Family Things to Do in Indianapolis: Easy Fun for Every Age at Bottleworks District

Getting the whole family to agree on plans can feel like an activity all its own.

Someone wants to do something. Someone wants to relax. Someone's hungry. And somebody will inevitably answer "I don't know" when you ask what they want to do. Here's the good part: you don't all have to want the same thing.

At Bottleworks District, family time can take whatever shape works for yours. Get your nails and hair done together. Pour your own candles. Go bowling. Step into virtual reality. Grab lunch. Catch a movie. Celebrate over dinner. Stay the night.

Located on Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis, Bottleworks makes it easy to turn a few simple plans into a full day together. If you're searching for family things to do in Indianapolis, start with a few of these.

1. Start With a Little You Time, Together

Not every family outing needs a scoreboard.

Plan a mother-daughter manicure or pedicure at The W Nail Bar, then head to Drybar for blowouts and make a day of getting ready together.

Or trade beauty time for something hands-on at Penn & Beech Candle Co. Choose your favorite fragrances, create a custom scent and pour a candle that's completely your own. The process takes about an hour, which leaves plenty of day for whatever comes next.

Maybe that next stop is simply coffee.

Grab your drinks at Blue Collar Coffee Co., find a spot to sit and catch up before deciding where the day goes from there.

Mother and daughter. Sisters. Grandparents and grandkids. A family birthday. There's no one right way to spend time together.

2. Turn Up the Competition

Now for the family members who would rather keep score.

At Pins Mechanical Co., challenge each other to duckpin bowling, pinball, arcade games and more. It's easy to bounce between activities, which means the bowler, gamer and person who claims they're "just watching" can all find something to do.

Then take the competition into another reality.

Sandbox VR combines full-body motion capture with immersive virtual reality, putting your group inside the experience instead of in front of a screen. Work together, take on a challenge and find out which family member you really want on your team when things get weird.

Still not ready to call it? Save Living Room Theaters for later. After a day of moving, playing and exploring, a movie and a comfortable seat might be exactly what everyone needs.

3. Make the Meal Part of the Family Fun

Eventually, somebody's going to say it.

"I'm hungry."

For an easy lunch, head to The Garage Food Hall, where everyone can find their own favorite and meet back at the table. One person wants a burger. Someone else wants something completely different. Nobody has to win the restaurant debate.

But some family days call for something a little more special.

Celebrating a birthday, milestone or simply having everyone together? Make a reservation at Piedra Mexican Steakhouse. Its contemporary take on Mexican cuisine and striking setting turn dinner into part of the occasion, not just the meal between activities.

That's one of the best parts of spending the day at Bottleworks. Family time can be casual, celebratory or a little of both.

4. Turn Family Day into a Family Getaway

Who says everyone has to go home?

Book a night at Bottleworks Hotel and turn your day downtown into a family staycation. The boutique hotel sits right in the middle of the District, so your room can become home base between everything else you have planned.

Check in, explore the District and come back when everyone is ready to recharge.

Hotel guests also get an extra reason to play: show your room key at Pins Mechanical Co. and enjoy a free game of duckpin bowling.

Then wake up the next morning, grab coffee at Blue Collar and decide if you're actually ready to leave.

5. Build The Family Day That Works For Yours

The best family plans aren't always the ones packed with the most activities. They're the ones everyone remembers.

Maybe yours starts with coffee and candle pouring. Maybe it's nails and blowouts followed by a mother-daughter lunch. Maybe the kids want bowling and VR before everyone meets back up for dinner. Or maybe you check into Bottleworks Hotel, put the car away and make a whole weekend of it.

Bottleworks District brings dining, entertainment, shopping, services and a boutique hotel together in one walkable destination on Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis.

Come with a plan. Change it halfway through.

That's part of the fun.

FAQs

What are some fun family things to do in Indianapolis?

Bottleworks District gives you several ways to play within one walkable destination on Mass Ave. Try duckpin bowling and games at Pins Mechanical Co., book a multiplayer experience at Sandbox VR, grab food and drinks throughout the District, or catch a movie at Living Room Theaters. Mix and match a few and you've got an entire afternoon or night covered.

What can families do at Bottleworks District besides eat?

Plenty. Plan manicures at The W Nail Bar, get blowouts at Drybar, make custom candles at Penn & Beech, bowl and play games at Pins Mechanical Co., try Sandbox VR, shop around the District or see a movie at Living Room Theaters.

Can you plan a family staycation at Bottleworks District?

Yes. Bottleworks Hotel sits within the District, making it easy to turn a day of dining, entertainment and exploring into an overnight stay in downtown Indianapolis. Hotel guests can also show their room key at Pins Mechanical Co. for a free game of duckpin bowling.

Is Bottleworks District good for celebrating a family birthday or special occasion?

Absolutely. Build the occasion around an activity like candle pouring, bowling or a movie, then make dinner part of the celebration. For something more elevated, Piedra Mexican Steakhouse offers a contemporary Mexican dining experience right in the District.

Make Time for Your People

A family day doesn't need one perfect itinerary. Pick what sounds good, bring your favorite people and make the day yours.

Explore the District and start planning your day.