Spring Breaking in Indy

To say Covid 19 put travel on pause for my family is quite the understatement. Not only did we pause our travels, we cancelled travel plans to Hawaii in 2020. Ugh! The only place we visited was my husband’s hometown to attend his first cousin’s outdoor wedding. It went something like we arrived late on purpose to stand in the back. Everyone wore a mask, but we weren’t taking any chances. We stayed all of 20 minutes just enough time to witness the nuptials and say “goodbye” to the closest family members. So I can truly say I was excited to take a trip, but nervous all the same.

Traveling in a Pandemic

We decided that our best mode or transportation would be to be drive. Neither one of us have received our vaccinations yet, so we didn’t want to increase our risks by flying. We planned to rent a car, but the car rental facility screwed up our reservation. So I saw it as a sign and we decided to drive our own vehicle. This made me feel more comfortable anyway since we had to be in the vehicle 7+ hours and my child would be all over the back seat. I had planned to Lysol it down either way, but in our own vehicle we didn’t have to breathe in chemicals the entire trip. We actually had a pretty, smooth drive both ways. We ran into a bit of traffic on the way up, but nothing too major.

Accommodations

So I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve always been a complete hotel snob (and I gained this title pre-Covid) so of course traveling during Covid had me seeking a lavish, pristine stay. I’m sure some folks will disagree with my digs and save on a hotel room to spend more money on activities. I’m the complete opposite. I will pay more for a clean, comfortable hotel stay and really don’t have to go anywhere. I favor boutique hotels because they have a curated vibe that appeals to my artsy style. They are usually quiet and offer a unique ambiance. In Covid times, I also thought boutique hotels would be less traveled and focus more on cleaning to ensure their customers keep coming and they’re able to keep their doors open. The hotel I chose did not disappoint.

We stayed at the beautifully designed, 19th century inspired Ironworks Hotel Indy. Its charming aesthetic filled with industrial nuts and bolts, coupled with modern amenities is any hipster’s dream abode. Each room is gorgeous from the Traditional Guest Room to the Founders Suite. We stayed in the Heritage Suite with two Queen Beds. All of the suites include a spacious sitting area, a queen-sized sofa sleeper, a spa-like bathroom, plush robes, minibar, USB ports, a gigantic flat-screen TV, and sweet amenities like Keurig coffee makers.

Heritage QQ Suite

In addition to the rooms, the hotel also boasts complimentary valet service, a number of large meetings rooms, free dog treats (pet-friendly for a fee), and is located near the Keystone Fashion Mall. However, we never made it to the mall. The hotel is apart of the Ironworks Keystone campus and home to some of the best restaurants, including Provision, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Rize (breakfast), Blue Sushi Saki & Grill and many, many more! And get this, everything is within walking distance.

We enjoyed all of the amenities, except the valet and ice (I’m detailed, LOL!). I didn’t feel right about the people interacting with every guest then spreading everyone’s germs all over my car. My husband took advantage of the gym. He said they had cleaning products available to spruce everything up. Of course, we brought our own Clorox wipes, Lysol, slippers, and pillowcases. It’s just my nature to clean my hotel room even in non-Covid times, but of course I went hard when first arriving.

We also enjoyed all of the exquisite food from Provision restaurant. I often pass on room service, but we arrived late and I didn’t feel like going out so we ordered in. We had gourmet burgers on English muffin buns with cornichons (fancy pickles) and these fabulous creations called Tater Tottlers, shot glass–sized fried potatoes that are crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and peel apart like a layered biscuit. The only down-side is that I can’t have one today. As a Covid precaution, Provision has currently combined with Rize the breakfast restaurant that is usually open on the first level of the hotel. So you can choose from the Rize menu for breakfast and lunch. I did just that the next morning and snagged a scrumptious, gigantic brioche cinnamon roll with and orange glaze cream cheese for Bro and I. It was the best $5 pastry that we’ve both had in a long time.

Good Eats

I know it’s been awhile since I traveled so I tried my best not to review this experience with rose-colored lenses. In saying that, I think the Ironworks Hotel in Indianapolis is literally the perfect hotel whether you’re visiting for business or vacation. We also made time to see a few of the most notable outdoor attractions, such as Lucas Oil Stadium, Madam Walker Legacy Center, and the Dr. MLK Jr. Park & Landmark for Peace Memorial. I even stumbled upon a local flower shop to snag a few plant babies. We thought about visiting a couple museums, (ie, Children’s Museum & Crispus Attucks) but we decided against it in the times of Covid. All in all, it was a refreshing getaway from our local sights and sounds. We plan to do more traveling as the world opens up.

Indy was definitely a good start.

Check out our family photos below.