Another 48 Hours in Indianapolis, Indiana

Over the Summer, I went on my second-ever trip to “the crossroads of America” aka Indiana to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (go follow her!). I wrote more about my experiences in Indianapolis where I also visited last year (here) and brought my since purchased camera this time around. This time around, we enjoyed time catching up as well as connecting with one of Lindsay’s best friends Rica (who is SO sweet!) and our fellow influencer bestie Taia of @taiajo on Instagram (go follow her!). Overall, I came to love Indianapolis for a second time and am looking forward to a future visit!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

What We Did:

Lunch and Sightseeing at RH Indianapolis – RH Indianapolis is a unique asset to the Restoration Hardware storefronts and restaurants! Transformed into a dining room and gallery at the Dehaan Estate, RH Indianapolis lives on the grounds of the Dehaan family’s property. The Dehaan family loved unique sculptures and artistic creations which can be seen on their lakeside mansion estate that RH Indianapolis is currently at for many guests to enjoy. Most RH locations including the Dallas and Charlotte locations that I dined at earlier this year are located on the top floor of the Restoration Hardware storefronts. However, RH Indianapolis is located on the main floor, surrounded by galleries and patios and additional floors of showrooms filled with Restoration Hardware merchandise. Lindsay and I went with her best friend (who has since become my friend!) Rica to celebrate her birthday. While we waited for our table, we went to the gorgeous adjacent wine bar to enjoy some coffee and wine before getting seated. At lunch, we enjoyed the standard RH menu in their main dining room that looked out over Dehaan Estate’s lake and celebrated Rica. Afterwards, we got lost in the gallery and back patio and pool (!!!!) and admired it all. Truly, this was an RH experience for the books and one I would indeed be down to enjoy again! At the same time, I LOVED getting to meet Rica and celebrate her, as I’ve heard amazing things about her from Lindsay and LOVED getting to make her feel special. I look forward to connecting with Rica again IRL, too!

Dinner at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers – After an incredible lunch (and some nap time post-early morning flight and a crazy boarding process at Dulles Airport!), Lindsay and I met up with our fellow influencer bestie Taia for dinner at The Cake Bake Shop! Taia and I have become Instagram friends over the past few years and she is an in real life friend of Lindsay’s. Our dinner at Cake Bake was my first time meeting Taia IRL (!!!!). I wrote more in-depth about my Cake Bake experience last year here, but indeed, it was extremely magical to be back at this fairytale of a restaurant. This time around, I ordered the soup and salad combination with their AMAZING French onion soup and Caesar salad alongside the restaurant’s signature pink and glittery Cosmopolitan. Needless to say, it was SUCH A BLESSING to be able to finally meet Taia in-person and look forward to connecting with her more in-person, too, and *of course* enjoy a nice outing at Cake Bake!

Sightseeing at Monument Circle – Last year when I went to Indianapolis, I didn’t explore much of downtown and wanted to the next time I came. This time around, we did just that – we did some sightseeing at Monument Circle aka the heart of Indianapolis’s downtown! We *even* stumbled upon the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (which I write more in-depth about our experience at here) which is a free to all monument that commemorates and honors those who served in Indiana. I *of course* brought my camera to snap some photos of the gorgeous architecture that I admired at EVERY turn, including of the gorgeous Christ Church cathedral. At Monument Circle, there was also a super adorable station where visitors could send out postcards for free to anyone across the world and take a few for themselves. Lindsay and I did just that which made for an incredible experience at Monument Circle!

Sightseeing and Shopping at Mass Ave – After a nice stroll and climbing the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Monument Circle, Lindsay and I headed to Mass Ave. Massachusetts Avenue (regularly known as Mass Ave) is known for gorgeous architecture, shops, hotels, and restaurants. We ended up parking by the old Coca Cola Factory and strolled by and through the gorgeous lobby of the adjacent Bottleworks Hotel. We walked up Mass Avenue and saw plenty of gorgeous architecture which I *of course* snapped several photos of (!!!!) and stopped by the adorable Francis + Fern boutique which sells several adorable Taylor Swift-themed merchandise as well as adorable clothing! We also danced a bit with the iconic dancing lady on her automated screen that I got to meet for the first time in 2023. Mass Ave is definitely a charming and beautiful part of Indianapolis!

Dinner at Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar – Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar was located in a unique Indianapolis district that I am forgetting the name of (whoops!) that is off of Prospect Street. The staff were super kind and the food was DELICIOUS! I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and affordability of the food compared to Washington, DC area Italian restaurants. I would definitely come back and was highly impressed (as was Lindsay!).

And, last but not least, I got to enjoy seeing SEVERAL …. Tiffany Blue fire hydrants aka an Indianapolis signature!!!!

I always have an amazing time with Lindsay and I loved getting to know and meet those who are important to her that I have since grown to love, too. Blogging and content creation has truly taught me the importance of long distance friendships and what value they bring to our lives. Til next time, Indy!

XOXO – Katie <3

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An Indianapolis Gem: Soldiers & Sailors Monument

Recently, I got to visit a unique gem in Indianapolis, Indiana: the Soldiers & Sailors Monument. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I shared about my recent visit to Indianapolis, Indiana (see last year’s here) to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay! Lindsay is an Indianapolis native and has been an incredible tour guide for me when visiting Indiana’s State Capitol and Chicago, too, since she frequents there often. However, even Lindsay was in for a surprise when we climbed (or took the elevator!) ALLLLLL to the top.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About:

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis literally in the center of its well-known Monument Circle. Originally built to honor Indiana’s Civil War Veterans with its construction starting in 1888 and opening on May 15, 1902, now the Soldiers and Sailors Monument honors all of Indiana’s Veterans who served prior to World War 1, including the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is well-known for its 360-degree view of downtown Indianapolis via its observation deck 275 feet up. See more information on planning your visit here.

The best part about the Soldiers & Sailors Monument?!?!? It has FREE admission to all guests during its hours of operation which are “from dawn to dusk”, as listed on the Indiana War Memorials Foundation’s website. I truly admire how accessible this monument is to all who come to visit, just like other fellow monuments in the United States such as the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. To find the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, its address is: 1 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Upon admission inside, which is spectacular on the outside, too (!!!!!), you have the option to either climb to the top or take the elevator to the top to reach the observation deck. Lindsay and I ended up climbing up about half of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument *before* we climbed back down and took the elevator up the rest of it – LOL! However, we were in for a TREAT when we reached the observation deck (!!!). We were able to see MUCH of the Indianapolis skyline (and beyond!), including the Indiana State Capitol, the stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play, and the well-known Salesforce Tower. I had a GREAT time getting to see Indianapolis literally from up in the sky!

Accessibility Note:

To reach the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument to the observation deck, one must climb a few flights of narrow and twisty stairs even if you take the elevator up most of the way, which may not be the most accessible to all. There are railings on each side of the stairs. The elevator is also pretty narrow and can fit up to four people in it at a time, which may be nerve-wracking for some people.

Wrap-Up:

I truly enjoyed getting to visit the this monument and getting in a half a tower climb in while at it. Lindsay and I had never experienced something neat and free like the Soldiers & Sailors Monument before and it was a REAL treat! While this monument is fun to visit and explore Indianapolis in a unique way like never before (and free to do so!!), it is also important to remember who it honors: our pre-World War 1 Veterans.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Review: The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers

Ever since I saw my influencer bestie Lindsay share about The Cake Bake Shop on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I knew that I needed to check this magical brunch spot when I visited Lindsay in Indiana (see our full experience here). As of late 2024, The Cake Bake Shop is open at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! And you may be wondering is The Cake Bake Shop really worth the hype?!?! Well, in today’s Cake Bake Shop review, I’ll show you why it is! Nevertheless, The Cake Bake Shop feels as if you are visiting Walt Disney World with the magic, the sparkle, and the generous hospitality. I did NOT want to leave this magnificent spot!!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About:

With locations in both Carmel City, Indiana and Broad Ripple Village, Indiana, The Cake Bake Shop has won Diners’ Choice Triple Awards for being the ‘Most Booked’, ‘Special Occasions’, and ‘Ambience’ in 2023. The Cake Bake Shop has also won a Travelers’ Choice Award by TripAdvisor in 2022, along with features of the likes of Oprah Winfrey, The Rachael Ray Show, and a Williams Sonoma partner. And, to top it ALLL off, The Cake Bake Shop is opening its newest location at Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk *coming soon* in Orlando, Florida and its owner Gwendolyn Rogers whose Indianapolis-based is striving to bring other Indianapolis-based small business owners into the spotlight like herself, too. Whether it be in the media locally in Indiana or to Walt Disney World, Rogers strives to support and bring awareness to other entrepreneurs’ dreams. As for The Cake Bake Shop, guests can dine there for brunch, afternoon tea, champagne, dessert, parties, and even dinner. The Cake Bake Shop is well-known for their delicious arrays of cakes that is one of Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things (!!!) and bubbly, along with their gift shop filled with cookbooks, ornaments, desserts, tea cups, and an array of many more *magical* goodies. Learn more: https://thecakebakeshop.com/

My Experience:

Lindsay and I went to The Cake Bake Shop location in Carmel, Indiana, decked out in its HUNDREDS of whimsical Swarovski crystals, and it was such an AMAZING experience! The moment we walked through The Cake Bake Shop’s magical doors, I started screaming just as if I was a five-year old again in a candy store. The vibes, ambience, service, and magic at every turn makes this dining spot such an impeccable place to be. The best part?! Our waitress Lupe made my experience such a magnificent one for the books. Once we got seated, Lupe was extremely empowering and kind and made our visit such a wonderful one. Lindsay and I enjoyed lattes with The Cake Bake’s signature edible glitter in their gorgeous signature teacups, lemony Caesar salad’s, truffle fries (who know that they were a Midwest specialty?!), and lemon blueberry cake. At the end of our dining experience, Lupe allowed us to channel our inner little girl and make a wish amongst ALLL of the fairy dust. Lupe truly helped make our experience (and my first one ever!!!) such a special one!

The Cake Bake Shop also has a stunning bar, events spaces, and a gift shop where guests can order cakes and other pastries along with pastries a la carte. Not to mention, The Cake Bake Shop has STUNNING Swarovski crystal-decked out chandeliers and floral-covered trees to make you feel *just* as if you’re in a magical fairy land. Personally, I am not a Disney vacationer *confession*, yet I felt as if I was in my very own version of Disney World. The entire time I was there, I felt as if I was in a magical land – just like I was 5 and at Disney again for the first time-ever!

Wrap-Up:

Personally, I felt SO inspired to have an event of my own at The Cake Bake Shop, whether it be an Afternoon Tea with my best gals clad in our fascinators, a celebration of sorts, or to simply to enjoy bubbly at the opulent bar. While I don’t live near a Cake Bake location, I definitely plan to come back to Indianapolis and Indiana for that matter and go back *yet again*. The Cake Bake Shop looks SOOO magical at Christmas time, too, and for a little girl’s Birthday celebration (like the group of girls and their Mom’s at the table next to us!). I hope this Cake Bake Shop review inspired YOU to put a visit on your bucket list, too!! Whatever the occasion may be for me, I KNOW that The Cake Bake Shop will see me again!

XOXO – Katie <3

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