The city of Fishers, Indiana, started out relatively small. In fact, as recently as 1990, just over 7,200 people resided in the then-town of Fishers. For many years, Fishers was a well-hidden gem as a suburb of Indianapolis. It wasn't until 2011, when Fishers was named the #1 city of families by The Learning Channel, that an influx of people began their move to this suburb. Subsequently, the city enjoyed a number of other accolades, including the safest city in the nation and the Best Affordable Suburb by Businessweek magazine.
Today, Fishers has made the switch from a town to a thriving city and boasts more than 70,000 people. Still, it continues to live up to the lofty expectations of those who move here, providing all kinds of amenities and offerings to the community.
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With more than a dozen parks and nature preserves, Fishers has a lot to offer when it comes to parks and conservation. In fact, the city has established its own Trail and Greenway System that covers more than 85 miles both inside and just outside the city itself.
Brooks School Park is one of the most popular parks in the city. It offers 16.5 acres of greenery, including plenty of hiking trails, basketball courts, athletic fields, and more. It even provides an ADA-accessible park for younger children to enjoy.
Located at 96th Street and Allisonville Road, Fishers Heritage Park is another popular destination. It's home to the historic Ambassador House, which is nearly 200 years old.
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Throughout the year, the city of Fishers holds a number of fairs and festivals for its residents to enjoy. In October, the Fishers Renaissance Fair takes place and is always a big hit, bringing in both city residents and non-residents alike. There are plenty of child-friendly activities for families to enjoy at this festival, but the festival itself is perhaps best known for its live demonstrations of jousting and pirate shows, along with impressive period art.
The Fishers Freedom Festival is another popular event that takes place, usually during a weekend just before the Fourth of July. Held at the Roy Holland Memorial Park, this festival ends each night with an impressive fireworks display. During the day, attendees can enjoy art, food, beverages, and more from local vendors. For those who are so inclined, there's also an annual 5k that takes place during the Fishers Freedom Festival.
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Perhaps the biggest attraction that the city of Fishers has to offer is that of the famous Conner Prairie Museum, which aims to recreate life in rural Indiana as it was during the 1800s. Interestingly enough, the land on which the museum is now located has its own unique history. The land itself was first settled by a man named William Conner in 1802; he built a cabin and trading post on the land that later evolved into the town of Fishers.
Today, the Conner Prairie Museum is listed on the National Register of Historical of Historic Places and enjoys thousands of visitors each year. Some of the main attractions that can be found at Conner Prairie include a Civil War Journey, the William Conner House itself, and the 1859 Balloon Voyage. On the Balloon Voyage, visitors can actually enjoy a ride on a tethered air balloon that reaches heights of nearly 400 feet, offering sunning views of the area. On a clear day, you may even be able to see the Indianapolis skyline in the distance.
There is never a shortage of entertainment options in Fishers, and the relatively new Sky Zone Trampoline Park located on East 121st Street is an excellent example of the high-thrill entertainment the city has to offer. This indoor trampoline park boasts dozens of built-into-the-floor trampolines and obstacle courses that children and adults of all ages can enjoy bouncing around. Sky Zone is also a popular place to host birthday parties and other special events.
They also offer some group classes and other activities/programs for those who are interested in learning a new skill. For example, Sky Zone hosts its very own trampoline basketballs leagues, but it is recommended that participants take a training course before they play.
Conner Prairie isn't the only place you can enjoy a hot-air balloon ride in Fishers; Midwest Balloon Rides actually offers their own hot-air balloon tours (both tethered and non-tethered) that offer amazing views of the area and provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience of soaring high above the tree tops. This is a great gift idea, and you can even reserve your own private hot-air balloon ride for a special anniversary, birthday celebration, or any other special event. Just be sure to book as far in advance as possible, as dates tend to fill up rather quickly.
Overall, Fishers is a city with a lot to offer in terms of recreation, parks, and history. Not to mention, with easy access to I-69, you're only a 20-25 minute drive from nearby Indianapolis.
