INDIANAPOLIS: Forget What You’ve Heard: Indiana's Capital City Is Awesome

We spent a day Indianapolis, Indiana. I explored the beautiful downtown, and marveled at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. I did a drive tour through some neighborhoods in East and West Indianapolis. I drove by both the Indianapolis Speedway and then prestigious Kessler-Meridian neighborhood. Finally, we toured the Indians State Capital. One thing I noticed - the streets of the city are riddled with potholes.
Travel Vlog #81

[@heartsolesneakerclub7829]

As someone who lives in LA area and visits SF, it's pretty insane to me how clean the downtown area is

[@Oden-Heinrich]

Yeah, living where you do.. I'm sure it seems foreign

[@daveb8449]

Love your videos. Indy is a great place! The thing that struck me the most were the miles and miles of historic districts and mansions. Truly impressive!

[@jonathanmonks8362]

I grew up in a Northern suburb of Indy and I can attest that it's a great city. As to the potholes, Indy has to deal with ice on a regular basis and uses copious amounts of salt to do so. Honestly, the roads (especially the highways) are constantly being repaved and it's just an insurmountable tasks to fix all of the non major arteries. I would also argue that the majority of residents and people who work in downtown Indy actually live in the Suburbs outside of the 465 Highway loop. 465 is basically the de-facto County line of Marion County which is what Indianapolis resides in. Meaning that a lot of the money that would normally be used to fix roads (property taxes and etc) resides and is put to use in neighboring Counties around Indy and not Marion County itself. Unfortunately, this is due to what has been nicknamed the "white flight" of the 1970's and 1980's. That and the "brain drain" of the graduates of the great Universities in the state are issues that Indiana has been trying to grapple with for 50 plus years. It was somewhat surprising that you didn't explore museum row (NCAA Hall of Fame, Eiteljorg Museum of Native History, and Indy Museum of Art) and Victory Field (AAA affiliate Indianapolis Indians and constantly rated as the best minor league stadium in the country) while downtown.

[@0326Hambone]

Love the details you shared, however I465 was the "city limits" before Uni-Gov in the 1980s. Nowadays Indy includes all of Marion County stretching to Avon, Greenwood, Cumberland, and Fishers/Carmel. The state really shafts Marion County when it comes to funding for roads works, as it's budgeted on a "per mile basis" and doesn't account for the number of lanes in each direction, nor other amenities like bike lanes, sidewalks, medians, etc.

[@tararenner235]

You missed one of the other most popular names for Indy - the Circle City, referencing the monument circle you visited. I've lived here for 30 years, and while Indiana is not fabulous, I do like Indianapolis. Thank you for highlighting some of the interesting areas and giving folks a nice overview. I wish our city would put more focus on culture and the arts rather than sports, but overall it's a good place to live. Love your channel!

[@rahimi4762]

It not only Terence’s the monument but also 469 that goes around the city

[@ccahill8442]

WooHoo, my city! Yes, the roads are horrible but we have a few things going for us. Thank you for perspective review. I learned a few new things to explore. Stay safe!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We liked Indy much more than we thought we would. Really, the only negative I could find was those roads! :)

[@briansmith48]

I'm surprised he didn't go to the south side. He could have looked at the houses the two chicks and a hammer have worked on. I watch their show Good Bones. It appears that neighborhood has taken an upswing since the renovation craze started around fountain square.

[@aimxdy8680]

The roads are not as bad as they were a decade ago lol, I-65 used to be filled with potholes until it got repaved in 2019, 2017 for the Rural parts. Indy has to catch up on local streets, their interstate system has vastly improved, most noticeably I-465 unless you go to the southside.

[@blikkiesvdm]

Beautiful city, so clean. Love it, Thank you Lord Spoda.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for watching, Bessie!

[@brucekrause2801]

Wonderful downtown. So much to see and do , all walkable. Zoo, canal, Soldiers Monument , museums, restaurants, beautiful architecture, Whole Foods, white river state park. I plan to visit again this year. I'd really like to move there.

[@keyup2626]

What a beautiful down town.the fountain was spectacular.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It was awesome, keyup. The camera doesn’t really capture it’s awesomeness.

[@2007NissanAltima]

Cool clean affordable city

[@placeswelive5388]

These potholes are of the bomb-crater variety.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

They were!

[@johnhunt5542]

I live outside of Pittsburgh Pa now but grew up in Indianapolis . I miss Nap Town a lot . It’s a great city and the people there are friendly . I have traveled extensively throughout the US for work . Indy has one of the nicest downtown areas of any city that I have visited. I miss Home !

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Freaking beautiful center of the city and the memorial! Even on a not so sunny day.

[@wanderingnomad6142]

One of the more underrated big markets in the US. Great city. Maybe what keeps it great is that it's underrated? :) I believe so.

[@Oden-Heinrich]

Big market & Indianapolis aren't even close lol

[@kujo7777]

Love your channel. I've lived in Indy for decades and learned some things. Nice to know I'm not alone on the potholes. Also we have a really nice minor league baseball park next time you're in town, Victory Field is worth checking out imo.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Except for those terrible roads, Indy was a great city! Awesome downtown, the way the capital building leads into the soldier/sailor monument, which itself was amazing. I expected much worse. It's crazy to me that a city that hosts the biggest car race in the world, which by definition needs a perfect road, has those awful roads throughout the city. Makes no sense!!

[@johnfarmerfarmer4901]

I find it funny that Joe found out about 42nd and Post road. It is hard to believe , but in the 1960's and maybe 1970's the east side was a great place to live. There are still good neighborhoods like Irvington on the east side. Thanks for providing a fair and honest portrayal of Indy.

[@wmw3629]

The Eastside has suffered the loss of many more industries than any other parts of the city!

[@RobBastien]

Man!! Visiting all 50 states must be one expensive adventure but I'm sure worth every penny. What a great idea..Lucky you.

[@maynardsmoreland]

I'll bet the Indianapolis Speedway has no potholes.

[@christyb7455]

😂you’re right

[@thomasvlaskampiii6850]

Nah, there's potholes. They're just in the edges of the turns where no one drives

[@xt000ggang7]

Oh yeah beautiful roads almost perfect.

[@organicsoul2269]

There’s potholes everywhere in Indianapolis well 5 years ago lol

[@thomasvlaskampiii6850]

@@organicsoul2269 The potholes are gone. But so are the roads

[@EwetoobSucks]

You both be Safe out there !

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for that!

[@DuckOfRubber]

In addition to the Colts, Pacers, and the speedway, Indianapolis is also headquarters of the NCAA and hosts the Final Four on a 5 year rotation. The reason it seems like the Final Four is constantly in Indianapolis is because it is. It is also at the geographic center of the Big Ten Conference so it frequently hosts conference championship tournaments and games.

[@CaptainHowdy1969]

Hey Spoda!...here's some info on Indy that you didn't mention and you may not know about...Indianapolis was the first auto manufacturing hub of the nation before being passed up by Detroit Michigan...and Cummins diesel was started in Indianapolis and some of the very first Indy cars had Cummins diesel engines in em'...considering the stadium you showed us was the Lucas oil stadium it totally makes sense that Lucas oil would have there name on a stadium in a city that was the very first auto manufacturing hub in the nation and where Cummins diesel was born...very apropos indeed...

[@rimcharmon]

Actually, Cummins started in Columbus, Indiana, about an hour south of Indy. My father worked for them his entire career, spending some of that time in the plant that was built around the original home of the founder.

[@owengan9821]

Joe&Nick, I enjoyed your show tremendously. I feel like I am traveling through USA personally by watching your videos. Kansas City Missouri you visited has a great World War Memorial and a great part of the beautiful city like the Plaza should be visited if you decide to return to KC again! Thank you!

[@raylemar2386]

I live in Indy and I love it.

[@DavidNorrisAugur]

You should have walked around to the other side of the capital building. The Stargate and fountains back there along with the walk are pretty awesome.

[@Maria-fz1mu]

Looks nice. Very clean and people are outside which it's good 👍😊

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

Thanks for the tour of Indy. Seems to be a dramatic change from downtown to suburbs (including density of potholes!).

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Impressive and beautiful downtown.

[@bobfitzpatrick8952]

Quite nice...I spotted buildings that I've worked in. Been living here since 1977.

[@dvferyance]

Years ago I went on a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium it was fun.

[@user-fm2ib8wz8b]

Makes me proud to be a Hoosier. The mayor of this nice clean city is a family friend. His name is Joe Hogsett. Joe and my mom grew up together in Rushville Indiana. The pot holes is due to the constant freeze/ thaw cycle during the winter. My aunts lives on the north side of Indiana ( carmel) .

[@nuancedliars112]

Sadly Ryan Mears has allowed the city to get violent. Dems don't mind blacks killing each-other and their babies.

[@sharksport01]

Psycho Joe!

[@user-fm2ib8wz8b]

@sharksport01 not a nice thing to say about him. He and my mom are good friends and he IS NOT psycho.

[@hoosierproud7718]

He is a awful mayor. Completely has destroyed the city, so different from Ballard's day of mayor

[@sharksport01]

@hoosierproud7718 Yes. The city used to be known for how clean it was, now it's a trash dump. Garbage everywhere, even the highways. So embarrassing. Joe Hogshitt.

[@petersparksandbeaches9364]

Very nice video sir and truly appreciated as I live here in Indianapolis for the last 29 years originating in New York. Cost of living excellent on a comparative national scale and a lot of jobs. I will say though, you must have caught downtown on a good day. Trash generally abounds on the streets and come at night to see many homeless everywhere 😮😢.

[@bartsmith3219]

My wife & her friend from college will be going to Indy in a few months. Thanks for the heads up on the potholes.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It's crazy how bad they are! :)

[@noahsgrandma]

I live close to downtown. It's so beautiful around Christmas time. I love to go downtown and see the xmas tree and all the lights. Horse drawn carriage rides as well.

[@annies805]

I do have to hand it to Indiana, with the massive amount of roads here, they do better plowing the roads than some of the cold weather states I've lived in, and, unfortunately, those plows do their share of damage to the roads. So, in this sports state, you get dodge potholes or car hocky, take your pick!😊

[@greatlakemommy545]

I love your channel. You should visit to Art street wall murals around in Indianapolis and Broad Ripples area. I used to live in Indy in my childhood. I raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I would suggest you go visit to Fort Wayne to see Wells Streets with art murals, downtown, North Anthony plaza to Purdue Universality of Fort Wayne and also Tincaps at downtown and many more. The best time to go there in nice warm sunshine weather instead raining. Do your research about Fort Wayne Art Museum, MLK bridge, Headwaters, and Art Street murals before you come to visit.

[@Lesrevesdhiver]

constant road work in Indy yet the condition of the roads never seems to improve.

[@nuancedliars112]

To the untrained eye.

[@postmodern67]

We do have minor league baseball and a beautiful ball park downtown. As well, our soccer team is getting a new 20,000 seat stadium.

[@simsimhu]

Nice downtown

[@NagginNuggs]

I'm from Fort Wayne, and you guys should definitely pay us a visit next time you're in the area!

[@jessallen7756]

Indianapolis does have professional baseball....The AAA Indianapolis Indians......

[@davidfrank5904]

I like your videos a lot. Keep up the great work. I have one correction to make regarding the professional sports teams. Indianapolis has a professional baseball team. They are the Indians and they are a triple A minor league team. They have a beautiful stadium just outside of downtown. Maybe you meant to say that Indianapolis does not a MLB team, which is true.

[@WhittyPics]

I visited Indianapolis in 1987 for a Investors Daily seminar. I remember it because it was before the 87 stock market crash

[@WhittyPics]

Pothole capital of the world. I guess they don't fix roads in Indy

[@BigGator5]

Never ask "Just How Bad...?" question, because God will come back with a definite: "THIS Bad!"

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Indeed. :)

[@coollakeroadsatrap5370]

If you have even a passing interest in architecture, get a free guided tour of the Scottish Rite cathedral. You will never forget this building, makes the capital look like a mud hut.

[@joewhlm]

The nitty gritty circle city.

[@kathyrnsorensen3571]

born in small city Auburn Nebraska, lived growing up in Seattle Tacoma, now live in Phoenix AZ. I left Seattle to my brothers in Phoenix , took a bus to Indianapolis waited for my friend from Fort Wayne to pick me up from Greyhound , scary place , spent 8 years in New Haven Indiana couldn't wait to leave, now live in Phoenix AZ, Californias ran the house in WA price so high I can;t afford to live there now it's happening to Arizona! I hear Calis are doing it to Tennessee also!

[@marthalilly3689]

I love the state passport…I need to get one

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

They are cool! Every capital has them.

[@Heavymetalpunk]

We are also missing hockey as well as baseball

[@warrenscarlett9302]

👍👍👍

[@smokert5555]

You mentioned not having a professional baseball team in Indy. I have to point out a AAA MLB team (Indians) have been in town for a long, long time. If you toured around the downtown area at all, you would have noticed Victory Field, one of the nicest AAA ballparks in the country.

[@smokert5555]

@Tony Taylor Facts are what you can demonstrate to be true. The Indians have been around longer than the Pacers or the Colts and are still thriving. They've also won more AAA championships that the other teams combined. That would indicate it's not as boring as you make it out to be.

[@richardhaney7131]

I was told by a lady that she did not know what shockabosers was until they moved to Oklahoma City. Some places are worse that others.

[@noahsgrandma]

It's also called The Circle City

[@christyb7455]

I live about 15 mins from Indianapolis and the roads are horrible 😩😩

[@dekelly7726]

I can believe that are whole mall parking lot on the Eastside of Indy is covered with pot holes.🕳️

[@nuancedliars112]

Far eastside is being ruined by rat people.

[@501764727]

Jesus! And I thought Milwaukee roads were bad! Lol

[@williamrowlands1789]

Is Fort Ben Harrison still outside Indy? I was stationed there with the Army for about 6 months back in 1972 before shipping over to Germany. I remember they had a huge military finance building there second in size to only the Pentagon. Huge base from what I remember.

[@citrustaco]

Fort Ben closed many years ago. But small businesses have cropped up there to offset the base closing.

[@tsf5-productions]

Fort Ben officially closed in 1990. It is in Marion County's (Indianapolis) township called, Lawrence Township, which was founded in 1822 and named after Commander, James Lawrence, who said: "Don't give up the ship" after he fell fatally wounded on the American frigate ship "Chesapeake" while engaged in battle with the British ship "Shannon" on June 1, 1813, during the War of 1812 events. A bit of Hoosier history here: At first, before it finally became Lawrence (Township) it was a small community called "Germantown" which was laid out in 1834 along the Marion County-Hamilton County line. Two small communities sprang up from an area called Lanesville, which were Lawrence and Oaklandon...which were areas of an area traveled called "Pendleton Pike" (S.R. 67) . As to Fort Benjamin Harrison...it was named after U.S. President, Benjamin Harrison - 23rd U.S. President who served from 1889 - 1893. Harrison was born in 1833, and died in 1901. He's buried at Indianapolis's famous known cemetery, Crown Hill, near the base of the steep hill called "Strawberry Hill" where on its summit lies "the Hoosier Poet" James Whitcomb Riley. Oh...Benjamin was grandson to William Henry Harrison, the 9th U.S. President, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Fort Harrison was founded in 1903. I lived in Lawrence Township from 1961 - 1976. Went to elementary, junior high, and high school there...just a short way to one of the main Army base entrances. Those were great years for me living around Indianapolis!

[@hoosierproud7718]

Great golf course at Ft. Ben and great park as well, it's really beautiful

[@tararenner235]

Although the military no longer uses Ft. Ben, it is now a nice state park with an attached hotel and conference center.

[@misterliquidcity]

The potholes are horrible. And indianapolis as a whole has went way down hill. Homicides here rival Chicago. Not much good to say about this place at all.

[@ColtsMan2005]

Maybe if you live in the shittiest part of town. But most of the city is safe

[@trongriffinproductions7159]

I can't believe they allow people to get so close to the Lt. Governor and Governor's office without any police around.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Every capital we visit, 25 so far, has easy access to the Governor's office. I think he has to be available to the people? Not sure. But we always make it a point to go to that office.

[@trongriffinproductions7159]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Okay.

[@RaiderFace7-16]

Oh we have A LOT OF HOMELESS outside of downtown is way different ghetto surrounds the whole downtown

[@nuancedliars112]

Our city is beautiful. People are better than those in Chicago. People are so nice.

[@xt000ggang7]

There ya go post and 42nd

[@nuancedliars112]

Hardly the city, rats over there.

[@corbinwalker7543]

Yeah we just had a 14 year old shoot 7 people in our mall downtown and as you pointed out our violent crime here per capita is worse than Chicago. if any of you are thinking of moving to indy just don't, move to Geist, Carmel, or Fishers instead its cleaner, better schools, the roads are maintained, crime in these areas are practically nonexistent, and it overall just has a better feel and sense of community!

[@opey956]

Speaking of Indiana water, for the local folks, what about the water? I hear the water doesn’t smell very good I’m Indianapolis, and is possible contaminated? Though the government says it’s safe 😅 …. Thoughts?

[@user-mc2si7zp9f]

Perhaps I missed it, but if not was there a specific reason why you didn't give the stats for Indianapolis Indiana.

[@bradleysmith1566]

You guys forget that a pay phone is dead until you put money in it. Once you put in a dime or quarter--whatever is required--you hear a ring tone.

[@DuckOfRubber]

Calling the Bank One Tower, Salesforce Tower is kinda like calling the Sears Tower, Willis Tower. Technically correct but nobody’s going to know what you’re talking about.

[@waltkeast9777]

Downtown full of people? I never saw it.

[@yup735]

you did our circle monument justice thank you , but not the rest of the city haha , theres plenty of nice areas in Indy (Indnpls) please see Greenwood Southport Southside , Lovely safe Westside Girl school road , its gotten very big now that brings gangs and crime but theres nice areas of course the Nort is pricey , still thank you for your credit and recognition for our monument :)

[@briansmith48]

I've been watching this show on HGTV, Good Bones. It's two ladies fixing up house's around south Indianapolis fountain square area. I was just wondering how much of their work contributed to Indianapolis housing market / betterment of Indy's south side?

[@davidford8474]

Just subscribe to your yals channel

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome!

[@jvegas3209]

I live in indy worst streets in America. Canyon size holes everywhere!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I've been to 92 US cities in the past 9 months as of now and yes, Indianapolis' roads and potholes are the worst in the country! I don't get it - this is the home of the Indy 500, a CAR racing town! You'd think that roads would be a priority, if for image alone!

[@korey6729]

Can't afford road construction. The city still has 15 more years of payments on the RCA Dome they tore down 14 years ago, plus the Lucas Oil Stadium payments. I bet Jim Irsay's neighbor road don't have pot holes.

[@stevewheatley243]

I live in Indy and it's pothole city. The salt on the road eats up your shock towers so the crater's can finish off your car. SMH.

[@xt000ggang7]

Lol when u walk around the circle your fine when i walk down south a little tho

[@ciciknight4175]

If you're in Indiana, whether southern or north, why not show Martinsville or/and Madison County? Bedford, Lawrence, Linton, Terre Haute and several others ... Why not, you're in the southern part of the state, why do you 'bypass' these areas?

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I haven’t bypassed them. I haven’t got to them yet, but will be soon.

[@rickrichards9570]

what about the murder rate ?

[@musclecarsforever]

speedway/haughville is ehhh..wouldnt wanna live there or be out at night. eastside inner and outer 465 are horrible., worse than the west side. during covid downtown was a mess, there were tons of homeless camps, needles, and trash

[@mwalker3547]

Stay strapped if you go anywhere in Indy.

[@nuancedliars112]

Black people are dangerous

[@notray4802]

fake tough guy

[@nuancedliars112]

@@notray4802 I mean it's not that dangerous but the criminals to need to know that they're not the only ones with guns

[@roybrewer6583]

Here in the UK we are well versed in negotiating potholes, back in the 70's streets in my hometown looked very similar. They have improved, but you can still easily find hotspots in this old industrial town. I wonder where the road maintenance funds are going, because they're not being spent on Indiana's roads. One thing I hate about your roads is the lack of kerbs and pavements ( a sidewalk is an action, not a thing, lol ). The roads look permanently unfinished as tarmac runs into grass and dirt, I will never like the appearance, it upsets my architectural sensitivity, as I have worked in construction all my life. I agree the downtown area is very nice, but not beautiful, there are too many bare monolithic facades and simple tall blocks for my decidedly European taste.

[@aklanpinoy6717]

LOL at this comment! You heard of the saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" And "kerbs?" Curbs! What exactly is a European "taste?"

[@roybrewer6583]

@@aklanpinoy6717 The USA predominantly follows the modern styles of the 20th century, whereas European style is mixed and grown over thousands of years from the stone age, through vernacular, medieval, renaissance, classical, baroque, modernism and high tech, and post modern, to name just a few of the many architectural styles found across Western Europe. So, we don't like concrete blocks and tin sheds or matchstick houses. The infrastructure of the public realm is very poor, anything hit by car crumples and collapses, and ugly tree trunks carrying electric power lines sag from one leaning pole to the next. I leant on a street sign in New York and it bent in half, poor quality and design and made to maximize profit. Apart from those "minor" issues, the urban environment in the USA looks like it's been designed by a cereal box manufacturer and nobody who knows how to bury utilities underground. Hehe, that's all folks! 🤣😜🐒

[@NaShanClay]

Tell folks but some units on Brentwood next time on 42nd and Post Road. Towne and Terrace Condominiums but it’s crime but speak of the good…. Kinda disagree with this video due to being from Post Road… you drive through the neighborhood speaking of the bad highlighting us in a negative image. Why not ride through the North side and show the bad there?

[@johnfifer1418]

Every white person who makes a video about indy does the same thing, i work out south and all i see are white dope fiends walking around like zombies, white people always make it their business to try and show the bad sides of everyone els but themselves.

[@churchillmugosero9556]

Visit kenya

[@INDYANDY4C]

Yeah, duh,you’re coming in from the North. YDKS! Ask us to tell you what’s what!the Banc One Tower isn’t impressive at all! The 500 is the largest single day sporting event in the Entire World!

[@thebigskyguy]

Uninspiring skyline. Looks flat, bland, dull. I have heard their art museum is great.

[@wmw3629]

Your gushing over almost everything is way over the top. I carried mail here for over 35 years, and I can tell you it’s not all that fabulous!