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This marks another addition to the regular feature here at little Indiana: Indiana Blogs! If you are an Indiana Blogger, please use the contact form and send me an email. You may be featured right here on little Indiana.
Indiana Blogs: Indy with Kids
Indiana blog Indy with Kids is exploring her new home in the city–and taking her kids along for the ride.
This family of five is uncovering the hidden places in and around Indianapolis where kids can go and be…well, kids!
If you are looking for great ideas on what to do in the big city, you can probably find plenty of pointers from today’s Featured Hoosier Blogger.
Indiana Blogs: Indy with Kids
Why did you start Indy with Kids?
I’ve been blogging for about 15 years. The way I have blogged has changed a lot in that time, I started posting letters to family members on a website whenever I traveled, then I journaled on several different online journaling platforms and finally I got what is now known as a BLOG!
For a long time I wrote about my neighbors, my friends, my family, my observations of Indiana (from a born and raised in Southern California perspective) and then one day I hit the big time.
I had a website that featured photos of homes in Indiana that were extravagantly decorated for Christmas. Each one had a commentary written by me with a complete list of violations. These were all based on conversations that my friends and I would have as we drove around looking at Christmas lights. Tacky Christmas Yards became a worldwide hit and I was interviewed for radio stations, television stations and newspapers around the country.
I was coined everything from a financial expert to a scrooge to a homeowners association hero. Those 15 minutes of fame we so much fun.
In 2010 I had a baby and decided to take my observations and my love of writing about stuff around me to a different level. I wanted to be a hometown hero and help families spend time together, make memories and try new things. Indy with Kids was born and it has just been such a great ride!
The people I’ve met, the things I’ve done, the places I’ve been…there’s just nothing better!
What about that name? Why Indy with Kids?
Jen, one of my close friends from my high school days in California started a website in Pensacola, Florida called Pensacola with Kids. I LOVED reading about all of the things to do in Pensacola and the name was just so perfect for the service she was providing.
Jen was so encouraging and helpful to me over the past few years and when she let me use the Indy equivalent name, I was so thrilled. Really, the name speaks so much to who the audience is; people in Indy with Kids – grandparents, parents, caregivers, aunts and uncles
What are three of your most favorite posts?
My most favorite posts vary from season to season but I chose these three because they were full of some favorite memories for my family.
- Marott Park for Creek Stomping – This was our first outing in Indianapolis with Baby Scout (born Summer 2012). We had a great time, it was a free activity and two year old Lulu had a blast!
- Weekend at Indiana Dunes – This post features the itinerary from our first vacation with both kids. It doesn’t take place in Indianapolis BUT it’s not too far of a drive for a weekend getaway for Indy with Kids families.
- Wild Animal Safari Park in Port Clinton, Ohio – Another great thing about Indianapolis is that we are a day trip drive from so many different places, including other states! I bought tickets from an online daily deal to this Safari Park thinking it was in Cincinnati. WRONG! It took us over 6 hours to get to Port Clinton, Ohio (near Cedar Point). We did it as a day trip but I would NEVER do that again! I WOULD return BUT I would NEVER do it round trip in one day! Crazy town!
What keeps you ready and raring to post? Why do you blog?
I just love the feedback from the Indy with Kids community. I’ve meet such great people and I’ve seen so many others connect through our Facebook page and at events. This is what keeps me going.
I’m providing a service that is helping families grow together, try new things and appreciate their community, the services it offers and the people in it. I LOVE this!
What would you like others to know about exploring the city with kids?
It’s easier than you think! I’m not saying it’s always easy BUT if I can haul two kids under the age of three around while being pregnant, anyone can! There’s so much to do and so much to see! When I was a kid, if I told my dad I was bored, he’d say, “Then you must be a boring person.” This sentiment is what helps push me everyday. How can you be bored when you live in or near Indianapolis?!
This is one of the greatest cities in the world! I can understand if you need a little help finding the right match for your day and your kids but please, please don’t tell me there’s nothing to do or that you and your kids are bored!
Have you discovered anything surprising in your travels around the city that you didn’t expect and that caught you off-guard?
I’m constantly surprised with the IndyParks system as well as all of the other parks and recreation programs all around. There are no other parks like ours in the entire world, I’m sure of it.
I mean, in addition to all of the pools and splash parks and gardens and ice skating rinks and skate parks, we have a SOAP BOX DERBY HILL! Not only that but it’s one of the longest tracks in the whole country!
If you could have a day WITHOUT kids, what would you do? Where would you go?
If I could have a day without kids and I wasn’t pregnant (like I have been for the past three years), I would go to every winery I could. My husband and I used to just jump in the car and drive as far as we could and hit as many Indiana wineries as possible.
In addition to the best parks, we just might have some of the best wineries, and they offer FREE tastings!
Is there anything else that you would like little Indiana readers to know about you or your blog?
Indy with Kids is not just an event aggregate website, most of the time I will weave reflections of my life and childhood in California into my new reality of Indianapolis living.
There’s more story involved than just a listing of stuff to do. Yes, we have a calendar that anyone can submit events to but each highlighted event or place is hand selected to be featured because it meant something to our family.
Family Fun in Indianapolis
For those of you living in Indianapolis, you’ll love the slew of kid-friendly ideas! Thanks to Katy for sharing Indy with Kids today.
Find pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream or on the new little Indiana Tumblr blog.
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