The Carmel library is the model of excellence. In comparison, the Westfield library is not well…read moredesigned. From the bland lobby to the wasted arena-type seating off the main floor to the dead-end kids section, the library serves as an emergency back-up to Carmel's facility. Note: Be careful when asking the children's librarians a question. Most of the adult staff members need basic training on customer service. Those few staff members can display a tendency to be quite unfriendly and unhelpful.

Gang! This library is stunning. I passed by during a recent doctor appointment next door and…read moredecided to visit this time since I had a little more time to kill. Inshore and out, it's a beautiful space. Incredible natural lighting, tall ceilings, in-house local coffee shop, comfortable seating areas and outlets, you name it. While I was there, I texted friends in the area to plan a coworking meetup down the road. The two things I fell in love with the most were the expansive magazine wall and the fact that they have Rivet coffee located in the entryway- brilliant! This library is a gem. Looking forward to to future visits already!

Unfortunately came on a Sunday when everything was closed but this is such a cute little square!…read moreThere's a fountain, lots of shops, and plenty of parking! Great place to walk around and spend some time outside. They have a gym, intimate apparel store, toy store, homewares store etc. Plus a steakhouse and sushi restaurant! There were even more dining options too. They have rental bikes if you want to cruise around! Wish I came when things were open, but if you're looking for a place to do some shopping or even just window shop, it's a great place to get some steps in and enjoy the atmosphere.

Carmel City Center is ideally located pretty much smack dab in the middle of Carmel with direct…read moreaccess from the Monon Greenway. Within one complex, you've got the Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel Farmer's Market, Christkindlmarkt (during the holidays), Hotel Carmichael, and a number of other retail options, restaurants, and entertainment options. It's all, quite literally, within walking distance (well, unless you're like me and don't have feet. But, you know what I mean). Because this is a central area, a good number of the Carmel festivals will happen around here. You've also got live music and theater (including Civic Theater also housed within this complex). Accessibility is pretty strong since so much of this area is new. I've had my quibbles with accessibility involving the Center for the Performing Arts, though in talking to current Mayor Sue Finkam there's a definite effort to go beyond ADA and to truly become more accessible. Free parking is abundant in this area and the arts district is about 1/2 mile north. Dining options include Aroma Experience, Divvy, The Old Spaghetti Factory, The Cake Bake Shop, Eggshell Bistro, Lone Pine, Graeter's Ice Cream, and others within walking distance. Retail options include Kits & Kaboodle (a great toy shop), 317Home, A.D.A. Vintage, Addendum, Baseline Social, and a host of others. I will note that most of these shops lean toward the more premium experience. There's definitely no Dollar General to be found here. There's definitely a lot to offer here and it's nearly always crowded. I also like that the website will tell you which stores are closed on bad weather days. As accessibility continues to improve, I may very well move this up to a 5-star experience. For now, it's a definite 4-star experience and it's definitely a place I can easily spend the day once I arrive and also enjoy some time on the Monon.

This is a small memorial dedicated to our Fallen Hoosier Heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice…read moreafter 9/11 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. It is the brainchild of Don and Carol Peed and is a beautiful memorial and is an excellent honor to those heroes. The memorial honors more than 200 local herons and is maintained by Vietnam veteran and local groundskeeper, Dennis Zavada. You will find it near Westfield High School, just outside of downtown Westfield. The memorial was dedicated in 2009 and consists of plaques with the name of each honored soldier, where they were from and when they died. Originally the memorial started with white crosses vice the plaques. There is also flagpoles with flags representing each branch of service behind an American flag, a Family Member Military Service Flag, and a POW/MIA flag. There is also some granite and stone plaques that are dedicated to gold star families, and instrumental people that made the memorial possible. You will also find brick pavers that are dedicated to special people, with lots of room for expansion. The memorial is very well maintained and looks awesome. I reminds me of something that you would see at the Arlington National Cemetery. It grabbed my attention as I was driving down the road. There is free street parking available right in front of the memorial and it is easy to get to. The memorial's first cross was in memory of Jeanette Winters, a Marines Corps sergeant who was killed in 2002. and the last memorial belongs to U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez who was one of 13 American service members killed in August in an attack on the airport in Kahul, Afghanistan as the US was exiting the war in 2021. It is amazing the impact that only a few people can make. This memorial is managed primarily by two people with support from local veteran's groups. The Memorial plays host to a Memorial Day service each year that is organized by the Carmel VFW and the American Legion. It is well attended. I love we a community puts something together to honor anyone that served, especially when it is as well done as this memorial. This is definitely worth a visit but I would make it part of a larger itinerary with attractions such as Big Hoffas, the Anti-slavery Cemetery, or nearby Asa Bales Park.

Stunning- also, not surprised…read more I had heard for awhile that we would enjoy this library so on a recent day date with my four year old, we ventured north to check it out. We spent a majority of the time in the children's section which boasted several interactive play areas, a private room for events, a STEAM focussed room for workshops and hands-on learning and well-organized book stacks. I appreciated how many book covers they had easily on display and their shelving system. They also have a pet gecko in the kids area. We could have easily spent an hour plus here. Next time, I'll set up for remote work and check out the coffee shop and other seating areas in the library. They have free onsite garage parking, in true Carmel fashion

The Carmel Clay Public Library is as fabulous as you'd expect from Carmel. Think an upscale version…read moreof the Louvre with books and you are getting close. And they've got so much more than books. I visited today and was offered a tour of their Digital Media Lab. Patrons of the library can take advantage of several 3-D printers and only pay for supplies. Cricut machines and software are available to create card, paper products, tee shirt transfers, mugs and more. A state-of-the-art video studio and several audio studios are available for aspiring performers. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and proactively helpful. I got inspiration for an upcoming project that I am working on for a family reunion. One of the staffers printed off information that I needed for my project. The children's area of the library is huge, filled with books, discovery lab, reading areas and an activity room. Toddlers were playing with a few toys during my visit. Upstairs, I found a massive collection of videos and adult books. Several banks of computers were buzzing with patrons taking advantage of the free service. The staff was friendly and happy to show where to find specific books. Comfy seating and work spaces are scattered throughout the facility. Several conference rooms can be reserved for community use. The building is beautiful with a modern architecture that lets in lots of natural light. There is a featured art wall in the lower level. A bookstore and coffee shop are available near the main entrance. There is a parking garage on the south side of the building complete with EV plug stations. Restroom facilities are upscale and immaculate. The library is an easy 5 stars and sets a high standard for libraries.

Clay Terrace is an open-air shopping center/mall that I frequent. There are lots of shops,…read moreincluding but not limited to, DSW, Dick's Sporting Goods, Whole Foods, Old Navy, Bath & Body Works, Soma, Moe's Southwest Grill, Pies & Pints, Hand and Stone, Sur La Table and Kona Grill. There are too many to name them all. The ease of convenience is one of the main reasons that I like it. I can run several errands all at once. The overall experience has been positive for me while shopping here. The sales and service representatives are all friendly and helpful, and the center is well-maintained and clean. They even have umbrellas available for use via the honor system, on rainy days. I like that there are high-end options mingled with basic options as well.

Clay Terrace is my go-to mall. At times, it has struggled to gain and retain tenants, but I think…read moreit has a phenomenal line up of popular brands - many of which have locations at the nearby Fashion Mall but decided there was value to open a Carmel location. A few personal favorites: Athletic Annex, Bath and Body Works, Dry Goods, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW, lululemon, Old Navy and Warby Parker. Not to mention, the dining options like Cafe Patachou, Upland Brewing, and more! Clay Terrace always has great events and programming, too - from summer concerts to trick-or-treating and visits with Santa. My only complaint is parking. There is limited - and highly coveted - parking in front of the stores, and most often you'll need to park in the larger lots in the back. On a busy weekend or during the holidays, it can get especially busy.

The art along the Monon Trail in downtown Carmel is fun and interesting. These giant bicycles were…read morecreated by Wiktor Szostalo, a Polish raised, now American, sculptor. The steel structure was completed in 2017. The conjoined disfigured bikes are a bit silly and childlike. The bikes sit envious, watching local athletes whiz by on high end racing bikes. The sculpture is surrounded by nice landscaping and occasional benches. The walkway is accessible for wheelchairs or strollers.

This is an attention-grabbing piece that was created by Wiktor Szostalo in 2017. It is constructed…read moreof stainless steel and corten and consists of three 8-foot tall colorful (Blue, orange, and pink) bicycles connected by a single handlebar. The bells on the bike actually work. It is also meant to be a structure for kids to safely climb or the public to rest. You will find it along the Monon Trail in Carmel. It is fitting that it is on a trail that is popular among bicyclists. The paint on the bikes is a bit dull, but I think that is by design. I really like this piece. It is simple, eye catching and placed appropriately. It needs no explanation and adds beauty to this area that the city has invested a lot into. There is free street parking right by the sculpture and a garage available to park within a very short walk. I know that this is probably not going to be a long stop. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip such as the Selfie Mural or the Sails sculpture that is right down the street.

This is a very busy location, so I'm not sure why they only have one kiosk in their lobby and such…read morea short counter for face-to-face service. I am pleased, however, by the size capacity of the package drop box. If items don't fit, you're then forced to stand in line to have the package scanned and collected by a desk clerk. The counter isn't long enough to accommodate one of those bins that you can toss the packages into behind the counter. This is often an option offered as other area locations.

Very clean and easy to use. Great parking and self service machines make it very easy to get in and…read moreout.

Wonderful community library! Free WiFi and lots of tables to study at. Love the drive-up book reread more

I have been to the Joyce Winner West Branch of CCPL a couple times. Joyce Winner was a local…read morephilanthropist and avid book reader. When she passed, her husband James Winner, seized the opportunity to support the newly constructed library in her honor. Joyce was well known in the community and within local book clubs. Today, her legacy is vivid throughout the beautiful library facility in West Clay. There is a photo of Joyce in the Children's Area of the library. The library is new, upscale with lot's of book-themed art and fixtures. The children's section has a great selection of colorful and award winning titles. There are study areas upstairs offering a quiet work space. And of course, there is free WiFi throughout out. The librarians are wonderfully helpful and engaging. This week, I took my granddaughter to the library. We read several books by the cozy fireplace in the sunroom area. I also read the daily newspapers. We picked up several of the monthly craft kits available to stimulate creativity of the patrons. My granddaughter also worked on the large mosaic puzzle that changes monthly in the library. Books that are not available at this branch can be ordered from other branches. There is street parking out front. This is a wonderful little library with a lot of interesting activities. Don't forget to pick up the Spice of the Month packet at the front desk (the April spice is rosemary).

Living in Indy my main reason to visit Carmel are the many restaurants here. Since Carmel still has…read moremore available space than Indianapolis and a higher median income it makes sense to find more of the upscale restaurants in this area. Parking is also much easier here, but getting here? Let's just say that the traffic in this neck of the woods can be quite atrocious.

Let's be honest. It's pretty easy (and fun) to make fun of Carmel, the growing urban city to the…read morenorth of Indy that is lower in crime, higher in income, and generally on way more "best city" lists than Indy will ever be. Yes, Carmel has a ridiculous amount of roundabouts. Yes, Carmel has a ridiculous amount of public art within those roundabouts. Yes, Carmel is more conservative than Indy politically. I'll even admit that I'm not particularly fond of the city center area and to this day I think that the Center for Performing Arts dropped the ball on accessibility concerns (though is improving). But, okay. When Carmel develops something, they maintain it (I'm looking at you Indy). The Monon Trail in Carmel is awesome. The Christkindlmarkt is nationally recognized for good reasons. There's a strong emphasis on quality of life in Carmel including abundant greenspaces and fitness options. Accessibility? While not perfect (again, looking at you Center for Performing Arts), it's pretty amazingly consistent and a definite emphasis (though I'll admit that I find Fishers even stronger). Whenever I find my Tenderness Tour wheeling through Carmel? I can nearly always get city leaders engaged. In Indy? Maybe. Maybe not. Hotels here are pretty awesome (though Carmel could use more affordable options). After many years under the leadership of Jim Brainard, Carmel elected Sue Finkam as mayor their last time around and, as expected, she's shaken things up a bit. The park system - wonderful. Again, maintained FAR better than Indy. City services seem strong - I can typically drive in Carmel during the winter even after a snow. The city is always clean. Are there issues? Of course. But, there's an awful lot to love about Carmel. But yeah, I'm still going to make fun of it.