You don't need to endure the winter blahs, and you don't have to go to Florida to get a change of pace. Plan a themed exploration of Indianapolis. It's a great time of year to get out and about and see local sites, revisit favorite locations, and do something in the city. So here are some suggestions:

Museum Weekend in Indy - We have great museums for all ages. The Children's Museum has exhibits for every age, not just children. The first Thursday of the month is free night. Many of the exhibits at the Indianapolis Museum of Art are free too. Add other museums to the day: the Eiteljorg, the Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Art Center, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Indiana Historical Society. This could even keep you busy for a month. Don't forget the Indiana Medical Museum, the Lilly Civil War Museum at the Circle, the Hook's American Drug Store Museum, and the Speedway Museum. There is also the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust, and if you get an invitation, the Lilly Library at its downtown location.

Historic Homes Weekend in Indy - Now this is an interesting tour for out-of-towners and locals. Start at Monument Circle and move out from that location stop at the Scottish Rite Cathedral (open for lunch), the Morris-Butler Home, James Whitcomb Riley Home in Lockerbie, the William Harrison Home, and make reservations at the 1888 Propylaeum for lunch. You can also visit the Lilly mansion at Oldfields.

How about a library tour? The Indianapolis Marion County Public library is a great place to visit. It has views of the city in addition to books. Helpful librarians are available for any question. Visit a few more. Check out our Glendale Library and the Nora Library. Have you been in the one at 42nd and College? It is quite nice. Then connect with an historic Carnegie Library. You can visit the Spades Park Branch (1909) or the East Washington Branch (1909). These two libraries are examples of the great library movement in the United States. The best part is that your library card works at all of these branches. Don't forget the Indiana State Library too.

Church Tour - We have lovely structures that offer wonderful architectural exploration. Downtown, visit Christ Church Episcopal, St. John's Catholic, Sacred Heart, and SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Roberts Park, North United Methodist and Broadway United Methodist are worth a stop to see their sanctuaries. Also on the list should be Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (once on the underground railroad). Check out the beauty at Trinity Episcopal and St. Paul's Episcopal. As you go farther north, stop by Second Presbyterian Church. Farther north are new churches I have not even seen yet: Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints on 116th, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Indianapolis on 106th, and St. George Orthodox Christian Church on 116th. Our structures of faith are a celebration of our community's faith.

Garden Tour of Indianapolis. Even in the winter you can visit gardens! Many of the public gardens have impressive "bones" that show you where the gardens flourish in the spring and summer. Here are my favorites: Indianapolis White River Gardens, Oldfield gardens at the IMA, Trinity Episcopal Church, Garfield Sunken Gardens, Holcomb Gardens at Butler, St. Luke's United Methodist Church cloistered garden, Coxhall Gardens. If you want to stop in for a breath of green, take time to visit the Garfield Park Conservatory (special seasonal exhibits) or the Greenhouse at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Historical Locations can be found in our city. Again starting at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (the Circle), check out the Indiana World War Memorial, the USS Indiana, the State Capitol, and Crown Hill Cemetery (on the National Historic Register). There is the Medal of Honor Memorial on the Canal and the 9/11 Memorial where you can see 111, 000-pound beams from the Twin Towers. Walk the historic Canal that was to connect us to the Erie Canal in the late 1800s.

This only begins themes you can plan. How about a brewery tour, a wine tour, a theater tour? You could pick a district to explore like Fountain Square, Mass Avenue, Broad Ripple, Carmel, Nora, Zionsville, Tour public parks and our two state parks, Eagle Creek and Fort Harrison. Tour the sport facilities including Lucas Oil, Banker's Life, and Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler. I can continue suggestions, but I think it is time to stop. I hope you have the idea. Yikes! So much to do and so little time!