Evansville

Tim Schapker

By plane

• Evansville Regional AirportOffers over 50 flights daily. Destinations include Chicago and Dallas on American Eagle, and Cincinnati, Atlanta, Memphis, and Detroit on Delta Connection. There are many rental car options, hotel shuttles, and public transportation.

By train

By car

By bus

• Evansville RiverwalkSometimes called the "front door to the city", the riverwalk follows the Ohio River and connects the Casino Aztar entertainment district to the downtown area and Sunset park.

• The Pagoda Visitor CenterLocated off of the Riverwalk with an easily recognizable and memorable design, the Pagoda offers a wealth of information about Southern Indiana.

• West Franklin StreetHistoric Franklin Street is home to many great events including Mardi Gras Franklin Crawl and The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, one of the largest street festivals in North America. Restaurants include Gerst Bavarian Haus, Lamasco Bar and Grill, Maidens Brewery and Pub, PG Cafe, Smitty's Italian Steakhouse, Hagedorn's Pub, Thyme in the Kitchen

• Haynie’s Corner Art's DistrictAdjacent to the Ohio River in downtown Evansville Indiana, a creative community of 4 neighborhoods (Riverside, Culver, Goosetown, Blackford’s Grove) define the Arts District. The heart of the Art District is a unique “corner” defined by a shift in the cities grid, multiple arteries meet at a fountain. Haynie’s Corner is a symbol of community, advocacy, preservation, and regeneration its future sits with art, design, and architecture.

• Angel Mounds State Historic SiteThe Visitor's Center gives a glimpse of understanding of what life was like from 1100 to 1450, when Angel Mounds was the largest Indian community in what would become the state of Indiana. Walking through the site's 100 acres, visitors view the remains of several Indian mounds and a reconstructed stockade which surrounded the city.

• Mesker Park ZooLocated on over 50 acres, Mesker Park Zoo has over 600 animals including the oldest living hippopotamus in captivity in the United States. It also has giraffes, lions, zebras, a jaguar, and river otters.

Museums

• Koch Family Children's Museum of Evansville

  phone: +1 812-464-2663
  address: 22 SE 5th St
  cMoe reopened in Fall 2006 in the renovated former Downtown Central Library building with 18,000 square feet of exhibits. It hosts four main galleries, plus a multimedia theater entitled the ’Freedom Gallery.‘ ’Work Smart‘ focuses on engineering skill development and the freedom to build and create. ’Live Big‘ provides inquiry into our bodies and promotes the freedom to make choices. ’Speak Loud‘ is the arts area, encouraging the freedom of self-expression. ’Quack Factory‘ contains serious water play and large-muscle activities as it promotes the freedom to explore. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 9AM to 4PM and Sunday, Noon to 4PM.

• Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science

  phone: +1 812-425-2406
  address: 411 SE Riverside Dr
  The Evansville Museum’s permanent art collection of American and European painting, graphic works, and sculpture dating from the 16th through the 20th centuries is exhibited in thematic galleries highlighting landscape, still life, genre works, and portraiture. Additionally, the museum features permanent and changing history exhibitions at the Museum provide a diverse educational opportunity for visitors of all ages. Such as Rivertown U.S.A. in which a sense of life in the Midwest is explored in the ten detailed shops such as the Doctor’s Office of William M. Elliotta graduate of Evansville Medical College. Lastly the museum includes the historic Koch Planetarium. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. $4 suggested donation.

• Evansville Museum Transportation CenterThe exhibitions of EMTRAC interpret transportation in Southern Indiana from the latter part of the 19th century through the mid-20th century. Divided into four areas, visitors first enter River/Rail/Aviation Hall. Highlights of this exhibit include an interactive riverboat pilothouse, an exhibition recalling Evansville’s first contact with aviation, and a turn-of-the-century waiting room that overlooks the museum’s historic railroad. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. $2 admission fee.

• Bosse FieldBosse Field is the third oldest baseball stadium behind only Chicago's Wrigley Field, and Boston's Fenway Park. The stadium once played host to the AAA Evansville Triplets, but now is home to the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. The stadium can be seen in the movie A League of Their Own.

• Tropicana Evansville

  phone: +1 812 433-4000
  address: 421 NW Riverside Drive
  A $200-million entertainment facility that includes a 2,700-passenger riverboat casino, a 250-room hotel, several restaurants, shops, and riverfront pavilion. A new entertainment district featuring several bars and restaurants opened in the fall of 2006. It is a must /-do when visiting Evansville.

• Fall FestivalThe second largest street festival in the United States. Games, rides, bands, talent shows, and food booths line the street during the first full week of October. The festival is best known for offering unusual cuisine such as the signature Brain sandwich.

• Ford CenterThis arena seats 11,000 and hosts the University of Evansville Purple Aces basketball teams and the Evansville Thunderbolts, hockey team.

• Showplace Cinemas East & IMAX

  phone: +1 812-479-9732
  address: 1801 Morgan Center Dr

• Sky Zone Evansville

  phone: +1 812-730-4759
  address: 49 N Green River Rd

• University of Southern Indiana - This publicly funded institution has been among the fastest growing comprehensive state universities in the Midwestern United States.Record fall enrollment in 2010 reached 10,702. The University has a modern 300-acre suburban campus situated within wooded rolling hills. In October 2006, the University completed a master plan that provides the framework to double the size of the school and support a campus of over 20,000 students.
• University of Evansville - A small, private university with approximately 3,050 students. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university features liberal arts and sciences degrees, most with strong cooperative learning opportunities on and off campus.

• Downtown Walkway

• Eastland Mall

  address: 800 N. Green River Road

• Northpark Shopping Center

  address: 4525 N First Ave

• Washington Square Mall

  phone: +1 503-639-8860
  address: 9585 SW Washington Square Rd
• Local groceries: If you're lucky enough to be in for a celebration (or simply hanging out with friends), be sure and look for two unique party favorites: Grippo's barbecue flavored potato chips, Ski citrus soft drink. While neither of these is produced exclusively in Evansville, locals will invariably try to convince you they are. These delicious storebought staples simply aren't sold in most cities and can't really be compared to anything else. Caution: Grippo's are unnaturally spicy. Using sour cream as a dip is recommended.

• The Acropolis

  phone: +1 812-475-9193
  address: 501 N Green River Rd
  Greek food. Authentic menu, wide selection of known Greek favorites. Their Three Bean Salad, served as a side dish, and lamb dishes are their specialty. Well decorated, seating ranges from cozy, intimate booths to tables to seat a large family. Generous portions.

• Gerst Bavarian Haus

  phone: +1 812-424-1420
  address: 2100 W Franklin St
  German restaurant that reflects the town's heritage.

• Turoni's Pizzery & Brewery

  phone: +1 812 424-9871
  address: 408 N Main St
  Local craft beer and thin-crust pizza.

• Bru Burger Bar

  address: 222 Sycamore St
  Burger bar located in a historic former Greyhound Bus station.

• Indian GardenAuthentic Indian food.

• Shyler's BBQ

  phone: +1 812-476-4599
  address: 5416 E Indiana St

• Yen Ching

  phone: +1 812-474-0181
  address: 406 S Green River Rd
  Voted Best Chinese Restaurant by Evansville Living Magazine three times in a row.

• Deerhead Cafe

  phone: +1 812-425-2515
  address: 222 E Columbia St
  Live music, famous for double decker pizzas. Live jazz in the evenings (home of saxophonist Monty Skelton).

• Carson's Brewery

  phone: +1 812-759-8229
  address: 2404 Lynch Rd
  Local craft brewery with tap room.

• Maidens Brewery & Pub

  phone: +1 812-909-1956
  address: 209 N Wabash Ave
  Local craft brewery and pub.

• Myriad Brewing Company

  phone: +1 812-402-1515
  address: 101 SE 1st St
  Local craft brewery with tap room.

• Peep Hole Bar

  phone: +1 812 423-5171
  address: 201 Main St
  A nice, chill bar that often draws a good crowd after-work and late night. Located downtown within walking distance of Casino Aztar and the new Ford Center Arena.

• KC's Time Out’s Lounge

  phone: +1 812 437-9920
  address: 1121 Washington Sq
  The best place to go on Sunday nights. Located and thriving in the nearly deserted Washington Square Mall.

• Sportsmen’s

  phone: +1 812 422-0801
  address: 2315 W Franklin St
  A pool hall that is also quite popular with the bar crowd.

• Someplace Else

  phone: +1 812 424-3202
  address: 930 Main St
  The most popular GLBT bar in the area.

Budget

• Comfort Inn East Evansville Hotel

  address: 8331 E. Walnut Street
  On the East Side of Evansville

• Comfort Inn Evansville Hotel

  address: 19622 Elpers Rd.
  5 miles from the airport and 8 miles to riverboat gambling.

• Econo Lodge East Evansville Hotel

  address: 5006 E. Morgan Ave.
  Minutes from Evansville's main shopping area, Eastland Mall, and 10 miles to historic downtown, Evansville Zoo, Audubon Park and Ellis Park.

• Microtel Inn & Suites Evansville

  address: 1930 Cross Point Blvd.

• Quality Inn North Evansville Hotel

  address: US Highway 41 I-64
  Close to casino action, frog follies, Lyle Station and indoor BMX Racing.

• Sunset Motel Evansville

  phone: +1 812 424-3566
  address: 1608 N. Fares Avenue
  Free Wi-Fi.

Mid-range

• Drury InnNear the airport and also on the east side near Interstate 164 and the Lloyd.

• La Quinta Inn and Suites

  address: 8015 E Division St
  Very nice, clean mid-scale hotel for business or leisure.

• Residence Inn Evansville East

  phone: +01 812-471-7191
  address: 8283 East Walnut Street
  On a peaceful lakeside setting, 78 spacious suites offer separate living and sleeping areas, and fully equipped kitchens.

Splurge

• Tropicana Evansville

  phone: +1 812 433-4000
  address: 421 NW Riverside Drive

• Hampton Inn Evansville

  phone: +1 812-473-5000
  address: 8000 Eagle Crest Blvd.
  Offering free hot breakfast, free high speed internet and free parking.

• Le Merigot Hotel

  address: 615 NW Riverside Dr
  Upscale boutique hotel recently opened by the casino on the riverfront downtown.

• Marriott Evansville AirportAtrium-style hotel with pool near the airport.

• Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau

By phone

• Evansville is a safe town with very few areas that are unsafe even at night. The southern areas of the town are seen as the most rough but are just low-income residential.

• Holiday World & Splashin' Safari - Holiday World is a large theme park located to the northeast of Evansville in Santa Claus, Indiana. It has three of the best wooden roller coasters in the world, "The Raven", "The Legend", and "The Voyage". Included in the price of admission is the water park Splashin' Safari. Splashin' Safari has several world class water slides, two wave pools, two lazy rivers and two family-attraction water play areas.
• Historic New Harmony - One of two of America's great utopian communities. The town's unique history comes alive on guided tours offered to 15 historic sites. The Atheneum is a strikingly modern building designed by Richard Meier and provides an introduction to the community with an orientation film, communal history exhibits, and an observation deck. The New Harmony Inn offers a relaxing escape for tourists and the Red Geranium has been voted one of the best restaurants in the region. New Harmony Inn

Fredddie