but never visited until a friend invited us for a cold winter trail walk. Once you enter there are several different parking lots so you can park near the playground, The ruins, or the nature center. After gearing up with lots of layers and wandered around the site of the ruins to take some photos. There's some interesting explanations and it's fun to see the history of the space. I'll not explain it here but it's definitely worth checking out or taking some fun photos perhaps in slightly less chilly weather. We chose a path that took us down to the water and it was nicely maintained with some stone as well as dirt on the path. There are quite a few benches all along the way as well as shorter routes for those who don't want to go as far. It was a nice walk and I didn't feel it would be easy to get lost, which is helpful! We saw several other people enjoying the path and the playground but it was definitely not crowded. This is a lovely place to go for an afternoon to be outside and explore some of nature. I'd highly recommend this park if you haven't come for a visit before! read more

Great place to walk / hike! Love that there is a large nature center too. -Easy parking and a great playground for the kids. read more

This is our favorite park! Depending on how close you live, the area surrounding the park has several residential streets that make it easy to walk or bike there. The grounds are well maintained with minimal trash. The playground is amazing and well maintained, too. The trails are also well maintained, safe, and reasonably well marked. Some spots do get muddy, but never anything that cannot be crossed. On the edges close to the water, some alternate routes sometimes flood. It is really fun to go at different times of year and different water levels to see how different it can look. We have been to birthday parties inside the nature center. The setup is basic, but clean and inviting. Parents who hosted their have told me the rental pricing is very reasonable. The nature center also has a really nice indoor area for play and education. In the summer, there is a fountain where kids can kick off their shoes and splash around. The only think to be mindful of right now is the restroom situation. At least as of April 2021, the outdoor bathrooms are closed and the ones in the nature center close at 5 p.m. They do have a portapotty near the playground. I didn't check it out, but my kiddo opened the door, closed the door, and said, "Ew, I can wait until we get home", so I'll let you interpret that. read more

Great trails. There are steps, quite a bit actually but you don't need to take them to enjoy the trail. On one occasion, someone had shattered a back window of one of the cars parked next to us....so hide your things! The park can get busy though, the trails are not that busy. The ruins are cool but also can get busy. This is one of my least favorite areas to take my dogs walking. It is beautiful. read more

Awesome place to get some fresh air, walk around, and enjoy some secluded nature! Park highlights/tips: -Lots of parking. At 2:00 on a sunny Sunday, I had no problem finding a spot -Trails are great for people who aren't looking for a vigorous hike. We were able to complete 3 full trails in less than 30 minutes walking at a moderate pace with a dog. Some trails are a little more strenuous than others (sharp stair inclines, rocky areas) but it wasn't hiking terrains -dog friendly! Keep your dog on a leash and you are good to go -water fountains and garbage cans are present around the park -large park for kids and families to enjoy -trails are easily marked, with historic facts sprinkled throughout This park is by no means an all day excursion. We popped over for about an hour and felt that we got good exercise, wore our dog out, and got to see a majority of what Holliday park has to offer. read more

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We were looking for a different park to visit and really enjoyed our time here. They have tons of space, a great covered picnic area, playgrounds, paths in the wooded area, cool structures and a great nature center. Definitely a place you can spend a couple hours. read more

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Beautiful city park to visit for a walk, lunch, or play! I have been here a few times over the years and the park is always so clean with beautiful flowers planted. The nature center is very informative and fun for people of all ages. The playground is large. I do wish there were more picnic tables spread out across the park rather than right by the playground. The trails are well maintained. I think this is a great place to visit and enjoy a nice, peaceful day in nature. read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The importance of urban parts like Holliday Park cannot be over-stated. Sure, Brown County is bigger and "better", but it's 1.5 hours away. This park is 15-20 minutes from both Carmel and downtown Indianapolis. It offers hiking trails, fields where people can run around, playground, the White River, etc. Access is the key, and Holliday Park - which is also free - gives plenty of it to lots of people. read more

Holliday Park - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Fantastic park in the middle of the city. Hard to believe it's just tucked away here with some great trails, great playgrounds for the kids, and the ruins and nature center that make the park so unique. Most of my time here for my first visit was spent on the trails. There are a lot of them that are all interconnected and intersect constantly, rather than just one or two really long out and back trails. It's nice because you can create your own really long hike, but a little tough to keep them straight and easy to get turned around. Most of it is within sight distance of the White River so you're never quite "lost" - just maybe not sure how to get back to precisely where you started. If you start/end at the Nature Center like I did, beware the steps on your return journey. They're uneven, steep, and an abomination to God and man. (Kidding - they're bearable but you need to save some energy and water for sure!) Will absolutely come back here again very soon to explore more of the trails. read more

This is an outstanding local park, with many versatile features. They have an awesome nature center. You can reserve rooms there, so my grandson's birthday party was there. The exhibits and indoor play areas are great for little ones. There are some lovely column ruins that are great for photos. The playground is big and well maintained. There are picnic areas right next to the playground. All of this is near the river. A family could easily spend a full day here. read more

Holliday Park - Playground. Picnic tables are located right next to the playground and a shelter is nearby. - Parks Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I love this park! It's always packed with people and everyone seems to love it here! It's in a great neighborhood and there are several places to park with a lot of grassy areas for people to picnic and play around in. I love that it has history to it as one of the oldest parks in Indianapolis. We love to take our dog on trails and check out the ruins. read more

Sadly, it was a little hard to walk on the trails today with all of the ice. That said, this is a great park to have in the city. Great to get out, get some fresh air, and get a little exercise. There are lots of "ruins" to look at while strolling around parts of the park. This would be a great place for a picnic in warmer weather. Parking is easy and free. There are plenty of leashed dogs in the park, too. read more

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Beautiful park with several great places to picnic, a huge playground, and some beautiful trails. We came with a stroller so we couldn't walk the trails through the woods, but there were still plenty of great views to be had. The ruins are incredible. I'm so glad they invested in restoring them. And they're surrounded by a beautiful fountain and garden. There's a nature center here too that I've heard good things about, but we avoided for COVID reasons (if we don't have to go inside places, we don't). The park is peaceful and quiet, there's lots of easy free parking (the park itself is free too) and it was a lovely spot to enjoy our lunch. read more

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I've heard so much about holiday park, but have never had the chance to make it over. But I decided on Saturday to check out some Indy parks and this was my second stop. Located near the meridian hills neighborhood is holiday park, it used to be a weekend/summer get away. Such a beautiful area! The ruins are so cool to walk around, and check out. The back has water that runs off so kids can play in it and cool off on a hot day. There is also a lot of pretty flowers and plants that surround the area. When you get away from the ruins there's extensive grounds to walk around that has a park, and then a nature center that private parties can be hosted in as well. There is also trail hiking! The trails are awesome very expansive and you can go through the woods, and down to the river. Over all the park is very well maintained and no liter was seen! I can't wait to go back and enjoy again! read more

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This is my favorite park in all of Indianapolis!! It seriously has something for everyone. Good picnic spots? Scenic trails? Play area for the kiddos? But what about historical ruins, local fauna and flora showcases, fun events, beautiful gardens, and community yoga? Yes, it has all of those too! I first went to Holliday Park for a community yoga class, but after one visit I was hooked. Now it's my go-to picnic location. There's hiking trails (with lots of stairs, be warned or encouraged) that go down to the water and tons of relaxing places to sit with a good book. It really feels like a secret garden in the heart of Indianapolis. It's just large enough that there's always more to explore but not so large that it feels overwhelming. I've been multiple times and I still haven't hiked all the trails or visited all the cool spots this park has to offer. Spend one hour or spend three! There will still be more to do on your next visit. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for serenity, education, exercise, and everything in between! read more

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The family and I really enjoyed this park. It's so massive that we didn't get to finish it all but that just gives us a reason to visit again soon. The Nature Center is one of the best I've been too and I especially liked the library and quite little viewing nook. The trails were equally as fun and bursting with nature. We tried a few trails and even found one that led to a stream and White River. The park and trails were exceptionally clean and free of litter. Super impressed! Can't wait to go back and explore more trails and the ruins! read more

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