Key Meadows - Indianapolis, IN

Because Key Meadows is located closer to the township of Clermont than Indianapolis, it shares quite a bit of unique history dating back into the 1800s. As one of the first landowners in the area, John Adams helped settle central Indiana, but the laying of nearby railroads really helped the area to expand and eventually merge into the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

No museums or historical sites exist to educate people about Key Meadows specifically, but state history can be found in any of Indianapolis' numerous museums near the city center. Stop by the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site to view exhibits about the 23rd president of the United States. Most events and performances require a trip to downtown, but local art fare at nearby studios, such as A Splash of Abstract, may satisfy your need for an arts scene.

The highly residential makeup of the Key Meadows neighborhood means that not as many restaurants and bars have set up shop in the area, so often a bit of a trip is required for a good evening out. Only a few restaurants serve within the neighborhood, but many, such as Chicago's Pizza, have long served the Indianapolis area well. This Indiana-based joint does deep dish right, and whether its their filling meat lover pizza or made-to-order sandwiches, you can't go wrong at this local favorite. Rick's Cafe Boatyard treats guests to one of Indiana's only lakeside jazz clubs, while maintaining a full kitchen and wide variety of fresh seafood. Rick recommends the tempura fried calamari cooked in ancho chili aoli to start, and finish up your meal with a relaxing cocktail on the dock. Rick's Cafe Boatyard isn't the only way to wind down the night or rev up to an exciting evening out. SPYKE's gives the locals a hometown bar to relax with some of the friendliest people in Indianapolis.

With the exception of public transit, you can get around as you please in Key Meadows. The IndyGo service does not serve out far enough from its extensive downtown coverage, but residents and visitors alike can find other options.

Take a few minutes to call ahead, and you can easily secure a taxi driver willing to make the trip out to the neighborhood. Uber also services the neighborhood.

In Key Meadows, public parking is both widely available and cheap, with plenty of spots lining quiet streets in many subdivisions. Access to highways and expressways presents an easy task for drivers. Key Meadows sits within close proximity to bordering Interstate 74 and 465, as well as Highway 136. All three major roads merge nearby, so getting from place to place in the neighborhood holds no inconvenience for residents.

Walkers and bikers should be careful around these major roads, but the roads in the residential portions of the neighborhood serve as convenient and safe pathways for those on foot and on bike. Cyclists should proceed with even more caution as they navigate without the benefit of bike lanes.

Nearby pricey locales, such as The Country Club of Indianapolis, make for fun days outdoors. For free family fun, locals head just a couple of miles north to Eagle Creek Park. Here, the entire family as well as pets can enjoy hiking, wide-open fields, swimming or sunbathing, wildlife watching and ziplining.

Certain annual activities on national holidays and around winter holidays draw attention to the park, and for a small fee, you can rent a bike to enjoy the trails at a faster pace. Although none of the parks in the Key Meadows neighborhood cater specifically to fitness buffs, you can get a good run or workout without going too far from home.

Cost of living in the Key Meadows area sits at just higher than the city average, but prospective residents can expect to save money in many ways. Because public transportation services such as IndyGo do not extensively cover the area, it benefits dwellers to have their own mode of transportation for trips to the city center. Gas for these drivers comes in at over 8 percent below the national average.

Living costs compared to many Indianapolis neighborhoods also provide a bit of a savings. For a one-bedroom apartment, locals will find that the average rental rate sits at a pleasantly affordable $588 per month. At a neighborhood pub, expect to pay around $2 to $4 for a pint of beer.

Shopping options directly within Key Meadows have been spread out, but a few larger centers to the northeast and southeast give buyers a wider selection of high-end and high-value stores.

Within the neighborhood's boundaries, a few local shops give many hometown shopping opportunities, such as Mid America Sportz, which sells a large inventory of baseball equipment and sports accessories. While they specialize in baseball, they also outfit for a number of other sports, including volleyball, basketball, cross country, football and lacrosse.

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You need to make a quick trip out of the neighborhood to reach the local grocery store, but nearby favorites such as Marsh Supermarket and El Latino Market hold most of the basics. To experience some of the diverse farm-grown fare at one of the surrounding farmers markets, travel about 5 miles east to FarmIndy.