Adjoining Lake Michigan to the north, Indiana features deep valleys, cornfields, foothills and vast farmlands. Amid the rolling plains stands Indianapolis, the State capital and national centre for industry, commerce and culture. The business sector lies at the heart of the city, however many of the tourist attractions are situated on the outskirts. Located downtown are the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and the Indianapolis Zoo, which is renowned for its large collection of dolphins and whales. Further out are the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Krannert Pavillion, with an extensive display of modern art. A must for families is the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Indianapolis also offers a selection of musical entertainment to suit all tastes: the Madame Walker Theatre Center has seen the likes of Louis Armstrong grace its stage, while every June the city hosts the Indy Jazz Fest. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Indianapolis Opera are other popular options. The most famous sporting event to hit the city is the Indianapolis 500 speedway race on Memorial Day Weekend; a month of shows, exhibitions and parades in May leads up to the main event. The other big motorsport events are the Brickyard 400 race in August, and the US Grand Prix Formula One race, held in late September.

Indiana can be split into four regions: the northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast. Indianapolis lies at the center of these regions as the state capital and most populated city. Northwestern Indiana contains 50 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. This fifty miles contains the highly industrialized areas of Gary and East Chicago in the west. The eastern lake shore's natural beauty is preserved as Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. South of the lake you'll find the landscape dotted with farms and state parks. The Wabash River cuts diagonally through this region on its way to meet the Ohio River and form the state's western border.

Anglers and water sport enthusiasts will enjoy the many lakes, rivers and streams that pervade the Indiana countryside. Other attractions include facilities for hiking, biking and camping.