Carmel, Indiana is quickly becoming one of Indiana’s visitors’ hot spots. What sports are to neighboring Indianapolis, the arts are to Carmel.
With the Center for the Performing Arts and the Arts & Design District for the art lovers, Monon Trail for the outdoor enthusiasts, and an active food scene for foodies, Carmel can add up to the perfect day for a family outing.
We started the morning early with breakfast on the City Center’s north side at Eggshell Bistro, where Chef Larry Hanes is creating a Euro-influenced oasis in the middle of Indiana.
Discovering Carmel Arts & Design District, hunting for just one more of J. Seward Johnson’s 17 life-size sculptures is like a scavenger hunt at its best.
If you prefer burgers, Bub’s Burgers & Ice Cream offers burgers hand-made from fresh ground chuck, never frozen. Then they’re flame-grilled.
After that one-pound burger, you’ll need some exercise to work it off. The 23-mile paved Monon Bike Trail connects Carmel to Indianapolis through Westfield and Sheridan.
That biking and hiking may have made you work up an appetite for a snack. Two options for sweet treats are the award-winning hand-made chocolates from XChocol’Art or a gluten-free, dairy-free bakery treat from No Label at the Table.
After a break and a quick change for the evening, there are several options for dinner in Carmel Arts & Design District.