Together is Better
LIVE. LOVE. PLAY.
Helping central Indiana families build the perpetual BEST DAY EVER.
Parents and caregivers want to have all kinds of memorable experiences with their children, whether the goal is fun, adventure, education, or all three. There are options out there to fit any family’s schedule and budget. I show them the possibilities.
Things to do and places to go with kids
Eating out with kids
Family resources
Traveling and road tripping with kids
Things to Do in Indy with Kids
From special events and seasonal listings to more than dozen different categories of places to go and things to do, there are tons of options for every family to live, love, and play in Indy.
Going Out to Eat with Kids
Whether eating out is something your family does frequently or rarely, choosing where to go can feel impossible. Learn which restaurants are kid-friendly and which ones let kids eat for free.
Resources for Families with Kids
Providing parents and caregivers with well-organized information about things they want to know about is important, including guides for preschools, summer camps, and birthday parties.
Hitting the Road with Kids
Whether it’s a day trip, a big road trip odyssey, or something even bigger, parents and caregivers need all the tips, tricks, strategies, and hacks when traveling with kids.
Get My Books!
Indianapolis Scavenger
Do you know Indianapolis better than your friends? Are you new to the area and want to see it all and explore the city? This book will send you on a guided scavenger hunt, dispersed across 19 of the city’s vibrant neighborhoods and cultural districts. The clues within are your compass, guiding you through breathtaking parks, historical monuments and oddities, local businesses and restaurants, sports arenas, public art installations, and architectural marvels unique to the city. Every clue holds a delightful discovery or an unexpected revelation about Indiana’s capital city. Whether you aim to be the solver of all riddles, desire a spirited adventure with family or friends, are looking for a unique date night activity, or want to indulge in a solitary, creative journey, you’ll unveil new charms of Indianapolis. Lifestyle and Indianapolis family expert Katy Mann from Indywithkids.com has created a collection of quests with historical context, storytelling, and a bit of poetic flair. Join other IndianapolisScavenger Hunt enthusiasts at indyscavengerhunt.com
Where to Take the Kids: Indianapolis
Whether you’re here for a weekend or a lifetime, Indianapolis is an incredible city for families. From quirky museums and fresh-air fun to tucked-away spots only locals know, Where to Take the Kids: Indianapolis is your trusted guide to filling your days with fun and unforgettable moments. Stroll through curious ruins and nature-inspired playgrounds or soar through the lush treetops on a thrilling zip line ride. Pedal along historic railroad tracks on a railbike, catch an outdoor movie under the stars, sleep in a cozy train car, or sample fresh-picked goodies from the farm. With a heart for community and a knack for storytelling, local author and family fun expert Katy Mann helps families discover the magic of everyday moments in Indianapolis and beyond. As the founder of Indy with Kids, Katy has spent more than a decade uncovering all the family-friendly treasures the city has to offer. With Katy as your guide, each family adventure will end with smiles, laughter, and your kids asking, “Where are we going next?”
Ideas on Living, Playing, and Parenting
Family is everything, and it can also be exhausting. Helping parents and caregivers by curating family activities, events, and resources is way to keep families growing, learning, playing, loving, and making memories to last a lifetime—together.
Places to Go and Things to Do with Kids
Outdoor playgrounds and parks; indoor places to play; places and activities with animals; the arts (theater, music, art, dance); museums and history; special-needs-friendly places; classes for kids; indoor pools and water slides; science fun for kids; best places for birthday parties (just to name a few categories).
Food and Eating Out with Kids
Where kids eat free (or inexpensively); places to find seasonal foods and treats; kid-friendly breweries; restaurant delivery services for busy families; best frozen treat locations; make-and-taste experiences (cooking); family-friendly restaurants.
Volunteering with Kids
Opportunities to do good and help others can be some of the most powerful experiences to shape the minds and characters of kids into adults who give back to their communities.
Family Resources
Guide to preschools; summer camp guide; birthday party guide; date ideas for parents and caregivers.
Traveling and Road Tripping with Kids
Need to expand your horizons with more family activities? Many are surprised to find out how much more there is to explore only a gas tank or so away and want to know where to go, where to eat, where to stay, and where to play.
About Me
Born and raised in Orange County, California, my parents were always taking the family road-tripping both near and far to see incredible places and have unforgettable experiences, some of which included a community service component. I honed my skills as a curator of family events and activities as the youth director at a church. When I was twenty-one, I was offered a youth director position at a church in Indianapolis, so I took the job, moved to Indy, and have been here ever since.
I went back to school and completed a BA degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies, and then launched the Indy with Kids website in 2010 to share my ideas on living, playing, and parenting in Indianapolis with kids. For me, it’s a family affair with my husband Jacob and our four children. Together we explore and play, and our own family activities inform the content I produce for the website.
I love sharing information for families to have more fun and meaningful experiences together. I do this primarily online through the website and social media, and have successfully monetized those efforts. I also share through regular guest appearances on television shows like Indy Now and new broadcasts, as well as speaking to all kinds of interested groups. I present to local mom’s groups and clubs, MOPs (mothers of preschoolers), PTOs (school parent-teacher organizations), churches, parenting groups, and more. In a 90-minute presentation, I can run through 500 different activities and events families with kids can do (okay, maybe it’s only 450, but who’s counting?). I also serve as a brand ambassador for products geared toward families and kids.
Podcast Apperances
No Title Needed
Ep 49 – Indy Family Fun with Katy Mann
This week on No Title Needed, we’re catching up with Katy Mann, the force behind @Indywithkids! She’s sharing how she turned her adventures as a youth director 15 years ago into the go-to resource for families with kids in Indy. Find out about her new book, “Where to Take the Kids”, her favorite local spots, and her involvement with the legendary Children’s Museum haunted house.
We’re Doing this Right. Right?
Half-Assed and Wholehearted: Katy Mann’s Journey to Indy With Kids
In this episode, Cheryl and Colleen chat with Katy Mann, the creator of IndyWithKids.com and author of the book ‘Indianapolis Scavenger.’ Katy shares her experiences of building a hyperlocal website that has become a valuable resource for families in Indianapolis over the last 14 years.
EDGE of the Web
EP 355: Shift Your Business When the World Changes with Katy Mann
Coronavirus has been affecting a lot of businesses over the past few months. Adjusting the way you operate your business during a global pandemic isn’t easy but this week’s featured guest is here to help! Katy Mann, Founder of Indy with Kids, is our special guest this week on the award-winning EDGE of the Web podcast. Her business is events-based, and when a global pandemic comes along and cancels everything, then no events = no business. What to do? It’s about shifting and adapting and still finding ways to build your local brand. Tune in to episode 355 of EDGE of the Web to learn some strategies on how to keep business flowing!
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