Franklin Things to Do: Sports, Camping, Classic Cinema, and More

Franklin, Indiana is a fairly small but active Midwestern town, located just south of Indiana state capital Indianapolis. Unlike many other Indiana cities of its size, there are plenty of things to do in Franklin, thanks to the leadership and funding of the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department. Once featured in LIFE magazine as an ideal small town, Franklin is still providing residents and visitors with entertainment, family activities, and things to do and see.

Perhaps the biggest provider of things to do in Franklin is the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department. This segment of Franklin’s government operates several different facilities around the city designed expressly for their many users to have fun and let loose. One of the most beautiful of these is the Blue Heron Park and Wetland. With 55 acres of natural landscape, including open fields for Franklin sports, walking trails, and 12 acres of Indiana wildflowers, Blue Heron Park and Wetland is an easy place to get lost in yourself. Also within this Franklin park is the Blue Heron Challenge Course, a low ropes obstacle course that encourages problem solving and cooperation. It’s a great site for Franklin businesses to host team building exercises, and a fun activity to help bring your family together.

For those looking for a more traditional park experience, one of the best things to do in Franklin is a visit to the town’s two main parks: Province Park and Scott Park. Province Park consists of 50 acres of walking trails, shelter houses, grills, tennis courts, basketball courts, horseshoe rings, the Franklin Action Park, softball fields, and more. Scott Park is the home of the town’s Little League baseball team and has several baseball fields, a concession stand, and a playground, perfect for family outings during the twilight hours of summer. A visit to one of these parks can be a serene thing to do in Franklin.

But there’s still more to the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department; the department is the governing body behind most Franklin attractions, and its non-park facilities feature some of the most fun things to do in Franklin. The Franklin Action Park, located inside of Province Park, is the perfect destination for adrenaline junkies. Open to skaters and BMX bikers, the Action Park features half pipes, ramps, rails, and more to make this an extreme sports playground. The Franklin Wonder Five Center, located on Hurricane Street and named after the town’s most famous natives, is an all-purpose recreational facility with basketball courts, a library, a concession area, and more. And then there’s the Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, a huge, state of the art facility with an exercise room, a massive basketball court, racquetball courts, and a 35 foot indoor climbing wall. The Parks and Recreation Department has plenty of things for you to do in Franklin!

If running around on a track or experiencing nature isn’t really your idea of fun, there’s still many unique things to do in Franklin. Franklin is over 150 years old; a town that’s been around for so long should be rife with historical buildings, monuments, and museums. Franklin is no exception; it is the home of the ArtCraft Theatre. The ArtCraft Theatre, first opened in 1922, has gone through several changes of ownership, renovation, and preservation. At the ArtCraft Theatre, you can view classic films in a classic theatre, take part in special Franklin events like the B Movie Celebration and the town’s Fall Festival, an event that sweeps downtown Franklin with vendors, displays, and more. There’s no better way to relive the glory days of cinema than to visit the ArtCraft Theatre.

Of course, there are several classic things to do in Franklin that are the norm for nights out everywhere. If you want to reconnect with old friends and enjoy some good food, there’s no better option than a visit to a Franklin restaurant. Downtown Franklin is replete with good, locally owned businesses designed to tantalize your palate and fill your stomach. Ann’s Restaurant and Aunt Judy’s Country Kitchen serve Midwest comfort food with a personal touch, Mi Pueblo dishes up the best margaritas and enchiladas in town, Long River Chinese Restaurant can get you your Crab Rangoon fix, and The Willard is a classic Franklin meeting spot and watering hole. Franklin restaurants are a good solution to cure the everyday blues.

Of course, if you decide to leave Franklin, you’ll never run out of things to do in Indianapolis. Indiana’s capital and largest city is located just a few miles up the highway, within easy reach of Franklin residents. In the Circle City, you can take in an Indianapolis performing arts show at one of several Indianapolis theaters, catch some live Indianapolis music at an Indianapolis bar or Indianapolis nightlife spot, or tour one of the six Indianapolis cultural districts for a hefty slice of colorful and provocative Indianapolis art. The bright lights and dazzling displays of Indianapolis attractions are a good departure from the fairly mellow activities that Franklin has to offer.

Most cool Franklin things to do are run through the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department. Through the department, you can see some of the most beautiful wildlife in its natural habitat, take serene walks through Indiana countryside, play sports with your friends and family, have a barbecue in the warm summer weather, plummet down a half pipe on a bike or skateboard, go for a swim at the Aquatics Center, or get in shape at the Cultural Arts and Recreation Center. Outside of the Parks and Recreation Department, you can visit the historic Artcraft Theatre, a Franklin entertainment landmark that has stood the test of time and still offers the best movies in the most comfortable surroundings. And if you find yourself wishing there were more things to do in Franklin, you can always visit the bustling metropolis of Indianapolis, where there’s always something going on. Franklin has plenty of things to do if you know where to look.

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