Some of the coolest things I ever saw growing up were in the tiniest smallest museums that no one paid much attention to. My mom was a big believer in the AAA state and city guidebooks and on our road trips my sister and I were always allowed to pick one special place we wanted to go to that wasn't on any regular tourist map.

Indianapolis is no exception.

The James Whitcomb Riley House located right in historic Lockerbie Square in downtown Indianapolis is actually a museum in and of itself. The house is where the poet Riley, a native Hoosier, spent his last 23 years writing many of his most famous poems. It is touted as the finest of Victorian preservations in the entire nation, housing many of Riley's personal belongings right where he left them upon his passing.

Also located in downtown Indianapolis is the Indiana Medical History Museum. Originally used in the late 1800's into the early 1900's the laboratory housed (at the time) state of the art facilitates for the study and treatment of nervous and mental disorders. (Have a kid who hates going to the doctor? After seeing how things used to be done through the museums 15,000 artifacts they may just change their tune. Heh.)

For a museum rich in Indianapolis history in regards to both African and African Americans in Indiana, the free Crispus Attucks Museum houses items from Indiana's first all black high school as well as honors local black Hoosiers that went on to make their own mark in sports, music and medicine.

Up north in Zionsville is one of the most exciting Indianapolis attractions for anyone who has ever played with a toy. The Carters Toy Museum will surround you with antique and vintage toys, an arcade and with every admission is the chance to ride either the carousel or the working bumper cars. Also in the museum is an old fashioned soda fountain and ice cream shop. (Toys and ice cream? Yes please.)

Up in Nobelsville, Indiana is the Indiana Transportation Museum. Now I know there's a pizza train that runs on the weekends (more on that in another post) but when we went my daughter was entertained for over two hours just running back and forth in the old train cars. A mail car, luggage car, dining car, sleeping car, kitchen car and bright red caboose are just some of the vintage and historical train cars you and your kids can explore. As an added bonus for making the trip to Nobelsville there is a giant park just across from the transportation museum. (Port-a-potties only at this museum so be warned those of you with little kids!)