Things To Do in Indiana

Each year, Native American Days draws crowds of 10,000–15,000 visitors to celebrate North America’s ancient cultures on the site of a former Mississippian settlement. After parking a car or roller-skating horse on-site, attendees can head to a performance area at the center of the grounds to take in traditional dancing, storytelling, and music, including performances by Estun-Bah, a musical group led by world-champion hoop dancer Tony Duncan. For an additional fee, a variety of workshops teach patrons time-tested skills such as archery, beadwork, and how to construct a drum out of a laptop case. Native American Days kicks off at 9 a.m. each day and lasts until 2 p.m. on September 23 and until 5 p.m. on September 24 and 25.

Mark Weghorst knows a thing or two about developing a sound golf game—the Carmel native played golf at Brebeuf Jesuit and went on to win the Mid-American Conference tournament as an individual while playing at Ohio's Miami University. After competing on several professional mini tours, Mark has returned to the Indianapolis area to help other golfers fine-tune their games. During lessons, golfers correct any flaws in their swings from Mark’s feedback, aided with V1 Pro video swing analysis and the trackman launch monitor . His lessons put to use all of the amenities at Zionsville Golf Practice Center, which has a driving range with heated stalls, a wedge range for short-game practice, and a plane board—a training device that helps golfers break the habit of slicing a shot into another dimension.

Hart City Scuba’s team of dive masters and instructors turn mere waders into full-blown explorers of the aquatic world. They achieve that through group and private scuba programs such as open water diver, rescue diver, and conversational mermaid. In addition, they can mend any dive gear gone awry and fill tanks with fresh O2.

The fluid motions of Pilates Plus' workouts release muscular tension, improve posture and flexibility as they tone physiques. Within the intimate studio—characterized by warm earth tones and soft lighting—Pilates equipment abounds, including foam support blocks and Reformer machines. The studio's classes range from traditional Pilates classes to yoga sessions and barre workouts, which mix Pilates and yoga with calisthenics and dance. Trainers oversee each workout, ensuring students strengthen their cores with proper form, rather than developing six-packs on their faces. Athletes seeking more one-on-one attention, however, can opt for private training sessions.

Mud oozes through fingers, toes, and other places mud should never ooze through during Mudathlon, a challenge that puts 3 miles and more than 40 obstacles between racers and the finish line. With multiple stops across the country, Mudathlon transforms its destinations into messy, muck-riddled swamplands, where participants ascend walls, zip down slides, and always end up in the same place—back in the mud. Course marshals stationed along each route keep feet moving in the right direction, and at the finish line, the top three male and female competitors receive Top Mudder awards for finishing fastest while ingesting the government’s daily recommended serving of mud. After the race, individuals and teams gather to celebrate at a country-themed party, which continues the festivities with live music, costume contests, and an abundance of food and beer.