Delaware Trails - Indianapolis, IN Area Guide

The area of Delaware Trail has a relatively short history as a residential neighborhood north of downtown Indianapolis. Residential construction and development didn’t begin until the 1920s. The Meridian Hills Country Club, a centerpiece and meeting point in the neighborhood, was built in 1923 and later adopted by Delaware Trail in the early 1930s. Today, the area contains a mixed demographic, with many of the older and more expensive homes occupied by wealthy and predominantly elderly middle-class residents. Art enthusiasts enjoy taking classes at the nearby Indianapolis Art Center located just east of Broad Ripple Village. Adults can enroll in various course offerings such as sculpting, pottery and 2-d art. Although Broad Ripple hosts many popular events throughout the year, the annual Broad Ripple Art Fair remains the best-attended. The fair includes art, live entertainment and food vendors from local and regional artists for a weekend in May.

Due to the primarily residential nature of Delaware Trail, most restaurants and bars require a short trip outside the neighborhood. The closest, and arguably the best, place to go for eating out and grabbing a few drinks with friends is Broad Ripple Village, located just east of the neighborhood. Three Sisters Cafe acts as the area's most popular spot for breakfast and brunch. Some crowd favorites here include the Mom egg scramble and the multigrain pancakes. The restaurant has also been featured on the famous TV show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" for its savory D’nai ham sandwich. Perfect for an affordable and casual meal, this quaint little cafe consistently retains its reputation for holding down the brunch scene in Broad Ripple.

Those looking to broaden their culinary horizons should check out Brugge Brasserie, a small French pub, brewery and restaurant located at the east end of Broad Ripple. Specializing in French cuisine, this pub serves well-known classics such as mussels and pomme frites, baguette sandwiches and crepes. Try ordering the l’enorme frittes as an appetizer to share, and experiment with the numerous offerings of homemade dipping sauces for these deliciously thin fries. With a dimly lit interior and cozy pub atmosphere, Brugge Brasserie makes for a nice place to bring a date or even just grab a beer with an old friend.

Along with innovative restaurants, Broad Ripple Village has long been known for its emphasis on local music. This is evident in the weekly options of live music in bars and pubs throughout the area. However, when it comes to catching a show on the weekend, The Vogue Theater beats out the competition. In one of the most historic buildings in the area, The Vogue has long served as an entertainment hub for the north side of Indianapolis. In addition to live bands, the venue also hosts DJs and dancing some nights. Check the website ahead of time to see what’s coming up each week.

If you’re not looking for the entertainment experience of The Vogue, Kilroy’s Bar N’ Grill can meet all your no-frills, sports-bar needs. Located in the heart of Broad Ripple Village, Kilroy’s has swiftly become one of the most popular bars on the strip, especially on weekends. With drink specials every night of the week, people flock to its bars for cheap beverages and good times. Tuesday nights prove to be especially popular because well drinks and bottled beers are only $2 a piece.

As a whole, the residents of Delaware Trail remain dependent on cars and other motor vehicles for travel. The neighborhood lies just out of walking distance of most surrounding amenities such as restaurants, bars and retail shops. Some residents may choose to bike on one of the few cycling lanes near the area, but this proves to be a rare form of transportation. The nearest bike lane lies on Capitol Avenue and runs south toward downtown, with the Illinois Avenue bike lane running parallel to the north.

The main bus line of the IndyGo service runs along Hoover Road through the neighborhood. If you need a taxi, call ahead for a ride or use an alternative service such as Uber. Highway access can be found by taking 62nd Street west to merge onto Interstate 65. As the neighborhood comprises mainly residential homes and roads, parking can usually be found along the streets for free.

Holliday Park has long acted as the neighborhood's most popular and developed public area. With 94 acres of land, this park includes a large children's playground, hiking trails along the White River and a nature center. The nature center provides an interactive learning experience for children to learn more about Indiana wildlife such as flowers, birds and insects. Moreover, the nature center also includes a wildflower garden with different samples of plant species.

The numerous trails running through the park provide a great space to walk dogs for exercise. Entrance to Holliday Park remains free, and parking spaces usually can be found without any trouble. Upon entering the park, guests will find plenty of open, grassy areas for a picnic or even a game of football. Special events occurring at this park include a free summer concert series and an annual trail run to support the maintenance and development of this community run area.

The cost of living in Delaware Trail ranks considerably lower than the national average cost and similar to other neighborhoods in and suburbs of Indianapolis. The unusually low cost of living mainly arises from the low rent prices in the area. A one-bedroom residence typically rents for around $615 a month. Residents of this neighborhood also pay less for transportation on average, with gas prices falling about 11 percent lower than the national average cost. The price for a return ticket on the IndyGo bus service is $4 per person. If you’re going out the bars, expect to pay about $4 for a pint of beer.

Not many shops have chosen to set up business within the area of Delaware Trail. Instead, residents choose to head over to Broad Ripple Village for all their browsing desires. Broad Ripple Vintage serves the area as the trendiest, vintage boutique around. This small and locally owned shop contains second-hand and new clothing for all sorts of styles from 1970s hippies to 1990s grunge items. Clothes and accessories can usually be found at bargain prices, so be sure to check the sales racks for an extra special deal.

For those looking for something a little more practical, a trip to Rusted Moon Outfitters should fulfill any camping and outdoor needs. As a locally owned outdoors shop, Rusted Moon carries both name-brand and independently owned outdoor gear such as tents, sleeping bags, packs, kayaks and more. Geared toward both the outdoor enthusiast and the casual car-camper, Rusted Moon contains all the right gear to make your next adventure fun, safe and totally efficient.

Surrounding stores for grocery shopping include the usual selection of Marsh and Kroger supermarkets. However, the area includes a few notable specialty stores as well. Fresh Market, on College Avenue and 54th Street, acts as an alternative to larger grocery stores by including plenty of organic options for produce and boxed goods. In addition, the Good Earth Natural Foods store in Broad Ripple Village provides specialty foods and spices such as natural herbs, remedies and soaps. The nearest farmer's market opens in Broad Ripple Village and occurs every Saturday morning from May to November in the Broad Ripple High School parking lot. This market tends to specialize on produce only, so other goods may need to be purchased at a larger grocery store.